The Sentinel=record., 1918-09-06
ONLY THE FANS WERE
 IN ATTENDANCE AT GAME
Effect of the War Was Everywhere Apparent Especially in the Temper of the Crowd-There Was No Cheering During the Contest and Little Umpire Batting.

Chicago, Sept 5.-One of the small est crowds which ever turned out for a worlds sries opening saw the Bos- ton Red tSox of the American league defeat the Cubs of the National league to today The battle was be- tween two eminent representatives of what the dictionary calls the fanny
 hippopotamidae - namely, Hippo Vaughn of the Cubs, and another hip DO repoicing in the name of Babe" Ruth These two giants fought It our all the way, and although Ruth allowed six hits to his opponents five in an errorless game, the break went to the invaders and they were correctly making confident claims of the world $ pennant tonight.
 The effect of the war was every- where apparent, especially i'll the tenn per of the crowd which was largely local, saw the locals defeated. T, gre was no cheering during the contest, nor was there anything like the usual umpire batting.
 Hank O'Day Of the National league, who offlciated behind the E,ate. wa, caught munching bag of peanuts af- ter the game.
 We were not roasted once durifg the game by players or spectators' said he. Then he added slowly: Neither are the peanuts; paid ten cents for them, including war tax, if there was one"
 Today's attendance was precisely 19,274. No seats were occupied in the upper tiers of the second floor of the grand stand and the right section Of the stand was practically empty. In the left section there was many vacant chairs. A number of boxes also wero without occupants and in the bleacl- CTS the three lower rows all around the field weer absolutely vacant.
 War taxes. the high cost of living. curtailed train service at advanced prices, the weather, the short season and over all the shadoy of the war were said to account for tho indiffer- ence of the public.
 The dyed-in-the- wool fans were there, but not the general public. At intervals six aeroplanes from the war exposition on the lake front reminded | the spectators that baseball is not an | essential industry Even the brass
 band was cut down to a war basis of | 12 piece, and 1t attracted most atten- ton when at played the Star Span gled Banner" on this occasion players , and audience stood respectfully Fred Thomas, third baseman for
 Boston, in the Red Sox uniform by grace of If days furlough from the
 Great Lakes naval training station, istood at the rigid salute of the tackles while the hymn was played.
 1 One thrill was granted the crowd
 aside from the game and that was
 what must have happened to the as- | ipirations of the ticket spectators.
 They had unlimited seats which they
 attempted to sell at double and even
 treble normal prices.
 The one-handed spear by Scott of 1 Vaughn's hot grounder provided the
 one spectacular feature of the contest.
 It was a beautiful play. hut at the :, time the Cubs were not threatening. The whole nine innings failed to pro- duce hit for extra bases nor any real ltest of speed for the outfielders. George Whiteman, Boston utility
 ontfielder, starred in the outfield for Boston and doubtless prevented the Cubs from scoring. He was also the only man of the invaders to make two Units. one of which figured in Bostons lone, but victorious tally
 VanghE's momentary weakness in | lCfiNrTIkrIrI.D QN pAcc u.IIQ HIcN