Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-22
billy SMITH IS GIVEN
SOME CAUSE FOR WORRY
weather Man and HcsitatinE Play
ers EeccssitatcS His Disposition
Working Overtime.
LINES OUT FOR NEW PLAYERS
Manager Reticcnt Concerning Nego-
ia tiations Until lie AccomplishcS
RI Something Defnitc-S atu lay
Game With l.. T.. :. Uncertain.

There is just one thing tina, pre-
vents the story OF recent occurrences
sSof the Nirginians' camp being a tale
OF woe: that is Billy Smiths dispo-
slfion
Yes, some ball players and Il few
1 managers have dispositions just Xix"
buds" actresses and automobile en-
gines.
Uncle William has one, and it is OF
4 the variety generally styled as sun
tsny." That, as was mentioned in tn"
beginning. is tho only thing that pre-
vents the rc,ellng of a wo.ful tale.
For things did not move yesterday
as loyal fans would haN" them move.
v It begins to appear that "a little group
OF willful men" is likely 10 give the
! local manager considerable cause for
worry before long, and tho Weather
Man ecowled upon tho efforts of IN"
players who endeavorcd 10 ork-oui
yesterday.
The group Of willful players likely
z to cause the manager concern * CON-
posed of McKenry. Futrcll, Mcpcrmott
Reynolds. HariScii and Baker. From
several OF them. either directly or in
directly, had come tidiucs c"nccrnin:
tho jmprobahility OF their reporting
Such news would 10 sufficient cause
/, to bring a crouch % tn" average man
aver, but Billy Smith has q disposition
that is as Big Bertha 20 crouches.
He received the n"ws calmly ycSier-
day and then set 20 work preparing
to replace them should thcN fail 10
appear Even the inability 10 secure
practice because Of the rain dii n"'
cffacc the smile wrinkles from his face.
Futrcn lin. Injured Leg.
s Futreu. regarded a. a probable reg
ular backstop. Is reported 70 Ice ou-
Of the game for some time with an
injured leg. Baker. the sem.p"c. has
lost his nerve about trying out with
professionals, according TO report. and
has f-t II
here Graham Bruce wishes to COM
plcts his school wear and Will be sent
TO the Blue Ridge League Al his own
request.
10. and Clemens ON April !. Nothing
has been heard from Mckerry or Me
Dermott and il Is regarded AS possi-
bic they Will not come 10 Richmond.
Hack Eibel still is among the miss
ing, but IL is thought he Viii show up
by the early par; OF next week. iloff-
man has wired that he is ON his way.
These uncertainties relating I" The
makeup OF tho squad and involving
the more experienced Of III" men en-
pectcd here are sufficient 10 cause wor-
ny without the Weather Man huttine
in. He did so with considerable push
yesterday, and only few of the play
ers were able to handle "a ball NJ all.
These tossed il back and forth under
the shelter of trees at WcSthampton.
All of the twenty-five men, :nclud-
ing Manager Smith. now in the squad
were present at the park. ana IN UNI
form yesterday morning by 10 o'clock
They loafed about the grounds. swaprcd
stories of the winter adventures and
hustled to tho side lines for brief
periods OF ball tossing between show
ers until o'clock. when. they Went
to lunch. All OF them were held al
the field until o'clock TO take ad-
vantage of spell of sunshine. but
mot raw e. n..I
TO the city finally without having ac-
companicd great deal.
Saturday came Unccrtnin.
There is some uncertainty concern
ing the game with the spiders on sat
: urday. although il is probable chat the
contest will he played either on that
day or on Friday. The Spiders have
q game scheduled with the Union Theo-
logical Seminary FOR saturday, ana
will he compelled 20 cancel il in order
10 play the Nirginans. Manager
3 Smith said last night that he had
heard nothing OF that contest. and that
he imagined il must have Slipped the
! minds of the athletic authorities at
Richmond College
Coach Frank bobson also had heard
/. nothing OF the game hut said that ii
4 il had been scheduled ii probably
. would be cancelled Tn" Union Theo-
logical Seminary schedule calls for the
4 contest. and Manager Bowling last
night was Of the belief that i, would
4 lie played.
Both Billy SmI,h and Coach pobson
/ have been !qok.ug fGrward To the OPP
4 portunity OF seeing the men in action
4 Saturday, and IL is probable that the
1 game will be played. ii possible 1t
5 will enable local fans 10 see tho pros
pectivc NirGinians in real game Tor
the initial time, and should furnish
& some idea of their ability. The CON
tests to be played next week with the
4 Spiders should pa; that nine into excel
!; lent condition for their first game.
Lines have been east for several men
\ whom Billy Smith hopes TO bring to
& Richmond this season. and negotiations
n are under way FOR Il couple OF them.
81 However. the local manager is Keeping
~ quiet concerning the players until nc
Z has succeeded in learning Soucthine
b definite. The troublcs OF Yesterday did
y not leave him with "a crouch. Rather.
3 they speedcd UP his efforts to land the
Il men he wishes To soc in N!reIniau uui-
Is forms. in tn. event the h-sitntlug
players decide to do a f,dt-aNav slid.