The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-07
GRIM VISAGED WAR.
1t lowered Over Washburn Col
legesLast Night.

srWhoop." yelled the Freshmen. Here
thew come shouted the Sophomores
and the annual cane rush at W ashpu I :.
college was on anu for hair an noul
Friday night it waged hot ana FURIOUS
in front of the college chapel
The annual cane rush is time non
ored custom Each member OF the
Freshman class attempts TO carry
cone into the college chapel. The
Sophomores endeavor to capture the
canes and break them. That IS all there
is to it. If the Freshmen win they yen.
If the Sophomores are victorious they
shout Those who witnessed the rush
are Of the opinion that if the a1a1r was
transplanted to the football field and an
admission charged 1t would pc d Aslr
better attraction than football
The college literary societies met IN
the chapel. The Freshmen We're TO at
tend and carry their canes Long be
fore eight O'Clock the Sophomores were
lined M in front of the stone steps
leading to the first floor of the chapeI
building. They had guards posted
around to keep the Freshmen from sur
prising them.
1t was lust about eight o'clock when
the Sophomores heard yell on Ihe
other side of the road, directly IN Iroht
of the steps. All looked in the dlrectloIl
of the veil. Just then the Freshmen
emerged from the shadows of the trees
There was a vivid flash. The Freshmen
had touched off a monster flash light
1t blinded the SophOmoreS so tney couiu
see nothing for half a minute. The
freshmen charged for the steps in a
bodv 30 strong taking advantage OF
the bewilderment of the enemy.
The charge was met by determined
resistance The two sides came to-
gether with a crash. The battle was on
Clear 'em up yelled the Sophomores.
Coo through EN-" shouted the Fresh
men. The struggle shifted from the
steps to the ground. Two, three ana
four men were mixed up in struggling
masses Those with the canes trying TO
ffer1,f tho RI n
ture them.
Presently a couple of Freshmen freed
themselves and rushed up the stone
steps but just as they were starting up
the stairway on the inside they were
bounced upon by the rear guard OF
Sophomores and carried back down the
stairs Their canes were captured.
The Freshmen rallied and fought to
regain the canes. Gradually all the
cane men fought their way up the stone
steps to the foot of the stairway There
the charge ended and the Sophomores
repeatedly rushed them back down the
stairs as they attempted to gain the
Tear 'em up yelled the sophomores
and the Freshmen were dragged, car
ried and rolled back down the stone
stems MANY of the contestants on both
sides wore football suits Those who
did not had taken pains to dress in old
clothes. Men were dragged down the
steps by their feet. Others who had
captured canes were carried up the
stairs.
GO through 'em," was the rallying
c7-v of the Freshmen and a crowd with
canes rushed up the steps and after
fighting their way up the stairs, de-
posted their canes in the chapel and
rushed back down stairs to aid their
comrades The Sophomores were hem
med in between two lines of Freshmen
An anti-cane man rushed down the
stairs pelI-mell. Threw himself on the
struggling mass and a conglomeratlon
of arms. legs, heads and shoulders roll
ed down the stone steps in danger of
cracked skulls, splintered shins and
broken arms.
Finally by a united effort the last
zane was carried by main force into
the chapel amid the yells Of the Fresh
men and the battle was oVer-Won by
the Freshmen