Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-03
The
Rambler
Down by
The River Side
BY JOHN McKELWAY

BY JOHN McKELWAY
Notes on a trip due east of
the Capitol ...
Had an excellent bowl of
chilli for rs cents at a little
restaurant near the Hill and
then drove down East Capt.
toll, following signs to the
Armory.
1t was perhaps the finest
Indian Summer day in mem
DRY. There was a blue haze
over the Anacostia River and
it was downright warm.
There Is sort of a city down
on the banks OF the Ana
costa, 1t has a stadium, an
armory, a jail, a big hos
pital, a morgue, a cemetery.
Stopped at the Armory and
went in to see what it looked
like on the afternoon after
the big Cultural Center din
ner.
It was a mess.
The floor was covered with
rolled up programs. The 5000
had eaten broiled heart of
filet mignon, assorted queen
olives and rissole potatoes.
There we're no hearts of Pas
cal celery on the floor but
there were a Der of
broken domestic Burgundy
bottles.
At least 20 men climbed
around, busting up the stage
and gathering the tables and
chairs. Il
In one corner, it appeared
that none of the 5000 had
eaten their hard rolls. At
least 5000 hard rolls had
been swept up. Never saw so
many hard rolls.
Found Dutch Bergm a n,
Armory Board manager,
chatting in what may be the
city's largest front office
with Maj. Gen. william H.
Abendroth, commander of
the District National Guard.
Dutch played football at
Notre Dame under Knute
Rockne. He told a story about
Rockne. Rockne once turned
to some boys on the bench
and said: You're my min
ute men-in one minute and
out the next"
THAT story" said Dutch,
lis as old as the forward
pass"
Talked about the brawl at
the sta diu m for awhile.
Dutch said little damage was
done to the stadium.
Gen. Ahendroth remem-
bered a clash years ago with
mem b Of the Interna-
tional Workers of the World.
Men on horseback tried to
control the fighting but the
WV threw marbles on the
street and spilled the horses.
why don't you go out and
watch the Redskins prac-
tice?" suggested Dutch.
About 2::30 pm. a little yell
low bus pulled away from the
Stadium and crossed the vast,
empty parking lot to the
southeast. 1t stopped at a
football field that has a wire
fence around it, Just below a
wing of D. C. General Hos
pital.
Difficult to tell how they
got the whole football team
squeezed into the bus. One by
one, they popped out with
wrenching groans. "Ooph,"
went Bobby Mitchell.
They logged out on the
field and lined up and went
into a series of calisthenics.
The groans continued. An
unusual way to make a living
on such a fine afternoon.
Then they started running
some plays. The three quar-
terbacks, Snead, Hall and Izo
were taking turns. When
they get the snap from CEN
ter" and backpedal and pass,
1t comes close to ballet. De-
cided not to point this out to
Andy stynch ula, six feet,
three inches; $50 pounds.
Mitchell, the TANKER"
growls like a tiger when he
takes off.
Coach Bill McPeak walked
around In a baseball cap.
Seemed to be thinking.
"All right Norman" he said
to Snead. take 'em on the
audibles."
snead yelled, Black.
Forty-five. One Two" He got
the ball and Indians broke
every which way. Remark
able that the other coaches,