The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-12
THROWING THE CABER.
The Highland Clans Rare Sport With
a Telegraph Pole-"Shinty."

London Telegraph: The clans mus
tered in force on the grounds at Siam
ford bridge at the fourth annual meet
ing of the London Highland Athletic
club. Quite a large proportion of both
competitors and spectators were in the
garb CT Old Gaul, and the music of the
''Phiob" completed the north country
aspect of the gathering of the hillmen.
The sports themselves were most of
them somewhat strange to southern
eyes, but in mercy to our less robust
natures the bagpipe playing competi-
ton took place at 10 o'clock in the
morning, when only the more enthusi-
astic CT the Highlanders themselves
were on the ground. This portion of
the days proceedings figured in the
programme under the title of "Piobair-
eaohd," piper John Macpherson of
Drummond castle being the successful
competitor.
The most remarkable contest. how
ever, was the tossing of the caber. The
caber is apparently a full-sized tele-
graph pole, and a competitor who aims
at success must be able to balance it
in the hollow of his hand and toss it
through the air as if il were a willow
wand. 4 popularity of the game is
that if the "caber' happens to be too
big for the competitors they borrow a
handsaw and reduce it to suitable pro-
portions. A start was made with a 26
foot telegraph pole yesterday, but sew
eral applications of the saw were
necessary before r. Matheson was de-
clared the winner by the umpire, whose
position seemed TO be even more dan
gerous than in a game of football.
Singing the 56-pound weight, throw
ing the hammer and putting the shot
were comparatively familiar, but
'shinty' is not a game as yet quite
common in the south. and some ir-
reverent persons were guilty of the
suggestion that, as one Of the COM
peting teams came from Ireland, the
word should have been spelled with
"a SHINY" it may be explained.
is a sort Of blend of rockey, golf and
hurley, with the scrimmaging portion
of football thrown in.
The competitors were marched onto
the ground in state by their own pipers,
one playing THE Wearin' O. the Green
and the other The Campbells Are
Coming" Despite their want of bulk
and height, the Irish team proved
themselves the better men, and pulled
the Scotchmen over the line twice run
ning in a very few minutes. TO the
frantic delight Of the "bhoys from the
ould country who were present.
Among the other items were dancing
competitions, jumping, including the
three standing jumps (an Irish EVENT.,
and races, and to wind up there was
an exhibition game of "shinty' between
the London Highland Athletic club and
the Beauty Shnty club, who are the
champions of Scotland. The Marquis
of Tullibardine. president of the High
land association, acted as referee dur
ing the day.
In the evening the annual dinner of
the club was held at the Hotel Met
ropole. the Marquis of Tullibardine in
the chair A large number Of guests
We're present, including some OF the
Irish visitors. The usual loyal and pa
triotic toasts were honored with great
heartiness, and pleasant evening,
rendered still more enjoyable by choice
selections from the charming national
music Of Scotland, was passed by those
present