The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-05-03
LACROSSE.
THE CANADIANS AND INDIANS AT
PREsUMPsCoT PARK.
A Complimentary Game to be Played
Today.

The Canadian Lacrosse Team, together with
the team of Caughnawaga Indians captained
by Big John and seconded by White Eagle,
arrived in this city by train from Montreal
yesterday afternoon, two and half hours late,
owing to the failure of the Interoolonial train
to connect. Knowing there was an audience
OF some five hundred people awaiting them at
Presumpscot Park, the men only waited to
change their suits before proceeding to the
grounds,
There are fifteen gentlemen in the Canadian
Team, all men of well-known family and po-
sition In the Dominion. Among them their
captain, w G. Beers, is an able contributor to
Scrlbner's and other wel-known magazines,
aud publisher of tho Canadian Illustrated
News. Mr. Ross Mackenzie wears on his
watch chain an elegant gold medal presented
to him for having made the extraordinary
throw of the lacrosse ball, of 1A0 yards . feet,
The following is the list OF the team; w. G.
Beers, captain; W. k. McNaught; Ross Mac
kenzie, s. Struthers, w. O. Griffin, w. ID.
Arid, j. II. Craven, j. Cleghorn, ID. Nichol-
son. f, w. Garwin, Il, Smith, j. Frazier, w.
Q. Bonnell, l.. B. Dwight. Mr.. d. H. Bowie
| of the team, is ON the other side, awaiting
| their arrival.
The Indian team are iine-formed, healthy
set of fellows.
These ara not the teams who played here at
the State Fair several years ago but are COM
posed Of other skillful players
The game of lacrosse. an Indian sport. has
been played in Montreal by white players for
nearly forty years; but it was only on tho
natal dry OF the Dominion, July |. 1867, that it
was accepted as the national game Of Canada
So popular has this fascinating game become
that there are now probably two hundred
clubs in Can ada; while in Great Britain and
Ireland three associations comprise one hun
dred and fifty clubs. The United States has
large number in the Middle and Western
States; five of its universities having crack
teams; all represented la q National A8scia-
tion Of which Mr. Erastus Wiman, president
OF the Great Western Union Telegraph Com
pany, is president.
The match played yesterday at the Park is
the first of a series which the picked teams Of
Montreal and Toronto intend playing during
the next three months in Great Britain and
Ireland. The object Of the game is very SIM
pie. Each side has twelve players; and one
goal. The ball is faced in the centre Of the
field, and the object Of each side Is to pass
il through the goal of its opponent.
Daring this endeavor great variety Of in.
dividual feats Of skill and strength are per
formed. The players pick up the ball when at
full speed; dodge" an opponent il possible;
or throw to one another or TO the goal Every
player has his innings at tho same time, the
he hall Al.
other, and throws Of 40 yards have been made
by defence men, The Indians perfectly revel
in the sport.
On account of the tired condition OF the
players yesterday who had had but little sleep
and nothing to eat since breakfast, the match
was not as exciting, they say, as matches gem
orally are, and the intention of the Canadians
to supplement- it BY complimentary one to-
day is intended to make some amends for the
disappointment caused By the late arrival Of
train and the necessary curtailment OF the
match. The Canadians won the first game in
three minutes, the Indians the second in
twenty-five.
We hare received the following communi-
cation:
To the Editor OF the Press.
Ou nenAii OF tne CauauiAu LACROSSE Team,
some Of whose members have reason to re-
member the courtesy Of the Portland people
on previous occasion, desire to express our
sincere regret that owing to the delay OF the
train the audience assembled at the Park were
disappointed, and were compelled to wait
over an hour for our arrival
However we did the very best we could IN
der the circumstances, in proceeding at once
and playing for an hour without waiting for
dinner.
Through the kindness az the uronriatoy of
tne Efounus ana the energy OF OUT 1ff6Uds III.
w. q. Rich, we are able TO make some amends
TO those who feel that they were thus disap-
pointed. have great pleasure In the name
Of the Team to extend general invitation to
the residents OF your city and vicinity 10 wit
ness complimentary MATCH tomorrow,
Thursday, sharp at 230.
Yours sincerely,
w. GEORGE BEERS,
Capt Can. Lac. Team.
Tuesday evening, May 2, 1888