Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-11-01


w EST POINT, N. Y, Oct. 31.--Cadet
w Eugene A. Byrne. who was in
jured in yesterdays football
game between the army team and Har-
ward, died early today.
His father, former Chief of Police
John 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 sunrise.
Brave as was the young soldiers fight
against death, it was hopeless from the
start
Buried beneath a mass of struggling
players i'm the Haryard-Army game yes
terday. his neck was twisted and
broken by the weight of the crushing
pile above him when he bore the brunt
of a mass play at tackle.
Only the immediate resort to arti-
fetal respiration kept the boy from al
most instant death, for he did not draw
natural breath after receiving the
fatal shock.
Surgeons were unable to make conf
plete examination last night. But *
ray photographs taken after his death
revealed .dislocation between the first
and second cervical vertebrae.
Funeral Today
Funeral services will be held tomor-
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 official
family of the academy had recovered
from the first shock of the announce
ment that Byrne's injuries had ter
minated fatally the effect which the ac-
cident might have on the remainder of
the football schedule Immediately came
to mind.
The sentiment hardly had time to
crystalIize today, but more than one
opinion was voiced that the casualty
would result in curtailing the remainder
of the seasons playing, if not the can
ing the army-navy game.
Official expression on the matter is
meager
When Col. Hugh L. Scott, the
academy superintendent, was asked for
his opinion he replied:
THAT is a matter l cannot discuss
now"
Dramatic Climax
The manner of young Byrne's injury,
witnessed as it was by the father and
the hundreds who had gathered here
TO see the army struggle against Har-
ward, was dramatic.
When the spectators realized the
shock was serious the cheering was
hushed as If by magic.
A few minutes later Byrne was car
ried 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 for to-
day were directed to be only such us
were necessary.
There was no parade tonight. the fiag
was lowered to half mast and directions
were given that all academic duties be
suspended tomorrow.
fRyrne was only q years old, but was
a veteran of the army football team
ana popular with his classmates and
officers. He was acting as captain of
the eleven yesterday.
sIf Byrne dies it will kill football for
both West Point and Annapolis" was
the frequent remark heard on the
grounds last night, and tonight with
Bvrne dead, the feeling prevailed that
football as a sport at West Point and
Annapolis had been seriously jeopar-
dized.
Should Not Bar Game
President H. H. Bell of Drake uni
yersfty and President A. B. Storms OF
the Iowa State college at Ames said to-
night football should not be condemned
because of the death of Byrne and the
terrible injury to Wilson,
II am sure we all deplore the death
of Byrne," said President Bell, "hut
such an accident is liable to occur in
the progress of any game which Is pur-
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