Evening star., 1947-11-29
$4,000 Leave
Washington for
Service Game
RuiIroud Officials Call
Crowd Biggest Ever;
Truman Leads Exodus

Led by President Truman and
his official family, gay throng
of about $4,000 football fans left
here for Philadelphia this morn
ing to see the annual Army
Navy classic under perfect
weather conditions.
The President, bundled in a heavy
overcoat and grining broadly, re-
fused to commit himself on whether
he had placed wager. or who he
thought would win, although mem
bers of his military staff spoke more
freely on the subject.
He and Mrs. Truman and a
group of other notabies got aboard
their l1-car special train at
Union Station shortly before de-
parture time at $40 am. The party
was given a big hand from fellow
fans jammed into the noisy con-
course and from trainmen lined up
to man 18 additional specials out of
Washington.
Greeted by Mayor.
His train reached the Municipal
Stadium at 11:19 am. Game time
was 1870 pm.
Bernard Samuel, Philadelphia S
Republican Mayor, boarded Mr.. Tru-
mans private car to bid him vel
come as the train pulled up at a
railroad siding, the Associated Press
reported.
He was accompanied by Senators
Myers, Democrat, of Pennsylvania
and Martin, Republican, of Pennsyl-
vania, Federal Judge James P. Nc
Granery and others.
After the welcome, Mr.. Truman
ate a sandwich on the train before
motoring to the stadium.
The trains. departing from Wash
ington at rapid intervals between
$40 and 1910 am, were filled to
capacity of about 800 to 1000 fans
each. Union Station officials re-
ported, and all seats save a few on
the last train had been sold at an
earlv hour. In fact, eager fans be-
gan arriving before daylight to be
sure of tickets.
ConcOurse Crowded.
The huge concourse was crowded
from the station wall to the gates
at the railroads with shifting,
chattering crowd of celebrants bum
died against the weather and carry
ing blankets, lunch baskets and
pocket TASKS The weather, brisk
and sunny with a prospect of con-
tinued fair Skies apparently had
tonic effect on veterans of previous
games played in snow. rain OF sleet.
It seemed likely that Washington
and vicinity today will contribute
almost third of the 100000 ticket
holders. Roads leading to Baltl-
more and Philadelphia were crowd
ed with motor cars at an early
hour this morning, the American
Automobile Association reported.
The airlines also carried few fans,
with one reporting football special
booked solid in advance.
Called Biggest Football Crowd.
Veteran Union Station officials
said today's crowd was the biggest
football thIong ever sent OH from
Washington. The specials carried
between $1,000 and 10000 and
hundreds of others went by the reg
ular trains. The 18th special train
was put on as an emergency to take
care of the overflow, it was said. and
only a few seats were left on it.
The Weather Bureau had occa-
sion today to be pleased with a
forecast for the big game issued
Wednesday in which fair skies with
some clouds and temperatures in the
40s were predicted. Both Wash
ington and Philadelphia had mini
NUNS at the freezing point last
midnight. but the mercury had
climbed into the lower 40s by game
time. A brisk wind was predicted.
The weather called out an abun-