The Washington times., 1905-12-03

9
downs on Several good plays. Weeks
had to leave the game and Morse who
took his place. did not come near the
FIRST players good work. Spencer and
Ghormley both were hurt and had TO
withdraw
The incoming of Douglass and Smith
Into the Sailors line was the signal for
renewed activity by the men from An
napolis SIicing plays through the right
and left tackles brought the ball rapidly
nearer to the Soldiers goal line. Fight
ng desperately in the gathering darkness.
The Army took the bail away from their
opponents on downs. but 1T was quickly
recovered. and again the Navy attack
was Drecipitated against the West Point
front. this time with success.
Roosevelt Cheered.
Aside from the interest centering In
this game. the last OF the big gridiron
struggles Of the year. the fact that
President Roosevelt. Secretary of State
Root. and Secretary OF War Taft, with
other prominent Washington of
were IN attendance. gave great promi-
nence 10 the event. President Roose-
velt was the star attraction of the con-
test. rather than any of the gridiron
heroes. and when he made his appear
ance on the field and marched across
the muddy battle-ground he was cheered
to the echo. The President and his party
occupied seats among the Navy rooterS
during the first half of the game.
During the intermission. Secretary
Taft. escorted by a detachment of
cadets. marched over from the Army
seats. where he had been sitting. t,,
greet the President.
The Chief Executive received the sec.
retary. and then. under the escort ana
accompanied BY several Secret Service
men. walked back across the field and
lock seat among the cadets for the
oaiance of the contest. As he stepped
OUT on the field. the President raised
his nat IN response -to~the salute of the
cadets. who stood on either side of the
paseageway.
President Hoodoo.
AS he appeared on the field. both the
west Point and Annapolis bands struck
up the national anthem and the crowd
cheered wildly waving the flags with
which they had greeted the football
heroes shortly before. The march across
tne heid was continuous ovation. and
the President was obliged TO raise his
preached the Army bleachers the cheers
We're doubled and the cadets rose in
body and waved their flags
The change the President made ir,
MS position on the opposite side of the
ileid. led to the suggestion that he must
be a hoodoo. When he sat in the Navy
seats. West Point scored on th,. Navy
After he had gone over to the Amry
stand. Annapolis took a brace and made
her six points. which tied the score
Football On Trial.
Football was on trial today. The ut
terance which President Roosevelt has
made In regard to brutality in football
has done much toward arousing the
present criticism of the game The
players knew they were really on trial
ana in this respect the contest was sat
isfactory, as IL proved that the game
can be played without unnecessary
roughness and with the absence Of
rowdyism. In only one instance was
there an exhibition of roughness which
demanded the attention of officials
Weeks. West Points left guard, was
the victim Of the official disapproyaI
and was put off the field for roughing a
naval opponent. At times the rushes
were as fierce as have been seen in a
football field this season and the players
did not sacrifice efficiency in making
hard and low tackles to carry out the
ideas OF gentlemanly football. but the
features which have brought criticism in
the game were eliminated
Time for the injured was taken out
so regularly that the delay became the
rule rather than the exception.
But through 1t all the President
smiled, and when the President smiles
the world smiles with him, leaving poor
Columbia College, whose goal line has
been crossed as often as the Brooklyn
bridge, to weep alone.
Crowds Poorly Handled.
The game was late In getting started
owing to the poor manner in which the
crowds wee handled by the railroad
The great throngs which came from all
surrounding cities Were 700 much for
the limited facilities and the special
trains were still bringing In the people
long after O'Clock. the hour set for
the game TO commence. This was large
~ responsible for prolonging the game
until * was necessary 10 call IT on ac-
count OF darkness The managers OF
the game were really responsible for
choosing Princeton for the contest, and
II is not likely the experiment Of taking
the game away from Philadelphia will
be repeated again in view of the ex-
periences OF today.
Owing 10 delay in train service, the
spectators struggled in slowly. and when
the President arrived there were still
many vacant seats A drizzling rain set
In about l5O y. m, and lasted until Just
before the game began.
The West Point Cadets. presenting the
same OLD matchless West Point sym-
metry, filed into the fncIosura and took