THE TITLE BOUT; PRINCETON VS YALE

There are two recounts of this game; one from the New York Times, and one from the New York Tribune. You will find the NYT account of the game here. You can view the other if you would like via the source at the bottom of the page, as I don't feel it's nessicary to type two accounts of the same game due to how long both are individually. As a note, at this point in time, football was very unequal; top Ivy league schools such as Harvard, Princeton, and Yale completely dominated every other team. You can view basically every other game up to this point as a warm up to this one; the near novel esque writing of it from the papers most definitely makes that much clear. If you are reading one game on this page, make it this one.

NEW YORK TIMES

Dull gray clouds hung above the Polo Grounds yesterday afternoon and hid from inquiring eyes all heavenly omens as to the result of the contest that was to decide whether the inter-collegiate football championship penchant was to be carried back to New Haven or transferred to Princeton. They veiled the azure depths from Yale borrows her colors, and they shut out the golden sunlight that suggests the dearly loved orange of the New Jersey college. The weather was as non-committal as the Delphie oracle or a modern tipster of hermo racing. The dark and slippery surface of the battle ground brought to mind the black bars that circled the caps and stockings of the Princeton team, but it was in fact as treacherous in prophecy as it was in fact, for Yale won, and as her banners flaunted the lendon airies in triumph there was nothing bluer in all the world save Princeton hearts and Princeton faces.

Long before the time appointed for the kick-off the adherents of the two colleges began to arrive at the scene of action. They came in crowds on foot, in carriages, in tally-ho'coaches, and here and there on horseback. Each man, woman and child wore some token of preference, and these emblems ranged in else from the modest ribbon-covered button to great swathes of tawdry bunting. Here was the downy-lipped Freshman with shrill voice and the uncontrollable enthusiasm, the spruce upper class man trying in vain to appear grave and dignified, the gray and grizzled graduate a boy again in the forgetfulness of the moment, and the mother and sisters and cousins and sweet-hearts of Yale and Princeton shouting encouragement to their own and shrieking defiance to the opposition. Between the Rah! Rah! Rah! of the blue ad the Siss-boom-ah! of the orange and black there came a concerned blast of h-h (?) horns that rent the air and smoke the tympanum with paralyzing effect. To make a noise acooned to be the prime object of every person present, and there mere demoniacal the result of kreater was the delight of the multitude. In comparison an Indian war dance was not a circumstance, and bedlam itself sank into insignificance.

When the game was called the grand stand was packed and the entire field was surrounded by a mass of people that pressed against the ropes and rushed against the line of policemen. Behind these were ranged the vehicles, of which there more than 40, tally-ho coaches and drags, all filled to their utmost capacity. Many persons, despairing of seeing the game otherwise, mounted the toboggan slide away down at the south end of the ground, and watched the contest from there. The attendance was variously estimated at from 10,000 to 20,000. It was probably a little less than 15,000, and was about equally divided in preference as to the result.

Both teams felt confident of victory, Princton was vastly encouraged by her victory over Harvard on the preceding Saturday and Yale knew her own carefully concealed resources. Moreover her captain had seen Princeton vanquish Harvard and he had an excellent line, as horsemen say, on the relative strength of the two teams. Many people uninitiated in the tactics of college athletics, and with recent reports from New Haven fresh in their minds, expected to see eleven cripples come on the field to do battle for the blue. They were amazed, therefore, to find no fault or blemish in any one of the stalwart defenders of Yale. A sounder team never came from Connecticut, and old college men smiled grimly and winked knowingly as they realized the splendid form of the lithe and muscular youths. It was the same old Yale trick-- of depreciating her strength.

As the two teams came on the field the multitude semed to go mad. The noise was doubled in volume, and the opposing clans seemed to be trying to settle the issue by long power alone. The ladies were quite as demonstrative as were the gentlemen, and the grand stand and the tally-hos were lost sight of in the waving mass of blue and orange. Each spectator was bound that the game should not be lost for a lack of encouragement at any rate. The teams seemed about evenly matched to look at them. The Princetonians appeared to have a slight advantage in beef and brawn, but the Yalenesians were a stocky set, extremely muscular, and very quick on their feet. There was nothing in the mere appearance of the men to indicate which side would be the winner.

Yale won the toss for goal and chose the western one, as there was a brisk east wind blowing at the time. Princeton had the kick-off, and her first play showed that she would depend largely on the great strength of her rush line, which she had found so effective in the game with Harvard. The ball was drived and in the mighty rush that followed Princeton realized that the opposing wall of blue legged players was almost equal to her own, for Yale was fearless and quite as aggressive as the wearers of the orange and black. The two sides met like storm clouds, and when they had burst and mingled the spectators saw only a wriggling mass of arms and legs piled there in the mud, apparently without regard to life or limb. There was apparently no bad blood between the teams, but football is not a game calculated to develop gentleness of spirit or superlative resignation to accidental annoyances. Therefore in this very first scrimmage it became apparent that the practice of turning one cheek when the other is splitten was not to be considered or even entertained for a moment. As the game progressed this fact became more potent. The eye of the umpire was the only thing they feared, and when his attention was diverted the surreptitious punches and kicks were frequent and damaging. In this particular Princeton was more effective, if not more aggressive. She succeeded in knocking the breath out of at least five Yale men to the extent of having the game stopped until the unfortunates could recover, whereas Yale failed to lay out a single opponent so effectually. Possibly the young gentlemen from New Jersey were tougher, for it must be confessed that the spirit of unfair play was not monopolized by either side.

The favorite methods of damaging an opponent were to stamp on his feet, to kick his shins, to give him a dainty upper cut, and to gouge his face in tackling. All these delicate attentions occurred at one time or another through the game, but always when the referee was not looking, at least when he was thought not to be looking. It is a characteristic of the modern football player that if he suffers in this respect he does so in silence. He never complains, but possesses his soul with patience and awaits a moment for retaliation. When it comes he squares accounts expeditiously and effectively. This practice is no part of the game, and never results in an advantage to the offender's side. On the contrary, it may result disadvantageously, for he runs the imminent risk of disqualification. Still the average player can't help indulging it. He seems to regard it as a sort of appetizer for the grand scrimmage that comes with a general rush. A crushed foot, a black eye, a barked shin, a broken nose, or a cracked head is nothing more to him than a mere bagatelle that whets his interest in the proceedings. Even if his breath is knocked out and he has to lay in the mud until four comrades, one at each hand and each foot, pump the life back into him by working his limbs like so many pump handles, he doesn't care particularly. He gets on his feet again, limps around a little, gathers his wandering wits and is as eager for the fray as ever. This was the case yesterday in half a dozen instances. It seemed impossible to hurt a man sufficiently to make him retire from the field.

The first advantage in the game was gained by Princeton, who forced the ball about five yards nearer to Yale's goal. Slight as this was it was sufficient to call forth the most vociferous cheers from the Princeton sympathizers. The Princeton exultation was further heightened by a pretty run of Black's, which resulted in carrying the ball 20 yards further into the enemy's territory. The powerful orange and black rush line was now brought into play againa nd it looked for a moment as though Yale was overmatched in that particular at least. All around the field the orange and black flags were waving and the siss-boom-ah! peeled forth in deafening lonen. The hearts of the Yale sympathizers seemed to stand still with fear. Their banners drooped and their voices were mut. Suddenly a Yale rusher butted his head through Princeton's sturdy rush line and gained five yards. Then Wallace got the ball and started on a run, but was quickly tackled and all the rushers of both sides piled up on the ball in a terrific struggle for its possession. This awakened the dormant Yale enthusiasm, and the storm that rose in consequence almost drowned the Princeton roar. The excitement of the spectators was intense. They rose in their plates and jumping up and down yelled like madmen. If it had not been for the presence of the police they would have probably invaded the field and taken a hand in the scrimmage.

When the referee succeeded in separating the combatants sufficiently to see where the ball was it was found to be in Princeton's possession. It was passed to Cowan, who made one of his locomotive rushes without gaining much ground. Then it went from one side to the other, until Corbin finally obtained possession of it by a fine play, and stemmed the tide of Princeton's advantage. Good players by Ball and McClung for Yale brought the contest nearer to the centre of the field, but nothing further was gained, for Princeton was both alert and aggressive, and try hard as Yale would she could make no further progress. Some fine punting was done here by Bull and Ames, but Yale finally succeeded in stopping ames' punt as the ball left his foot, as the advantage was quickly followed up with fine rushes by Hefflefiner and McClung, the ball was brought into Princeton's territory and her henchmen were put on the defensive. Wurtemburg made a beautiful pass to Bull and Yale's full back, bringing his catapult foot into motion, sent the sphere sailing for Princeton's goal. It missed the post by about a yard and went into Princeton's hands on the 25 yard line. YTale got the ball again by a fumble and Graves started on a run, but Cook was upon him like a tiger and crushed him into the earth.

Yale was just congratulating herself on having the best of the game when the whole appearance of the contest changed. Cowan made a grand rush, which was quickly followed by Black's brilliant run for 30 yards. This transferred the fight from Princeton's territory to Yale's 35 yard line. This advantage was further increased by Channings plucky rush and Yale's adherents began to tremble once more. Fine plays by Wurtemburg, Corvin, Heffelfinger, and Graves turned the tide once more in Yale's favor, and the ball was forced along into Princeton's territory until the Jersey boys were placed on the defensive once more. Inch by inch the blues gained until they forced a down on Princeton's 35 yard line. Bull once more tried for a goal on a drop kick, but just missed it again. Scrimmage followed scrimmage until Gill finally broke through Princeton's rushers and downed Ames on the 10-yard line. Four downs gave Yale the ball. Corbin snapped it back to Wurtemberg, who quickly passed it to Bull, and in an instant thereafter it rose swiftly from Bull's foot and sailed gracefully over the bar and in between the posts of Princeton's goal. It was a goal from the field and made the score 5 to 0 in Yale's favor. At this the uproar burst out again, and the Yale men danced about like maniacs. Princeton's adherents were displeased but not discouraged, and shouted back vehement defiance.

The teams were quickly lined up and the ball put in play. By successive rushes Princeton made a considerable gain, but Gill's success in breaking through Princeton rushers and the able work done by Wurtemburg and Graves, together with the general superior tackling of the Yale men, brought the ball once more into Princeton's territory. A brilliant punt by Bull, quick work by Stagg in falling on the ball, and a splendid run by Graves carried Yale still nearer to her opponent's goal. This was followed by another of Bull's effective punts, which caused a down on Princeton's five-yard line. At this point time was called and the first half of the game ended in Yale's favor.

When the teams came out for the second half, Princeton's hopes were high, for the wind now favored her, and it was though that with this advantage she could regain the ground she had lost. It was Yale's kick-off and she at once gained ten yards by McClung's strong rush. Cowan got the ball, but made little headway so quick were the Yale men to tackle him. In the resulting scrimmage Rhodes of Yale was knocked breathless, but recovered in a little while and went on playing as though nothing had happened. Good work by Black and Ames helped Princeton's cause momentarily, but a brilliant rush by Gill annulled all the advantage they had gained. Wurtemburg's bad pass gave Princeton the ball, and in the next rough and tumble Wurtemburg struck Channing and knocked him heels over head. When Channing regained his feet he struck out from the shoulder, but Wurtemburg was out of harm's way. For this trifling indiscretion Wurtemburg was disqualified and forced to retire, the umpire happening to see the fracas. Wurtemburg's place was taken by McClung, and McClung's by Harvey, who was substituted.

Fine play by Ames, Channing, Cowan, and Irvine, and general good work by Princeton's half backs and rush line brought the object of dispute once more in dangerous proximity to Yale's goal. But the sure looted Bull was there with his infallible punt, and he sent the ball far down to the middle of the field and put the Yale spectators once more temporarily out of their agony. Yale's fumble lost the ground she had gained, but the loss was not serious, for Harvey made a splendid rush, which was followed so quickly by one by Hafflefinger that the Yale spectators were once more beside themselves with enthusiasm. Back and forth across the field, the ball now went in a stubborn and desperate a battle as was seen on a football field. Princeton was determined to regain those five points, and Yale was equally determined to prevent any such result. Finally Princeton got the ball into Yale's territory, and Channing made a beautiful run almost to Yale's goal. Unfortunately, one of Princeton's rushers interferred with Wallace and the ball went to Yale. Princeton brought her powerful rush line tactics into requisition now, but they availed nothing. She could make no headway against Yale. Ames's punt was admirably stopped, and Hefflefinger, obtaining the ball, rushed away with it like the wind and gained 15 yards for Yale. In the scrimmage that came after this Cowan was disqualified for foul play and his place was taken by Riggs.

It was now the old see-saw game again, with Graves, Hedge, Bovalrd, Stagg, Hull, and Channing distinguishing themselves. Then Yale got the ball and with Harvey's fine run and Hefflefiner's superb rushing, the ball was down in front of Princeton's goal. This run by Harvey was the most brilliant play of the game, as he gained 25 yards by it and passed all the rushers of the Princeton side. It was now Yale's ball and Corbin snapped it back to McClung, who passed it to Bull. This was all that was necessary, for Yale's full back had a fair chance and he kicked the ball home with deadly accuracy. This practically ended the game, for before anything more could be done time was called and Yale had won a hard fought battle by a score of 10 to 0.

In an instant the field was alive with a yelling, and the visitors were borne off on the shoulders of their exultant fellow-collegians. Princeton played a strong game, but with the single exception of her rush line she was unequal to her opponents. W.A Brooks, Harvard, '87, was the referee, and F.D Fiak, Harvard, '80, was the umpire. The players with their weights and the score were as followed.

Yale -- Rushers -- Wallace, 150: Gill, 150:, Woodrugg, Corbin (Captain) 185: Rhodes, 164: Hefflefinger, 192: Stagg, 160; quarter back-- Wurtemburg, 188; half backs -- McClung, 162; Graves, 155, full back - Bull, 161.

Princeton - Rushers -- Speer, 166; Cook, 174, Irvine, 168, George, 170; Janeway, 203, Cowan (Captain) 170; Janeway, 203; Cowan (Captain) 170; Hoviard, 168; quarter back -- R. Hodge, 134; half backs -- Channing, 141; Black 163; full back -- Ames, 150.

Yale, goals kicked from field 2; Princeton, 0. Points -- Yale, 10; Princeton, 0.

Yale's celebration of its victory over Princeton last evening was, up to midnight, an exceptionally quiet one. The graduates had the Freshmen were the heaviest celebrators in the hotel bars in the Nineteenth Precinct. Yale's colors were of course prominent everywhere, the yellow and black being displayed only at rare invervale in the button-hole of some specially enthusiastic student from New Jersey.

There was a considerable amount of noise when the Yale team arrived from its battle-ground to quarters at the Fifth-Avenue hotel, but none such as would have resulted had the game been a closer one. "It was too soft a thing to make much noise about," said the students were therefore behaved themselves with unusual decorum. With the prospect of little in the way of a "racket" ahead of them a host the Yale men returned to New Haven to celebrate there. But there were enough left over to take almost entire possession of the Bijou Theatre to buy a block of 150 seats at the Casino, another of about 100 at the Standard. Dixey and his company had a cordial reception from a party of a couple of hundred more students who had secured front seats in the body of the house. The war-whoops of the students made things anything but interesting for the people on the stage, who were unused to college applause.

After the theatre the lobbies and bars of the Hoffman House, the Fifth-Avenue Hotel, and other places near by were made lively by the exuberant students, but no such noise was heard as that which fairly made itself felt even in the Sixth-avenue resorts were horns used at the Polo Grounds added to the Gin made by the singing of college songs, and the rackest of the rival college cheers, in which Yale and Columbia were the most prominent.

The Yale team remained at the Fifth-Avenue Hotel last night, and will leave for New-Haven this afternoon. Members of both teams visited several of the clubs with friends during the evening, the New-York Athletic Club house being visited by quite a party, as were also the Greek letter society club houses.