New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-24
L1CROSSE ~ NEW. rORK.

PROGRESS WHICH TIE GAME HAS MADE.
HOW IT WAS INTRODUCED Is THE UNITED STATES
THE EAvENsWooD CLUB TIE PIONEER HERE
WHAT HAS BlEv roST THIS SEASON
Lacrosse. the national game of Canada, has
not been swift In gaining fonhod in this country. II
was first brought into notice time when the base
ball mania 40 1t, height, and that OF itself was
enough to prevent ts making any great hradway. The
Raven wood the lacrosse club formed la this part
Of the United states was organized about years
ago. and It's members made gallant attempt 20 force
the new game upon the notice Of the pu0hc
and to a Of its beauty and atrnDtV"ncs'
But their progress was slow. Tho Ignorance or
Indifference ~ the spectators served 10 pat damVcr ON
their efforts and INIT. the Sow-Yorl, Lacross" club
formed some years ago. the Raven bad some
difficulty In finding a team that was anything like
match them. Even the visit % tho Indians, whose
PLAYING nc Gimorrs Garden IL still well remembered,
had httle influence iu promoting the success Of the
game The New York club started with good deal
OF enthusiasm. several Of the men who were ~ that
time prominent In amateur athletics were struck with
the possibilities which the game afforded. AMI
Il was on their motion that ta' or
gluivauon Of the c.ab was brought about
Dnrn- it, frat year the NcwYork team wa chiefly r.
u,,rl,be for the extraordinary spcel Of the Who
composed it, Most Of the champion runners oi that time
belonged 10 a., among them Merritt the two Ia Mon
tagncs Fickeu Hammond, Cornell and others srnrrcy
le.a well known. and whatever their abilities as lacrosse
/
they were able 10 from anything which could
bee brought AGAINST them. Unfortunately. some, hing
more thln tn, was necessary The men, Who were most
Of them Boa trimming !or Important foot races u which
they took part almost weekly, were unahl" 10
make the s1crincc- % time and form which were
necessary To mako them adopts al tho and there
fore though great number Of matches pIag ai dur
ing the year. IA. SeN-lOrk CLUB almost invariably
got the worst Of IT, Continued defeats bad thnr natural
result and thc men became discouraged after while.
| and Jos; all interest n the game. ono los one they
dropurd out and the cub came near dying natural
dcath little than hc skeleton Of The organization
and b., remaining. The Raycnswo1f being de-
priycd OF their only local opponents. dh not fare much
better aud for time there seemed small chance for the
survival at the interest In lacrosse Fortunately about
a wear ago matters began 10 look up. Some old mem
beers OF the NcW-Iorl club took hold again. Inr best
men Of the Eaycuswo0I CLUB, which hal surv we'd its
usc!lncsy and had Dr.l practically d.1auIcd Joined
forces with them. Then several excellent Canadian
players. now living ia this city, were discovered, and
persuaded 20 join the club In the end. Il became posi-
be 70 put good working In the field ana the New
York Club started anew on its career. ami "a, the event
proved, 10 WAS destined to De "A successful one.
There were tire, strong lacrosse clubs in existence In
the United states at the beginning Of this OF
these The Unions Of Boston had by lar the bcs record
They had been able for 40 least three years 10 put
strong team las American teams go into the field aud
they had for years held the cup presented by the
Mcstchc Polo club, W.Ch carried win III inc fuah
ponsp Of this country. The second was the New York
Club; the third the Baltimore Club, which was com
po-cd OF excellent athletes and which had given both o.
the older clubs than one hard struggle The first
really important match Of the year was between the
Bustous aud RatimoTcs which the former won by
score Of three goals 10 two. In srhsc-
oucnt game between the Baltimore and New
York men the latter won by three goals Ia nothing the
BatimOrcs, however being deprived ~ the services oI
two or three 81 their strongest players, which may IN
on
ing was played between the New-lork and boston
CluDs at Newport IN August, when the NcW-l Ofk heh
won ny thfc' gois 10 one ana th1 ch', ~
to this city, where 1t If to be hoped thAt u
Improvement during this Not only H. IL
much better than ever before but each milcn mas
last been due Ia two causes one Of them Is
the enthusiasm and loyalty which tho members OF Tue
often under the most unpleasant ana trying. clrcuui
stances The other is the careful conehing 81 inc cap
tain Edward Merritt. who has handled his men Win
uniaing TACT courtesy and Judgment. New-l ORR now
possesses what Is beyond any question the best team III
Saturday match the Montreal players gives every
reason i0r pse's ' nnno ,e INV that interest
and approval the part OF the public which are neceS
| sary 10 secure the best results. .
Frederic CosOn the lacrosse authority of The Montreal
G1sehe who accompanies the Shamrock team gives tno
following estimate Saturdays play He If noted re-
porter OF lacrosse Matches and his Judgment OF such
matters unquesOned In the Dominion. Ihc estlnlatc
formed by him Of the oapabiy OF the New-iork men
alt would be Tnanifesty unfair in critlcsng the per
Torrance OF the EewYOrk twelve, to lose sght 0l to
difficulties under which they labor. They are miro
ducng new and. 10 large extent an unknoTn Sa x
IDENTIFY marks their efforts they have a hard struggle
The great distance they obliged 10 travel IN Oue W
reach their ground IS n serious disadvantage ana IuI
| nshes Ia many eases an almost insupcrable bar 10
anything like constant practice, which, Ill ihcio
sty The absence Of competitors of the highest stand
ard Ia another seriOus obstacle. Looking at oatuhy
with due consideration Of these iac's 'hee CAL w