New-York tribune., 1909-12-19

II is generally agreed that the loss Of
even one life in fcotbaI is a most depior-
sse occurrence and one 70 be guarded
against b. every device in the discretion
of these on whom falls the responsibility
q making the rules Of the game. There
is no need 10 eXaggerats the periis Of the
game. however. but such exaggeration
here has been. al unwittingly. it is prob
sals. this season.
HasH it is said. was the case at the
r-eerlng u the New York Board Of Edu-
Csslcu. which voted for the abolition OF
tss zane. that tie sport had cost twenty
si1 lives this year. d misstatement Of the
facts vas maze Yet this statement was
hassG o. figures collected and tabulated
AKA srsat care by The Chicago Tribune"
Tast nsR spsPer is not 10 blame its fig
urss were made Up at the end Of the sea
faR, before detailed investigation was pos
she. and for the errors in them local
co-Tesqcoceuts must be held responsible
These correspondents have a habit of at
Eibgiing 70 football any death connected.
% batter how remotely, with the game
Tie tsbuiated statement indicates that
football cost tvenfy-six lives this year.
NeF, a. q matter of fact, careful exam
toned shows that i've Of these twenty-six
deaths we're from causes in no way con
ne-reS With tie game and that six 9th
sY sHeged 10 have died from football
{ iE5Eres were victims of accidents in previ-
ogs seasons Moreover. ia only two Of
these ST. cases can any connection be
traced between football and death. EXCEPT
that The men concerned had al enc time
or another played the game
ThuE fifteen deaths remain 10 be studied
- having possibly been due to football as
Esged rais year. OF these, four we're OF
5oys engaged in games PLAYED bv IN
o-Ssl-zed teams, one victim being only
eleven years Old. such players seldom fol-
ioT any Of toe rules OF the game. Their
fe-H q The sport is = rough and tumble
. sHssEefDent called football only because a
hsH Is Used ia some fashion during the
rsT- II is nanifestly unfair to Judge the
college game by occurrences IN such a
traEes7y
Two college Players we're fatally hurt
Eugene a Bvrne. Of west Point. PLAYING
against IIsrvard. sustained a broken neck
snc eied within twenty-four hours Archer
tariziisn- halfbsck On the team Of the
University of Virginia, was fatally hurt
ir game with Georgetown. and died with
ir few hours. These are the tragic and
dePio-zhle accidents Of tie season that
hs7e made the rule makers stop and think
That they seem 70 have been unavcidab be
makes them none the less depIorable.
gVo college players. then, have be-n
g. fatally injured. Nine boys at school
: risylng OF regular school teams. with more
- .ess organization. must be added 10 the
eesth 7ol- Two OF these cas=s are IN in
srtg-ons CT Pseudo-collegiate TaDks-St
AzT-s College. Of Kansas. and the Medico-
t1-r1-gIcsl College. OF Philadelphia. Both
o. these institutions claim good scholastic
fsfAg. oIt in athletics they are barely on
par with schools like Exeter and Andover,
and arr properly rated with the schools
rs'hsT thsr with the colleges.
These nine deaths are not fully authenti-
Gated iu every case The Tribune mas sent
4, 's'ls-z O. inquiry 10 the principals Of the
Schools involved, and fuIl answers have
oeen received in many cases. But even so,
- coH1rH-stion beyond the original dis
ps}eles crronlciirg the death is available
N four cases. which arc included in the
= fsbts therefore with some reluctance. Five
oesfhs hare been proved TO be due 10 foot
tsl z-e tao n these victims are known
= nave been immature and hardly fitted 10
iske part n . strenuous a game
tEese tscts are set forth calmly. and
Hithou- arv desire 10 ATTACK the views Of
taose Opposed % the game - at present
-, &C The- re intended 10 be Of service
- tsoze interested iu a real revision, in or
ger flst the subject may be approached IN
rezscnsbIe eririt and without hysteria.
4ls .a- Is that the totsl authenticated
ossth rell of fifteen. hased upon the figures
e -1e Chicago Tribune" as revised, COM
lsreE rot unfavorabiv with the record Of
'rrreeu deaths in 1907 and fourteen in
ifes recorded by TIE same authority. To
= further into the causes Of. the fatalities
ssf1i--ecl-' due 20 the game is to make the
hsi even smaller. for some Of the deaths
srs SHOWN n be one 70 q plain disregard
e -alss and precautions wholly inexcusa Bile
c7s &C fle school deaths was due 70
EssrT e. me neck received IN an open field
nc3e. another vas kicked in the abdo-
Neo G-lrtenrionallv. although OF necessity
~ manner strictly forbidden By the rules
s1c practically, Impossible of occurrence in
2 game between trained and sziIfuI players.
Aaoi1er PLAYER received cerebral injuries
Resulting in PARALYSIS. This Was Raymond
1nlrstor, = student at Philips Exeter. and
-ls ir--ries, although probably received IN
SAM ca not tf41A4ltGT Gl-t-lsrihfo A-itAA
to11E dsEs after she game Az autopsy
isyesied Z condition apparently due 10
n.o7s Ht-ch might have been sustained N
ieotbau or ia some other way. II iE, OF
f2lrse, Impossible, in view Of the belated
iscoFer- of the affection, 70 determine
hast scrt 4 play was responsible.
E-scLe Byrne. tie West Point cadet, re-
rsiges Eis injuries IN the course OF Spit
,sckle Play b. Ifarvard- HIS meek WAS
"sted in some manner, and the fatal N
.ify Resulted. Pictures Of plays previous 10
Ne tatsl one, bit Of similar character
skao7ed Byrne going int4 the play Win ms
nssc up aud in . dangerous position not
'-asila-ly Assumed by tackles. Statements OF
us accident. full correct and II consiaera-
z 2ie detail. obtained wide publicity al tAe
lnls Il tts occurrence.
Archer Christian. as appears IN fhe iul
fal detailed statement which the courtesy
= me University OF Virginia enables iHe
tribune 70 publish below. was fatally hui
N N open neld plsy. and not as was s'i'
q tie tTge, IN mass play.
letters received BY The Tribune IN IN
t@sF 10 itE inquiries follow:
- ihe Sporting Editor Of The irio1i,T irioo.a,,,s,,t
Ell. I inclOse .0ofs a detailed Statethelt :
q lie accident which caused the Dean %
tfeheT Christian. from John II NtiA' 7. - -
- alumni cosCh Of the team, lta@lef a. of