Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-03
ARMY AND NAVY BREAK EVEN
foot Ball Game Called on Account Of
Darkness, with Score 8 to 8,
rPLM A slDEsHow TO SOCIAL FEATURES
Contest witnessed by President and
Mrs. Roosevelt, Secretaries Taft
and Root and Mrs
Cleveland.

PRINCETON. N. j., Dec. Navy g. !
Army 6. To the few thousand men from
Annapolis and from West Point this score
was the a1l-absorbing topic. but to the
great majority OF the 1900 odd persons
present II conveyed simply the intelligence
that there had been a foot ball game played
on Osborne field and that neither team
was victorious. While the game was prob
ably one Of the most exciting ever played
between the two institutions, IL was simply
the side show TO the social foot ball event
of the season.
From all sections Of the United States
came spectators who ordinarily would not
travel a score Of miles to see foot ball
contest. All this was doubtless brough,
about by the fact that President Roosevelt
was TO be present. Seated in the east and
west stands were the genuine foot ball en-
thuiasts. Every play made by their re-
spective teams was eagerly watched. There
were uproarlous cheers for the quick, DASH
ing runs and signs for the attempts which
failed. But the dashing runs were few.
Once Torney got away for a pretty run of
thirty-fve yards which brought the army
supporters to their feet, and Decker on one
occasion electrified the navy rooters by
almost getting away from the army eleven.
Only the slippery condition of the field
prevented Decker from doing some re-
markable work He frequently got beyond
the line, but as he turned to circle the
end the treacherous turf played an inn
portam part for the army and Decker
would be pounced upon before he could
regain a foothold.
For the first twenty-five minutes of play
the ball was almost continuously in the
navy's territory. IT would be carried to
within striking distance of the navy's 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
navy's twenty-five yard line on an ex-
change of kicks. Howard, who kicked
brilliantly for Annapolis, sent a spiral high
in the air. The easterly wind carried the
ball back towards the navy goal so that
in distance it had Travelled not more than
nve yards. From this point the West
Pointers carried the ball over for touch
down, Weeks Smith. Hill. Christie and
Torney carrying the ball. With only
few minutes to play, West Point again
started toward the Annapolis goal. but the
half ended when a second touchdown
seemed imminent.
score Tied on Error.
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 ball near midheld.
Howard sent a 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 men. AS a penalty the ball
was brought back and given to the Navy
on the Armys thirty-yard line. AS last
desperate effort the Annapolis boys placed
aoNt
They lost 1t, but the Army was forced to
kick, again the Navy got the ball on the
Army's forty-yard line and carried It back
nifty yards. Here they kicked and Johnson
Iumbled An Annapolis boy was on the
pig skin in a flash. At this point Douglass
was sent in at left halfback and Smith at
fullback for Annapolis. The change had a
bracing effect on the Navy eleven. With
renewed ferceness and a 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 assured that the score had been
tied, their enthusiasm was unbounded.
They threw their caps, flags, and anything
they could grasp that was movable In the
AIs lucy hlu lpN CEASE NHbA luulldllOil
until the result of the conference between
captains. referee and umpire announced
the conclusion of the game.
The game had been called four minutes
before time was up. a most unusual occur
snoAs but the fast gathering darkness
maze this necessary
Ovation for President.
During the excitement incident 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 President Woodrow
Wilson of Princeton, several secret service
men, Secretary Loeb and a half dozen po-
licemen, walked brisky from the grounds
The demonstration accorded the president
when he entered the field and also the
thunderous cheers which greeted him be-
tween the halves as he left his sat in
the Navy stand and walked across the
gridiron to the Army stand were infinitely
more hearty and spontaneous than those
accorded the combined elevens OF the two
branches of the fighting department OF the
United States government. The president
was apparently gratifed with the hearty
reception. From the time he entered the
grounds at the southwestern corner OF
Osborne field until he reached the box II
the Navy section his reception was con
tinuous and he received a similar greeting
as he crossed TO the east field.
Guest of President Wilson.
President Roosevelt's stay in Princeton
was a very enjoyable one. From the mo-
ment he stepped from his train until he
departed for the capital he was cheered by
the enthusiastic foot ball spectators. Tn,
presidents train arrived at the little Prince
ton station at 1;22 p m. and was warml!
greeted by the 1900 persons assembled Of
the campus. President and Mrs. Roosevelt