The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-05

corners in the road marked him skillful
whip: Mr.. Clifton made the drive in some
" thing over two hours.
p : 7 he scene about the grand stand during
the afternoon was an animated one. Fash
IGN, much of it imported along with the
game from the motherland, was in its best
form: Matyons Of the upper set and sweet
faced, girls, men of affairs, clubmen and
youths with rich fathers-al were there in
happy accord and enjoyed the old English
e gane~the same as the small boy on the
fence enjoyed it.
= lnterestin the game was unfailing. The
more exciting the play became, the more
turlously the riders dashed across the broad
held IN hot pursuit of the white wooden
hall as 1T caEeered toward the goal, the
more intense was the. interest of the spec
tators.. The cavalry officers were particu-
larly enthusiastic. They gave the army
yell with much frequency and vigor. They
yelled for their favorites alike in defeat
and victory and as they stood directly in
front Of the refreshment tent during the
afternoon they never lacked for the neces-
sary cheer and inspiration.
This is. the first polo tournament ever
held In California, and the game as played
yesterday bids well to become popular. It
is by no means dudes game. There are
reasons for believing that it will never be-
come popular with him, except as a spec
katOI liOIl Tie CodCu-DOA. IL Is the game
OF sk1llful hoTsemen, men of muscle dar-
ing. and endurance. The dangers of the
game. are many while. the fatigue that
comes. to a man and beast through an
hours hard play is severe.
= At times during the game the pace was
killing, and men and ponies capable of the
hardest. endurance alone could withstand
the strain.
Captain H. S. Hawkins of the United
.HfatGS- Java faa FOL I'D fn
quarters at Walla Walla last evening the
1elowlng: dome US up brown. Score:
lON to N; letter Of explanation follows"
1t was true. The crack polo team of
the north met with an inglorious defeat
Yesterday at Buflingame, and all because
Ihe players were handicapped in many
particulars. Their horses were unshod
and unaccustomed.to to. racing on hard and
sIlppery sward. and as Lieutenant Voor-
hees correctly remarked, 1--WE have had no
opportunity Tor practice since our arrival,
as WeSpassIng on the Burlingame polo
ground has been strictly forbidden.
,"Onoerstandit though. that the ground on
which our players had trained for this
game was entirely different to this con-
tinued Mr.. Voorhees,; 1.-THE surface was
rough, and, as matter of course. long
shots and swift riding were theexcepfions
and not the rule. I'certainly believe that
If our team had had a few. hours practice
on tnese GROUNDS Slnceour arrival the game
would not have, been SO. very one-sided. /
must acknowledge, however, that the
horses ridden by the Burlingame team
are superior to ours.
1t was 3 P. NJ, when an official seated in
grand stand that was. erected under the di-
rection OF Captain A. f. Wainewright, grand
manager of the club grounds, pressed his
lips to an elongated brass trumpet and
blew a blast, which was the announcement
that time was up for saddling
In iiffy four athletic looking fellows
wearing white silk shirts and red sashes
mounted four little spirited bangtails, and
scarcely had they got seated in the pig
skin when four gallant soldier boys wear