The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-21
BRILLIANT BATTLE GOES
 10 THE WEAKER TEAM
How Alabama Thin Red Line With Marvellous Courage Held the Mighty BraVes-Narrowly
 Grazed Defeat.
By HUGH w. ROBERTS.

Tuscaloosa, NoVempef D.-topeclal''- Alabama defeated the Haskell Indians this afternoon in one of the most gruel- ling exhibitions of football ever witnessed in the Druid City.
 Alabama's victory, which came in the last five minutes of play as result of a 65-yard run by Edwards, was by the narrow margin of one point. Prior to the splendid dash for touchdown of the fleet right end, the red men had Alabama whipped to a standstill, the score being to 4.
 Final score Alabama 3. Indians 8.
 It was a battle royal, filled to a state of overflow with the spectacular. No more thrilling contest could be imagined. Alabama, outweighed by at least 25 pounds to a man, fought doggedly and desperately over every inch of terri tory taking advantage of every loop hole and flying with splendid courage against overpowering strength
 The Indians, veraging between 175 and 1sO, daring. full of dash, courage and initiative; fleet as the deer which were wont to roam their native haunts, and skilled to degree in the modern science of gridiron warfare-these. against Ala hama's thin red line of little game cocks, fell with the fury of untamed panthers.
 Time and time again the Indians swept all before them. From one end of the field to the other they carried the ball with marvellous speed, only to lose it as a result of a stone wall defense in the last ditch of Alabamas Qualifications.
 On the offensive, the game was the Indians throughout. On the defensive however, Alabama, while being in this department too, inferior to it's heavier opponents, startled everyone, and caused unparalleled wonder by the gamenessa of it's fight. The Indians should have won by heavy score and how Louisiana could have defeated them S5 to is still a mystery unsolvable.
 The Indians, in their wild abandon, time after time, resorted to those tactics which their more civilized competitors have declared unpardonable They slugged. They held in the line. They fell upon the prostrate forms of the Ala bamians with their knees. They were rough-unnecessarily rough-although it is believed that it was not their intention to appear unsportsmanlike. It was a wild frolic of the wild and in the heat O. the scrimmage the primeval instincts of the race surged to the surface
 The Indians were heavily penalized. and Right End Smith was ejected from the game for sluggng.
 Alabama was the first to score After mi, e.. 55-yard line, and from a sharp angle, kicked a goal from placement that caused surprise and admiration. Just moment later, however. when a punt caromed above the head of Quarterback Peebles, the Indians hurled the man with the ball back of the line and scored a safety.
 After 20 minutes of play the Indians sent Tackle Roberts on skin tackle buck through Alabamas line 20 yards for a touchdown. Captain Island Eagle kicked goal.
 The remainder of the 30-mnute half was expended in punts and counter punts, and the half ended with the ball in Alabama s possession in the middle of the field
 In the second half the Indians. with speed, courage and strength, by the aid of straightforward football, tricks and strategy, endeavored to make good their apparent victory.
 Alabama was swept off it's feet, but al- ways, in its last ditches. was able to shove off the impending touchdown.
 The crowd marvelled how such light men could ever hold such giants for downs
 For 20 minutes the battle continued with unabating fury. the play being main- tained exclusively to Alabama territory As soon as Alabama, recovering the ball punted it out of dagger, the Indians, noth- ing loath, returned it instantly. Again in the nick of tme, as result of fum- ble, or a miscarried forward pass, or as / a result of its pure nerve in holding the red men, Alabama recovered the ball and kicked it out of danger. Again and again the Indians, with magnificent spirit returned to the fray, again sweeping all before them, again startling with out bursts of speed hitherto unseen in this state.
 And then. when there remained but five more minutes of play. the opportunity came It was as the rising of the sun after a storm at sea, or the appearance of the green spot on the breast of Sahara Saltwater attempted a forward pass to Good Eagle. Arant, breaking through the heavy Indian line and leaping into the air, touched the sphere with his finger. II was checked in it's flight and twisting or it's nose, fell at the feet of Edwards. In StdnI1N the ScrdpDy e0Q gathered II III HIS arms and with Captain Burks keeping the coast clear by a marvellous interference ran 65 yards to the goal line.
 Strong men yielded to a half-crazed maddening Joyl
 But Captain Burks missed goal, and the battle was on again. The Indians, in . trice, it seemed, were laundering again at Alabama's goal. But the dropped kick went wild. Alabama punted and again the Braves rushed the sphere with mar vicious speed toward the Crimson White line. But the forward pass fell into the arms of Palmer and for a moment longer the spectators bresthed easily third time the Indians rushec the ball to Ala bama's goal and then the plucky line held strong. The ball went over and was kicked to safety.
 Again. with never-failing hope. the In- dians rushed the ball toward the fatal ground. Around the ends, 10 15 and even 20 yards were snatched at a clip. And just in time the game was over!
 Alabama had won but narrowly
 In a game such as today's every man is star. Edwards in addition to making the run that wop the game was brilliant in his tackling and in smashing interfer- ences. Joe Mudd of Birmingham starred in many roles. his work at all times being spectacular. Pratt played his usual mar