Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1894-10-25
THIRTEEN TO ELEVEN.
Brattleboros Had the Umpire and
Referee, but Only Tied i

KIM IOT SeNeTal years unul saturday
but our boys found then that the sports
from the little Vermont heaven have
not in that interval learned to give their
Anniversaries a fair show. The game of
foot ball Saturday on the Basin field
was characterized by the rankest and
most outrageous decisions of both refe-
rec and umpire that were ever the mis-
fortune of an assemblage to witness.
There was not a square decision made
and had the game been played in al
most any other town the field officials
would have been mobbed as they well
deserved.
Ketchum of Brattleboro was referee,
and he began early in the game to
throw everything in favor of his men.
Mike brisbane, who came here from
Brattleboro short time ago and
bought the billiard room formerly run
by John Blake, was umpire, and an
able assistant to Ketchum in his nefari-
Gus undertaking. AS brisbane has gone
into business here and depends on the
sporting class for a living, it would
fair show. They do not ask for more
than an equal chance with their oppo-
nents, but that much they do ask for
and are entitled to. Still with both Of
ficials on their side the Brattleboros
could not win.
Brattleboro had the ball at the OPEN
ing of the game and kicked to Bellows
Falls % yard line, but failed to down
their man until the ball had been car
ried back nearly to the center. Bellows
Falls then made several good gains on
mass plays, and worked the ball over
the center line. The game had been in
progress hardly five minutes when
Brown of Brattleboro, one of their best
men, had his hip dislocated. He was
removed from the field and a substitute
furnished i'll his place. Bellows Falls
kept pushing their opponents down the
fl cid till they got to the 40 yard line
when Driscoll was sent around the end
and made touchdown. The referee
claimed that the interference started
before the ball was put in play and the
ball was taken back again. Then the
ball was passed to Joubert and he made
good run to the Brattleboro goal line
for a touchdown, but again the referee
claimed of-side play and carried the
ball back. This began to get rather
monotonous, but the boys tried again,
and in play that there could be no
question over Driscoll again made a
touchdown. Joubert tried for goal
but missed.
1t was evident then that Bellows
Falls would have no show of winning
the game, though they We're doing SUI
perior work. The touchdowns made
by Driscoll and Joubert which were not
allowed were on as fair plays as ever
made on field, and the Brattleboro
players so stated after the game. They
were unable to see where the. Bellows
Falls men had transgressed the rules,
but of course were willing to abide by
the decisions when they were in their
own favor.
Brattleboro made a long kick towards
the Bellows Falls goal and Williams
caught the ball but fumbled and Brattle-
boro got it. They held it for five or six
downs without gaining, the referee be-
ing unable to count above three in de-
cisions against his team. Then Bellows
Falls got the pig-skin and carried it
across the center where they lost it on
an alleged off-side play. Brattleboro
tried a run around the end and was
beautifully tackled without a gain. Here
the referee got in another bit of dirty
work allowing Brattleboro IS yards
on claim of foul tackle. The man
was tackled about midway between the
waist and shoulders, but the referee
claimed it foul and paced off 26 long
strides towards the Bellows Falls goal,
where the ball was set down, Is yards
from the line. Here the Bellows Falls
boys held their opponents till time was
called for the first half of 20 minutes
Score, to 0 in favor of Bellows Falls
1t should have been II to 0, without
reckoning possible goal.
The second half was a repetition O.
the first, though there was not the
chance for the umpire and referee to dc
SO much injury to our boys by rank de
cisions as the half was only Is minutes
and play was stopped at the end of l:
minutes on account of darkness. Bel
lows Falls had the ball at the opening
of the half and made long kick down
the field. Their tackles were close
after the ball and downed their man be
fore he could run with the ball. Ther
the Brattleboros braced up and made
several good gains, aided in measure
by the referee giving them five downs
at one time when it was needed t.
make the required gain. Brattlebort
tried two punts which were not very
successful, but made small gains
Then they were given the ball on +;