The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-11-14
Days When The Town
Went. Mad Over Game
From Saturdays Daily

From Saturdays Oa'ly.
Students and loyal supporters Of
the Mankato high school held an
enthusiastic massmeeting at the high
school building yesterday afternoon.
Among those that were present and
made speeches were Rev. w. r.. Keesey
Jay Wysong and Attorney Harry
Johnson. The meeting was devoted
to stirring up the enthusiasm for
The game today with Faribault. new
yells were practiced and the students
we're melted to do terrible things to
the Faribault team through the eff
forts of the oratory that was dis.
pensed by the speakers of the school
and those from outside.
Besides being on the fiery order
of oratory, Rev. Keesey and Attor
ney Johnson dispensed some humor
that was first class and kept the
students in a roar of laughter all
of the time. Mr.. Wysong's remarks
we're on the reminiscent order, he
having been substitute on the first
football team that played in this
city.
Hanks Back to the Past.
Some of Mr.. Wysongs remarks
there, together with additional
things he said this morning we're
of interest in historical way. He
said that at the time the high school
organized the football team, there
were only two other teams in the
state, one of them being the uni
versity team and the other one be-
ing the Shattuck aggregation. After
the high school team had been or.
ganized it was necessary to find
some team to play and the state
normal school in this city organized
for the game. About that time w.
d. Willard an alumnus of the high
school had completed his course in
the state university and he took to
coaching the normal school boys in
! the hopes of getting them in shape
! for some good games with the high
school. His motives were all to the
good but the boys Of the high school
/ felt pretty sore for while, till the
games were started and after the
normal boys had been trimmed In
seventy-five per cent of the games
the feeling against Mr.. Willard went
down by jumps and they appreciat.
F, ed the situation that he had made
! possible. AS there were few other
teams in the state the fall schedule
for the teams in this city consisted
in playing the normal school every
Saturday during the Iall.
Excitement Ran High.
During this era excitement ran
high between the two schools and
a high school boy could not pay at.
tentions to normal girl without
high school boys. The old battle
field was back of the Fowler and
Pay lime kilns and has seen its
last game for the quarrying of the
/ stone has left the ground in a rough
rugged state.
The big war in this city attracted
the attention of the team at the
university and they wrote to the
manager of this team and wanted
to arrange game with the
high school but the ~" wanted
a guarantee of $1,000 to make the
trip and the boys we're afraid that
the $1,000 couldn't be produced Mr.
Wysong said this morning that he be
lieved that the amount could have
been raised for the town was foot
ball mad in those days and the
ground around the gridirOn was
black with people every Saturday
He said that the school spirit was
keyed to the top notch and if there
was an attendance of seventy-fve
students in the school that the boys
felt as if something was wrong il
at least seventy-four of them die
not show up at the regular weekly
game.
Wood Was Contributed.
AS the weather became chilly fol
the spectators, Fowler & Pay Otter
contributed wood for immense bon
fires that were kindled along the
sidelines to Keep the people warm.
Among those who were on the
first team and who are known tt
the people of this city were Jay
Hubbard, Charlie Willard, Charli,
Flanagan, Will Sheppard, Fred Shep
pard. DR.. A. F. Schmitt, DR.. A. F
Luedke of Fairmont "Musky' Morri
son and Fred Burgess, who made :
run of ninety yards against TIT
normal boys in one of the frs
games that was played. Flannigal
was afterward made member o
! the all American team by Waite
Camp of Yale. Mr.. Wysong recount
ed how Fred Bechdolt used to ge
"lickings" from his father for goin
to baseball games and how unbe
known to his father young Bechdol
did the unpardona BILE thing of run
ming away and playing a game
The saving clause in the whole thin!
was the fact that the Bechdolt team
won the game. This seemed t,
kindle spirit Of pride in the hear
of his father and he bought tn
young man a baseball and bat ant
did not hinder his athletic desir
afterward.
Among those living In this cit
: who composed the normal team ar
DR.. F. l.. Stephan and John Con
solus.
Band Was Out