The Washington herald., 1917-03-02
Grifmen viii Receive Military
Instructions During Prac-
tice at Augusta.
BY JOHN A, DUGAN.

be held tomorrow morning. This initial
workout will be marked with unexpected
distinction, as Ty Cobb, the greatest of
them all. and the speed merchant of
Hughey Jennings's Detroit Tigers, will
be In uniform with the boys and take his
first work of the season
Ty Is native son OF this thriving
Dixie CITY," and since he Is not due to
report to the Detroit Tigers Hntil March
10 he insisted upon taking advantage OF
these few days workout with the Ma
tional squad.
The Southern Rather which left the
Capital on Wednesday afternoon. arrived
here this morning 10 minutes behind
schedule. Most OF the boys showed the
effects of the 500 miles ride and all hands
were excused from practice this after
noon.
Trainer Mike Martin and Uncle Nick
Altrock. who are now in charge Of the
squad, were on hand at the station to
meet the boys and Immediately piloted
them to the Albion Hotel. which will be
the headquarters OF the Griffmen during
their stay in Augusta.
Three OF the players are still due to
report. namely Bert Gallia, from Texas;
Charlie Humphreys. from Tate, Ca. and
Johnny Berry, from Chicago. Trainer
Mike Martin is looking for this trio at
any time and Is sure that the entire ad-
vance squad will be present when the
gong sounds to send them into their hrst
action in the morning.
The camp has been greeted with a
drizzlins rain all day and the native
sons are now figuring a rainy spell
and floods which are not discouragin
to the players. The climate is Just ftted
for early season training. as even with
the constant down-pour OF rain the boys
were forced to cast aside their over
coats and vest.
With the budding OF the trees and the
blooming of the flowers, Augusta has
already pushed Charlottesville among the
discards as far as q location for the
training of clubs in the big Tent" and
Trainer Martin Is confident he will have
the gang" in a tip-top shape to breeze
them thru when the Old Fox issues
the call
George Dumont, the little right-hand
finger. who was sent to the Minneapolis
club of the Association last summer for
more seasoning. along with Claude
Lefty Thomas. from Des Moines, re-
ported Just in time for the evening meal
Dumont has been on the road since Mon
day night and hit the "shucks" early
while Thomas who has been travelling
since Tuesday was greatly in favor OF
the much-needed rest.
Dumont tells interesting stories about
the st. Paul derby dog race and claims
that he was one Of the crowd that en-
couraged Hartman on his final trip of 81
miles. 1t will be remembered that Hart
man finished last in this great race, but
was really made the hero Of the occa-
sion because Of the gameness he showed.
Dumont and Thomas both look trim and
are ready to get away to a flying start in
the morning.
The camp was visited today by Billy
Lowe. the ONO and Boston infielder
who Is now scouting for the Detroit
Tigers.
Billy held a long chat with Trainer
Martin. John Henry, and Nick Altrock.
but denied that he was on hand for any
business pertaining to any recent trouble
that Ty Cobb has had with the Detroit
club.
Jimmy Grace. at one time one of the
leading batters IN the New England
League, accompanied Lowe and helped to
keep the "Old Pep in the many tanning
bees that were held during the after
noon.
Although being excused for the prac-
tice today many of the youngsters could
not resist the chance of looking over the
Augusta ball park. and a journey was
made to the grounds. The Dixie city"
boast OF the best park in the South At
lantic League, the infeld being built on a
hard clay. and It is not one OF the fam
Gus sand infields of the South. This is
one of the two grounds in this section
that can boast of a grass-covered IN
field.
The players are greatly in favor Of Capt.
Til Houston's movement of preparedness
and military training each day, and are
anxiously awaiting for an army sergeant
from the War Department to appear here
to mt hoy uDh tkor
stunts.
The Albion is in the center Of the
city, in the fire-swept section that came
near wiping out this city about a year
ago. The boys will march from the
hotel at each practice and will be put
through the manual of arms at the
grounds which are about one mile from
headquarters.
Uncle Nick Altrock has already bten
appointed by the players as corporal of
the guards, and will handle the drilling
of the players until the arrival of the
War Department expert.
Charlie Jameson, the title outhelder
who has been sent South with the ad-
vance squad this season as a pitcher
is anxious to get down to work. as he
believes that he can show the "Old Fox
enough scuth-paw twisters to warrant
Grifith's giving him a call among his
best left-handers this summer.
Eddie Charity was quite a little peev-
ed when the question of Early Ying-
lins's ability was presented to him. Char
rtty was a trihe sore because a St
Louis paper had misquoted him In say
ing that Earl was better than any left
handler In Ban Johnsons circuit Eddie
remembers well the ability of Babe Ruth
Eddy Plank. and a few others.
John T. Berry. who was sent to the las
world series for being the best amateur
ball player in Chicago, reported here at
O'Clock tonight from the Windy City.
Berry is q right-hand pitcher. five feet ten
inches tall and weighs 100 pounds. Berry
Is the only newcomer that has hit the
camp to date.