New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-11-08

I can remember Of no instance where the official
of a match has been other than an old player
If am such cases are or record. Will venture 10
say that the rulings Of such person have been
anything but satisfactory. A man may thor
oughly master the rules of the game, but when 1t
Genes to applying the same in the quick and
confusing action Of the play. 1t is entirely diff
ferent
THE second qualification Is the power of
quick trustworthy observation, and this point Is
where many who would otherwise make good
officials fail AS a good example Of the liability
Of the powers Of observation to err, would call
attention to the various reports in the news
papers Of the point over which SO much has been
said In the ae-Indian game. played in this city
a short time ago. Although was not present To
witness the game. i read all The reports of the
game in half a-doZen different papers the next
morning. no two of which agreed as to the man
ner in which the play was made. And yet the
reporters for each one were present on the side
lines. watching with critical eyes. You see. when
twenty-five men participate in a play there IS
concerted action which requires close scientific
scrutiny to know what is taking place Ii may
be well TO mention at this point that the specta-
tors. who even further removed from the
side lines. should be slow to express disapproval
OF officials ruling, they are IN "A position
where il is impossible to judge correctly Of fine
point.
I'm the third place. a referee umpire should
possess firmness. impartiality and honesty. No
team should consent to official unless they
have absolute confidence in his honesty and fair
ness" Dr. Bovaird mentioned again the Yale
Indian game. pointing out that Referee fIckok's
weakness I'm making decision and then admit
ting that he wrong had added to the general
unsatisfactory character Of the result Of the con-
test.
DASHIELLS STURDY STAND.
GAS opposed to such weakness recalled the
sturdy, fearless decision Of Dashiel in the cele-
brated game between Princeton and Yale in 1893
when Princeton won by the score of 60. In the
first half of the game Princeton. by series Of
rushes. had carried the ball down to within three
yards Of Yale's line. 1t the third down. and
on the next scrimmagc IL looked as if Yale had
held Princeton without tho gain Of an inch. The
Yale men were cheering all over the field, and the
substitutes on the side line were. induging In
regular Indian war dances expressive Of delight
But several men IN the Yale line had played fla
GRAVITY off side. Dashiell could not give the five
yards to Princeton. as 1t would carry the ball two
yards over Yale's line. His decision was that IL
was Princeton's ball on the first down, and in the
next scrimmage Ward, the Princeton half back
carried the ball over for the first and only touch.
down of the game There are some officials who
either ignore or do not foul plays Of this kind
and had Dashiell been one of them the result OF
the game might have been far different
For instance, in the Yale Orange game played
this year Orange Oval. the ball was In ORANGES
possession and the two teams lined up for n
scrimmage. The Orange snapper-back just
getting ready To put the ball in play. when the
Yale centre rush deliberately gave the bali
punch SenOlng III rolllnS tnree or four feet back:
ard this in full view OF the referee and those on
the side lines. This a most fragrant violation
Of the rules which provide that the snapper ba ok
is entitled to the full and undsturbed possession
Of the ball. and that opponents cannot Interfere
with him touch the ball until II Is In actual
play. The captain Of the Orange team at once
appealed to the referee. but that official shook
his head refusing to give the five-yard penalty
which the Orange team were entitled to under
the rules The referee was told in strong Ian
guage that he was frank" or rotten" hut this
did not change his decision. 1t happened when
the ball was in the middle Of the field. and so did
not make much difference either way: but had
the ball been well up toward the opponents line
a wrong decision Of this kind might have changed
completely the complexion Of the score of the
game"