Evening star., 1924-10-05
HAGGARD HORDES
DEFY GOD Of SLEEP
IN FIGHT FOR SEATS
Some in Line From Time of
Games Opening Yesterday
Until This Morning.
TYPE HELD GREATEST
FIGURE IN BASE BALL
Are the Men Who Make Game
For Others Like Bucky
Harris and McGraw e

CLARK GRIFFITH STADIUM, Oc-
tober 5.-Sing ye the praises of Bucky
Harris and his gang of fighting
youngsters. Forget not your tribute
to the last remaining hairs of those
which once adorned the bald and
shining pate of John j. McGraw, but
bend the knee and uncover, stand
aside and let them pass-the real
fans, the true base bali nuts who
couldn't get a ticket in advance, but
conquered in the end.
Dawn did not come today with
resounding crack, as dawns usually
come. Dawn sneaked in this morning
under cover of a thick, cold blanket
of fieecy fog. And through the eerie,
ghostly film the watcher found a long
and gallant line of true sports. Hud-
died on soap boxes, wrapped in blan-
kets or overcoats, disconsolately
chewing hot dogs and drinking cof-
fee; sleepy eyed, haggard and cold,
but coura geous and undismay yed.
They had waited since before mid
night. The first arrival for the free
forall seats in right field took up his
stand at the conclusion of yesterdays
game. The first who sought stand
ing room" admittance to the grand
stand was on the job at 1:05 am.
Through the long night they waited,
"aNNhtu tiC Illy 50 ~ SlcCp, "a " lhc
stars in the east fade away, heard the
clatter of milk wagons, saw the fog
gy dawn break at last. They must
wait still-for. the box office won't let
them pass before 1:40, 10 minutes
before game time.
Fourth street was closed to auto
mobiles early today. 1t was filled
with pedestrians-those who use their
feet.
Mr.. Miller Never Sleeps.
]. F. Miller, 400 Tenth street north
west, was the first fan in line for the
S1.10 seats in right field. He took his
stand yesterday after the game was
over. He got to see yesterdays game
the same way.
Nine-thirty saw the opening of the
gates to the unreserved section in
right field. More than 1000 were
twisting and wriggling about waiting
in long, serpent-like line. How that
old serpent did rush the gate when it
finally creaked. Its component parts,
happy humans, swarmed over the
bleachers like hungry ants attacking
a loaf of sugar. Half an hour later
the bleachers were filled, and as this
is written-10 o'cIock-they have only
four hours to wait before the game
begins.
Fans Miss Nothing.
Not only the early birds confined to
the bleachers-not by a long shot.
Four hours before the game the great
open spaces in the plutocratic grand
stands were filling up. Folks couldn't
bear to miss any of the preparations
for this game today. Yet the only
sights to greet their eyes We're the
field bleaehers in right field, a lonely
fellow pushing his roller along the
base lines, a fat and important look
ing groundkeeper, master of all he
surveyed, beautiful blue sky and
hot sun. But this is the day of the
game. Who minds waiting?
Heroes, those fellows who stood in
line /. 1T night. Those of you who
gloated over your ticket yestereve.
who went to a comfortable bed, slept
warmly and soundly, rose this MORN
ing and perhaps went to church and
when the time came rode grandly up
to the grandstands in padded limou-
sfnes, showed your ticket, took your
seat-boast, if you will; boast, if you
dare, of your spirit, your love of the
game.
But boast of it in whispers, friends.
Some nGt-some plain, everyday base
bail fan, who couldn't get a ticket in
advance, may hear you. He stood out
the long hours of night while you
slept in your bed, his breakfast in
his overcoat pocket. The only sermon
he heard was ~Push-down, don't
shove" He was willing to fight his
way to see the game. And if he
hears you. friend, he may smile
smite you in the nose.