The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-15
WHICH is THE MORE
DANGEROUS SPORT?
Puailist's Death REEVES Old
FootbalI-Prize Fight Con-
troversy.


Pugilist O. w. Knight, from injuries
received in the ring, has revived the
old controversy as to whether football
or prize fighting is the more danger
Gus sport.
1t has been generally assumed by
writer's on fistiana that the number Of
deaths in the prize ring since the time
of Figg was not over forty, and the
more conservative, influenced by the
thought that comment would injure
the sport in public opinion, have given
the number as below thirty in the
total.
In statistics of this kind the total Is
always below rather than above, as
some must escape notice of the COM
piler.
In connection with the matter of
comparative statistics the reader
should take into consideration the fact
that the football season Is scarcely six
weeks in length, and the number of
players is fully 20 per cent greater
than that of pugilists. These two facts,
in consideration of results, indicate
that the percentage Is against the foot
ball player
Prof. Edwin G. Dexter, of the Uni
versity of Illinois, sent out circular
letter last December to more than 100
colleges and universities of America,
seeking information as to the number
of male students enrolled, approximate
total number of students who played
football, number fatally injured in the
game and the number permanently or
seriously hurt. Sixty replies were re-
ceived, and the data covered a period
of ten years. The compilation is shown
in the following table:
Total male students enrolled -. PIC, 1884
Total played football ............. PITTS
Average percentage played football. 1913
Total number seriously Injured. 654
Average percentage seriously In
Jured z.J
1otai Teams ........'......... i'S'a
The results of the compilation show
ed that football is more generally
played in the smaller than in the larg-
er institutions, and the figures do not
indicate the subsequent permanent in
juries from entertaining, which af-
fects the vital organs. There is also
to be considered the physical and last
ing effects from badly set broken limbs,
misplaced bones in the ankle, injured
eyes, and danger from typhoid fever
in bruises which develop into abb
scesses.
Vital statistics obtained in the past
ten years show the following death
role:
Year 'ss 's4 's5 80 's7 'ss 'ss 90 'o1 'o2
Dead $50 9a10 8 II ia IL
aIncludes sixteen permanently injured.
Total deaths in ten years. ia.
The number injured in 1902 was sew
enty- eight, which, with the dozen
deaths, made an average of one play
er killed or MANNED for each day Of
the playing season. In the three
months of 1900 there were 200 injured.
The number of injuries has been
largely due to the mass and tandem
ND co Hor G The
been considered that pastors have even
preached against it and legislators
have passed laws to stop 1t. The
changes in the rules seem to have had
little effect in reducing the. number of
deaths, although it Is claimed that the
changes to go into effect this season
will tend in this direction.
In the physical results to those In
capacitated In the prize ring and foot
ball there Is a great difference. While
instances are recorded of permanent
injury in the ring, the victim of
knockout may be seen on the street
within twenty minutes after bout
with the gloves in the full enjoyment
Of health. Exceptions are noted.
Frank Bannon, knocked out by John
Regain in East Reward in June, 1890,
was taken few days later to an in
sane asylum. AS will be seen in the
review of injuries to pugilists, months
have elapsed before the fatal result
following fight. These cases are rare,
however, as death usually follows the
unconscious period produced by the
knockout blow.
Football enthusiasts who argue that
It Is not a more dangerous sport than
pugilism always cite the remarkable
case of Vernon White, player who in
six years had broken nearly every bone
in his body and who continued in the
game. His list of injuries in different
games was as follows: In 1895, left leg