The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-11-27
THE YALEAND HARVARD CONTEST.
Shall Our Colleges Breed Gladiators and
Candidates for the Prize Ring, Or Chris
tian Gentlemen?

To the Editor of the PRESS:
Boston. Nov. "a, 1894. This question
is being repeatedly asked today ny
thoughtful people about the churoh
doors and by the Preside, and well may
be asked in view of the disgraceful eN
hibition of yesterday at SprlngHelo,
which was smuggling match pure anu
simple, quite as brutal as any eAhlpl'eo
in the prize ring; and yet, mere IN the
Athens of America, thousands OF well
dressed people gathered on the streets
yesterday afternoon, and shouted 1hem-
selves hoarse when the bulletin boards
announced from time TO Time the results
of the struggle. But what after all are
taught by this exhibitions? Let US see.
One of the morning papers approvingly
stated that the Yale men had
been "dosed for weeks with ale to make
them sleep after the severe mental strain
which this practice induced. This prac-
tlce we may we'll consider severe, since
one of the Harvard men ruptured the
sheath of an abdominal muscle which
laid him on his back, and from which
his physician feared he might never COM
pIetely recover. Another twas almost
crazy" because an injured ankle prevent
ed him from entering the contest. He,
however, hobbled across the campus
with his companions when they set out
for Springfield, and was loudly cheered
for his pluck. The photographs of the
contestants in the shop windows were
inc Tho focpu of the r6CanE-
ly photographed showed plainly the
sJraln to which they had been subjected,
a strain which in many cases must serl-
ously affect their future health. But
how Jared it with the men on the field.
The Herald graphically depicts the nine
serious hurts. Brewer supported by Two
men and Murphy on stretcher. wright
ington had his collar bone broken by
Hinkey," the ugly blood of whose fam,
ily," the Herald says, was reused, and
made an entirely uncalled for assault"
upon him. Murphy received conclusion
OF the brain, (which may result fatally"
but in any case Is likely to- lnJure MIN
for life. "Hallowell had his nose
broken" Jerrems and Butterworth were
half the playe on both sides were lald
up" Said policeman to Herald cor
respondent, Prize fighting inst
marker to this" Take the following
from the Herald as a sample OF It's re-
port for half hour:
s.2s-Both teams line up. Walters kicks for
Yale's 30-yaId line. Hinkey carries IT,;
3.31--Haryard gains 20 yaros. Ball on
Yale's 40-y ard line.
1872 Geo. Whttemore hurt:
332.-Murphy's head hurt. Harvards ush-
ing matters. Butterworth is hurt.
S.35-Mnrphy leaves the field on a
stretcher.
3.4O-Adee wrenches his knee.
347-Jerrems of Yale hurt.
3.55-Butterworth of Yale is injured and
retired. Lection takes his place. no
4.02-Wrigh 1ington ran along side Lines ~
yards 10 centre of field and hayes bucked
Yale's 2O-yard line. Armstrong tried to
check him and struck him. He was ruled
of for smuggling. Hayes also laid LAID, OF H. for
Lection lakes Armstrong; place.
4.04-Yale Murphy is unconscious and
dangerously rt. Hallowel OF Harvard
4.05-An ambulance has been ordered for
Murphy who has lain for long time uncon-
scious on Yale barge. Marshall Newell an d
two more Harvard coaches. kept running
out and coaching Harvard players unheed-
ing Capt. Hinkey's protests.
In the same columns we are soberly
informed that capt. Hopkins of Brown
fractures his collar BONE" that Mean
drews of Dartmouth receives broken
nose," and again that Harry Rider,
rl00G QuaFu OIL bu6 OnlOu COllCSG
foot ball team was severely injured in
Mondays game with Hiram College
eleven, and is in critical condition.
He became dIlirious and at times it
takes the strength of four men to hold
him in bed" But worse than this is the
following:
Toledo. O.. November 24.'-At Shrieye.
Ohio, this afternoon, Walter Black burn.
aged 10, received injuries in foot ball gaihe
which caused his death. While 'interfeI-
ring" with another player Black burn was
thrown heavily to the ground and i've or
six players fell on him. When eXtricated he
was paralyZed from the neck down. and
a surgical examination disclosed the fact
that his spinal column had been fractured.
He lived two hours.
This will do for one paper, and the
reader may well rub his eyes and ask
if he is living in medieval times or in
the 10Th century, among barbarians or
civilized people. 1t is certainly time
for educators to forbid the playing of
this barbarous game, which stimulates
the brutal instincts IN man and which
tends to make students who do not
have the physical strength to engage in
it tipplers ard gamblers, for say the re-
ports, "every Yale man bet his bottom
dollar on the game and many, if Yale
doesn't win will have to curtail on their
wine and cigars during the rest of the
year;n and this may be said not only of
Yale, but of Harvard and most of the
colleges in the land.
OBSERVER.