The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-11-01
MEMBER OF ARMY FOOTBALL
TEAM INJURED in GAME WITH
HARVARD sUccuMss.
DEEPEST GRIEF CAUSED
x.Ray Picture Shows. That vertsbras
Wsrs Dis.eeated in Such Manner ~
to Prevent Respiration and lad 10
Kept Alive for Hours by Means Of
Artificial Breathing.

West Point. N. Y. Oct Sl.-Cadct
Eugene A. Byrne, who was injured in
yesterdays football game between
the army team and Harvard, died
early today. His father. former Chief
Of Police John A.. Byrne Of Buffalo.
was with him when he died.
The tragedy has brought such poig-
nant grief to officers and cadets alike
that the end of football at West
Point and Annapolis is predicted by
many. Young Byrne expired at sun
rise. Brave as was the young SOL
dier's fight against death, II was
hopeless from the start. Buried be-
meath mass of struggling players in
the Harvard-Army game yesterday.
his neck was twisted and broken by
the weight of the crushing pile above
him.
Only the immediate resort to arti-
ficial respiration kept the boy from al
most instant death. for he did not
draw a natural breath after receiving
the fatal shock. Surgeons We're un-
able to make a complete examination
last night But X-ray photographs
taken after his death revealed dis
location between the first and second
cervical vertebrae. This caused the
natural process of breathing TO cease
and the artificial means of respira-
tion resorted to was all that kept the
injured cadet alive until today. No
autopsy was held.
Func~4k~5e!(bSn<S--~
Funeral services will be held tomor-i
row in the Catholic chapel at the
post. where the body was taken. A
cadet guard has been posted at the
chapel and details of young soldiers
will watch over the body until after
the services tomorrow. The funeral
will be conducted with full military
honors. Monsignor c. C. O'Keefe, in
charge of the Catholic chapels in this
vicinity. will officiate.
When the cadet corps and the off
cial family of the academy had re-
covered from the shock of the an
nouncement that Byrne's injuries mad
terminated fatally. the effect which
the accident might have upon the re-
mainder of the football schedule inn
mediately came to mind. The senti-
ment barely had time to crystalline to-
day. but more than one opinion was
voiced that the casualty would result
In curtailing the remainder of the
season of playing, If not the cancella-
alton of the entire schedule. including
the army-navy game.
official expression on the matter is
meager. When Colonel Hugh scott
the academy superintendent, was
asked for his opinion. he replied.
That Is matter cannot discuss
now.''
The manner Of young Brrne's in
jury. witnessed as it was by the
father and the hundreds gathered to
witness the struggle between the
Army and Harvard. was dramatic.
When spectators realized the shock
was serious the cheering was bushes,
as II by magic. 4 few minutes later
Byrne was carried unconscious from
the field. Taken to the cadet hospital
skilled surgeons labored over him
throughout the night Conscious at
times. he realized the seriousness of
his condition. BY order OF Colonel
Scott. cadet activities fer today were
directed to be only such as were
necessary.
Flag 10 lowered.
There was no parade tonHht, the
flag was lowered to half-mast and
directions were given that All aca-
demic duties be suspended tomorrow
aoung Byrne was only II years old
but was = veteran of the army foot
ball team and popular with his class
mates and Officers. He Was acting as
captain OF the eleven yesterday.
Byrne was injured in a mass plsy on
tackle. play common enough in
football and which had been used sew
eral times in the game previous 10
the inciGent. Byrne standing valiant
~ as left tackle for the army was
forced under the rush of crimson
players. and on falling must have had
his head twisted into a position where
the weight of the men p,linr nnon
/. him was greater than the strong lira-
nen.s ot tne Sertebral column could
stand.
II Byrne dies it will Kill. football
Tor both West Point and Annapolis. .
WAS the frequent remark heard on the
grounds last night and today with
ssrne cead. the feeling prevailed that
fo0Saail as sport at West point and
Annapess has been seriously jeopar-
dised.
RoosEvElrs ARRIVE.