The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-22
A CHOCTAW BALL GAME.
1t Resembles Lacrosse and Is More
Dangerous Than Football.
From the Philadelphia Times.

Dangerous Than Football.
From the Philadelphia Times.
The Indian ball game of the Choctaw ma
ton is one of few surviving native GUS
! toms of this interesting tribe. 1t is a
! game wholly unlike base ball or foot ball.
but resembling somewhat closely the
game of lacrosse, itself native Indian
| ball game. In former years the different
tribes are said to have played against each
other, but the feeling grew so strong that
the games had to be given up. Then 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 1888 one
man was killed and a number injured. In
| another game the bail was only hit once,
! and then all the Indians ran for their re-
| Volvers or used the butts of their playing
| sticks.
| In recent years there has been no trouble
! of this kind, although there is still much
! strong feeling. The ball game, however,
! has ceased to be a feature of the tribal
| relations.
George Emlen Starr has recently depos-
| TIED in the university museum pair OF
| racquets and horse tail worn in the
| game which he obtained from the Choc-
| Jaws when in the Indian Territory, where
| he passed number of years. The rae
| quets are used in pairs. They terminate
| IN small hoops in the form of a spoon,
] IdCeu at the bottom with 0eerSk1n, De-
| tween which the ball is caught it being
! forbidden to touch it with the hands. Mr..
! starr had an opportunity of witnessing a
| game 1t was between Tobucksey and Su-
| gar Loaf counties of the ChoctaW nation,
and played at a place about ten miles
! southwest of Red Oak, on the line of the
| 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 traditional one
| of the full moon of one of the summer
months.. and the company slept without
| shelter upon the ground. On their arriv
al the new players, who had never been
| allowed to play before on the county
| teams, dressed themselves in ball cos
tune and, while their elders were ar
ranging rules, ran around, making them
selves conspicuous to their own side in
the hope that they would be chosen the
next day.
While they carry their weapons to the
| pail held, they are not allowed to play
with them. The majority of the players
We're of splendid physique, spare and
wiry Running and wrestling alternate
in the game. The goal posts, which the
| ball must touch, are about 200 to 225 yards
| apart. They consist of two trees dashed
together with ropes. These are about
! on one side, and are set at an angle, so
| that they present a face of about twelve
inches to the ball. This must hit the
post, to which it may be carried between
a players sticks, but it must bounce over
a line in front of the posts, otherwise it
does not count and is still in play.
The sides each numbered thirty-of va
rying ages, from Is to 80. Among them
were some that were crippled, the result,
| ii may be, of former ball play.
| The con1urers were conspicuous through
out the game. At the commencement,
| after the sides were chosen, all went to
| their goal posts. When within about ten
feet of the posts they broke their forma-
ton, and. uttering a cry, ran up to the
posts gathering them with their ball
sticks; This they did to scare the spirit
Then they lined up in kind of alley
between the goals. Near the middle Of
men of each side ranged opposite to each
! other in a line horizontally across the
goal line. When all was ready the con-
| jurer, followed by the men who were to
| take these places, crossed the field. Mr.
| Starr states that it is the medicine man
who puts the ball in play, by tossing II
his face painted half red ana half black,
and carried in his hand small branch
of a tree, resembling hickory. They both
sung and clapped their hands, The game
lasted from 10 to 5, with an intermission
but If this number is not completed by
| either side the one having the higher
number is 'adjudged the winner; Butting
with the head is prohibited. under pen
1'he Indians. bet everything they possess
upon the game, even to their clothes ana
| boots. The bets are made through stake
! holders, four or five Indians, who con-
stantly ride about on horseback. WHAT
ever II bet is put with what is bet against
it. II handkerchiefs, they, are knotted
together and thrown over the stakehold-
| er's shoulder; IL money. the sums are put
| together in his pocketbook. His memory
| is remarkable and he never fails TO turn
| over the stakes correctly. Much skill is
| shown during the game. In the scrim-
| mage the ball is tossed backward through
the bent legs of the players, and when a
| player secures II he utters signal cry,
| "hogle az" This Is repeated by those along
! the line and each grabs the opponent
/ nearest Ia him and holds him, While they
are wrestling, the player with the ball
| tries TO run with il so that he can throw
| q and make goal.
The ball il should be observed, is about
the size Of a golf ball, made of rags and
| covered with white bucksSin. Several are
| provided, as they are frequently lost IN
The players on the side with the wind
| sometimes substitute ball with a long
! tail and loose cover that comes or dur
ing the play The tail then impedes their
! opponents IN throwing II against the wind.
| The women are extremely active I'm aiding
| their side They are not permitted to
touch the ball sticks, but they are con-
stantly running about and giving hot cof-
| fee TO their men, In one hand they carry
a cup OF coffee and In the other quirt
with which they whip the players when
| enough At times a player will get a Wo-
| man to give him pin, with which he viii
| scarify his leg, making from three to i've
scratches. from near the ankle to the mid
| die OF the calf until the blood comes
| This they say, prevents cramps.
When the players return TO the game
| after lunch hour, they place their ball
sticks IN rows opposite each other in the
| middle OF the field, where they are counted
by the umpire or the leaders on each side
| This Is done TO see no more are playing
than started in the game. When a goal
! 8 made there IS shout. The most ex-
| citing point In a close game Is when the
comes very fast ard the rules are not
| strictly observed. A goal may be made