The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-05
ARMY VERSUS NAVY
Annapolis and West Point
Meet on CridiTOn
THE CAME ENDED IN A TIE
Visitors from All Parts Of the United
States Were Present
The Game Probably the Most Exciting
One Ever Played Between the Two
InStitutionS-Preside Roosevelt an
Interested Spectator - Twenty-fi five
Thousand People Witnessed the
Game-A West Point Player Re-
sDonsible for the Tie Game-The
Game Was Called Before Time on
Account OF the Darkness

Game Was Called Before Time on
Account of the Darkness
Princeton. December 2.-Army, e;
Navy, To the few thousand men
from Annapolis and West Point the
score was the all-absorbing topic, but
to the great majority of the 25,O0O
persons present, it conveyed simply
the intelligence that there had been
a football game played on Osborne
field and that neither team was VIC
torious. While the game was proba-
blX one of the most exciting ever
played between the two institutions
it was simply the side show to The
social football event of the season.
From all sections Of the United
States came spectators who ordinarily
would not travel score of miles to
see a football contest. All this was
doubtless brought about by the fact
that President Roosevelt was to be
present.
Seated in the center of the east and
west stands were the genuine football
enthusiasts. Every play made by their
respective teams was eagerly watched
There were uproarious cheers for the
quick, dashing runs, and sighS for
the attempts which failed. But the
dashing runs were few. Once Torney
got away for pretty run of 35 yards
which brought the Army supporters to
their feet, and Decker, on one occa-
sion electrified the Navy roOters by
almost getting away from the army
eleven. Only the slippery condition
of the field prevented Decker from
doing some remarkable work. He
fairly got beyond the line as he turn
ed to circle the end and the treacher
Gus turf played an important part for
the Army and Decker was pOunce1
upon before he could regain a foot
hold
For the first 25 minutes of play the
ball was almost continually in the Ma
vy's territory. 1t would be carried to
within striking distance of the navys
goal only to be lost either downs or
nan attempted place-kick. Near the
close of the first half the Army got
the ball on the Navy's 25-yard line
on an exchange of kicks. Howard,
who kicked brilliantly for Annapo-
lis, SSut SpSCidl ulSu Ill lu0 III .
The eastefly wind carried the bali
back towards the Navy goal so that
in distance it had travelled not more
than five yards. From this point the
West Pointers carried the ball Over
for touchdown. Weeks, Smith, HIl.
Christie and Turney carrying the ball
With only a few minutes to play
West Point again started toward the
h,1T ho holt
when a second touchdown seemed i'm
minent.
A West Point player was responsible
for the tie game. On an exchange OF
kicks, within ten minutes of the close
of the game, the Navy had the bal;
near m1d-field. Howard sent beau
tiful punt back of the West Point
goal AS the Navy eleven started
down the field an Army man was de-
tected by Umpire Wrenn, holding one
of the Navy on the Army's 30-yari
line. In last desperate effort the
Annapolis boys placed 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 Army's
40-yard line and carried it back 20
yards. Here they kicked and Johnson
fumblei An Annapolis boy was on the
pig skin in a fash At this point
Douglass was sent in at left half back
and Smith at iull back for Annapolis
The change had bracing effect on the
Navy eleven. With renewed fierce
ness 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 Annapolis boys were assur-
ed that the score had been tied, their
enthusiasm was unbounded. They
threw their caps, flags and everything
they could grasp that was movable
into the air. They did not cease their
jubilation until the result of the con-
ference between captains, referee and
umpire announced the conclusion OF
the game The game had ben called
four minutes before time was up. a
most unusual occurrence, but the fast
gathering darkness made this neces-
sary.
During the excitement incidental to
the Nayy's 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 President Woodrow Wilson, OF
P-..eceton, several secret service men