Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-04

y, U.
story of the Annapolis.and West Point
football game played on Osborne field,
Saturday. The contest probably was
one of the most exciting ever played
Between the two academies. 1t also
was the most brilliant social football
event of the season.
From all sections Of the United
States came distinguished spectators.
President Roosevelt and other notables
were present. Seated i'm the center re-
spectively of the east and west stands
were the cadets Of West Point and the
midshipmen of Annapolis. Every
play made by their respective teams
was eagerly watched. There were up
roarous cheers for the quick, dashins
= runs and signs for the attempts that
failed. But the dashing runs were
few. Once Torney got away for pref
ty run OF 80 yards which brought the
ARMY spectators to their feet ana
Decker on one occasion electrified the
Navy adherents by almost gettihs
away from the entire Army eleven
Only the slippery condition of the field
prevented Decker from doing some re-
markaEle work. He frequently got be-
You'd the line but as he turned to cir
Gle the end the treacherous turf played
an important part for the Army and
Decker would be bounced upon before
he could regain a fOOthold.
For the first 25 minutes of play. the
ball was almost continuously in the
Navy's territory. 1t would be car
ried to within striking distance of the
Nays goal only to be lost either on
downs or on an attempted place kick.
Near the close of the first half the
Army got the ball on the Nays 25-
yard line on an exchange of kicks.
Howard who kicked brilliantly for
Anna polls. this time sent a spiral in
the air. The easterly wind carried
the ball back towards the Navy goal
so that in distance it had Travelled not
more than five yards. West Point Sc
cured the ball and soon carried it over
for touchdown. A West Point
player was responsible for the tie
game. On an exchange of kicks with
I'm 10 minutes of the close of the play,
the Navy had the ball near midfield.
Howard sent beautiful punt back of
the West Point goal. AS the Navy
eleven started down the field an Army
man was detected by Umpire Wrenn
holding one Of the Navy players. AS
a penalty the ball was brought back
and given to the Navy on the Army's
3O-yard line. In a last desperate eff
fort Annapolis placed the ball on West
Points 15-yard line. They lost it. but
the Army was forced to kick. Again the
Navy got the ball on the Armys 4O-yard
line and carried it down the field for 20
yards. Here they kicked and Johnson
fumbled. An Annapolis player was on the
ball in flash. At this point Douglas was
sent in at left halfback and Smith at
fullback for Annapolis. The change had
a bracing effect on the Navy eleven. With
renewed fierceness and determination
that would not be denied, they carried
the ball over for a touchdown. Norton.
who had replaced Decker. kicked the goal:
1t was SO dark that only the players and
referee could see whether the ball had
gone between the posts. When the mid
shipmen in the stands were assured that
the score had been tied their enthusi-
asm was unbounded. They threw their
caps, flags and anything thay could grasp
that was movable, into the air. They did
not cease their jubilation until the result
of the conference between captains ref
cree and umpire announced the conclusion
OF the game. The game had been called
four minutes before time was up, the
fast gathering darkness making this step
necessary.
During the excitement incidental to the
Nays touchdown. the President. who
had kept his eyes riveted on the game
from the beginning. left his seat in the
Army stand and. accompanied by Presi-
dent Woodrow Wilson of Princeton. sew
eral secret service men. Secretary Loeb
and half dozen policemen, walked
briskly from the grounds He went di-
rectly to his special train and later LETT
for WASHINGTON
President Roosevelt was the attraction
Of the game. The demonstration accord
ed the Chief Executive of the nation
when he entered the field and also the
fhunderous cheers which greeted him be
tween the halves as he left his seat in the
Navy stand and walked across the grid
iron to the Army stand. were hearty and
spontaneous.
The President was apparently gratified
at the hearty reception.
The attendance must have been disap-
pointing to those responsible for bringing
the game to Princeton, instead of play
Ing 1t at Philadelphia in the past few
years. or some other easily accessible
point. There were four large stands for
lively to the Army, Navy and Princeton
were filled, but the north stand on which
was expected the general public
WOULD locate. was practically empty. less
there The failure to Till the stands may
in part be accounted for by the fact thar
trains from New York and PhiIadeIphia
were delayed at Princeton Junction.
The lineup:
WEST POINT ANNAPOLIS
Rockwell lie - l, 1y,,.,r.
Erwin, II . II Pierso, ,Ecrtto""t. ~
Weeks Mors,. liz ........ Ia t,;I ar.,,
Abraham, c c,,,,. -, - Sr, Dlteii
Christie, rig ....> re- Sh tr.res.y
. Mettler. TT ~ So oht Io,u
Gillespie, re - 70 lduH
johnson. qb ..- oh Dec,a w o%uuwortn
Smith. lib ~ Ibh Snsna n>ol toh'
Hill. RIB . III, 'E"uEiaS'
Torney (Watkinsl.' fl rhb' Doherty
.'''''..'.... fb. Ghormley (Smith,
~, ouehdoWns-Torney. Douglas. Coal.
from touchdowns-Weeks. Morton %.
syfS wrigTh1tinston. Harvard. Ut unpirc
Prinrat,,, Inward Linesman Ropc
INV. oem. and Slm periods.
Association Football Games, SATURDAY.
1855 Boston-Boston Rovers. 4: LYNN n
AZ Vuincy-Fore River >: Ouincw W.
Msthuen 4; Lawrence o. '''ac'
Al nantucket. r. I.-Howard Ru,,,r,,,
az rairiawn, l. ]. & P. Coates :. = .oe !.