New-York tribune., 1900-12-02
PICTURESQUE CANE sPREEING.
THE SUBSTITUTE FOR CANE RUSHING
HOW THE RIVAL CLASSES AT COLUM-
BIA BATTLE FOR SUPREMACY.

when the ordinary person who is familiar with
| the usual of athletics and knows touch
down from field goal hears of college cane spree
ing the chances he Immediately confuses it
with cane rushing. pictures bloody struggle and
achieves an unwarranted prejudice at what he con-
ceves to be cane rushing under different name
But spreeing has nothing to do with cane
rushing except that II is contested with cane
which isn't really a at all, but good, stout
three foot curtain pole
Cane rushing is still prevalent at some colleges
but in the majority ii has been stopped on ac-
count of its dangerous character often ending IN
serious injuries and sometimes in death UP 10 d
few years ago the rival freshman and sophomore
classes at Columbia had their annual fracas at
Columbia Oval. IN Wilamsbridge When one stu
dent was killed n the fray, however. the faculty
stepped in and put cane rushing under the pan
forever Since that time the sport or cane spree
ing has been substituted Some entering classes
have made attempts TO revive the rushing. but the
upper cassmen have frowned them down.
At Columbia at least. the sport Of cane spreeing
is picturesque. The bouts come off in the large
gymnasium In the centre Of the room is huge
mat some forty feet square upon which the men
contest sprawled around are dozens Of compla-
cent seniors and juniors while the strugglers Sec
onds with sponge and pail and towel. stand eager
10 succor their representatives at the end OF each
three minute round. Upon the running track
scores Of less favored sophomores and freshmen
have an unobstructed view of the amphitheatre
below where their respective men are to do battle
for the honor OF their class around on poles ana
walls stream blue and white banners emblems Of
victory on field and stream. over in the gallery
below are dozens OF girls in gay costumes whose
bright tones lend a picturesque flash of color 10
the darker dress OF the men. From all sides comes
a great volume of cheers that sweep back and
forth over the room. meeting and re-echoing again
and again.
Then suddenly from side door the two light
weight "spreers'' Of the freshman and sophomore
classes come forth amid a deep voiced growl of
sharp cut yells. The men, clad in tights. ad-
on their hands. seize the Dole nrmIy. the re1eree
blows his whistle. and the battle /. Down they
pulling. each man does his best TO wrench the
cane from the others grasp even if only for
moment. Making your opponent release his grasp
with both hands at once constitutes victory.
Simple. isn't il But in the effort and in the de-
fence there is an enormous amount OF science quite
unapparent TO the uninitiared observer. There is
a vast Of strength required fingers and
the forea rIn. The knowledge of how 10 use the
body as a lever and to use the feet as a means of
There are dozens OF different holds and different
tricks each of which has its own defence. In
there is as much agility and science in a boxing
or wrestling DOut The men Squirm and twist on
stand out ike WhipcoroS ana thelr muscles are
punched in huge knots. Suddenly rolls
over like a cat and both jump TO their rect, one
attacking, the other defending Ihe sophomore
gives a peculiar jerk, followed by a long heave
that sends the freshman flying over his head to
land daZed few feet away. In his hand the
sophomore twirls the cane, a victor, while his fel-
low classmen seize him rapturOusly and hoist him
10 their shoulders, prOclaming Vaingloriousy that
the other way. Then the freshmen rejoice. The
middle and heavy weight bouts differ in no essen
tal particulars from the first
At length when the new moon is just beginning
TO glimmer through the window the last of the
hordes throng out of the gymnasium pronouncing
their class supreme for the year.