The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-31

TIGERS BEATEN BY
RUTGERS IN 1859
Contest at New Brunswick
Was First Staged in This
Country.
CELEBRATION PLANNED
Rivals Will Gather at Dinner
at Semi-Centennial Of Great
Sport Next November.
CELEBRATION PLANNED
ny DANIEL.

II was back In 1869, on November
O, at New Brunswick. that American
football was played for the first time.
Rutgers and Princeton were the oppos-
ing twenty-hves-for the game at that
time was played with twenty-five on a
slde-and Rutgers won, Accounts Of
the contest state that Rutgers scored
runs against for the Tigers. Just
what runs we're is not made eiear, but
at any rate Rutgers won.
In order TO commemorate the semi
centennial OF the great sport Princeton
and Rutgers are collaborating in plans
to stage a big celebration and dinner
at New Brunswick in November DEM
onstrations of the old game and plays
now barred and parade are on the ten
tative programme.
An account of the flrst game will be
Of great interest to the follower of foot
ball. The New Brunswick Fredonidn
sent its star reporter to the melee, and
while the account is not exactly in keep
Ing with present day principles of sport
writing. It serves to throw considerable
light on sport practice of the day. Train
ing tables being unknown then, we learn
that "a bountiful entertainment was
provided for our Princeton friends at
the favorite resort in Church street" A
delectabls practice. say We. 1t ought
to be revived.
The reporter of fifty years ago GER
tainly knew how TO whoop things up, for
he starts the story with this stirring
sentence: "Hurrah for the boys of good
old Rutgers !" Then he goes on TO say
that there is not recorded in the history
Of the Olympic games as stirring and
eventful a match as that in which Rut-
gers finally woke up and trounced its old
rival from the College OF New Jersey. as
Princeton officially was known in those
days Said the Fredonian:
A Goliath From Princeton.
'Hurrah for the boys of good old
Rutgers who are waking up, as was
fully demonstrated last Saturday after
noon in the lively but rough game Of
football
"Our neghbor. Princeton, sent her
chosen twenty-four stalwart men and
ono Goliath to combat our twenty-five
etriplings There is not recorded in the
history of the Olympic games q more
interesting and decisive match. played in
so short time. by such NUMBER OF
contestants as this game was. Rutgers
led off by winning the first inning amid
the vociferous cheering OF the bystand
ers. Princeton seemed TO play little wild
at the beginning. but in the second inning
they recovered themselves and came out
the victors.
80 1t continued off and on, one gain
ing, then the other. until the ninth and
tenth innings. when, notwithstanding the
desperate efforts OF the Princeton giants,
Rutgers quickly and boldly followed in
successive victory, giving them six runs
TO four Of Prmceton-therehy coming off
conduerors, which was hailed with ex-
ultant shouts OF applause by the admir-
ers Of Rutgers. The victorious twenty
five then gave three rousing cheers and
tiger which was followed by the
Princeton twenty-five cheering, and
something sounding very much like Our
Bum" 'Aaugh!
A Fine WinduD.
'-The game thus ended in good feeling,
although during the playing We OBJ
served some rather unnecessary sparring
on the part Of a few of the Princeton
'Philistines!' All is we'll that ends
we'll
Through the generous liberallty OF
tho SluuonlS OIL SOAAS6o a DSAai-
tiful entertainment was prepared FOR
our Princeton friends at the favorite
resort in Church street known as Nor
throp's where mine host and his esti-
mabe lady know how to get up a good
supper. May they live long TO serve
the students OF Rutgers thus. How are
you, seventy-three? So ends pleasant
rivalry between sister colleges. OF which
there are none more honorable in the
Drtn Rutgers
did better. and let it continue to be. not
alone in athletic sports but also in the
more energetic struggle OF the mind"
First Rules of Game.
william ]. Leggett, captain OF the
Rutgers team. and William S. Gummere,
afterwards Chief Justice of New Jersey,
devised the rules which governed the
game-the first football code ever for
mulated on this side of the briny. These
rules were:
/. Grounds must be $50 feet long and
2a5 feet wide 2. Goals must be eight
PAGES. 3. Each side shall number twen-
ty-f1ve players T. No throwing or run
ming with the ball; IL either, IL IL a foul
and the ball then must be thrown per-
pendicularly in the air by the side caus-
ing the foul. s. No holding the ball or
free kicks allowed. 6. A ball passing
beyond the boundary by the slue OF the
goal shall be kicked on from the boun-
dairy by the side who has that goal. Z.
A ball passing beyond the limit on the
side OF the field shall be kicked hori-
zontally to the boundary by the side
which kicked It out. s. No tripping or
holding OF players. 0. The winner of
the first toss has the choice Of position ;
the winner OF the second toss has the
hrst kickoff. 10. There shall be four
Judges and two referees.
Considerable difference between the
rlIlnn ~ 1871 thnsa Of I'M A-.nILhnf2