Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-03
over SO high 1t takes two men the

cover sd high 1t fakes two men the
better part of week to- sew this ma
terial together
The bladder for the bail is made of
the best rubber. Which is cut into
strips and. cemented together in such
shape that it will form a globe fitting
the leather covering is practically
indestruetible Tie very Lest rubber
bladder may give cut in two or three
years. \ new bladder costs $50. y
large cylinder foot pump suitable for
Initiating this mighty ball costs $40.
The game OF pushball is of Ameri-
can origin The first pushhall was
made in Newton, Mass. in 1921. Ths
ball had covering of leather shap0
on a wooden form built for the pun
pose.
-Four big hides were required to
supply the leather material which was
cut to form, six zones, which were
put together with betting hcols The
bladder was made of rubber cloth, cut
in sections and eemented together.
The materials for this ball cost about
$l75.
According to ''PushbaIl," which CON
tains a history Of the game with the
playing rules the first pushball game
in New York was played with can
vas ball stuffed with hay on Thanks
giving Day. November 81 1902. At
the last moment the manager of the
athletic park where the game WIS to
be- PLAYED founG Il impossible to get
Il ball in time for the match, but he
was not dsmayed by that Canvas
was brought and q bale of hay. and
there was pressed into service a neigh
boring shoemaker to do the sewing.
The result was I bali that may not
have been perfect sphere. but still
II wds pretty good looking ball, and
il would do.
But when it was inished--it had
been made out IN the field--it WAS too
big TO get through any door and SO IL
vas left ont overnight the night before
the match. and that night it rained.
In the morning the ball that should
have weighed fly pounds or there
ahouts soon came to weigh nearer 500,
ara il soon began TO lose shape.
1t was tremendously hard work
pushing this bah ;.hout on a muddy
field, ana only half game was play
ed, and though enc side had scored n
goal. this first pushball game played
on Manhattan Island was declared a
draw
In its earlier development the push
ball was made of an alright rubber
fabric. but that bail in its present SUI
perseded by the call in its present
perfect form. of leather with a rubber
bladder.
The game of pushball is. PLAYED be-
tween 4 gridiron with a goal MT each
end each team trying to push the ball
through the opposing teams goal.
Commonly played on field. pushball
may be played INDOORS as well as out.
1t is sometimes played by men on
horseback
Soon after its origination pus.ibalI
was introduced into England. where
il is nov perhaps played more than it
is here. 1t is also played on the Con-
tineit. In this country pushbaH is
PLAYED by college teams and by tean:s<
of athletic associations and in rid i
schools and at army posts.
Giants of this city use a pushbs \. 1
Texas
The pushbali is q somewhat bulky
object. not a thing that you can put
out Of the way on a shelf if you have
one around 1t has To stand on the
floor where it takes up a good deal
OF room and where If anybody shorld
start II rolling it wGuid take up more
r9"l, and might make trouble. So
pushoalls are not SO commonly kept
IN stock, but they can be had at any
time. made to order or six days
hotiee.-'i5ridSeport Telegram.