New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-03
Fence IN SMALL HOURS
Contests for Manrique Trophy
End When Lights Go Out.
NO DECISION is REACHED
Competitions in Brooklyn Came
to a Tragic Climax in
Wordy Warfare.

Fencing competitors. weary Judges and
Disguised spectators played the princlpaI
characters in the bouts for the Manrioua
trophy. which began Saturday evening
as broad farce in the gymnasium n
the Central Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation. Fulton street, Brooklyn and
reached a tragic climax at An early hour
Yesterday morning. Prcmrent members
Of the Amateur Fencers' League OF Am4r.
lea omphatically branded the whole pe..
Torrance as an outrage and pointed 10
it as the elimination of the haphazard
way in which the fencing contests nave
been conducted for the last two seasons.
As result of the unfortunate affair
the foilsmen OF Yale, Columbia. the Uni.
versty of Pennsylvania, the New York
Athletic Club, the Crescent Athlete
Club. the Springfield Training School, the
New York Turn Verein, the New York
Fencers' Club the Polytechnic Prepare.
tory School and the French, West Side
and Central Young Mems Christian AS
sociations after six hours reached no re.
suit. The prizes were withheld, and but
tor the shutting off OF the lights in the
.ymna SUM when competitors and Off
Gals were in acrimonious argument il Is
possible that mimic battles might have
become the real thing.
At the close of the affair OF yesterday
John II. Scott, the physical director II
the Central Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation. said that never again would the
ganizat,on allow itself t. be caught IN
IIa noio ,La,
the Amateur Fencers' League outline a
proper programme in advance for the
Nanridue trophy, and that If the entry
list included a great number OF competi-
tors the bouts be fenced on two days, or
at an afternoon and evening session, as
il the custom with the intercollegiate
championships.
Or. j. Ernest GiguouX, OF the fencing
committee of the New York Athletic
club. was outspoken III MS condemnation
of the whole proceedings. We have r..
peatedly urged upon the officials Of the
Amateur Fencers' League the necessity
Of changing its methods OF Judging AMI
To- arrange the various trophy competi-
lions in two sections, an elimination
series xt bouts ana nHaL ID &c fenced
either afternoon ana evening or on Two
consecutive evenings 80 that the most
skilful swordsmen might win and results
not be decided by brute strength after
weary hours. as has been the case in
many of the tournaments. The repre-
sentatives Of the press have seen and have
mildly commented upon the buresqpe
features OF the present system Il Judging
and II is this feature which mas cuimi-
ma ted I'm this unfortunate afal. The meh
arc doing the best thcs can. II is The
rules ana the system when are "ron.
and which need thorough revision.
This criticism came at O'Clock yeste''
day morning, when the teams oi the ~
York Athletic club, tUunna ana 't
New York Turn Ncrein had reached u
nnal series of bouts. 4. ". Aison, Ae|
Truslow and Or. &. I. Adams had Hd'.'
aged to got the better al y y. 'iouSn'
Northrop and Louis Mouquh. oi ,'id'H'
bia. George Reimnerr, Il. STAN asa D. a.
Kroeger. of the Turn Ncriu. B.. 90 ftdoi
To QUIT and leave. John Alld'r", uc VICE
president OF the FenceIs league NVu4
not consent 10 this. As there were luz!
twenty more bouts - be i'hced' "
Scott refused 10 keep the lohh, Nous
Christian Association building Cien unl.
dawn.
As protests had been lodged carrier u
the night against Yale ard the sprinsne'
! Training School, and rs the fehVe'S
League rule makes il compulsory 10 ieN"'
tho nnals 40 round robin to hiHso
John Allaire ordered that the decision
| 10 the competition be referred 10 inc o'n
Gals OF the league FOR adjudication. hH
probable that the entire series VIII H.'s
10 no fought over again Lcforc the uopn!
is awarded. and with this prospect "
view Or. Scott. OF the Central iol"s
Mems Christian Association, stated ,n'
the bouts would be held on satuf'A''
February 10.