Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-10

How SOnng Wilmington Did Del
ware Credit NJ tho University.

How YOnng Wilmington Did Dein-
ware Credit NJ tho Univcrsity.
There are three young Wilmingtonians
in the freshmen Gloss OF Lehigh Uniyer-
sity this year. They are all graduates Of
Wilmington high school, They are
Harry Appleby, of No. SOB Washington
street; George d. HodgmRn, sou Of
Superintendent 4. A. HodgmRn of the
Lobdell Oar Wheel Company, and ]. H.
Wesoott. son of James ID. Westcott,
Twelfth and Tatnall streets.
They are all delighted with university
life. One Of them writing home yester-
day gives an account Of the great cane
rush ct Lehigh last week when the fresh
men for the first time in the history OF
Lshigh came off yiotors.
snow will give you" he says 'sn
account OF ths most memorable cane rush
at Lehigh University. Most memorable
because it was the first time the freshmen
ever won 1t. Only 1856 ont Of the TIA in
our class turned out"
Here the youngster gave o graphic
drawing of the battle. field, showing the
six cane men. three "sophs" and three
"freshs," holding the cane in the centre
Of the big field. Some 80 feet behind
them stood the opposed phalanxes
arrayed for battle. Each was Asnked by
reserves according TO proper tactics.
Continuing, the writer said: "rhere
were two goals at each end Of the foot.
ball field, about $3.50 feet apart. The cane
was placed in the middle, 165 feet from
either goal, aud thvss men of each class
held it. The ''fresha" formed about 80
feet away from the cane, facing west.
The "sophs" in the same manner facing
the east. At the firing off of pistol this
two classes rushed for the cane, and
then, IL the ''freshs" pushed the cane
over the ''sophs" goal and held it there
for five minutes, they won the rush; or,
il the "sophs" pushed the cane over tho
''freshs'" goal and held 1t there for q
similar length OF time, they won the rush.
The manner OF forming was left to the
classes. We selected o wsdge shape with
reserves on each side. My position was
rather near the blunt apex OF our wedge.
We had about ITO men. The sopha
adopted similar plan, but had only four
reserves on each side. Their wedge
numbered IS. We locked our arms and
formed o solid phsianx. When the signal
was given we moved steadily forward and
when we struck the sophs 1t was terrible.
The men on the cane were lifted bodily
in the air. But we did not break. The
sophsgained about 10 feet at first. Then we
moved steadily forward towards their
goal. About every two or three minnteh
dozen or more would go down but we
never stopped. The crowd surged over
them and they arose out and bruised only
to join the rush again. Shirts were torn
of (mine inoluded) leaving several
stripped to the waist. 1t was battle
without firearms. At times the pressure
was so great that our breasts were forced
in until We were unable to breathe and
several had their tongues hanging ont
But when one got down underneath the
crowd it was awful. Two men had to he
carried of the field, one with broken
collar bono. / was down once and one
of my legs was so twisted and
tramped upon that l am limping yet. !
YVES also afraid one of my ribs was frao
tured but guess it is alright. My chest
10 still very sore. "92" fought like
demons, bnt it was no use. That cane
moved steadily westward and in 10
minutes we had it across the line, and
you bet we held it there for FIVE minutes
longer. When the signal was given to
stop there was sigh OF relief. II Wal
no use, Dad, "93n scored another point
Huhl rah rayl
nuhl rah rayl
hay ray rayl
NinetY-threel
Suoh yelling and whooping az we die
when ii was over There was BIZ
| crowed there who cheered also. Oh, 4
was great day for "93"--the first tim
it ever happened at Lshigh. l had
fellow to hold my coat 90 that Coult
put it on when got through, RnC
it was good thing did, for wa
stripped bare. But tina. did not matte
~ long as "93" got it.
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