New-York tribune., 1912-03-17
CHICAGO MEN BLAMED
FOR FIGHT IN TANK
OnIookers Acuuit New York a. G.
Players in Telling Of the
UnSeemIy Actions.
DISGRACE TO THE SPORT
"Coldly Preme ditated Murder
Is the Way DR. Lightner Tells
His View Of Western
Teams Tactics.
rev Telegraph 70 The Tribune ]

rR, Telegraph ~ The Tribune
rittsburgh. March 1s.-Investigatton ny
Tribune representative Of charges OF rough
and unssntlemanIv behavior on the part of
the New York Athletic Club and the chl-
cseo Athletic ASSOCIATION teams. when
rlsyed the preliminary match in the toor-
nsment for the national water polo cham-
rionship in the Pittsburgh Athletic Assocl-
alton tank last night. seems to eKoneratN
entirely the New York men except HnooH'
According 10 several unbiased spectators
uho we're asked to express an oplnloh' '"0
Chicago PLAYERS not only started the ropsh
work. but were the offenders throuShoo'
II appears also that none or me soaiS
scored should have been allowed ana tna'
the New York men We're in no "aN ou''
PLAYED. but simply the victims ot lncoH'
petent refereeing.
Mr. Newcor,be, a member Of the board
of governors of the Missouri Athletic Cluo'
authorized the statement that the chlet OF
Ncisl repeatedly penaliaed the Mercury
Foot men for offences committed by their
opponents and was either totally ignorant
of the rules or so ratified that he did not
know what he was doing,
Mr.. Watts. another Missouri Athletic
Club governor. said that the referees DE-
cisions we're undoup'edly Influenced ~
Everett G Brown. Of the Chicago Athletic
Association who kept at the latters elbow
from start to finish. constantly telling him
what he ought IN do.
Vice President Hamilton Of the Pittsburgh
Athletic Association was so tncenseo At inc
actions Of the Wesprners that. after hav-
ing the game stopped. he ordered them out
Of the clubhouse.
James Duffy, Of the same organization.
gave detailed account Of the trouble lie
said:
Il witnessed the entire game. and J am
in position to state that the New YORK
PLAYERS were in no way ia blame. In
fact. | heard the Chicago men before the
game and after each lineup tell eacn
other what man to put out There WIS
no attempt 10 play water polo. Ihey
aimed at disabling their rivals first, ana
then at winning after they were incapacl-
tated The first word passed was Get
Handley.' and Ibold caught him in
vicious tackle as he passed the ball -
was held under in spite of the four-foot
rule. for a killing period, but claim OF
foul was refused by the referee
Next Mcconnell and Yaeger massed on
Trubephach and strangled him between
them while the ball was nowhere in the
neighborhood vet when Kelly went 10
the rescue he was called to task and free
trial given to Chicago. Yaeger then re-
ceived the ball and swan under water with
IT for fully twelve feet reaching the goal
board. but although eight feet is the limit
the score was allowed.
AS the Chicago team lined mp again
ono Of the men said to the others. We
have the referee with us. XIII Ruddy
now" and Ruddv was attacked with con-
certed action.
"I7p 10 this time the New Workers. had
taken both punishment and unfair dect-
sions without retaliating, confident that
they would win anyhow, but when Ruddy
found that he was the marked man and
that unspeakable tactics were being used
on him he became aggressive in self-de-
fence and struck Gunthes, who had been
fouling him persistently, a stinging blow.
II vas the one offence on~the part Of the
New York team. and no one who saw the
provocation Ruddy had could blame him
much for defending himself.
However the referee ruled him out of
the pool, and the game went on. with
New York hghting desperately with five
men against six.
The whole Chicago team attacked to-
sether. but inside the four-foot line they
lost the ball. and il was thrown out. All
but the defence should have been ordered
out of the goal section. but the referee
allowed the ball to be thrown back, and
while New York was claiming z foul A
goal was scored that should not have
been allowed.
Meanwhile the Chicago men were using
such foul language that most Of the
women left the place, and heard couple
Of the New York players begging them 10
stop the disgracefuI flow. But they did
Ret.
Rudy having returned to the water,
New York resumed the aggressive and
Yaeser and Mcconnell undertook 10
drown Steen, the Mercury Foot goal
tender. So ugly was their mood that
President Hamilton ordered the game
stopped, and while the referee blew his
whistle Chicago again reached the board,
scoring the third and last goal. which
under competent oficlsl would never
have counted.
Il followed every move of the game
from tho balcony, and must say in justice
to the Fasteners that apart from Ruddy )
offence. which was in my mind quite JUS
tifed they all played a clean. hard game,
free from unsportsmarlike tactics"
Dr. Lghtner. neutral spectator. aftirms
that the Chicago mems intention to get
,ver with their opponents for old scores
was palpable
"Coldly premeditated murder" was the
way In which he styled 1t.