The Washington times., 1926-02-23

Pier. r. L, Walter Camp took up
the game. organizing teams that
played for their own amusement
and much to the enjoyment of the
summer colony located there.
Then. as now. Naragansett Pier
was favorite spot for the richer
class in the summer and the game
went big with them
At the close of the summer sea
son it moved to towns in New York
State, Connecticut and Massacnu.
sets and by 1881 the game was
going full blast.
It was shortly after this that
leagues were formed and then the
roller polo fad caught the people
Of the Middle and Far West. As
q result, many Of the stars Of the
East, among whom were num-
bered such men rs Jim Canavan,
George Bone and Tom COtter,
moved West to play the game,
later returning to the East.
The game flourished for a while,
then slowly began to die out until
today there is probably not a team
of roller polo players operating any
where in the country.
The advent Of the automobile 10
given as one of the prime causes
Tor the decline OF the game.
When first introduced in this
country it came before basketball
was known and at q time when
people were forced to amuse them
selves.
Roller skating was quite a fad at
that time. and young and old. win.
ter and summer would flock to the
roller skating Kinks for entertain
ments and in addition would skate
in parks and on boulevards where
the street surfaces allowed.
Because of the prominence OF
roller skating in the lives of the
majority Of the popIe good roller
skaters were produced and naturally
the best Of these turned to roller
polo-as the best Of Ice skaters turn
to hockey today.
But the automobile came into
more common use. and with the
progress in transportation the PEG,
pie depended more and more on
theaters and organized athletics to
provide amusement.
The result was a decline in roller
skating and skaters-and without
the skaters roller polo became a
lost art.
Several times efforts have b zen
the limelight, but in each instance
failure has resulted.
There IL no doubt about the in
terest that was taken in the game
and spirit and speed with which
1t was played. Mayhap some day
people VIII once more turn to
roller skating and the polo game
will be brought back to life.
New Haven held a prominent
place during the days of roller polo,
and chief among the hackers Of the
game was Billy Aufort. who was
also interested in professional base.
ball. He is one Of the men vino
attempted to revive the game, bu+
gave 1t up as a bad job and is now
down in Florida living on the in.
come resulting from profitable in.
Hestments in real estate
An instance Of the fever heat in
the game was recited By Aufort
when on a visit to New Haven re-
Gently. 1t concerned a game that
was played during the heydey of
polo on skates-a game which was
attended by the chief of police in
addition to several officers to pre-
serve order.
The chief was there as a specta-
tor, but turned out to be a real
limb Of the law.
Two rival players became angry
at each other for some fancled
wrong, and as they whirled about
in chase Of the swiftly moving
rubber ball one took occasional
swipes at the other mans pCdy
with his stick-and the intended
| victim returned the blows the stick
| swinging harmless through the air
but dangerously close to the other
mans head.
This was nothing new in a roller
polo game. probably no different
than that which Is seen in an ice
hockey game of today, but as the
! game progressed the men became
more and more angry and finally
discarding their sticks, started ex
changing blows.
The officers in charge of the
game were slow to get onto the
floor, but the chief, pulled a knife
from his pocket ripped open the
screen which protected the specta
tors from the ball when ii went
Iiylng through the air, and jumped
through the hole onto the playing
surface.
Both men we're quickly collared
by him and placed under arrest.
1