Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-05-17
GAME ENDS IN A
BATTLE ROYAL
championship" Fiasco is
Staged at Palace Hall
Fists and Chairs Fly.

Although battle royals are prohib-
ted in the law recently passed by the
state legislature, the fans at the bas-
ketball games between the Wright
Martin five Of New Brunswick and a
team of All Stars played last night
in Palace Hall had a fine exhibition
of the manly art of self defense"
which brought the game to an abrupt
ending. After fighting their way
through the crowd. the visiting play
ers finally gained the safety Of their
dressing room, after which quiet
reigned for while longer. The Wis
iting players did not appear on the
floor again.
The game, which was to have de-
cided the championship between the
Wright Martin Five and All Stars,
was somewhat of a farce from the be-
ginning. Believing that the game
would be gotten under way about $3.50
o'clock the crowd was getting anxious
when 10 o'clock rolled by. The play
ers appeared on the floor and every
one thought the games was to start.
After a few practice shots the orches-
ira commenced to play and another
dance was staged.
The men again took the floor and
after warming up again retired while
another dance was held. 1t was then
said that the reason for the delay was
the fact that the referee had net
appeared. After waiting until n few
minutes before eleven for the referee
to show up it was decided to secure
one of the men in the audience to
referee.
After considerable persuasion Will
liam Beiboth, who is now in the army.
took the whistle and got the game ur-
der way. Professi onal rules were be-
ing used which allows of many plays
which are not permitted in A. A. u.
rulings but Seitboth failed to call
many of the fouls which We're seen
by practically every one in the audi
ence. Leonards work in particular
was deserving of many fouls being
called upon him, the big New Bruins
wick-Newark Center pivot man get
ting away with considerable raw
stuff" After a rough give and take
twenty minutes the first half closed
with the score 9-5 in favor of Amboy.
The second half had gone only a
few minutes when Referee Seiboth
called foul on one Of the New
Brunswick players. An argument en-
sued and one of the Wright Martin
men drew back to plant a blow on
Seiboth. This action of the county
scatter was signal for action on the
Amboy fellows who swarmed out on
the floor.
luSledu Ol SlOpplIS Tie rs
tended to make it worse and soon
there was free for all battle with
the Brunswick men closely punched
together slowly forcing their way to
the door. Patrolman Jorgensen was
in the hall at the time the fight began
and after some vigorous work on his
part, assisted by several other local
men, the New Brunswickers were
gotten into their dressing room.
Although played hard the game
lacked interest owing to the absence
of an eleventh man of the type of
Carl Reed who has officiated at the
big games here this year. Seiboth is
not to be blamed for the result as he
did not wish to referee until persuad-
ed to do SO. 1t appeared that IL Sci
both did not referee there would be
no game. In order not to disappoint
the large crowd he consented.
The final score was III. The All
Stars had Nat Holman and Johnnie
Clinton, forwards; Powers. center; {;
Swinson and Ripley, guards. The
Wright Martins had their usual make
UP, consisting of Beckman, Reich.
Leonard, Pengitore, Dreyfuss and
Broffee.
1t is doubtful whether these two
teams will ever meet again as the
treatment handed out to the Wright
Martins by the locals was not alto
gether to the visitors liking. Not
satisfied with using their fists some
ambitious local boys resorted to
throwing chairs. Many of the blows
landed during the conflict and today
several are nursing blacked eyes and
Scared faces. 1t is likely that last
nights fistic demonstration will bring
to a close the basketball season in
this city.