The Washington times., 1914-03-06
Griff Orders No Expense Spared
to Clear Lambeth Field of
Its Covering.
AC0STA IMPROVING RAPIDLY
Must Not Leave House, How
ever, Until Sun Comes Out
to Keep Him Warm.
By THOMAS KIRBY.

By THOMAS KIRBY.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. March s.
Rain and snow and sleet anf hail COM
bined today to make conditions here
worse than at any timesl nee the day the
first assortment of Washington players
arrived here. Washington's streets never
had anything on those of Charlottesville
ana Lambeth Field looks more like the
Fairgrounds Of the children of Etah'
the nurthernmoSt inhabited point, than
the rlace on which a band of athletes
is supposed to be conditioning them
selves for the opening OF season, In
six weeks. during which they are eX-
pected to defend the honOrS which they
CAPTURED in two years of gallant effort.
As soon as he arose this morning
Clark Griffith gave orders that no cost
was to be spared in removing the SNOW
from the ground. Jack Ryan corralled
every man available in the town and
set all al work rolling snow balls. This
snsthod took away much of the white
covering. and then arrangements were
made with a mill to set all its men build
ing a large raft on which to drag off the
unwelcome snow. Hardly had this ar
ranSement been completed before the
rain and snow got back on its old job.
AL the athletes went to the gymnasium
early and took their daily indoor work.
After a strenuous game of basketball
the pitchers were started, and TO Doc
Ayres went the questionable honor of
being the first man TO get hit In cross
ing the court, Ayres was beaned- but
luckily the ball was not a fast one, and
he escaped any serious results
Little Acosta had sufficiently recover
ed today to leave his bed, but he is
under positive orders not to leave the
house until atmospheric conditions inn
prove.
There was an extended club meeting
last night at which the chief, in eXecu-
tive session, outlined all his plans for
the season
Cube" Acosta will be handled care
fully until he has gotten back his
whole strength. All winter the little
alien played bali in Havana and the'sud-
den change in climate set him back
Martin refused TO let Acosta leave his
bed all day yesterday. He survived on
milk and toast and as his fever has been
broken, Martin is of the opinion tnat
the first OF next week will find him back
in shape.
Two trips to ''Bonesetter'' Reese and
care all curing the winter has brought
Howard Snanks' weak ankle around
until il is giving him no trouble. He
has about decided to shed all braces
figuring that the presence OF these pro-
tectors simply serve to tend to keeping
weak the injured member.
The greatest handler OF bounding balls
In the league and forced to G-ve no one
anything when il comes to killing flies.
Snanks has set out to shake off the
INK that has always pursued his hit
ting. No one on the club hits harder or
more frequently than does the flying
fielder, but he has always suffered the
hardest sort of luck in planting the
bali n safe territory. Every one with
the club is pleading with the tickle
goddess to smile on the left fielder,
which would mean that his value would
bs increased a hundred fold.
Al Williams has brought along a cord
of bats and as soon as he can find the
ones TO his liking he will start in with
vicious hit ng practice AS pinch hit
ter Williams broke up more than one
game for the Griffs last season, mad he
is ready to start in on another whirl- |
wind campaign in willow-sw!nging.
Every precaution IS being taken to
guard ga nst Joe EnSel and Carl Cash |
ion straining their arms. II will be re-
called that each Of these pitchers had
trouble with their wings last season !
and, while feeling that all strength has
returned. Griffith can see no advantage
in the big fellows taking chances at
this stage Of the proceedings
Dick Williams is built much along
the lines of Walter johnson, although
slightly taller. With arm. that appear
TO droop almost to his knees. Williams
gets a mighty sweep, which carries the
hali at "A mighty velocity. Williams has
been instructed to work under wraps
for a while, but, if reports from the
West can be relied upon. he will be
-how.ng some great speed a. soon as
the word goes forth TO cut loose.
Ed Ainsmith plans TO spend sunday in
Washington. but will be back on the
Iob Oh Monday.
Otto Nye. the Springfield, Ill. high
school pitcher. will be absent until
about the Ist OF June. Although he
was signed some time ago. the contract
calls for him beng allowed 10 remain
AT home until the end Of the scholastic
wear.
Those az the Nationals vino have seen
the CUllegiaus in praCtiC. opinC thai
Jack RYAN will have q good team at
the University of Virginia There are
several gaps. caused by graduationS,
but there seems to he q surfeit of ca
p&ble timber to fight for the positions.
Things should be buzzinG at the train
iEg house before long. with Schaefcr
on the world tour. Milan on lishing
N Tennessee. and Shanks On the OUTPUT
OF his oil wells near the now famous
MonCca, there should b. 10 dearth OF
astonishing yarns.
II did lot take the word long to be
Dassed around that Walter johnson had
arrived Now every time the Coffey-
vile man goes out he has on his trail
a string of village urchins anxious TO
tcCch the hem of the garment Of the
Srand twiTler.