The sun., 1896-08-09
POLO PLAYED ON WHEELS.
BIcYclistn Have Invented an Exciting and
Pcriioua sport.

The term polo" would imply game played
with mallets but. while short malets are used
in one form OF the game as played by cyclists In
the most difficult and daring phase of the sport,
the ball Is propelled toward the goal simply by
aknock from the tire Of the front wheel. The
mallet game is generally played on the lawn at
a country club. or in n field where the turf Is
fairly smooth. II resembles hockey In methods
and PRINCIPLES, and the cyclists who practise 1t
acquire considerable .kill 1t lacks the spice
Of danger that makes the actual bicycle polo
fascinating. however, ard 1t also lacks
the originality OF the latter game for the knack
of hitting the ball along by a sharp blow from
the front tire IS dec dedIy original and gives the
game a distinct place among sports. To convey
the manner in which the cyclists play the game,
despite the paradox bic ycle football would be n
more intelgible title than bicy Gle polo, for the
bail /. bant-l alonG with the wheel Just as u
foGthGi IS kicked for tle goal posts.
There are M goal pOs.s. however. in cycle polo.
When played in r!nk. or on smooth surface
board: two feet in length and u foot high. is
placed in the exact centre OF the linr. These
and have spring bells on the back that sound
bail. IN ordinary baseball is. used. Tho
game may be played by two four. or six
cyclists. Who form opposing teams When only
wv" play it is termed an individual match.
the gari,r consisting. OF one inning OF fifteen
minutrs' DURATION the one making the most
goals winning. In team ma chez Two fifteen
interval Of rest between. xii goals made ars
counted. the winner being the team scoring the
mos. Goals Any delays caused by nm acciient
10 n player or machine are deducted from the
playing time So that the innings are ALWAYS eK-
actly fifteen minutes in duration.
football. y referee who is on u wheel in the
middle cronrd. .%fter asking the question
out favor to elher side. II there are three on q
team, two will be rushers and one the goal
ON each side scnrcaes e neward @ ia Soeyer @ rrSs
there first rides almost on top of the ball. and
that moment, by nn acute, quick side notion OF
goal. Should the ball 90 spinning along
ne floor or n gronnd the sec9na rush
other blow from his cycle wheel, turn Its
course Bpt: as often hsppens the first man
will probably have cleared the second rush. and
the guard will have to defend his goal. Ordi-
narily he viii turn it. by the usual side blow,
meeting 1t head on with his wheel. In this case
The bail runs partially underline heel, but urged
shoots out again with the force Of bullet from
the gun. This stroke Is only tried in cases AZ
danger OF puncturing the tire. but also o! the
player taking header, In playing the side
stF%kG II The pHyeF b hnnsss 1t s very probaos
issiw"> the danger of ar, upset;
so,much for tho method OF play. Rut to get
he borne In mind that the game II played Mt the
top speed OF expert wheelnei.. The players dart
cross each others path without regarding the
chances Of n collision. The ratio is about ten
fnls to s%Gn G%" .c"red %'.Gngh me
sc Wheel %%Es nsr Tf shs the bn hn"dn IS
ticrs must not be counted. In knocking n ball
FOR goal! should a player lose his balance and
is a lost rosi. A rider may wheel in bstN cen a
player and the ball. in fact, this is the life of
thn game. but there must be no pushing with
The game is played by both amateurs and pro-
fessionals and originated years ago among tho
special act. Now it has reached the dignity of
sport. AT prescut there are neither penalties
nor allowances for ioul riding or safety piays; in
fact, the playing rules are outlined in the fore
going paragraphs There Is also no fixed rule
for tn size Of tho rink Or ground. Much do
with the development of the game, these de-
tails attract more attention.
viii carry for hundred feet through the air.
Charles Coulter, In making n goal In u recent
game played T. carry over two men who were
guarding the goal ana succeeded in the attempt.
Among experts at cyclic polo now in the city are
Billy .Gorham, Ike johnson, Coulter, Guy Gard
nrr, Robbins: Peter Fisher, and w. II; Barber.
The knack Of hitting the ball with the front
wheel may serve good purpose in road-riding.
srs SIhn ay aG be sSghs IN hs
q. story that illustrates this point. On
his Ihso, way down r33 S9Tn recently he wheeled
g ,stoop on which family party. OF colored
folks we're taking the mir. Coulter saw
reached i, by, polo twist oi the front wheel
he sent 1t sailing toward the gutter, " Fob
gracious sgkes alive! cried the colored party.
aud they cleercd Coulter until he was out or
sight. As a way ul throwing small obstacles
oul Of the path the noio twist might at times bs
progressing should soon be one OF the standard
pastmes among amateur whee!men,