Evening star., 1946-12-12
Waller Johnson's 5
Family Is DeIuged
With Condolences

Condolences poured in by the
hundreds today to attest the affec-
ton in which Walter Johnson was
held.
They came from far and near
and from all strata Of American
life as preparation were being COM
pleted for funeral services in the
Great Choir of Washington Cathe-
dral at 2:30 pm. tomorrow.
The flood of messages started al
most the instant that word had
spread of the Washington pitching
immortals death Tuesday night in
Georgetown Hospital. where he had
been confined since April 8 for
treatment of brain tumor.
The messages have continued
without interruption since, at times
in such volume that all could not
be handled at telegraph Offices in
Germantown, Md, near which the
johnson Farm, Mountain View, is
located.
Chandler Sends Message.
Among those who sent messages
to the family are A. B. Happy
Chandler, baseball commissioner
and Will Harridge, president Of the
American League.
Both are in California and were
uncertain whether they will be able
to attend the funeral, although both
advised Clark Griffith, president of
the Washington baseball club and
perhaps Mr.. Johnson's closest
friend, that they will try to be here.
Meanwhile, hundreds who knew
and were associated with Mr.. john
son planned to be here for the serv-
ices. Most of them, however, will not
arrive until tomorrow morning, ac-
cording to Edward B. Eynon, jr.,
secretary of the Washington club.
AS preparations for the services
were completed, the body OF MIR.
johnson lay in state at the William
r. Pumphrey funeral home, 1857
Wisconsin avenue, Bethesda.
Members of the family announced
that friends may view the body to-
day until 10 tonight and until the
time of its removal to the Cathedral
for the funeral.
Memorial Planned at Stadium.
While these arrangements we're
made, Mr.. Griffith announced that
a memorial to the great pitcher and
former manager of the Washington
club will be erected just inside the
main gate at Griffith Stadium.
The memorial will stress simplicity
to the modesty of the
man who, during his career with the
Washington club from 1907 to 1927,
set more records than any other
pitcher in the history of big league
baseball.
Members of the family were ad-
vised today that all except three of
those invited to serve as active pail
bearers will be here. Those accept
ing are Roger Peckinpaugh, Sam
Rice, Ossie Bluege, Joe Judge, Nick
Altrock, Muddy Ruel, Jim Shaw and
Mike Martin.
Mr.. Peckinpaugh and Mr.. Ruel
were en- route today from Cleveland
and st. Louis, respectively.
Mcbride Unable to Attend.
George Mcbride, another invited
to serve. wired from Milwaukee
that illness will prevent his attend
ance.
Efforts to locate Eddie Ainsmith,
former catcher during the peak of
Mr.. Johnson's career, have been
unsuccessful, Mr.. Griffith said.
Still another inyited was Stanley
-Bucky" Harris, present manager of
the New York Yankees and former
of the Washington club.
Mr.. Harris reply, as quoted by |
Mr.. Griffith, was that he did not be-
ieve he could stand to touch the
,asket of the man with whom he
vas so intimately associated through |
10 many years. However, he plans
20 attend the services.
Honorary pallbearers will be Mr..
Mr.. Eynon,. DR.. Edward
Larkin, club physician; Oren At
wood, Ford Young, Garrett White
side, James Bland. Lancelot
Jacques, Walter Bogley. Walter
Dawson, Harold Lloyd and George
Weiss.
Members of the immediate family