Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-13
HOSTS ASSEMBLE
FOR POLO MATCH
Thousands to Witness Clash
Between English and Ameri-
can Players.

MEADOWBROOK CLUB. WESTBURY
Long Island, June 13.-Society folk
sportsmen and casual spectators. thou
sands all told, crowded to the Meadow
brook Club today for the opening
game of the international polo series.
Six matches have heretofore been
played for the trophy. and each nation
has won three of them. Before the
game the Americans ruled favorites at
odds of 10 to 6.
The players of both teams spent a
forenoon of rest after quiet night.
suffered to some extent from his in
jured nose and eye. struck last week
by ball.
On the American side interest cen
tered on Rene La Montague, the only
new man on the team since the break
ing up of the big four by the with
drawa1 of Harry Payne Whitney. 1t
is La Montagne's first international
match. and his friends predicted that
his aggressive playing would prove a
surprise.
Throngs in Pilgrimage.
The day was clear and warm. A
slight breeze in the forenoon huttered
the British and American flags on the
stands. The exodus to the Meadow
brook Club began early. Long before
noon the roads leading to Westbury
and Hampstead were crowded with au-
tomobiles of various types and vintage.
Hundreds of city taxicabs were pressed
into service. AS the long line of cars
approached the. playing field the roads
har
the dust stirred up by thousands of
rubber-shod wheels hung over the
Hampstead plains like a heavy yellow
fog.
contributed long trainloads of spectators
as fast as the trip from the city 10
the field and return could be made
At the playing field those in charge
were at work early. The great stretcn
of velvet turf was moved and watered
yesterday, and heavy rollers rumbled
up and down the surface throughout
the morning. 1t was stated that unless
a heavy shower deadened the field be-
fore bell time at o'clock 1t would be
the fastest ever offered for international
polo play in this country.
Ponies Ready for Struggle.
The ponies of both teams were walked
over from their regular quarters to the
paddocks early in order to avoid the
heat of midday. and were reported ready
for the hard struggle. The English
players were inclined to believe that
the heat and delay had taken the edge
off several of their best mounts; but
this could not be avoided. The Ameri-
can ponies, accustomed to American
midsummer heat, weathered the hot
spell better than the imported mounts.
This, it was said. gave the cup defend
ers slight advantage
The night before the. game was
marked by elaborate entertaining
throughout the Long Island country
colonies Every home housed an ex-
tended list of polo guests. and dinners
and dances for all except the players
the contest. Country clubs and the
summer hotels along both sound and
ocean shores were crowded to over
flowing.
Lineup of the Teams.
The lineup of the teams follows:
England-No. /. Capt. H. a. Tomkin-
son; No. 2, Capt. L. st. G. Cheape; No. 8.
Maj. F. W. Barrett; back. Capt. Vivian
Lockett; substitutes. Lord Wimbourne
and John A. Trail.
America-No. I. Rene La Montague;
Milburn; back, Lawrence Waterbury;
substitutes c. G. Rumsey, Malcolm
Stevenson and H. c. Phipps.
Referee. Louis f. Stoddard: umpires,
Joshua Crane, Boston, and Keith B..
Markham. Cairo. Egypt
Frank Forester. for America, and
Spencer Fish and Frank S Drake. for
England. Official timer. w. Struther
Jones.