Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-27
DALTIMORE's BIG PUsHBALL.
Taller Than IL Man and Tyventy-One
Feet In Circumstances.

From the Baltimore Sun.
The big pushball is here. Ituwas re-
ceiyed yesterday morning by the r. D.
Lcane Jr.. Co, and exhibited by them
1t attracted much attention.
The ball was expected some weeks ago,
hut delay was occasioned by the time re-
uuired in curing the inside bladder. of pure
Para gum This required three weeks in
itself The big ball is made Of this inside
bladder, one-quarter of an inch thick; next
a layer of felt and other materials six
inches in thickness; next two thicknesses
of ordinary heavy canvas and an outside
covering of strong canvas, made water
proof by chemical process and painted
lead color. The diameter of the ball is
greater than the height of man of ordi-
nary size. and it is twenty-one feet in cir
conference. 1t weighs 152 pounds.
When the ball arrived it was not in
fiated To initiate it required three hours
and fifty-two minutes of hard work by
three men, with the largest hand pump OBJ
tainable.
AS heretofore stated, the push ball was
bought by Mr.. A. Fennenan for use at
Electric Park. There is likelihood that
pushball league will be formed, made up
of teams from the various athletic clubs
and associations of the city, and push
ball is likely to become a popular sport
this winter.
Pushbau was invented by member of
ii
was first played there. No definite set of
rules have ever been published, the game
being played in different ways. MIR. E.
d. I1oane is trying to get the rules of the
game from it's originator, as it was first
PLAYED in Springfield. He thinks, however,
that those rules should simply be used
as a basis for formulating more complete
regulations, because he thinks the game
as played can be improved upon and made
much more interesting
Irstead of having simply two goals
through which the ball is to be pushed
that being the only method of scoring thus
far, Mr.. Loane suggests that a sort of big
checker board be marked off, after the
fashion of foot ball gridiron. About
three-fourths of these squares would be
blank while the others in the neighbor-
hood of the goals would be marked with
numbers such as 40" ''25," go" etc
Whenever the ball should be pushed upon
one of these numbered squares it would
count as many points for the team push
ing it there as the square is numbered.
When either side pushes the ball through
the goal of the opposing team it should
count 100 points is[ In that way a team
might score 1a.i 25s 80 and Is. perhaps, be-
fore making the goal, or without getting
the ball through athe goal at all. Mr..
Loane thinks fsucht rules would make the
gene more complex and make the interest
The game is usually played with eight
men on each side, although any number
can play it. 70 The, usual positions are:
Center. right and left guards right and
left tackles. right and left forwards and
full back. Taekling is allowed to a very
limited extent, principally consisting in
pushing opposing players away with the
shoulder This may be changed with the
contemplated code, of rules for play at
Electric Park. Mr. Loane thinks the game
will be popular, and If SO. another push
ball may be used at the skating rink and
the game played on the ice. A meeting
for the formation Of a league will be held
at Loane's tonight