Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-06-12
Indian Athletes,

Va i'eS oaiI, "biS ! lbSy pay way uOSu GllSl
the manner Of the Eoglish game. Whether i
originated With theu C. gas learoei from thu
whites, and how long it has b zen nric iced b
them arc qu,stioqs for future iuvcstlg g.tion
The Indians may bo seen engaged 10 this spor
on foe days at this season. The lev3l ground
on the southern side Of the river. above the
dam and below the bluff is their f.vorito pleas.
| ure ground, The spectator from q distance,
@ho does not know what is goiog forward, i:
struck By the novelty of the spectacle when ouc
Of the games Is 10 progress. Looking oI f:Onl
the opposite side of the river, be vii! see a
numoer Of lldiaus at times run as il 6 ioC: race
were going on and theo pair of, stand still aud
| appear to be embracing each other. Other Ia
| dlans may De seer sqlstted on thu ground
| looking on, and seated higher up on the bluff,
apd Watching the proceedings, are always a
| number Of squaws, conspicuous by the bright
| colors of their dress The presence of the lat.
| ter 20 doubt serves to free the hearts of the
| strul Cling braves ard Induce them 10 put forth
their best ttfIrtS to wiu the match. The ball
US ID by the Indians is a sde of pieces of wooleo
| stCckldgs, or any similar substance. encys,d 10
! leather 1t ls about the size Of the ordinary
| cricket ball. A Lowell piece of Gear ground is
selec ed, and two goals Gxtd distant from esci
other about one hundred yards.
| The goal is made by scttiog two sarlines up
| eight 10 the ground, and about FIVE ieet apart
| The game is played by six Indians at time,
! three to side. The gome CONSIST 10 ehcA side
| tryiog to kick the ball through the goal of the
other. This must be done from the lacc be-
| tween the goals; if the ball is kicked through
| from the rear it does not count. When the
| ball is fJ1c5d through one OF the other of the
! goals the gsmo is won. l. must be kicktd
! thrnuvh nnt th-o~-. The Iuusus dv -. -,
cumb,r tb, M 'elves with unnecessary clothing
when about to engage in the sport. Some of
| them 70 into it with nothing Oh but breacl.
| cl ,th and belt The most that they retau of
| the gath of c;viiz .tion is O pair Of abridged
| ovcrhalIs. Nnhiug is worn on the feet
Tho ball is kicked with either the heel or the
| toe, sometimes with the ball Of the foot. As
the ground Is always more or less ouy, aud tue
| ball not sott, it may be Inferred thai the To-
dans' feet are tough. All beiog ready, the
players form a ring midway between the goals.
OIo side is .lIed the Reno, the other Cat1or
| MIA. The tWl sides are thus named By the In
daus themselves. The game opensb by one of tho
players tossing the ball lightly into the air, so
| that it will fall 10 the centre of the ring. The
ostant it touches the earth thirty Iodlan toes
are propelled az snst it. Five feet may comc
n contact With each other, aud the ball remain
where it fell, or swift, stroke may send it spin
ming out of the circle. Now commcrc IS the
Iodan wrestling.
As soon as the ball has been started each
player seiz upon one Of the opposing side aud
tries to prev!ot him from rea,hiog the ball,
which will sometimes be untouched for ten or
| fftcan minutes, until some one breaks away
! from bis adversary and gets kick at it.. The
Indians display wonderful skill as wrestlers.
IDo.r wrestling is after tho Lancashire fashion
-auy hold is allowable. 1t is collar and elbow,
side bold Gla,o Romsp, and all other stylos
combined. TGus struggling, the Contest is ex-
citing. The physical development of these
| Indians is superb. Their muscles 10 action
may be seen to glide beneath the skin like ser
pents They resemble snakes themselves as
| they ,wine and twis! about each other in every
conc ivsbe fashion.
Wi dly picturesque they lock, too, vi b their
long black hair flying in the wicd. What
strength aud agility they exhibi! Oae will
lift bis adversary by the b:lt Gear Of the ground
and throw him. Down they 20 together. II the
dirt the struggle continues. There they inter
lock and wird about each other, twisting and
,uraiag, c: ching fresh hold every moment,
row one, now the other uppermos, until their
ideutity is lost 10 the cloud Of dust which SUR
rounds them. This one seems to have over
como bis antagonist; be breaks away from him
and spin to his feet. But the other has
caught him By the heel Another moment and
both are standing, each licked in his adversary's
grip. As they shift their position aud change
their hold their palms strike ono another q sh
with coucIssion that is heard huLdr=d feet
away.
AT last one player loose. He rusbes OF the
ball, but before be cau kick an opponent has
sez d his belt and fresh grappiog eusucs. Thus
the game goes op. Sometimes, however, there
will bs soDo very lively kicking, and the bal
be kept almst constantly 10 the air. Oxen q
rush at the object will result in confused heap
of Indians, pied one above the other 90 the
ground, aud from the mass OF struggling fash
} legs and arms will be seen sticking out in all
directions. All is good nature. There is nc
fighting, 90 swearing, 20 hair-pulIing, striking
scratching, or unfair play. The player, R!uu
from ex rtioo, but DOT word is splkao while
the game goes on. Even when the ball OF last
from some well directed kick goes flying throust
the goal, no vi oop is beard, not ely OF eXul
ta,ion escapes the Vlc:ors.
game may last but five minutes, or it may
las. au hour. 10 either .se the sport continue
un suudowu. The endurauc, Of the player
is wouderfuI. They are all young men. Tn
old look Oh and bet, % Sunday after pro
,rsced game, heated acd perspiriog as be was
player whose halt yard # clothing was DC
al otj ,ot of solicitu1e, acc uttered as be va
took plunge into the icy waters of the river
n, dried blmself in the .uo aud wind, whl
waiting for resumption of the sport. Th
attitude Of the fellow, az be stood in his shL
} ing copper skin, arms tJlded, and hair stream
: Ing 10 the bretz9, made a perfec: picture o
strength in repose. Reno (Nev.) Gazette.