The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-12-04

Philadelphia, Dec. LIN a game re-
plete with brilliancy the midshipmen
from the Annapolis Naval acaremy to-
day on Franklin Field defeated the Ca
dets from West Point II their annual
football game by the score of 10 to
0, goal from placement and a touch
down and goal 1t was the fifth vic
tory for the middies in the history of
focsball contests between the two
fighting branches of the United States
government, and the second time that
the boys from the banks OF the Hud-
son had failed to cross the goal line
of the lads whose temporary homes
are on the banks Of the Severn river.
Probably not in the history of the
SWO Institutions has there r39en a mos,
spectacular game than that which to-
day electrified the $4,000 spectators
9hd surely none was more uncertain
f4eS to the final outcome, until the
iineman1s whistle pUc an end to hos
t1lltles. The climax was most re-
markable. For fully half an hour after
the close CT abe contest the spectators
sat almost mOtiCnless as the Anna
polls lads deliriCuS with joy, marched
around Franklin Field, waving flags,
casting hats, canes, miniature mega
phones and nearly everything they
could lay their hands on, into the air
The contest was fierce rom beginning
to end. Yet there was no unnecessary
rOughneSS. The navy boys, handicap
ped by stiff wind in tie opening half,
played with remarkable fieTceness.
Nearly the entire Of the first half they
were forced to the utmost 20 DTeVnt
the West Point eleven from crossing
the goal line. Time and again they
were driven back to within few feet
of their goal but there the line would
hold and Douglass would boot the ball
out of immediate danger.
For the first thirty minuteathe navy
was on the defensive, out when the
second half opened there was an en-
tirely different proposition. The West
Point eleven was pushed back yard
by yard until the navy had the bal
within striking distance of the army S
goal. Beavers, fer West Point, sent
a high spiral from his ten yard mark
to Spencer on the navy's forty yard
line. Spencer. quickly graSping the
situation heeled the catch emitting the
navy to a free KICK. The ball was
within ten yards Of the line on the
south side Of the field and at a re-
markably difficult angle. But North
croft was called upon to make the at
tempt for score
with eye riyeted upon the goal
posts and another ON the ball, North
croft gave the pigslin a terrible boost
and the ball went as straight as an
arrow between the posts. This was
the signal for tremendous outburst
from the middies. Scarcely had the
jubilation of the Annapolis rooters
ceased when there was cause for an
other explosion of ecstatic joy. The
navy had ON exchanges of punts, wore
the ball Well into the army's territory
With the third down and four yards
to gain, Norton dropped back as
though to try for a goal from the
field. Ingram, full back, had been
drawn close to THE line, ostensibly tc
protect the kicker. But the instant
that Shngluff snapped the ball, In
gram was off like a. shot. He graspeo
Norton's beautiful forward pass and
dashed for the army's goal. One West
Point man got within tsriking dis
tance. but he was warded off and a
touchdown was the result Again the
middies went wild and never ceased
their cries of victory until iWth parcn-
ed throats and lost voices they danced
their way to the special trains for An
napolis The West Ppoint cadets
Joined in the spirit OF rivalry good
naturedly. The two elevens were even
1y matched, but the army failed tc
take advantage OF the wind to such ar
appreciable extent in the opening hall
II did the navy eleven in the closing
period.
The special side of the match, al
wavs a feature of the occasion, was as
brilliant as the game Nitself, although