The Washington herald., 1914-02-27
by DAMON RuNYoN.

football field, in the heart of historic
old Chelsea. doomed the weird war
chant of the Americans while his maj
esty, King George OF England. ana
10000 of his subjects sat listening.
What had been going along as a
pureIy perfunctory exhibition of Amer
ica's national pastime, TO be politely
explained 10 curious Britons at ones
elbow, suddenly took on an aspect OF
real baseball battle. and several
thousand temporarily expatriated
Americans wedged in among bewild-
cred Englishmen, and let their voices
drift out into the haze.
They momentarily forgot their neigh-
bors and the courtesies Of the occa-
sion: the skyline of London seemed to
fade into dingy smokestacks of upper
Harlem. for il had come to sundown
and the last half of the eleventh in
ming, with the score tied between the
baseball clubs bearing the names OF
the New York Giants mad the Chicago
White SoX.
out of the packed stands rose voices
that Enthusiastically twanged of New
England and rasped of Chicago as the
owners raised the old familiar cries or
the American bleacher gods, while the
British looked on and marveled.
Leaning over the railing of the royal
box, nervously tugging at his short
smilingly heard the American Amoas-
sador, Walter II. Pages. hurried ex-
planation of the situation. Up to the
last of the ninth it had been a rather
snappy exhibition of baseball, espe-
- cialiy in the fielding. but with few ele-
ments OF real excitement.
CrayyTord's Swat Knots Count.
The majority of the spectators, espe-
cisIIv the Americans, were more interest
ed in the king than in the game, but with
the Giants two runs ahead, two out in the
last Of the ninth. Sam Crawford, the
great slugger of the Detroit Tigers, SIAM
med out a homer into centerfeld bleach
ers. driving home Buck Weaver from sec
ond. that was when those Americans
really began TO cut loose with some
homelike enthusiasm. Even the British
seemed to sense the tense excitement OF
the situation One could close his eyes
and easily imagine himself in any stand
in America at the critical moment OF the
game in the last OF the ninth, with none
out.
Tom Daily, the White Sox youngster,
who has been playing first base on the
trip. smashed another homer into the
bleachers in the eleventh inning, giving
the White Sox a 5-to-i victory, ending not
only the game but the worlds tour.
It has been decided not to play any
more games, and the party will sail for
America on the Lusitania from Liverpool
Saturday afternoon.
The royal box was an inclosurc in the
center of the srandstand. just behind the
catcher's position. 1t was fenced of from
the rest of the stand and decorated with
the royal colors. screen had been
placed along the front of the grand stand
10 protect the spectators. The king was
trifle late in arriving. but the stand
was packed when he appeared about
o'clock. He came I'm an ordinary limou-
sine with Ambassador Page and with
only couple OF equerries.
: place of royal crown surmounting,
the royal dome was topped by a plain
derby hat. As his majesty entered the
inclOsure the crowd rose, barred heads
and remained standing until the King
was seated. Then Jawn J. MeGraw,
Charley Comiskey and Jimmy Callahan
appeared in the royal box escorted by H
{. BCnnell, the advance agent of the
tour. They were introduced one by one
TO the King by Ambassador Page King
George shook hands with each man. said
he was glad they ere here with the
ball clubs and hoped they were enjoying
t. visit Bunnell then handed the King
a baseball
King Hands Over Ball.
His majesty handed II to Callahan,
which amounted to the ceremony of the
King pitching the first ball. That ball
was the one put into play at the start
OF the game, but was then given to-
COmiskey as a souvenir.
McGraw and Callahan were both dress
ed in citizens clothes and did not appear
on the field throughout the game. The
hing conversed steadily with Ambassador
Page. who explained all the fine points
of the game. The royal visitor seemed
TO be. very deeply interested in the sport.
Bin KLEIN, who umpired did not an
nOunce the batteries and did not intro
duce each player as had been the Gus
tom everywhere else. This omission was
at the request of the ambassador. though
for what reason is unknown. The man
ayers and umpire ere carefully coached
TO the necessary etiquette in conduct
OF the game as well as in meeting the
King.
At the end Of the eighth inning which
came about o clock, hundreds of spec
tatOrs arose, left their seats and went
out 10 an institution known as a tea
bar to get tea. BY the time they had
their tea and returned, the game was
over
The crowd seemed to gather in the
points of the game very quickly and were
all struck by the rapidity of the plays |
Mike Donlin had the spectators in the
center field bleachers acting for all the
world like Yankee bleacherites before
three innings were over. They applauded
every moyo Mike made.
Red Faber, n youngster belonging 10
the White SoX- hut who has done about |
the only effective pitching McGraw has