New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-14
4 CUOCT1 W BALL GAME.
IT RESEMBLES LACROSSE AND Is MORE
DANGEROUS THAN FOOTBALL.

IT RESEMBLES LACROSSE AND Is MORE
DANGEROUS THAN FOOTBALL.
From The Phladephia Times.
The Indian ball game of the ChCctaw Nation IS one
% few surviving native customs OF this interesting
tribe. II Is game wholly unlike basebai or 1907.
mer wears the different tribes are said to have
played against each other but the feeling grew 50
strong that the games mad TO be gwen up. 1hei,
the different counties of the Choctaw Nation played
against each other, but again the matches had to
+ be- abandoned as the games always ended in fights.
in which people were killed. In a game in 1883 one
was killed and a number injured In ANOTHER
game the ball only hit once, ana then all the
Indians ran for their revoivoIs or used the butts OK
In recent years there has been trouble Of this
kind. although there t. sill much strong feeling.
George Emeu starr has recently deposited in the
University Museum pair OF raCquets ahd
horse tail worn in the game, which he obtained
from the Choctaws when in the Indian Territory,
where he passed Il number Of years. The racGuets
used IN pairs. They terminate in small hoops
in the form of a spoon. laced at the bottom with
ing forbidden 70 touch it with the hands. Mr.: Starr
had an opportunity Of witnessing game II was
between Tobucksey and Sugar Loaf counties of the
| Choctaw Nation, ana piay,G at place about ten
Choctaw Railroad, Indian Territory. On the night
before the players on each side went into camp near
the place agreed upon. The season was the ira
Gltional Of the full moon Of one Of the summer
months. ana tho company slept without shelter
upon the ground. on their arrival the new players.
who had never been allowed to play before on the
county teams. dressed themselves in ball costume.
and while their elders were arranging rules. ran
around making themselves conspicuous to their
side in the hope that they would be chosen
the next day.
While they carry their weapons to the ball field,
thy are not allowed TO play with Them The ma
iorty OF tho players of splendid physique,
spare and wiry Running ana wrestling alternate
in the game The goal posts, which the ball must
| touch about 900 to 225 yards apart They con-
sist of TWO trees dashed together with ropes These
about eight inches in diameter and are cut Hat
on one side, and are set AZ an angle 50 that they
present face of about twelve inches to the bail.
This must hit the post. TO which ii may be carried
between players sticks. but It must bounce over
a line in front Of the posts. otherwise II does not
count and IS stil in play
THIRTY on a SIDE
The sides each numbered thlrty-of varying ages,
some ~ vare crinnIed Tho rosrlt i, may be- OF
The c0niurer: were conspicuous throughout the
game. At the commencement. after the sides were
about len feet of he posts they broke their forma-
ton, and. uu"ring cry. ran up To the posts. bat
tcring them with their bah sticks. This they did
3 10 scare the spirit Of bad luck away.
I Then they lined up in a kind of alley between the
goals Near the middle OF the field, however, there
10 each other in a line horizontally across the goal
lire. When al WAS ready thc conjurer, followed
bv The men who were 10 take these places crossed
the field. Mir. Starr states tina; It is tho medicine
man who puts the ball in play ~ tossing Il into
half red ana half black and carried in his hand a
small branch Of a tree. resembling hickory. They
both stood near their respective goals and sung
ana clapped their hands. The game lasted from
u 10 ). with an intormission for luncheon. The
score is twelve goals. but If this number Is not com
plctod ny either side the one having the higher
number Is adjudged the winner. Butting with the
head is prohibited under a penalty OF five goals.
The Indians bet everything they possess upon the
game even TO their clothes ana boots. The bets
IRE made through stakeholders. four or five Ind
Whatever IS bet is put with what is bet against 1t.
thrown over the staI1cholder's shoulder: If money
the sums are put together In his pockctDook. Ills
over the stakes correctly Much skill is shown
during the game In scrim mage the ban IS tossed
backward through the bent legs OF the players and
when a player secures it he utters signal cry,
"h9sle This is repeaied by those along the li ne
end each grabs the opponent nearest to him and
holds him. While they are wrestling. the player
with the ban tries TO run with IT so that he can
throw II and make a goa.
HOW TIE WOMEN TAKE PART
The bell. 4 should be observed Is about the size
huckskn. Several are provided. As they are fire.
quently lost IN the tall -rass. Tie players on the
with a long tan and loose cover that comes off
during the play. The tail then impedes their oppo-
are extremely active III aiding thelr side. They are
not permitted 10 touch the ball sticks, but they
are constantly running about and giving hot cOn zee
10 their mon. In one hand they carry cap Of
coffee and IN the other quirt with which they
Whip the PLAYERS when they think they arc not
playing hard enough. AT times player viii &c, a
woman To give him pin, with which he viii scarfy
his leg making from three 10 five scratches from
near the ankle 20 The middle of the calf. until the
I9 ~, ,i,.crs rnt,Irn r. he ,,aroo ef,r ,,
hour they place their ball sticks In rows opposite
P each other ia the middle Of the field. Wher" they
are counted Dy the umpire or the leaders oh each
side This is done 10 no more are playing than
started In the game The spectators cry out ana
| encourage The sides. When goal is made there
Is a -hout Tho most exciting point iu q close game
is when the las; goal j. nea!cd. Then the play b.
comes very fast. and the rules not strictly OIL
served. 4 goal may be made I'm a few moments. or
me contest last for hour. Mr. Starr relates that
ne saw the ball thrown from the centre TO Il player
: within ten feet Of the goal post who scored in
stantly.
br,t dropping tho ball sticks. with the exception
of the prohibited butting, almost everything else
is permitted one Of the players. a splendidly
+ formed man. partly Of Irish descent, caught an
+ other stood him his head and twisted him
around Mr. Starr said TO him aftcrward. you
tried To XII that fellow
lie answered Neck too tough. Wouldn't break.
Ne try him.
As II was five men were crippled, OF whom two
died The Injuries inflicted upon "A man during a
game are frequently avenged by his relatives. The
result Of the game described victory for
Tobucksey County. The cOnjurcr on the Sugar Loaf
side was said 20 have sent his to the creek 10
/ battle I'm the morning. which weakened them. They
were penaZod five goals for butting al the end.
aud 50 lost the game. There was celebration
T afferwarG Al were tired out and went quietly
home 10 their nude hinked log cabins ut the close
Of the day.
THE LADY'S AGE.
From The Tadys Pictorial
The Prince Of Wales, about five years ago. met a
charming lady well known I'm London society A