The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04

other seven are variOusly placed to
guard various points and to rush and
tackle, or perform any other duty for
which they may be required.
The paraphernalia of the game is
simple in the extreme. The ball used
should weigh from seven to ten ounces,
and should be made of cork and WOODEN
thread, covered with leather. The
hurly or stick which is used for driving
the ball is also a very simple affair. II
is made of wood, and is about three
feet long. 1t is curved at one end and
fiattened so that there is surface to
meet the ball when it strikes it.
When the teams are drawn up ready
to play the referee becomes the dictator
of the game. He is, however, assisted
by four others, two goal umpires and
two field umpires. The captains of the
teams toss for choice of sides of the
field. Then the hurlers, standing in line
on the field opposite each other, adj
vance, shake hands or catch hurlys. as
the case may be, after which they re-
tire into position. Then the referee,
taking up position at one end, losses
the ball between the lines of opposing
players, taking care not to throw it
higher than their heads. This is a sig
nal for the game to begin. And from
this time on there is struggle, and
when the teams are at all we'll matched
it is always an exciting one. The game,
as seen in America, is played under the
rules of the Gaelic Athletic Association.
which, while simple, are strict in the
sense that they thoroughly frown down
all smuggling or rough or crooked play
ing.
No player is allowed to catch another
with his hands, nor can there be any
tripping, pushing from behind or but
ting with the head. 1t is not allowed
for player to bring his hurly into con-.
tact with another players person, and it
is in enforcing this rule that most
trouble is had. Its enforcement is nee
essary, however, for otherwise every
game would be marked by broken
heads. For any breach of these rules
the referee is fully empowered to act.
He may disqualify the guilty player for
the game. In hurting, the disquali flea
ton of a man means the loss of one to
his side. In football, when man is
disqualified another may take his place.
but this is not so in hurting, and the re-
suit is that team captains anxious to
lose no men see to it that the rules are
obeyed. The referee can disqualify a
player for any play that he may con-
slider improper If man is accidental
iy injured his place may be filled by
another.
If any player drives the ball over the
side line of the field, and it does not re.
bound, no player can follow and return
it. This must be done by the referee OF
an umpire. The players must remain
thirty feet from the line until the ball
is again thrown into the field and has
touched the ground. after which it again
becomes live ball.
When ball is driven over the goal
line then the goal-keeper has a chance
to distinguish himself, for he gets a
chance to hit the ball at his own free
will without molestation from the other
players. To use the jargon of the game,
he gets free puck" from goal into the
field. In other words, he has a free hit
OF the ball on the fly. and no player on
the opposite side can come nearer than
the twenty-one yard line until the ball
is struck. while none of the strikers
side can be farther away from his own
goal than the center of the field. These
free pucks are always followed by the
widest sort of scrimmages, and are al
ways an exciting feature of game that
ordinarily is exciting enough
But, for that matter, there are exciting
features of the game just as there are
In any game where the players are
brought into close hand to-hand con-
tests of skill, strength and endurance.
The match is always decided by the
number of goals made. In some games
no goals are made-although this ia
unusuai-and in some others the score
Is TO goals may be tie. In such cases
IL is settled by the number of points.
1t is not intended that the hand shall
touch the ball any more than is possible
w9en hurting. The ball can not be