The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-13

the field. Two groups of men came
from opposite corners of the stands
trotted out on the ribboned rectangu-
lar gridiron- The whistle blew again
1t was z. w. Cochrane. starting the
second half OF the game between
Washburn and College OF Emporia
here Saturday.
The ball went sailing into the air,
floated back over the heads of the
line and finally came to rest in the
arms of one of the opposite backs.
Then the march down the field began.
The march was not to last long, tho,
for the ball was already wet and
tumble gave it TO the other side. This
team started a march which lasted
but couple of plays.
Then something happened.
Rain started to fall in torrents.
Many declared it was the hardest rain
that ever fell in Topeka. Umbrellas
went up. Raincoats came into use.
Persons started to stand instead Of re-
manning seated for the soaking. No.
they preferred to take the soaking
standing up. And they did.
Some of the fans started for their
cars. others hurried nome, but many
took the Armistice day shower as
funny. They remained to see the
game.
Meanwhile the water had started to
run down over the field, and in just a
few minutes the gridiron was covered
with water ankle deep. Did the teams
stop? They did not. They continued
to plunge up and down across the
field, see-saw back and forth as one
recovered a tumble, then the other
one 1t was not a football game. To
pass the ball with any degree of ac-
curacy by the center was impossible.
1t was more uncertain whether the
ball lugger would be able to hold onto
it, Most of the time he did not.
Line plunging was out of the ques
ton. Passing and punting became
the order of events on that veritable
river. The game almost resembIed
The sight on the sidelines was
funny. Many of the young women
from Emporia shivered in the arms of
some gallant sutton who was trying
by all the known methods, to keep
his charge from getting wet. Others
huddled together under the grand
stands. The press box was deserted.
Keeping a summary of the fourth
quarterg which then was the stage of
the game, ceased. Yell leaders,
with no coats, megaphone in hand,
shivered in the cold rain and for
warmth called forth for more rousing
cheers to encourage their warriors on
the water covered gridiron-
Who Wants Water?
1t was near the end of the fourth
quarter. Water! Waterl Where's
the water?" came from some muffled
voice on the field. Can you imagine
that" shrieked a fair damsel who we
took for an Emporia rooter. why
do they want water. there's plenty of
it all around them,' was the remark
of another.
A man rushed out on the field with
a bottle of water. The player took a
long draught. He dropped the bottle
toward the waiting water boy. The
water boy dropped it on his toe. The
bottle was rushed from the field. The
player splashed hack to his team
mates. the Emporia side. for it was
an Emporia man who had cried for
water.
The two sides lined up. The rain
kept on It seemed like a cloud
burst Some player we took for the
quarterback fell back into a punt
formation. He is going to kick. and
that in the middle of the field. The
center snapped the ball with a fair
degree of accuracy. It sailed thru the
air. The quarter caught it cIumsily,
juggled 1t, took a step forward, swung
his soaked toe high into the air. A
duh thud was heard, but the ball
started up into the air. sailed out for
about fifteen yards and started fall
ing. The safety on the opposing side
tried at first to get under it, saw it
was useless, then waited for the pill
to fall 1t came down with more of a |
thCd than it had taken its departure
from the toe of the opposing back
''Kerplung." it hit the water like a
bushel basket.
A Punt Fell Hard.
Twenty-Five men started to fall to-
ward the ball. 1t bounced, slipped,
washed with the tide and rolled
around for about a minute, when one
of the fellows managed to wrap his
arms around the slippery thing He
had TO hold his chin high to keep
from drowning The water was run
ming around him like a young river.
Some more kicking and punting.
More rain Laughs and cheers, from
the bleachers. The fans refused TO |
desert the boys. They were true pat |
riots. They were loyal to their re-
spective schools, (that is some of
them.) Still more rain fell. Only a |
minute to play. The ball had been /
carried down close to the College of
Emporia goal line by the fighting |
IchabodS.
Then something happened. EN- |
poria had the bali. The referee had
emerged from the mass of water |
soaked, molesSin clad warriors and /
had motioned FOR frs, down for the /
PreSbyterianS. The WaShburn stands