The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-09
FOUGHT BY FIRELIGHT.
Faculty, Upper ClaSsmen and
Co. Eds Cheer the
RuSherS On.
BEATEN FRESHMEN TIED UP.
They Are Piled In Corner and
AfterWard Carried From
the College.

STANFORD UNIVERSITY, CAL, Sept.
s.-The first crush" came off in blaze Of
light last night, and the "sophs' donned
the fin de steele class in comprehensive
and conclusive manner.
This settles the superiority for the time
being, but from sundry remarks of the
vanquished another rush is likely TO take
place before the semester ends.
Promptly at 7:30 P. NJ. the class of '98
marched to the gymnasium headed by a
torch that had apparently seen campaign
service. Every "rusher" was dressed in
his oldest clothes and wore look of grim
determination, amusing to the onlookers
but terrifying to the ''freshy" for whose
benefit it was assumed. Every man carried
several pieces of baling rope cut in con-
venient lengths for binding expected
victims.
Now the noise began.
Chee-he, chee-he chee-ha-ha-hal
Ninety-eighty, ninety-eightyl
Rah, rah, rahl
Resounded from the dark shadow of the
gymnasium, where '9s had mustered its
clans.
The cry was answered with will by the
freshman yell:
Rah, rah, rahl
Rah, rah, refill
Ha, ha, ha, ha!
Fin de steele.
Out from the depths of the miniature
pine forest on the campus came the fresh
men. They had called the roll and found
sixty men present. A dozen more aug
mented the force before it reached the base
ball ground, where the contest was to take
place. In numbers the sides were about
even; 1913 rallied round big lantern bear
ing the figures of that class.
In order to better enable the contestants
to see each other big bonfire was started
up. Faculty members turned out and the
upper classmen were on hand en- masse to
encourage the participants. Co-eds by
the score attended to witness the unique
performance, and verybody got his or her
moneys worth.
The signal was given and $50 men clashed
together ON the baseball diamond. The
scene in the uncertain glare of the bonfire
was ludicrous to every one but those en-
gagged. Legs and arms and rolling masses
of black humanity were all that could be
seen.
For good half hour it was toss-up for
the winner. Muffled cries came from I'M
uer struggling neapS. Inc QuSC was StlrreQ
up until rushers and spectators alike were
choking and half-suffocated. Rope was in
demand and gradually '98, which had the
best organization, was seen to be coming
out on top.
A nucleus of found victims was started
at the catcner's backstop and as fast as
freshmen" were tied up they were carried
to this spot. For the best part of an hour
the struggle lasted and then the last fresh
man was carried to the ragged, dust-cov-
cred pile.
Now was the time for poking fun at the
'fin de siecles,' and the winning "sophs"
did it with a will. The victims were
photographed and jeered, and, to cap the
climax were carted off in bdsses to various
parts of the country. Some were taken up
to Redwood City, others to the sand dunes
down by the bay, where they were left to
make their way home as best they might.
Many failed to get to bed until midnight.
So, for the present, '99 must recognize '9S
as its superior, awaiting time when it is
more experienced for turning the ia bles on
its rivals.