Evening star., 1926-09-24

city yesterday for Philadelphia in
booming spirits, returned to the fold
today, wrung the water out Of their
clothes, put their shoes in the oven,
raided the medicine cabinet, gave
short, jerky answers to the questions
piled at them and wondered how long
it would be before they are all right
again.
If It hadn't been for the rain, well,
but 1t rained and this is no time to
talk about what might have been.
Upon the minds Of those fortunate
people who held tickets unfortunate
to those who stayed at home) is in
delibly stamped two facts; viz, that
Gene beat Jack and that after it was
all over they walked for miles in the
downpour and waited hours for the
trains to depart. OF these two out
standing points, the latter today was
destined to live the longer in the
minds OF those fight fans.
If Washingtonians in Washington
got wet last night, it was because
they elected to do so and thereby they
willingly made great personal sacri-
fee at the altar of the great god
prize fight" But most of them stay
ed indoors, tried to separate the rapid
fire description of the announcer from
the static, while the storm ragged over
head, and confirmed what we thought
we heard as to detail by buying the
night extras.
Oh! What a Sad Sight.
But in Philadelphia. oh, it was a
sad sight Picture more than 10000
people being turned loose at the foot
of Broad street, a tidal wave of hu-
manity sweeping down everything
that came before it. The rain, which
began to play it's part as the gauze
was being wound around the paws of
Jack and Gene, did very we'll by the
end of the tenth round. At that time
1t had penetrated almost to the skin.
Then out into the everyday world the
Washington delegation, along with
other thousands, rushed. Taxi? Street
car? Bus? They existed in name only,
for where a week ago there seemed
to have been plenty or them, last
night there was none.
Now and then one of Mr.. Mltten =
taxicabs, busses or street cars would
start for town, with humans clinglng
to II like barnacles to a ship. What
else was there to do but walk? IL
was only about four miles to city han
down Broad street. One couldn't ge'
any wetter by this time as the bod'
was now in a perpetual shower bat'.
So they trudged along, like refugees.
And when they finally reached the
railroad stations, they found +nelter
and lots Of waiting.
Those who held Pullman reserva-
ttons followed a star of hope that
eyentually they would be snug be-
tween the blankets and above all they
would be dry But it never rains
without pouring and when many OF
these fans prepared to board thelr
sleepers at 1870 pm. there were none
to board. Railroad attaches did their
best to prevent a mutiny and a rald
on ANYTHING that looked like a sleeper.
Finally about quarter OF the
Pullmans appeared.
Others patted themselves on the
back during the trek down Broad
street in expectation that day coach
special would leave at 1915 am. ana
even though they would have no com
Portable beds. they would soon be
homeward bound. Two hours later
this train pulled out. they reported.
A Long, Long Wait.
Then a large number had berthS
on several sections due to depart at
3:44 o'clock. The cars were ready
for boarding about 1880. the pas
sengers were told, but they We're
kept waiting only an hour-not bad
considering the luck of the others.
However, those who got aboard at
1880 went to bed and cared not
what happened from then on. rms
section got out of Philadelphia about
two hours late. landing the passen-
gers here during the hour beginning
1t 7:20 am.
Brig. Gen. James +. FeChet. as
sistant chief Of the Army Air Corps
md a member of a party which in
cluded Hanford MacNider and F.
Crubee DAWSON Assistant Secretaries
of War, was fortunate in beng
vhiSked by private automobile from
the stadium downtown He. how
nver. was forced to wait for an hour
before he boarded his train. After
seeing some of the dripping humanity
who had walked the entire distance,
Gen. Fechet didn't have much of
kick coming However. there was
nothing to prevent his being rained
on in the stadium during the big
bout, so he joins the ranks of the
"wets" and sports frog-like voice
today.
DR.. Guy w. Leadbetter and Roger
J. Whiteford were typical examples
of what hundreds of Washingtonians
who depended upon Philadelphia s
public utilities for transportation eX-
perienced. DR. Leadbetter summed up
his adventure in these words: Il
walked about three miles down Broad
street, caught a ride for another mile
on a taxi, then got into a street car
and waited an hour at the station for
the train. After l got on l didn't care
what happened" His train. due to de-
part at 3:44. pulled out of the sheds
about am.
Mr. Whiteford managed to get
ride to the Penn Athletic Club and
from there had to walk to Broad
Street Station, as taXiS were not to
he had. At the station he found his
train was at another terminal, so he
waited for 80 minutes for the elusive
cab. One finally appeared, carrying
a passenger. and the driver demanded
SO for 10block ride.
Il told him he knew where to so
even if it was raining. and he went on
his way" said AIR. Whiteford. Then
the attorney decided to walk and after
trudging along for eight blocks the
rain stopped.
Great difficulty was experienced by
all the passengers this morning in
putttng on their shoes. Mr.. Whiteford
said that DR. and Mrs. Charles Stan
lev White. who, like the attorney, had
gone to the fight on the Lions Club
special were forced to walk the entire
distance from the stadium to the sta
lion.
Quantico Marines Go Wild.
The biggest celebration in this area
after the decision was announced, oc-
Cured at Quantico. Va. where Gene
Tunney learned to parry with a bavo-