The New York herald., 1879-07-15
POLO AT PROSPECT PARK.
THREE SHORT BUT WELL CONTESTED GAMES BY
THE wEsTcHEsTER CLUB-FoRTUNE SMILES

THE wEsTcHEsTER CLUB-FoRTUNE SMILES
ON THE BLUES.
Long shadows were slanting over the Parade
Ground in Prospect Park yesterday afternoon before
the ponies of the Westchester Polo Club made their
appearance and marched around in their accustomed
ring behind the pavilion, like racers in the paddock
light breeze blowing the road powdered the
clean-shaven faces with pufs of dust and the
heat tempered by haze favorable
to the polo players art southery
wind and cloudy sky to the huntsman's.
The ground enlivened by the presence
of a target and wooden framework. hung with
rings. which. at the suggestion of Mr.. Henri de
Busigny, the club means to for purposes Of
equestrian archery and Journeys. just the Mani
poorees of India. who modernized polo precede the
game with certain preparatory tests of their skill.
such as tiling with cork headed lanccs. splitting
lemons at full gallop and carrying of rupees from
tent pegs. There fair sprinkling of spectators
on the ground when the players chose sides Messrs.
August Belmont. Jr lcaptain and +. I. Iselin were
the reds Messrs. Frank Grswold (captain) and Will
lam Sanford were the blues. whereupon the umpire
rode into the field announced that the Lists
open
SHORT ASD LIVELY.
Without instant's delay Mr.. Griswold took up
the challenge and charged. So from the pavilion
end did Mr.. Iselin. putting spurs to his dun mus
tang. But the captain of the reds riding bay
pony Tommy. and Master Tommy who is well
known for speed and agility. determined not
only to command but deserve it. and rushed
down on the ball like wolf on the fold. Unfortu-
nately he overshot his prey and Mr. Iselin. gently
insinuating his mallet like u shepherds crook,
drew it out Of danger, and after
lively scrimmage. forced it the line
the left In this snug retreat it seemed disposed
to nestle. Red mallets coaxed it out; blue malets
forced it in again. Mr.. Sanford dribbled 1t into the
field; the hoofs of Mr.. Belmonts pony kicked it
back At length Mr.. Griswold and the impetuous
Tommy got their chance. Three excellent shots.
narrowing the angle every time. sent the ball spin
ming toward the southern goal. Down came Mr..
Iselins mustang. clean its path; up went his
malet to strike but before it came to grass again
the ball had turned its last angle and flown inside
the posts with about an inch to spare
FURTHER PRowEss THE BLUES.
The game had been too short to call for change
of nags. The ponies had just had time to catch the
spirit of the thing. and even Mr.. Belmont's bay
who has been lately the doctors hands,
warming to his work. So the players returned to
the hunt Mr.. Griswold got away with the ball and
was driving it down to The parade ground house
with oil the field at his heels. when sudden miss
put it in the power Of Mr.. Belmont. who began
series Of magnificent charges at the southern
goal. Hitting either side of his bay, sometimes
with forward and sometimes with back handed
stroke. riding now to the right of the ball and
to the left. the ponies streaming after him like
pack of hounds in full cry, he got within five yards
recover lost ground 1t was too late. Mr.. Sanford.
with gentle stroke, put the ball out OF bounds to
the right of the pavilion.
But that was by no means the end Of Mr.. Belmont.
The ball, nit of from the chalk. trundled
into the centre. Then, while Mr.. Sanford's pony
dancing little mazurka, arranged by himself.
and Mr. Griswold's was showing signs OF weariness.
Mr.. Belmont led another Balaklava charge toward
the south, and again the blues were rescued from
the jaws OF death by stroke out of bounds
third time the ball broke covert from the chalk; u
third time Mr.. Belmont brought it down with three
long and beautiful strokes and one side cut moving
clean q scythe, and third time it was forced
over the line That settled the fate OF the reds. Mr.
Grswod took the lead at plunged furously for
the northern end, and. never giving his opponents
another chance, put the ball into the hands of Mr.
Sanford, who made the goal with neat overland
stroke.
TURNING THE TABLES.
The players then rested. Shandygaff flowed In pro-
fusion and the mounts were changed Mr.. driswold
returned to the fray on the thoroughbred English
pony Lilly. Mr.. Sanford on bay mustang Mr.. Bel
mont the gray Silver and Mr. Iselin on iron
gray. Both the forward gentlemen missed the
void came down. hand over hand. only to be baked
the goal by Mr.. Belmont and to follow in the wake
OF grand chase back to the northern end. The tide
of fortune. ebbng and falling carried the ball twice
up the field and twice down. In the thick OF battle
Mr.. Griswold's white handkerchief, arranged a
head protector. CLEANED like the white plume OF
Navarro. There a dangerous scrimmage
the southern goal and there the hopes of the blues
persisted. Mr.. Belmont to the fore for the last
time. One stroke took the ball half way down the
plain; with the second it was skirting the crowd
with the third it was flying toward the southern
goal. The captain of the reds had the game at his
mercy Wherever your eyes followed him there you
the inexorable malet raised, and the ball urged
pitlessly forward SO the reds scored one, and the
blues two