New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-08
LACROSSE IN GREAT BRITAIN
AN AMERICAN TEAM TO GO ABROAD

National Amateur Lacrosse Association, Eras-
tus Wiman, the president. in the chair, 1t was
unanimously decided to send a representative
American lacrosse team to Great Britain and Ire
land the coming season. For nearly three years
efforts have been made to arrange an international
lacrosse match, but it was not until a few months
ago that tho innumerable difficulties surrounding
| such an undertaking were finally overcome Ia
November last James Fraser, who is well known in
amateur lacrosse and athletic circles in this
try and Canada, and one of the original men,
bers Of the New-York Lacrosse Club visited tho
United Kingdom IN behalf of the American Associa-
ton. After several weeks of hard work he got to-
gether sufficient facts to justify him in the advising
the carrying out of the proposed plan. 1t was upon
his report-sb perfect in all its details that it ex-
cited the admiration of all who heard it-that the
Association finally decided to send a team abroad
Mr.. Fraser in his report states that early IN
November, bearing both in mind and on paper an
infinite number of suggestions from Mr. Balcl--
points which were the outcome of several years
correspondence on the latter's part-he landed in
Liverpool desTOus of ascertaining by personal in
toryiews, questioning and corresponding first tle
feeling of the United Kingdom lacrosse men as to
the proposed visit of United States team;
secondly, the most desirable cities in Great Britain
and Ireland in which limited number of matches
could be arranged and played and thirdly, tho
financial outlook and promise for a United States
lacrosse team on visit to the United Kingdom.
Tho feeling prevalent among United Kingdom la
crosse men toward the United States was both
friendly and generous in every instance and at
every place touched the proposed visit favor
bly, regarded and encouraged Not once cold
water thrown upon the project. A warm reception
and hot game were always assured. The tour
Of the Canadian players had done a great deal 10
advance the interests Of lacrosse IN England, and
the visit of the United States team was the ono
thing needed 70 bring the game still further into
prominence and attract it to the favor able attention
of the public. Since the Canadian visit lacrosse
clubs and lacrosse players have more than doubled
in number, both in England and Ireland. In adj
diton, the game is being adopted in English schools
and colleges, so that leading clubs will soon have
large number of players from whom TO recruit their
teams. Thus il is that cricket and football enthu
sIasts already entertain some feeling of jealousy to-
ward lacross, which bids fair to rival the national
games of England in its attractiyeness for young
athletes, and certainly shares with them the coveted
hOnOrs of public attention. IL tangible proof OF
the British interest lacrosse were needed 10 could
be had in the fact that at the time of Mr. Frasers
visit, there a corner" in lacrosse sticks.
They were at premium. The next shipment from
Montreal was sold prior to arrival at large advance
Moreover, Mr.. Fraser was informed that Blrming-
ham firm had just begun to manufacture sticks
LACROSSE CLUBS IN ENGLAND.
or the United Kingdom lacrosse associations. the
most powerful that is to say the one with the lars
est membership, in the North of England, with
some "a or enrolled clubs; including those OF
Liverpool, Manchester. Bradford, Sheffield and
Leeds Then follows the South of England, with
about II enrolled clubs including those Of London
and the neighborhood Cambridge and Bristol
The North and South of England Associations arc
sub-divided into county associations. such tho
Middlesex County Lacrosse Association Lancashire
County, Yorkshire County. etc, each subdivision
embracing the clubs within the area OF IT'S reSpec
tive county limits. In Ireland, the Northern La
crosse Union with the Earl of Dutierln as president.
embraces the Irish clubs Of note, about dozen IN
all The men with whom Mr.. Fraser came IN con-
tact as the atlye, were. OF course, tho
secretaries of the North and South OF England Ass0-
Citations, and the Northern Lacrosse Union.
The most desirable. and sometimes the only
grounds available for a lacrosse match being the
local or county cricket grounds, 1t became necessary
IN arranging some matches 10 consult the secretary
of the all powerful cricket club or association, ana
ascertain the terms, if any, on which the grounds
might be obtained. Many OF the cricket grounds
are beautifully kept and jealOusly guarded. La
crosse men with their sticks are looked upon by
crcleters Us GOths and Nandds-brutal invaders OK
their sacred precincts. The Old IraIOrd Grounds,
Manchester, where the important matches arc
played. be secured by lacrosse men for loyo
or money! the game will be Played on the second
best place, the LOngsidc Cricket CluD br"undS IN
marked contrast to this case was the generous aud
public spirited action OF the MarylebOne Cricket
Climb who offered the Lords Grounds free of cha 90.
So much tor tie difficulties under which lacrosse
labors in the United Kingdom to-day, but these
barriers 10 ITS prosperity and success are leSsened
every year. as the game increases III HlicI'SJ dhu
its advocates grow IN numbers, influence ana
wealth. 80 .
In respect 10 the most desirable cities of the Uni
ted Kin dOn in which Il limited number OF matches
cOuid be arranged adv wee WAS taken on every hand
aud the list arranged rs submitted. FOR some tlhb
the way not clear for match between the Uni-
ted gdOm and the United States. II was t1Ind
inpTactcable to play il in London. 10 was eyentu-
ally decided mt meeting held AT Belfast that III
stead of one-the all lreand-'here should be two
matches played in BelfaSt-on Friday, all Ireland
VS. the United States; on Saturday, the Uniel
Kingdom vs.. the United States. the EnglIsh seclr-
taries agreeing to send cOntlngeuCs from their 10
spectivo associations to Belfast. Thus the three
Il fest matches" All England" All Ireland, and
United Kingdom are reserved t. the last lhe
Cambridge Union Club Is the only ciub perhaps
that will be met.
THE PROGRAMME.
The programme laid ont reads as follows:
May l.. saturday on Che Rock Ferry Grounds AZ
Liverpool the Cheshire County Lacrosse Associations
Wednesday. MAJ y, at Manchester. the Long'ldb
Cricket Grounds Lancashire County Lacrosse AsaO
citation; Saturday. MAY p, same place, the North or
I'm INA T,rr-. A-.ucafIou: Moudr MAY 20. or Wed
ne,ay MAY 2s. on the Brlmdl Lame Cricket Grounds.
SHIELDED the Yorkshire County Lacrosse Association,
Saturday May 81, Nottingham. London. the south OF
England Lacrosse Association, Wednesday, june J. IN
vase Banks Cricket Grounds, London. Inc AiddlcorN
County Club; Sttlrdly. june =. the Cambridge tmf,r-
siiy Lacrosse Club al Cambrig ln.~ty, me ~,
at Lords London AL England; Friday. june l3. On tho
North of ireland Cricket Grounds Belfast. Al ireland;
same place. saturday, June {. the Uh.tcd Kingdom
The season, socially speaking. both in London,
Cambridge and Belfast IS an important matter ana
in thi, respect the programme Is satisfactory and
promising.
OF the teams to he met. the Irishmen are consld-
cred the strongest The United Kingdom team
composed of two-thiId Irish and one-thId English
will pcrnap, give an equal amount OF work. All
| ,u.I tina North and Soutl of England VIII