The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-12-03
WONDERFUL FOOT BALL GAME
West Point Defeats Naval Academy I'm
q Game Superior I'm Many Respects to
Any such Sport Ever Witnessed in
America

ever witnessed a foot ball contest in
this country, and admittedly the great
est crowd that ever entered the gates
OF Franklin field. saw West Point de-
feat Annapolis this afternoon by the
score Of IL to 5.
From the hat President
Roosevelt and bis party entered the
great anphitheatre until half an hour
after the time keeper had blown his
whistle, announcing the cessation of hos
tilities. there was almost continuous
dproar such as has probably never be-
fore taken place on any foot ball field
In the country.
The president and members Of his
cabinet, worked up to a nervous pitch
by the excitement. left their seats in
the private box which had been set
apart for their occupation and took DO
sition on the side line benches, which
are usually used for substitute players
n coachers. There was not a seat
unoccupied n hundreds stood on the
field through the entire game.
The train bearing the president and
members OF the cabinet reached South
Street station a. few minutes after /
O'Clock. Lunch a served on the pri-
Yates DINING car and the party at las
o'clock started for Franklin field. which
is but a few yards from the station.
Two lines of policemen had been drawn
up on the side walk and the president
n his party marched to the entrance
of the grounds guarded by Philadel-
phia's "hnest." All the members of the
| party entered the grounds on the east
ern entrance.
First came the president with provost
Harrison, of the University of Penn
s%ylvania on his right and Lieutenant
Commander Cowles on his left. They
We're followed closely by half a dozen
Philadelphia detectives, chief Wilkie
| and several other secret service men
selected for the OCCASION; Secretary
Long, Secretary Root, Postmaster Gen.
eral Smith, Secretaries Cortelyou and
Loeb and many army and navy officers.
Admiral Dewey had slipped into the
grounds almost unnoticed and had
taken a seat in the navy stand.
The presidents appearance was the
| signal for a tremendous outburst of ap-
| plause which continued until he had
walked down the centre of the gridiron
| n across the field to his seat in the
north stand. The presidents silk hat
was on his head scarcely five seconds
from the time he entered the grounds
until he had taken his seat, so contin-
uous was the ovation.
Hardly had the president and party
taken their seats before the navy team
came upon the field from the west en-
trance. The followers of the Annapolis
eleven made the stands shake with
their cheers, and blue and orange flags
seemed to be floating from all sections
of the field.
Six minutes later the West Point lads
trotted out and hen the black, orange
and gray of the army was waved de-
liriously from the big south stand.
No time was consumed in formalities.
The coin was tossed and Captain Mich
OILS, of the navy, called the turn correct
ly. He chose the west goal with a
slight advantage of the wind, and at
PIT Graves had kicked off in the game
tina has made foot ball history.
From the moment the ball was put in
play until the time keepers whistle
blew there was no more interested spec
tator of the game than President
Roosevelt. The contest a been in
progress less than ten minutes when he
left his seat in the private box and took
up his position on the side line bench.
When Casad broke through the navy's
line and ran sixty-five yards the presi-
lent jumped to his feet excitedly and
advanced toward the gridiron. but re-
turned to his seat a moment later.
when the ball was put in play again.
At the end of the first half. Secretary
Root and General Miles came across the
field to escort the president to the
army's stand. With Secretary Long
and a detective on his right and Secre-
tary Cortelyou, Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright and Secretary Root on his
left President Roosevelt walked to the
south stand and again occupied a seat
on the side line. When the two teams
resumed play at 1888 O'Clock and DAILY
Of the army made his great run of Joe
yards for a touchdown. President
Roosevelt jumped to his feet with ar
expression of surprise on his face, and,
like thousands Of other spectators, could
scarcely realize hat a remarkable piece
of foot ball mechanism DAILY really is
that he could make such a phenomena
run through an entire field.
The keenest interest was manifested
by all the distinguished spectators and
not one made a move to leave the field
until the game was ended.
The presidential party left the
grounds at 4:30 o'clock and went imme'
diately to the South Street station sid
ing where the special train was III wait.
ing. 1t was precisely 5 o'clock tn
train pulled out for Washington. Pres
ident Roosevelt stood on the rear plat