Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-26
The Game Of Lacrosse.

Lacrosse is becoming very popular among the
young men and lads of the United States. and
very properly too. for it is fine game, and one
that is thoroughly American. Years ago how
many no one knows. it was played by American
Indians. who called it 'Baggataway" Basil
Han. Catlin and Lanman, who have written
some OF the best books about Indians tell how
the Creeks of Alabama the Cherokees of North
Carolina, and other tribes played the game
years ago, and their accounts show that then it
was fierce. hard game to play, in which the
young Indians displayed wonderful skill and
strength and pluck. and where broken bones
We're no rare thing. But" saws one writer
there never appears to be any spite or wanton
eXertion of strength to affect them. nor no dis
pIIteS ever happen between the parties" These
last words should be printed in large letters.
that they may be easily read by all boys nova
days who play lacrosse. In those DAYS the
game was net the scientific one that it is now
Ihen 1t was matter of brute strength, and
sometimes as many as 600 800 and even OCD
players took part. The Canadian Indians claim
10 have invented the present game and when
the French first saw them playing. they gave it
the name of La CrCsse'-the bat from the
bat, or crosse. used in the game. For long
time only the Indians played it: then the young
Canadians took it up; and finally. in 1867 the
game was formally adopted as the national
game of Canada Naturally the Canadians play
well their own game and the best clubs in the
world are said to be the Toronto club of Toron-
to, and the ShamrOchs of Montreal They are
great rivals. aud which is the best it would be
hard to say. Not long ago they played one hour
and thirty-siX minutes without either getting a
goal. ana then they were stopped by the dark
cess.
Lacrosse is simple game and easy to under
stand large level piece Of ground is required.
the smoother the better. but smoothness is not
necessary. goal is simply two poles driven
into the ground. so that the tops, where wave
little flags shall be six feet high. The poles are
six feet apart. Each side has goal. designated
by the color Of the flag. These goals NAV be
any distance apart, just as the players decide
Now the great thing to do is for one side to
throw the ball through the goal of the other
side At the end of the play, the side having
thus made the most goals is the winner. By
throwing it is not meant that the ball is thrown
with the hands. as in base ball. The ball is
never to be touched by the hands. All the work
is done with the crosse. which is made of q frame
OF bent wood. on which are woven thongs of
rawhide or catgut. This has long handle
With this crosse the ball is caught. carried and
thrown. So expert do some players become
that they will throw the ball straight and swiftly
from goal to goal Mr.. Lally, of the Shamrock
club. is able to throw the ball $50 feet The ball
Is OF India rubber sponge. not less than eight
nor more than nine inches in circumference
As the game is now played IL players are on
each side. placed according to the best judg-
ment of their captains for working the ball to-
going through their own goal All the PLAY,
the running, lodging. lcaping. twisting throw
ing. Is simply to get the ball through the goal
This part Of it is easily learned. OF course it
requires practice to enable one to handle the
crosse well. But any active lad can soon get
the hang of that, and once learned it is doubt
fu if he will give up lacrosse for base ball. when
its broken fingers and spraned thumbs, or for
football. with its kicked shins and sometimes
broken ribs.
DIT * IS. nr.~.
Gent hard work and danger to make it quite
exciting enough for anybody; but there is not
much danger OF a player getting MANNED for lite
as has often happened in these other games
There are no spiked shoes worn. no wrestling no
holding, no Intentional tripping, no striking. 1t
is simply game of agility and endurance To
be good player one must be able to run well
and to run long. 1t is remarkable what speed
and endurance some of the players possess. To
have these they must take good care of their
health, and good lacrosse players are careful
seldom or never to touch tobacco or strong
drink. nor to eat unwhOlesOMe food at unnatu-
raj hours.
There have been games of lacrosse that were
not SO pretty History tells Of one that ended
in a fearful tragedy. 1t was played over one
hundred years ago, in 1868. One of the British
Chain of forts in the north was Fort Mchiii-
makinac. On the 4th OF June. 1863, it was gar
risoned by 50 soldiers, and contained about SO
other persons. men, women and children. 1t
was the birthday of King George, and the sol
diers were celebrating the day. There had been
rumors that the Ojibway Indians had conspircd
with Pontiac. the great chief to capture the
fort. but Captain Etherington. the coinmandant.
paIdn0 attention TO them. So, when on this day
the Oubways sent an invitation to the fort
10 see grand game of .'baggataway" or
lacrosse, between them and the Sacs, on
the plain in front Of the fort the soldiers gladly
accepted THE gates were open WIDE" SAYS
w; T. Beers, In his account of the game; 1.-The
soiuieTs We're lying and standing about in groups
.he majority without arms. Capt Etherington
an" Lieut.. Leslie stood Close bv the cate bet
ting on the game A large number of souaws
were corrected near the fort. Then the game
pesah me players, nearly naked. Yelling.
win leaps and flashes. chased and fought for
the baii, Kicking. wrestling rolling over
each other. The spectators reared Win
laughter. No one thought of apythino but
the game. But slowly the ball neared the fort
Once or twice it shot into the alp and fell in
side the pickets. and was thrown out. Grad
uaiiy the great bedy of players neared the fort
all playing with might and main Suddenly the
ball was thrown high in the air. and as it fell
near the gate. the players made a great rusb
followed by ali the warriors who had not been
playing. The war-whOOp rang over the plain.
the ball sticks were thrown away; the souaws
| threw open their blankets, and the PLAYERS
snatched the tomahawks and other weapons
they had concealed there" Then the massacre
began. and of that little band of English but 90
escaped alive. So You see when you play
lacrosse you are playing a purely American
game and q historical game too.
The Pennsylvania railroad company is making
1T effort to abolish the popular use of the word
depot" The word ''statOn" is to be used on
its lines henccforth. and even the great .Union