Historical Article (1895)
The Old Gold and Black Victorious
Port Townsend Leader, October 13, 1895
Yesterday's Contest on the Gridiron
FIRST BLOOD FOR TOWNSEND
The Local Team Was Not Given a Chance Yesterday on the Defensive and Premises to Be a "Stingaree" for the Up-Sound People.
The roosters crowed in victory and the horns bellowed melodiously last evening when the black and old gold came off victorious in the last game of Rugby of the season. Although the contest was decidedly one sided it was greatly enjoyed by the hundreds of people who turned out to see the sport. On all sides of the roped grid-iron could be seen the faces of many of Port Townsend's ladies, who were out to cheer their home boys.
Instead of marching to the usual defeat Captain Smith's brave eleven went to victory on the double quick, in fact touch-downs were so frequent that they became monotonous. The fact, however, does not speak ill of the visitors, but simply shows what a powerful combination the local fellows are capable of putting up.
On the arrival of the Vashon College boys at 2 o'clock on the little steamer Sampede they were taken to quarter and from there after lunch escorted to the grounds. Captain Frank Perrot was chosen umpire, Mr. Clemens of Snohomish referee and F. Ross and M. Philips linesmen. The officials decided that the play should consist of two 25-minute halves and at 3:15 the game began, Vashon taking the ball on the tossing.
THE GAME
Capatin [sic] Gibbs kicked the ball far out to the right where old bon homme Thompson was eagerly waiting for it. That very lively gentleman let out his unique style of locomotion and did not stop until he had covered fourty yards toward the opponent's goal. The interference was very well done and the pluck of the Visiting team at once shown. The ball was then rushed by end plays down the field and just two minutes after the game had been called the first touch-down was made, and the horns played Annie Rooney. Leighton, Townsend's daisy fullback, hadn't fully unfolded his petals, so in the kick for goal he failed to add two points to the score.
The university boys lined up again for another kick and Jack Lawrence captured the ball, carrying it a few yards before some little fellow succeeded in getting him down. In an instant the boys were again in line and Tom Wyckoff made five yards, reaching the center of the field. Bracken then increased the distance and in the next play Thompson scooted for the goal. He was knocked over by one of the "Varsity boys," however, and lost the ball. In a trice Brewere of Vashon had the ball but didn't get more than six feet before Dan Bracken brought him down. Vashon attempted to get the ball in the desired direction but lost it in the first play by a fumble that cost them five yards. Dan Bracken then made fifteen yards and by interference, which was exceptionally good. In the next line up Waycott crashed through the line and was downed within a foot of the goal. The same play was repeated and the genial hospital attendant pushed his way to a touch-down. Again Ole Leighton failed to kick goal.
Vashon took another kick at the ball but it only reached the Townsend's massive center. Smith didn't wait for interference. He simply started toward the rush headed for him. Two or three bounced up against him and several more were clinging to his legs, shoulders and neck, but he meandered on for about twenty yards before he got fatigued and sat down. In the next line-up the famous left end had the ball and succeeded in reaching within ten yards of the goal line. Tom was then thrown heavily and was hurt slightly. Vashon next got the ball on a foul which cost Townsend many yards that in a closely contested game would have beaten the home team. The visitors lost the advantage however in a bad kick. Ed Wyckoff then waltzed across the line and scored another touch-down. Waycott then tried for goal but his kick went wild.
Again Vashon kicked off and charged after the ball. Little Ole Leighton was there, however, and by good head work and good interference succeeded in bringing it back one-half the distance. Thompson was on hand the next pop and made fifteen yards when he was downed by a splended tackle by Davis. Ed Wyckoff, behind the great Chief Willoughby next made twenty yards and a touch-down immediately when Tom Wyckoff smashed through everything oand over the line. Waycott again failed to kick goal, at which he kicked himself remorsefully. McDonald got the ball when Vashon kicked off next but was sotpped by Davis' pretty tackle. Thompson and Bracken then made ten yards each and looked happy. Bracken placed fifteen yards to his credit and the visiting boys began to think they had struck an avalanche. They had their grit with them, however, and showed up plucklily every time. Tom Wyckoff started with the ball, dropped it and on the run picked it up again like a flash, and before he was caught had covered twenty yards. The the rooters howled for the dynamiter. In the next lay Bracken went across the line scoring another touch-down.
Leighton then kicked the first goal of the day.
Vashon kicked off, Lawrence caught the ball and was downed by Brewer. Lawrence again took the ball through the line ten yards. Waycott surged through the line immediately after and in the next play Tom Wycokff [sic] lost the ball. Vashon lined up and the ligh't [sic] weights made an effort at the formidable line in front of them. Twice they were unsuccessful and in the third trial kicked for several yards. Townsend got the ball. Bracken and Lawrence made several yards and Tom Wyckoff ran almost the whole distance of the field, scoring a touch-down. Leighton kicked goal.
In the next play Davis was hurt and Travers was substituted. Thompson caught the kicked ball but was stopped by a pretty tackle by Greer. Thompson made ten yards through the center and on the following play lost the ball. Three trials by Vashon failed to make the necessary distance and the ball passed over. Bracken made twenty yards. Vashon was fired fore being off side; Thompson went through center and was tackled by Travers, who during the remainder of the game was the star for the visitors. He did practically all of the tackling bringing down big and little with surprising ease. Lawrence next made a touch-down and Leighton kicked goal. On the kick-off Bracken got the ball but was stopped handsomely by Fields. Ed Wyckoff gained fifteen yards and was tackled hard by Brewer. Tom Wyckoff then made one of his flying plays around right end and like a race horse crossed the goal and Ole did his little kick act nobly.
For the first half the score stood 40 to 0 in favor of Townsend, and in the next half Captain Smith put in Walther in place of Leighton, Weymouth in place of Bracken and Ed Hickman in place of Thompson. This was a lively fifteen minute half, and ended in a total score of 68 to 0 in favor of the Townsends.
The visiting players stated after the game was over, that they had been informed by Seattle and Tacoma people that the Townsend boys were a lot of sluggers and so they had come prepared to get knocked about. "We found instead gentlemen pure and simple," said one last night, "and are ready to give the lie to anyone who tells us such tales again."
The Vashon boys represent an institution that is making a name for itself not only as a seat of learning but because it believes in fostering athletics and sends out such gentlemen as were here yesterday. Such was the opinion expressed by many last night.
The home combination is a good one, and from now on, every night the boys will be seen on the practice grounds, hard at work preparing to meet hte big teams that are eaten up with conceit over records of the past. Seattle will tumble on November 2.
FIRST BLOOD FOR TOWNSEND
The Local Team Was Not Given a Chance Yesterday on the Defensive and Premises to Be a "Stingaree" for the Up-Sound People.
The roosters crowed in victory and the horns bellowed melodiously last evening when the black and old gold came off victorious in the last game of Rugby of the season. Although the contest was decidedly one sided it was greatly enjoyed by the hundreds of people who turned out to see the sport. On all sides of the roped grid-iron could be seen the faces of many of Port Townsend's ladies, who were out to cheer their home boys.
Instead of marching to the usual defeat Captain Smith's brave eleven went to victory on the double quick, in fact touch-downs were so frequent that they became monotonous. The fact, however, does not speak ill of the visitors, but simply shows what a powerful combination the local fellows are capable of putting up.
On the arrival of the Vashon College boys at 2 o'clock on the little steamer Sampede they were taken to quarter and from there after lunch escorted to the grounds. Captain Frank Perrot was chosen umpire, Mr. Clemens of Snohomish referee and F. Ross and M. Philips linesmen. The officials decided that the play should consist of two 25-minute halves and at 3:15 the game began, Vashon taking the ball on the tossing.
THE GAME
Capatin [sic] Gibbs kicked the ball far out to the right where old bon homme Thompson was eagerly waiting for it. That very lively gentleman let out his unique style of locomotion and did not stop until he had covered fourty yards toward the opponent's goal. The interference was very well done and the pluck of the Visiting team at once shown. The ball was then rushed by end plays down the field and just two minutes after the game had been called the first touch-down was made, and the horns played Annie Rooney. Leighton, Townsend's daisy fullback, hadn't fully unfolded his petals, so in the kick for goal he failed to add two points to the score.
The university boys lined up again for another kick and Jack Lawrence captured the ball, carrying it a few yards before some little fellow succeeded in getting him down. In an instant the boys were again in line and Tom Wyckoff made five yards, reaching the center of the field. Bracken then increased the distance and in the next play Thompson scooted for the goal. He was knocked over by one of the "Varsity boys," however, and lost the ball. In a trice Brewere of Vashon had the ball but didn't get more than six feet before Dan Bracken brought him down. Vashon attempted to get the ball in the desired direction but lost it in the first play by a fumble that cost them five yards. Dan Bracken then made fifteen yards and by interference, which was exceptionally good. In the next line up Waycott crashed through the line and was downed within a foot of the goal. The same play was repeated and the genial hospital attendant pushed his way to a touch-down. Again Ole Leighton failed to kick goal.
Vashon took another kick at the ball but it only reached the Townsend's massive center. Smith didn't wait for interference. He simply started toward the rush headed for him. Two or three bounced up against him and several more were clinging to his legs, shoulders and neck, but he meandered on for about twenty yards before he got fatigued and sat down. In the next line-up the famous left end had the ball and succeeded in reaching within ten yards of the goal line. Tom was then thrown heavily and was hurt slightly. Vashon next got the ball on a foul which cost Townsend many yards that in a closely contested game would have beaten the home team. The visitors lost the advantage however in a bad kick. Ed Wyckoff then waltzed across the line and scored another touch-down. Waycott then tried for goal but his kick went wild.
Again Vashon kicked off and charged after the ball. Little Ole Leighton was there, however, and by good head work and good interference succeeded in bringing it back one-half the distance. Thompson was on hand the next pop and made fifteen yards when he was downed by a splended tackle by Davis. Ed Wyckoff, behind the great Chief Willoughby next made twenty yards and a touch-down immediately when Tom Wyckoff smashed through everything oand over the line. Waycott again failed to kick goal, at which he kicked himself remorsefully. McDonald got the ball when Vashon kicked off next but was sotpped by Davis' pretty tackle. Thompson and Bracken then made ten yards each and looked happy. Bracken placed fifteen yards to his credit and the visiting boys began to think they had struck an avalanche. They had their grit with them, however, and showed up plucklily every time. Tom Wyckoff started with the ball, dropped it and on the run picked it up again like a flash, and before he was caught had covered twenty yards. The the rooters howled for the dynamiter. In the next lay Bracken went across the line scoring another touch-down.
Leighton then kicked the first goal of the day.
Vashon kicked off, Lawrence caught the ball and was downed by Brewer. Lawrence again took the ball through the line ten yards. Waycott surged through the line immediately after and in the next play Tom Wycokff [sic] lost the ball. Vashon lined up and the ligh't [sic] weights made an effort at the formidable line in front of them. Twice they were unsuccessful and in the third trial kicked for several yards. Townsend got the ball. Bracken and Lawrence made several yards and Tom Wyckoff ran almost the whole distance of the field, scoring a touch-down. Leighton kicked goal.
In the next play Davis was hurt and Travers was substituted. Thompson caught the kicked ball but was stopped by a pretty tackle by Greer. Thompson made ten yards through the center and on the following play lost the ball. Three trials by Vashon failed to make the necessary distance and the ball passed over. Bracken made twenty yards. Vashon was fired fore being off side; Thompson went through center and was tackled by Travers, who during the remainder of the game was the star for the visitors. He did practically all of the tackling bringing down big and little with surprising ease. Lawrence next made a touch-down and Leighton kicked goal. On the kick-off Bracken got the ball but was stopped handsomely by Fields. Ed Wyckoff gained fifteen yards and was tackled hard by Brewer. Tom Wyckoff then made one of his flying plays around right end and like a race horse crossed the goal and Ole did his little kick act nobly.
For the first half the score stood 40 to 0 in favor of Townsend, and in the next half Captain Smith put in Walther in place of Leighton, Weymouth in place of Bracken and Ed Hickman in place of Thompson. This was a lively fifteen minute half, and ended in a total score of 68 to 0 in favor of the Townsends.
The visiting players stated after the game was over, that they had been informed by Seattle and Tacoma people that the Townsend boys were a lot of sluggers and so they had come prepared to get knocked about. "We found instead gentlemen pure and simple," said one last night, "and are ready to give the lie to anyone who tells us such tales again."
The Vashon boys represent an institution that is making a name for itself not only as a seat of learning but because it believes in fostering athletics and sends out such gentlemen as were here yesterday. Such was the opinion expressed by many last night.
The home combination is a good one, and from now on, every night the boys will be seen on the practice grounds, hard at work preparing to meet hte big teams that are eaten up with conceit over records of the past. Seattle will tumble on November 2.
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