New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-20
LACROSSE IN ENGLAND.
THE CRESCENT ATHLETIC CLUB MAY
SEND A TEAM OVER THE WATER.

OtS WILL VOTE AT THEIR NENI
-CARRoL J. POST FAvoRs THE PLAN.
The Crescent Athletic Club Is contemplating a
move. which in view Of the recent visit OF the
Yale to England, will he looked upon with
no little interest by all who view with pleasure
the friendly rivalry which has been established
between America and the mother country In the
different branches of athletic sports. There have
been international contests In rowing and track
athletics with Englishmen Haverford College
has a cricket team in England this summer. and
now the Crescent Athletic Club will send Ia
crosse team across the channel next season.
This will be done If the Board Of Governors Will
grant the necessary permission at their meeting
to be held on August II. The Crescent Athletic
Club has always been conservative body; all
its sports have been carried on In quiet way.
and what contests have taken place with other
teams have always been on the clubs own
grounds at Bay Ridge.
The teams have never gone about the country
looking for laurels. and to send a team to Eng
land Will be a radical departure from the clubs
former position. For this reason II Is looked at
with little distrust by some of the more con-
sentative members of the club The proposition
has been fully talked up among the members
and those interested In lacrosse are enthusiastic
over the idea. 1t Is confidently believed that the
Board Of Governors will be satisfied with the
preliminary arrangements which have been made
and will give their sanction to the proposed trip
Lacrosse is primarily the national game OF Can
ada and holds the same position there as does
baseball here. 1t has gradually been introduced
into England and Is played there to
greater extent even than in Canada. 1t Is second
in popularity only to cricket. The game has
been played In the United States for many
years but only during the lest few seasons has
it come into any degree Of prominence One or
the officers Of the Crescent Athletic Club said
that he believed that now. since football had
been so overdone, lacrosse would In time come
TO hold the same prominence In the world Of
amateur athletics formerly held by the game OF
the pigskin." 1t certainly will speedily take the
first rank in Crescent athletic circles since the
rupture of the football relations with the Orange
Athletic Club last fall
Lacrosse was taken up by the Crescent Ath-
letic Club about four years ago. At that time
little was known about the game and little inter-
est was shown by the large majority OF the
members Since then lacrosse has gradually
grown in popularity, until the Crescents now
have the strongest amateur team in the United
States. At the game played with Toronto on
Nav 30 the largest crowd Of members and friends
of the club that ever assembled on the Bay Ridge
grounds was present. The Toronto team Is the
strongest in Canada. but the Crescents were only
defeated to g. This the only defeat OF the
season.
Other games were played with Lehigh. Har-
ward. Stevens Institute Of Technology. and johns
HOPKINS All OF these games were won by the
Crescents except one Of the Lehigh games. which
resulted in tie. BY winning these games the
Crescen. Athletic Club received and now holds
the handsome challenge cup which was offered
by the University Of Toronto TO promote the In
terests Of the sport in this country. This cup
will be competed for yearly, and 1t Is expected
that these contests will do much to increase the
popularity Of the game.
Carroll J. Post. who is captain OF the Crescent
Athletic Club lacrosse team. was one OF the first
men TO take up the game In the club. and has
since been one OF It's most ardent devotees and
enthusiastic supporters He says: III is In the
nowor of the Crescent Athletic Club to foster
and advance lacrosse as scientihc ana interest
ING game for gentlemen's clubs and colleges in
the United States. The college teams break up
from wear TO year and we are the only athletic
club in the country which at present devotes
much attention to this line Of sport. 1t is for
healthy interest in lacrosse that am so anxious
70 have our team play in England next season
We have the strongest lacrosse team in the
United States ard have an exceptionally good
chance for success with the Englshmen."
One OF the Crescent players. James Gavin,
who nlavs point conducted a lacrosse team
from Toronto to England in 1SSS The trip was
q great success and Mr.. Gavin made some warm
different
lie wrote to them regarding the proposed trip
~ the Crescents and they have received a cordial
o,d urgent invitation to come to England next
snrinp There are three strong lacrosse associa-
,ions in Great Britain, the North Of England.
South Of England and Irish associations, com
,risine clubs in Manchester. London and Bel
fast II the Crescents decide to go to England
hose associations will take entire charge OF
heir trim entertain them at their homes. and
arrange all the games There Will be no trophy
payed for but II Will he simply a friendly test
Of the comparative skill in lacrosse as played by
the gentlemens clubs in England and America
But as the Crescent Athletic Club has the strong
est team in the United States. victory FOR
them would mean virtually National triumph.
II IT is decided to take the trip the Crescents
will do most OF their practice during the rail-
AS there are many skilfu young players. the
nickinp of the team will be no easy task Dur
ng the winter the men will keep themselves in
good condition, experimenting TINS by iight prac,
ice The team will start the last OF March ana
spend about four weeks IN England paying III
teen sixteen games.
The Boston lacrosse team. composed or dev-
,tees of that sport around the Hub. has chal-
enged the Crescent team TO game on August
al the Bay Ridge grounds. Although they nave
not practised for six weeks, Mr. Post thinks that
ne can get together his team. and that In all
probability the game will be played.