Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1903-11-28

Field never held more brilliant or
bitterly partisan crowd than that
which gathered this afternoon to see
the annual football struggle between
the cadets of the Army and the mid
shipmen of the Navy. Not even the
big college games between Yale and
Princeton and Harvard and Yale were
better advertised or created greater
genuine football enthusiasm.
The immense field, enclosed on all
sides by tier upon tier Of seats, began
to fill with eager spectators fully an
hour and a half before the game started
and at 2 O'Clock, when the contest
was scheduled to commence, it was
estimated that fully $4,000 persons
were present. This is a close estimate,
based on the fact that the stands seat
exactly 81, 900, which number OF seats
was distributed equality through the
agency of the Naval Academy, the
Military Academy and the University
of Pennsylvania, under whose auspices
the contest took place.
More perfect football weather could
not have been ordered for the occas-
ion. There was not a cloud in the sky,
and very little wind was stirring
and this from a quarter that could not
benefit either side in the kicking. The
air was cold and snappy, just the kind
that induces football player to I'LL
himself full of ginger and let of lots
of steam. Under ordinary circum-
stances it would have been rather cold
for the spectators, but the circumstan-
ces were not ordinary. Where over
coats and wraps were not sufficient to
keep out the cold, there were plenty OF
cheering and enthusiasm to keep the
inner man and woman warm.
1t did not take long for stranger
at these games to realize that the ca
dets in gray and the midshipmen in
blue, who had been assigned to blocks
of seats on opposite sides of the field,
had been trained almost as faithfully
as the contestants themselves. The
only difference was that their atten-
tion had been largely directed to the
harmonious, vigorous and rhythmic
development of their vocal chords.
From a non-partisan point Of view, 1T
seemed as if the preliminary battle, in
this respect, was somewhat in favor
of the midshipmen. Every mothers
son of them carried a megaphone and
a bright blue and gold Navy flag, and
when these were not in use it was
largely due to sheer exhaustion.
BY ten minutes of O'Clock the field
was a gorgeous picture of vivacity
and color. Both the cadets and mid
dies created immense enthusiasm when
they marched on the field headed by
their respective brass bands. Shortly
before the game began Secretary Of
War Root and Secretary of Navy
Moody arrived and were escorted TO
the boxes which had been reserved for
them. Among those in Secretary
Roots party were Lieutenant General
S. NJ. B. Young, Major General and
Mrs. Chaffee, Colonel and Mrs. Clar-
ence Edwards, and the Secretary's s
daughter, Miss Edith Root.
Lieutenant General Nelson A. Miles,
accompanied by Major General George
Brooke ard Mrs. Brooke, formed an
interesting trio in Box 81. In Box 20,
President A. J. Cassatt, OF the Penn
sylvania Railroad, also had a private
party. Colonel A. L. Mills, the Su.
perintendent of West Point Academy !;
Mrs. Mills, and Miss Mills, were in
Box 25. Next to them was Major
General Henry G. Corbin, Adjutant
General of the United States Army.
Ex-Secretary of War Daniel S. Lamont
and Mrs. Lamont, and Mrs. Grover
Cleveland, occupied box. Secretary
Cortelyou viewed the game from
Section H.
Ten boxes were placed at the dis
posal of the Navy. President Roose-
welt was offered one of the Navy boxes,
but on account of pressing business he
was not able to attend. Admiral
Dewey was offered box also, but he,
like the President, was unable to wit
ness the game.
Other Navy officials with parties of
friends who occupied boxes were Cap
tain Willard II. Brownson, Superin-
tendent of the Naval Academy, Mrs.
Brownson, and Miss Brownson, and q
few friends; Commander Charles J.