The Washington herald., 1917-03-12
Acosta Is Expected to Report
Before the Nationals
Break Camp.
By JOHN A. DUGAN,

EuSneu lODOy at lamp AlDOui
today when word was handed around
that Walter johnson, the king of all
moundsmen, had arrived, many curious
to get their first slant at the Coffey-
willie smokeball HEAVIER.
Johnson arrived here shortly after the
midday meal Although slightly under
weight. the Big Smoke Is confident that
he will round into form in the next few
days. Johnson has been assigned to the
evening squad as most of the players on
the Regulars are not as far advanced as
the Yannigans, and will take his first
workout tomorrow.
Walter was delayed because of the
Illness of Walter jr., but the youngster
Is fast recovering from stomach poi
soning that has held him on the edge Of
life during the past three weeks. john
son shows the strain of many worried
hours, as his face is a little drawn and
he is under the required poundage.
In reference to the story printed last
month about the smokeban HEAVIER
breaking through the ice while coon hunt
ing, johnson states that it was no joke,
as he had a seventeen minute battle with
the icy water. before he pulled himself
out of the hole. 1t seems that Walter
and his party had crossed. this river
a number OF times that night and
that they were close on the trail of
Mr.. Coon" when the ice gave way.
Walter said that he would climb up
on the edge of the ice and attempt to
pull himself out. only to have it crash in
with him again. He repeated this per-
formance for nearly ten minutes when his
brother-in-law finally reached him with
pole. Walter claims that he never lost
bis nerve during this battle, but that 1t
makes the cold chills rum any time he
now thinks OF it. With the addition of
Johnson to the squad today, only little
Cuba Acosta is among the missing. and
the Old Fox does not expect him to report
until shortly before we leave here on the
night of March %, because of the revolu-
ton in Cuba.
Griff thinks that Cuba Is having quite
n time getting out of the country. as his
father is one of the leaders OF the rebels.
II was another of those blue law Sun
days for the athletes at Camp Albion
today. as no practice was held and the
athletes amused themselves by taking in
the church services. long hikes and auto
mobile rides.
Many of them turned in early today so
as to get the benefit OF jumping into an
early workout tomorrow
Preparedness has at last hit Camp AL
bion, as Corporal Dean. Of the Georgia
recruiting service, is here and made final
arrangements with the Old Fox tonight.
The entire band OF athletes will go
through the foot movements and manual
of arms every morning from until 10
o'clock. Guns will be eliminated. and the
willow stick so handily used by Ty Cobb
and Iris Speaker will be served in their
places.
With the arrival Of this War Depart
ment drillmaster. the Old Fox was COM
PEELED to change his entire form Of prac-
tice. as the squads which were divided
into two will work out together. and
hold two practices a day instead of one.
which has been the program since the
Old Fox hit Camp Albion. With both
squads training together the interclub
games will no doubt start on Tuesday
afternoon, or Wednesday morning.
Because of the recent trouble Harry
Harper Is having with his left wing.
Grin Is paying a great deal Of attention
to left-hand fingers. and during the en-
tire practice yesterday. afternoon the Old
Fox followed the work of Jameson and
Thomas
Both of the sidewheelers are spitbau
artists, and Griff was on them all the
evening to halt them in shooting the
curve.
Thomas is ready now to step on the
mound and go the route, while little
Jameson will be in o. K shape by
Wednesday. Thomas claims that he uses
MS curve Ddll as Inc eueCOVo one, DuI
the Old Fox would not stand for either
Of these southpaws using curves, 50 when
the two squads roll back into the Capital
around the first of April, the Nationals
will present two fast southpaw spitbau
artists.
Jameson is one Of the best fielding
pitchers that ever stepped upon a mound,
as he gathers in the bunts with great
form, and has yet to heave one wild.
he Nat ola Aar f0,ak fav, Iarr
to spend in this Dixie city. before they
entrain for the Transforming trips to
the Capital. Billy Flower. the secretary
OF the club, will make the trip to this
city on next Tuesday, and will make the
transforming trip with the Regulars.
Plans have all been arranged for the
Yannlgans excepting the naming of a
manager FOR the party. as the Old Fox
is slightly at sea at present as to who
he will put in charge OF the ''Yanns'' on
their trip up the coast. Many of the
jumps which the youngsters will take are
long ones. and require climbing out of
bed at a. m. and a. m, and none OF
the veterans seem overanxious to be
pilot Of a transforming affair of this
kind.
Final arrangements have not been made
for the trip of the Regulars. as the Old
Fox is having quite a battle to straighten
out the route according to these Southern
railroads.
OF the eleven pitchers that the Old
Fox has working out, eight are working
on contracts that call for a bonus should
they win the required number Of games.
Doc Ayers. is working or a bonus and
in tanning bee yesterday stated that
should the Nationals pitchers that are
working on these bonus contracts earn
this extra money that the Nationals
would be so far out in front on Labor
Day that they could quit.
Grfff has always believed in making
q player work for himself as much as he
does for the club, and with this bonus
in view many Of them will be plugging
along to grab off this extra change
Although 1t Is six more days before St
Patrick's Day. trainer Mike Martin Is to-
Day sporting around an Irish shamrock"
the compliments of President Sylvester
Breen, Of the Cardinal Athletic Club of
Alexandra, Va.
CROOKS PJ. ANS FLAG