The Washington times., 1921-11-01

two downtown establishments have
refuse to put them on the runways d.
To cater at all TO tenpins would
be waste OF time both to the bowl
Ing alley and bowlers, II Is cal
culated. for in those rare instances
when the big pins are set up for
customer invariably one or two
games are rolled and the bowler
reverts to the little pins. Then the
alley must remain idle until the
pin boy packs away the big naples
and digs out the little ones. With
bowling alleys at a premium, the
time lost thusly Is considered flag
grant waste. Nearly as many are
turned away from bowling alleys.
especially in the evenings, as can
be supplied with runways. s9
League Dies.
The real death OF tenpins In Wash
lngton occurred two years ago with
the discontinuance OF the Washing.
ton City .Tenpin League, which,
under different names had been In
existence for many years. In II
were gathered virtually all the old
time pinspillers in the city.
Famous among them was Harry
Krauss who even today holds the
worlds record for endurance in roll
rng tenpins. For twenty-four con
secutive hours Krauss hammered
away at the naples for an average
around 1870. That was In 1908 on
the old Palace alleys in E street.
where much bowling history was
made.
In former years Washington ten
pin bowlers went long distances I'm
quest of fame and 'coin in national
tournaments. None will go this
year. II is predicted. TIC retain ac.
curacy in tenpin bowling, or any
kind of bowling, one must practice
above everything else.
How They DO 1t.
Practice. Practice. Practice is the
method by which Jimmy Smith, Gengr
Ter, and other famous bowlers become
remarkably skilled. Smith for years
was recognized as the greatest tenpin
bowler In America.
The extreme TO which Smith would
go in practicing is well illustrated by
the popularity of the New York pin
spiller in using his bedroom for a
bowling alley during the wee hours of
morning Harry Krauss recites an in
stance of which he knew personally In
which Smith, on the eve of a tourney,
propped the mattress of his bed against
the wall of his hotel room and prac-
ticed his delivery by rolling the ball
across the floor.
Gengler caused sensation in Wash
ington some years ago Wearing a
frock tailed coat with sartorial trim
mings to suit. he appeared at the
Palace alleys one winter evening and
offered to match his skill against any
body present with the sky as the limit
in betting.
The best bowlers in Washington
were there and the tail. blond stranger
with sparkling blue eyes. soon was
engaged. No matter how many pins
his opponent toppled, Gengler toppled
just few more, and there were some
great scores recorded at that.
Cleaned Up.
Gengler remained in Washington
about two days. never appearing at
the same alley twice. 1t is said he
left the Capital with gorged pockets,
and IL was not until months afterward
that his identity was learned. He was
known for a time here. as Count
Getz." He got them. right enough.
Gengler is n great trick bowler. One
Of his favorite stunts is the using of
his cane in the manner OF ascre 10
shoot duckpins. He has beerf Known
TO bet real coin on his abifitpsto get
certain number OF pins on ffGffirst
ball or to hit any pin by the cane
method. Gehgler came originally from
Luxembourg where they bowl tenpins
with no finger holes in the ball. He
is now a citizen of Newark. n. J.