San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-09-22

player has two OF these sticks,
which are exactly alike. the ball
is placed in the cup formed by
these two sticks, and is thrown
from them at the mark.
When everything is ready for
commencing the game, the players
form in two lines, facing each
other, halr way between the split
poles, when an Indian chosen for
the purpose, throws the ball
perpendicularly into the air.
With the descent of the ball
to the earth, pandemonium
opens. A scramble over the ball
follows; half the players are with
ing and scuffiug all in a heap on
the ground and IL an Indian seizes
the ball all the players on the OPP
posite side make desperate effort
to take it from him, and falling in
that, to prevent his throwing it
with accuracy at his own split
poles. They trip each other up;
push each other down; pull each
other backwards and run over each
other. 1t is rough work, and l
have frequently seen two opposing
players glare at each other like
demons and be on the eve Of a
fight, when the squaws Of both
sides would rush up to them and
act as peacemakers, chaffering in
the Indian dialect and pulling
them In different directions. Base
ball and football are tame and gen.
tie games in comparison with a
game OF ball played by In
dians. When a player gets the
ball the players opposed to him
rush on him to get the ball away
from him, while the players on his
side rush to his help. The only
way an Indian was able to throw
the ball was to break and run the
moment he seized it, and to outrun
his pursuers. Sometimes all the
players would be clear out of sight
in the woods for fifteen minutes,
endeavoring to either overtake, or
head off the player who had the
ball or to assist him. On one &C.
casion at ball play, was seated
with a friend at the root OF large
post oak tree, when the ball WIS
thrown and fell about ten feet from
us; my friend said we had best
get up and dodge around the tree,
but just as / rose to my feet a play
er, running with mighty leap at top
speed, struck me on my right
shoulder and knocked me down.
Though Ibid not fall to the ground
nearer than fifteen feet OF the spot
at which was standing, when the
Indian player ran against me with
his shoulder had no idea what
had happened to me, and was very
dizzy for five minutes. The In
dian players will run over any
body, and spectators of a game of
ball must run out of their way or
dodge around a tree. have seen
200 white ladies at an Indian ball
game. and IL the ball fell near them
the players would run right
through the crowd of ladies,
knocking them right and left, I'M
less the ladies fled out OF their way
in time.
An Indian ball game usually
lasts from four to six hours, aud it
is exceedingly rough sport as we'll
as severe strain on both the
nerves and muscles of the players.
When the game is decided,
the side which is defeated
steals away, so suddenly and silent
ly from the ground that they are
gone ere one misses them, but the
victors remain on the ground for
twenty-four hours celebrating
their victory by noisy demonstra-
tions and "big drunk" il they
have whisky sufficient for that
purpose. There is no fuss
and contention over the game, or
bets. The game is quite exciting
to the white spectators, though
they are kept pretty busy lodging
the players, who follow the ball,
let it go where it may, and run
over any person who chances to be
in their way.
ANTHONY w. BILLIARD.