The Washington herald., 1917-03-27
GRIFFITH DISSATISFIED
With TEAMS HITTING
transformers Escape Train Wreck En-
Route from Memphis to Nashville.
NJ John nUTGAN
By JOHN A. DUGAl

shown to date in the exhibition games,
as nineteen safe base blows are all the
clan have obtained in the three contests.
While playing in Memphis against the
Chickasaws and the Cincinnati Redlegs
the Nationals obtained a total of thirteen
bingles, and this amount Of safe base
knocks did not meet with the satisfac-
ton Of Boss Grifr but the old number of
thirteen proved to be the lucky standby
of the Capital City as the transforming
squad barely escaped being wrecked
while en- route from Memphis to this city.
The Griffmen's special was due to ar
rive here at a. M, but the old Louis
willie and Nashville schedule shows a
three hour delay. Two freight trains had
head-on smash-up about eighty miles
ont Of Nashville, and II 1t had not been
for a twenty-minute delay in getting
away from Memphis the Nationals squad
would have been one Of the principals in
this head-on collision.
The boys today stood for the calling
which the Old Fox handed out, but each
of them was thanking his stars for
thirteen, at all times IL this lucky num-
Der keeps them out Of train smashups.
The Nationals were handed today their
first real setback of the training and
transforming tour, when they were
forced to lay idle because OF rainy
a.
both squads were in training, were the
boys forced to lay idle, as on the four
occasions when rain fell a good workout
was held.
Shortly after the arrival of GrifHth's
clan the skies opened and rained buckets
full" and Manager Gilman, of the Nash
Vile Vols. called of the game at noon
This is the rainy season in Western Ten
nessee, and bad weather may follow the
III TF1OnK
but the Old Fox tonight is smiling, as
the stars are shining brightly, and pros
poets for game tomorrow look good.
The local ball park is under a foot OF
water due to the backing up Of the cul-
bert and river. and the game today was
scheduled to be held at the Vanderbilt
University ball grounds.
Mollie Craft and Charlie Jameson were
slated to do the hurling honors, but the
local fans have issued so many requests
to the Old Fox to work Walter Johnson
that tonight he stated he would work
the smoke ball king in three innings OF
the game tomorrow.
Clyde Milan is as big an attraction
around the hotel lobby as Walter John
son, as Clyde's home Is only sixty miles
from Nashville and every baseball fan in
TINS tennessee town seems to know the
neet-footed Linden outfelder
Milan's father made the trim to this
city from Linden to watch his renowned
son In action and Of course confirmed a
re" OF the cunning stories that the Ten
nessee nyer has handing out this spring.
The elder Milan is greatly pleased with
the reports OF the progress of his son
horace but was trile disappointed
"hen ne learned that Hoss had been sent
up the coast with the second SQUAD
Manager Griffith will not let the rain
today set hiR cluh bacL
issued orders tonight for two practices
tomorrow, this will be the first double
session that either OF the squads have
heid since the first military drill was
held In the Augusta training camp.
Grin ordered this double workout to-
morrow, because he is not vet satisfied
with the hitting ability OF the regulars
and at the meeting OF the SQUAD this
afternoon stated that II they did not
show a vast improvement with the willow
that he would hold these double work
outs over the balance Of the barnstorrn
Ing route.
Tho boys enjoyed quite a laugh this
morning when Boss Griff received a wire
from Ray Morgan, who is plotting the
1annigans up the coast. stating that he
was stranded and must have a few colo
oolars TO carry out the trip. The Old
FOX has not heard q word from the
second stringers until he received the
wire today, but he quickly telegraphe6
the Baltimore watch charm a century
note to see him over the route from
Raleigh. N. c., to the Capital City.
Grih tonight received word from
Louisville that they may not be able to
play the games at the ball park in that
city as the Kentucky club ball park is a.
present also flooded with water, but the
management of the Colonials claim that
these exhibition contests could be held
on college diamond in that city.
Street was around the hotel bright and !
early today and talked over old times
with his famous battery partner, Walter |
Johnson. while Eddie Ainsmith and
George Mcbride were the other members
OF the local clan that were team mates
OF the once famous American League re- |
ceiver
Street has not changed one bit, and
looks like the old "Gabby'' that perform
ed years of service at the Florida avenue
station.
Claude Thomas, the big southpaw hurler
Of tho Nationals who has contracted a
slight attack of tonsilitis was not al
lowed to leave the hotel today, as the
DesMoines side wheeler has shown the
Old Fox great deal of twisters, and
Griffith is depending upon him to be one
Of his mainstays in the left hand de-
partment when the gong sounds
The trainer, Martin, has Thomas under
his care and stated tonight that he would |
have the lanky southpaw in shape in time
to work one Of the games against the |
Cincinnati club in Louisville.