The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-01

10y
While. I'm not expected to be a
ne took part in the first pepper dr.
may come a. time when. ] may be
dents come along and it may come
ball So you will find me working
] may quit then to give the other
them now myself"
The arrival of the vanguard from
Washington at Lakeland yesterday
afternoon gave Uncle Nick Altrock
his first opportunity of the season
OF course, during the two hours
spent at Jacksonville he had called
upon his. friend. the chief of police
known as Shorty" because he
stands six feet four inches and
weighs in the nefghborhood of
three Or four hundred pounds. But
Il was not tin Lakeland came that
Nick was at his best.
Iris Speaker, with the first of
the Cleveland Indians, was ex-
pected to arrive on that train and
some four hundred fans were at the
station headed by forty Elks, a banu
and q committe of prominent citl-
gems. The Elks were on hand to
take charge of the Indians baggage.
The band was there to play, See,
the Conquering Hero Comes" the
reception committee had its speech
al sIined up and the fans had
their own pet college yell in fine
working order
When the train came to a halt
at the station there was a rush to
the car occupied by the Washing
ton players. The fans stood be-
meath the windows, many calling,
Here we are. This is Lakeland
Come on out" So finally being I'M
able to stand the pressure longer,
Uncle Nick quit the fan-tan game
ard numbered out to the platform.
Looking over the big crowd he
broke forth as follows:
Ladies and gentlemen, it gives
me great pleasure to greet you as
the leader OF the delegation from
Washington, the Nations Capital.
club, but q far greater. more
more powerful, more
about then some gink out there
II the crowd recognized the speak
En- and howled. Hello, Nick, how's
everything on North Capitol street,"
Quickly through the crowd spread
the information that Uncle Nick Alt
rock, the famous baseball comedian,
WAS addressing the fans. They
yelled for him to continue, not
knowing that he had reached an inn
posse, IL you get what we mean.
He had exhausted his vocabulary.
He had only gestures left in his hat
bag. So he threw a handful of
them in the general direction of
&f%a fonG nd h1Ir.V-io6 hoPk fn his
tan tan game.
The band struck up a lively tune,
the Elks fell in behind. followed by
the committee of prominent citizens
OF Lakeland, and started off toward
the lake. But the fans hung
around the Washington party's
special car, all trying to catch
glimpse of the famous comedian
who had almost made a speech.
The fans demanded a speech.
They said they didn't care so much
about the arrival of Speaker, if
only Uncle Nick would. entertain
them. They wanted to know if
Walter Johnson was in the car, if
Clark Griffith was there, if Nick be-
lOnged to the Elks or the Moose.
When the train finally did pull
away, 1t left behind some four hun
dred disappointed fans, not disap-
pointed so much at the non-arrival
or Iris Speaker and his Indians as
because Uncle Nick and the Wash
4ngton players were not going to
train there this spring.
AT Plant City, home of the real
and original Florida strawberry,
three slices to the pound when. fully
ripe, Uncle Nick met with a sad
disappointment. He went out and
Purchased a box of the luscious
fruit, marching back and offering
them to all and sundry.
lowing to his generosity the en-
tire top layer was gone before he
began on the box himself. Lo and
behold, some vile miscreant had
filled that box with small, green
berries, covering them with a layer
OF red ripe ones, bursting with
juice and it was that top layer
which Uncle Nick had given away.
He growled all the way in to
Tampa, cheering up only when it
came time to leave the train and
start for the hotel
Two raw, green kid pitchers
are here, beginning their training
today. They were on hand when
the party arrived last evening
from washington. HeZekiah
KrOnlxheit Beach, from Cairo, ILL.,,
and Squire Bartholomew Vande-
GRIT Potter, from Knoxville,
Tenn, are the lads.
Squire Potter had hand like
Jess Wizards and pair of dogs
quite in keeping with them. He ID
q tall, heavily shouldered boy, fresh
from the country. He was mani
testify i'll at ease last night wher
the lords and ladies fair were strut
ting in the capacious lobby of the
hotel. He probably thought the
women immodest when they were
only stylish. He had short con
ference with President Griffith anC
then went out OH the dark porch
peeking through the windows a
the gay throng within.
That's the kind OF a lad tina
makes a real pitcher" said Presi
dent Griffith, after the conference