The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-07-05
The Game of Polo.

Inc game OF polo last evening sur
passed the expectations of all who
witnessed it, and it proved to be one
of the most interesting sports ever
seen at the capital. The attendance
was quite large, and as the game pro-
crossed the interest on the part of the
| crowd who witnessed it was very
great. The recent rains had made the
field soft and the players could not do
themselves full justice OH that ac-
count. The rapid movement of the
horses made the ground uneven, and
the ball would fall into these impress
sions in the earth and consequently
impeded both the stroke of the mallet
and the rolling of the ball. Notwith-
standing this the men all did their
work creditably.
In the game of polo the field is laid
off into parallelogram 260 yards
long and 225 yards wide; at each end
are set two flag poles twelve feet
apart. The ball is placed in the cen
ter of the field by the umpire and the
signal given from that point for the
men to start. The respective sides
are stationed on horseback Cd either
end of the field, armed with mallets,
and the object of the game is to
knock the ball through between
the flag poles. When this done it is
called a goal. Each side tries to
strike the ball to the side of the field
from which that side starts at the
beginning of the inning. Whenever
the ball is knocked out of the field the
players stop, and the man who sent
it out goes to the ball and places it
on the edge of the field and strikes
it towards the center. There are five
men on a side and three innings in a
game-of twenty minutes each.
Fresh horses are taken at the end of
every inning. The side which gets
the greater number of goals wins the
game.
The game last night began at five
o'clock and fifteen minutes. At the
given signal the horSemen came rush
ing towards each other at full gal
lop, and the ball was sent from one
part of the field to the other until
5:28, when one of the Blues sent it
flying between the flag poles at their
end of the field, and the first goal was
scored for that side. At 5:29 the ball
was again dropped in the center and
the signal given. The playing was
very spirited until 500, when umpire
called time on the first inning
and the players rode into camp
without making another goal. The
players rested till six o'clock and the
second inning was called. The start
in this inning was excellent and the
playing very animated The ball was
chased all over the field for eleven
minutes. when one of the Reds made
a goal for his side. AT 6:15 the play
began again and in two minutes, Gil.
the Reds had scored another G al. AT
ter short rest the playing was con-
timed and lively until 6:32, when
| time was called on the second inning.
Horses were again changed and the
men rested until 6:45. The Blues won
the next goal at 6:52 At 6:54 playing
! for the next goal of the inning started
and at 6:57 a goal was scored by the
Reds. The rest after this goal was
| very short and at 6:59 the ball was
started-with the most skillful play
ing of the game. At 1903 the Reds
won another goal. At 7.0o the play
ers were in the field again and did
brilliant work until 7:12, when time
was called and the game ended, the
score standing:
Reds
Blues.
There was but one accident. In
the last inning Mr.. Mitchell was
struck in the face with furious ball,
but he did not leave the field.
The second game will be played
this afternoon at five o'clock, at the
same place.