The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-19
GRID FATALITIES
ARE EXAGGERATED
Many of Reported Deaths
Are Directly Attributable
to Other Causes.
CORRECTED FIGURES
ON GRID FATALITIES

II is generally agreed that the loss CO
even one life in football is a most de-
plorable occurrence and one to be
guarded against by every device in the
discretion of those on whom falls the
responsibility of making the rules Of the
game. There is no need TO exagggerate
rtho perils OF the game. however, but
such exaggeration there has been, all
unwittingly, it is probable, this season.
When it is said, as was the case at
the meeting Of the New York board Of
education. which voted for the aboli-
lion OF the game, that the sport had
cost twenty-six lives this year. a mis-
statement Of the facts was made, &C
cordinS TO the New York Tribune and
as pointed out in The Times when the
statistics were first published. Yet this
statement was based on figures collect
ed and tabulated with great care by the
Chicago Tribune. That newspaper is
not TO blame. Its figures were made
up at the end of the season, before de-
tailed investigation was possible and
Tor the errors in them local correspond
ents must be held responsible These
correspondents have a habit Of attribut-
ing TO football any death connected. no
matter how remotely, with the \game.
NAAsiSduihB Il ASuIeS.
The tsbulated statement indicates that
football cost twenty-six lives this year
Now, as q matter OF fact, careful exam
ination by the Tribune Of every case
mentioned shows that five Of these
twenty-six deaths we're from causes in
no way connected with the game and
that six others alleged to have died
from football injuries were victims Of
in
in only two OF these six cases can any
connection be traced between football
ard death. except that tic men con-
ce.ned had at one time or another play
Cd The game.
Thus fifteen deaths remain TO be studi-
Cd as having possibly been due 10 foot
bali as played this year. OF these. four
were Of boys engaged in games played
by uIi0rganizcd teams, one victim be-
ing only eleven years old. Such PLAYERS
seldom follow any of the rules OF the
game. Their form OF the sport is a
rough and tumble engagement called
football only because a ball is used i'm
some fashion II is manifestly unfair
10 Judge the college game BY occur
ronccs in such travcsty.
Two Collegians Killed
Two college players were fatally hurt
;tu4ene \. Byrne. Of West Point. play
ing against Harvard, sustained brok-
en- neck and died within tweuty-four
hours. Archer Christian. haIrbaCk on
The team Of the University OF Virginia.
was fatally hurt i'm a game with George
town. and died within a few hours.
These are the tragic ard deplorable ac-
cidcnts Of the season that have made
The rule makers -top and think. TBct
they seem 10 have been unavoidable
makes them none the. less deplorablc.
T~o college players then, have been
fatally injured. Nine boys at school
playing on regular school teams, with
more or less organization, ,1ust.b I've ado
81 Go the death roll. Two or these cases
are in institutions, which do not figure
of Ksusas, and the Medico Chirurgical
college, OF Philadelphia. Both Of these
institutions claim good scholastic raj
ing. but i'm athletics they are barely on
a par with schools like Exeter and And
over. and arc properly rated with the
schools rather than with the colleges.
Not All Authenticated
These nine deaths are not fully su-
thenticstcd i'm every case. The Tribune
has sent letters Of inquiry 20 the pduci- |
pals II the schools involved. and fuU
answers have been received in many
cases. Eut. even so. no confirmation be- !
yond the original dispatches chrouicling
the death is available in four cases. |
which are included i'm the table there |
fore with some reluctance. Five deaths |