The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-01
By JOHN 4 DCGAN.

By JOHN 4 DUGAN.
Charlottesville, Va, Feb. 2S.-The
old southern RATHER with Coach Jack
Ryan and ten Of the Nationals husky
youngsters aboard pulled into the
Charlottesville training camp on time
this afternoon.
Mike Martin, the only "Muldoon' in
the ira. ~ line in the American
League, had completed arrangements
and nothing remained for the young
sters to do but to unpaCk and make
ready for the long grind before them.
which starts tomorrow. Weather con-
ditions could have been made no bet
ter, even if the old Fox" had ar
ranged with the weather bureau for
the ocCa sion. y real spring day
greeted the squad here and all hands
did not linger long in shedding over
coats.
Even with these pleasant surround
ings and the tired feeling from the
Ions slow train ride. the bunch or
youngsters could not resist the can
of hunger and were not long in put
ting a good old Southern meal be-
meath their belts
Handshaking and the greetings of
How is the luck, joe How have
you been Jim" started the first
squad of the Nationals and half
dozen newspaper men on their jour
ney while the usual posing for pic
lures and instructions from Manager
Griffith were sandwiched in between.
Among Those Present.
Eight twirlers and two catchers made
up the squad which left Union Station
this morning. Engel. Boehling. shaw.
Harper. Clark. Bentley. and Thormahlen
reporting a the station. while Harry
Stevens. the younEster who was given a
trial last season by the Nationals, was
also carried along for another chance 10
break into the big show. Catchers Henry
and Ainsmith were on the job. the first
named looking TO he in midseason playing
condition.
After a glance at the squad trainer
Mike Martin declar red that all were over
weight and If no binding snowstorms
hit this burg within the next twenty
four hours. Coach Ryan will take the
boys to the field tomorrow morning bright
and early for the initial workout
Lambeth Field is in the best possible
condition. and each younSster is anxious
ly awaiting the call for action.
Quite few loyal rooters were on hand
at the station to bid the squad goodby,
among the number being Sylvester Brcen.
OF the Cardinal Athletic Club. of Alex
andria
Nick Altrock the veteran southpaw.
coach of the Nationals pitchers, was
present but did not make the first trip
as he remained behind to help Manager
Griffith round up the main string. which
will make the journey next week.
Boost from Nick AItrocL.
Before saying goodby. Nick put in a
big boost for Jack Bentley and Harry
Harper. who were at Annapolis with
him the past two weeks. The Nationals
funny man. claims that both are
ready and that each has improved a
great deal. The Hackensa"k South
paw and Sandy Spring" Jack say they
can start a game tomorrow if the old
Fox was 10 call upon them. and Nick
is handed the credit for rounding them
into form. During the snort stay at
Annapolis tho youngsters We're on the
field eight days and have learned Nick's
clever movement toward first base. Both
are confident that neither Ty Cobb or
Bert Shutton could beat out a hunted
ball on them.
OF the squad. Herbert Thormahlcn
from Jersey City. is the youngest. three
months the junior of Allen Clark. the
Jack Eentlcy's uncle. Young Thormah-
the Bob Groom lines. He is six feet and
weighs 115 pounds He was recon-
mended 10 Manager Griffith by Jack
Ryan. who was tipped off about the
Eoungster by Otto Patrick, friend of
Jacks up in the Jersey State.
Thormahlen is semi-pro. having
played with the Duquesne club of Jer-
sey City last season. and in the fourteen
games in which he worked. he did not
meet defeat.
Young Clark Confident.
Young Clark. from Montgomery
County. has been playing sandlot and
semiprofessional baseball with the
Rockville and Silver Spring teams for
the past three years and although
short of build he tips the beam at
Ia pounds. If confidence counts for
the Capital City fans will
see another youthful phenom ip
action this summer
All along the line on the trip down, |
the fans were on the station platforms
with some sort of a greeting for the |
boys. At Manassas, Va, the train
was visited by the largest crowd, and
the boys were called upon individually |
to make themselves known. Eddie
Ainsmith was given big hand" by
a few refined colored gentlemen. The
self-appointed leader of the crew |
wished Eddie the best of luck for |
himself and his family, and finished |
by pleading with him not to allow |
Ty Cobb or any of the other speed |
to steal base. Jim Shaw, |
the Pittsburgh collegian, came
with the assertion that Cobb |
or any OF them would not get on |
while he was doing the hurting duties. |
as the old whistle sounded sending
the RATHER through its snakelike |
course. |
As soon as the boys boarded the bus
At Charlottesville quartet was formed |
and real melody furnished. Bentley, Aim
smith, Shaw. and Engel rendered the /
latest selections with 'Tipperary" as n |
headliner. With four hours OF real prac-
tice along this line. they have succeeded |
In landing something that docs not snlind