New Britain herald., 1928-09-01
GAME 0F WICKET
 HAD WIDE VOGUE
Bristol Team Never Lost Contest in Half Century

One of the great old sports of this city is played no more and. in fact, is recalled by only few sur viving players who participated in it when it was on the very verge of extinction. The old players who took part in the great games of the nineteenth century are dead. and there with them the once popular game of wicket has passed into eternity. The game reached it's height here between 1850 and 1860, which was just before baseball was invented and became popular. It was even more popular in Bristol, and that city enjoyed distinction which has probably never been ap- proached-for half a century the Bristol team did not suffer . de- feat. Even after baseball had taken the place of wicket, the old game was kept alive in Bristol by the playing of a match every year oi two.
 19O-15:!
 New Britain had a good wicket club in the late sos. The Phoenil club played frequently and took many a crack at Bristol but wal never able to overcome it's neigh bors. It put up a good fight in one famous old game in 1859 but final. ly succumbed by 190-152 after three innings. Among noted New Britain residents who played in that gamt were William H. Hart, Col. Samue Moore: William Burritt, the gold smith; Charles Gilbert. Valentine B | Chamberlain, Andrew Corbin, Phil ip Corbin. Abiram Chamberlain, ant Walter Stanley When the team re turned to this city after its unsuc cessful invasion the engine mad | the loss known by a mournfu whistlng. and the players wer' I greeted at the station by a crowt of fans liberally swathed in blacl i cambric.
 | When Bristol held its Old Hom' Week celebration in 1903 it a. only natural that wicket, which hat never completely died out there should be revived. and a challeng was sent to Mayor Samuel Base: of New Britain, daring him t chooes q team to o5mc over and tr to break Bristols record. The mayo accepted the def and gathered , team. which went over to Bristo for the great game on September 1903, just c5 vars ago next Wed nesday.
 1000 Attend Game
 ] Fully 2.00o people gathered t witness the game. Few of then knew anything about the game ex cept that when the players ra there was something doing, bu they shouted vociferously wheneve there was action and made up b volume what their comments lacke in insight into the game.
 Abirham Chamberlain, who ha risen to be governor of the state, va umpire. The judges were Williar A. Peck of Bristol. There were 3 l players on each side.
 The game began in the mornin with Bristol at bat. Contemporar accounts tell how George Bubacl one of New Britain's two bowler promptly retired Joseph Ward, on of Bristors cracks, while A. Der retired two more on pretty play Deputy Sheriff l.. M. Cowles occu pied position near the wickt arrested balls in truly profession al manner" it was reported. Bristt was finally put out after scorin 57 runs in an hour and there ws d pause for refreshments.
 Bristol Too Cagcy
 Then New Britain, explained | J. H. Kirkham, took its stand bt fore the wickets and sought to ovel come Drstol's lead. The locals wcl out Of practice and proved eas meat for the two Bristol bowler who rolled the ball along tf