The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-24
SCENES AND INCIDENTS
BEFORE TEAMS LINED UP

Cambridge, Mass, Nov. 23--Some-
thing like $4,000 graduates, undergrad
yates and football enthusiasts from all
parts of New England, focked into
Cambride today prepared to brave
snow, rain or clustering winter wind.
in order to see the match on Soldiers
Field this afternoon between the hith-
trio unbeaten elevens of Harvard and
Yale.
And these preparations owing to the
DULL lowering skies, cold searching
wind and frequent snow squalls which
prevailed during the forenoon of ne
cessity had to be pretty extensive and
the heaviest coats, the thickest furs
and every other cold exterminator
were made ready in order that each in
dividual wearer with as much comfort
as possible might sit through three
hours in the open air, under no cover
ing and see the match to its finish.
The next question after the weather
was the condition and the chances of
victory of the teams.
The followers of Yale, as they had
been for some time seemed very con-
fident they would be conquerer. while
to man every undergraduate at Har-
ward had an air of expectation and
was strong in the belief that the team
representing the Crimson would carry
out expectations and Eight to the last
ditch"
The betting this morning, as it had
been during the past week, was in
favor of Yale, the odds being on an
average of about 5 to 4. A number of
these bets however had strings to them
by reason Of the sensation of last night
that Cults, the big Harvard tackle
might be ruled out of the game be-
cause of his connection with athletics
at the Haverford Academy Pennsyl-
vania
This controversy for a few hours
this afternoon proved momentous
enough to outweigh any weather dis
cussion and was a fruitful theme of
argument in all the Boston hotels and
about Harvard Square.
The arrangements for handling the
great crowd at the field were very COM
plete. The avenues leading from Har-
ward Square and also from AlIston was
closed to carriage traffic at o'clock
in the morning in order that there
might be no lack or hindrance to the
thousands coming from either direc-
ton. Half a regiment of policemen
kept the crowd moving and directed the
ticket holders to the different en-
frances.
AS the morning wore on the weather
showed no signs of improving but still
as II did 1iOt aGAudlAy otOIIH 1nEI6
seemed to be good prospects at II
o'clock that the players would find
hard, dry field.
The Harvard football players woke
up this morning to rather disappoint-
ing weather conditions and II was an
parent that the anxiety concerning the
question whether or not Cults would
be allowed to play, had not had a good
effect on the men. While the Harvard
supporters were firm in the belief that
the Crimson team would win 1t was
learned that there was some fear that
several of the strong players, owing
to previous injury, might not be able
to finish the game. In this case the
substitute being not as strong as the
average team, the men who would be
called upon to fill vacancies would
make weak spots of which Yale would
not be slow to take advantage.
Concerning this phase of the situa
ton 1t was pointed out that only FIVE
men have not been laid up at some
time during the season. Of the ot TI,ar
men Capt. Campbell has had a trouble
some ankle, Blagden has been threat
ened with appendicitis and Sargent has
had a bruised shoulder.
All these. somehow, depressing facts
were lost sight of, however, when the
crowds became to grow in the streets
and by noon the enthusiasm was at a
high pitch.
Early in the day the Harvard Grim
son distributed 1900 Crimson balloons
with white HI printed on them. AL
most every man carried Yale or Har
ward colors. There was no marching to
the field by classes. The special cheer
ing section assembled early and be-
fore 100 the Harvard singers were
ready to begin their part in the game
with the new song, ION to Victory"
AS the morning went on, with no
decision regarding the eligibility of
Cults. the excitement increased, es-
pecially as one after another of the
prominent Harvard graduates identi-
fed with athletics went into the meet
ing OF the athletic committee. The
committee began its session at O'Clock
and at 10 o'clock Coach Reid Of the
football team was called In,
Barrett Wendell. Jr., captain of the
baseball team. arrived during the fore
noon from Philadelphia with informa-
ton regarding Cults work at Har-
ward At 10. 10 Prof Douglas Adams.
who was a teacher with Cults, was
called in. At 11.20 the committee was
still in session.
At 1915 the committee reached its
decision and made the formal an