Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 October 1905 — BEAUTIFUL SPORT. [ARTICLE]

BEAUTIFUL SPORT.

One Player Dying, Hany Others Badly Hurt IN SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL GAME. “■Slufrging** and Maiming of Players The Chief Features.—A Disgrace To Our Boasted Civilization. .■"".’ : - —W The high school football season was ushered in in Rensselaer last Saturday by one of the roughest and most disgraceful games that ever took place in Indiana. As a result one boy lies at his home in Indianapolis at the point of death, one other of the Indianapolis players is suffering from injuries that will keep him out of the game for the balance of the season and still another is temporarilly disabled, while one Rensselaer boy’s face is said to have been pounded out of all semblance of humanity, bis jaw twisted to one side and he can eat.no solid food. Still another player had the ligaments of his arm injured and many other players are nursing minor injuries. The game was between the Rensselaer high school and the Shortridge (Indianapolis) high school, and the score was 10 to 0 in favor of Rensselaer. Our boys say that “the other fellows” started the slugging. We don’t know whether this is so or not, but the fact that Bro. Marshall of the Republican has the following criticism, the first ever seen in that paper against any sort of playing to win by the home team, would indicate that our boys were not altogether blameless in the matter.

Marshall says: “But while it is a great satisfaction to state that our high school team of 1905 played with all the grit and skill and vim ofprevions years it is far from satisfactory to record that there was no tthat gentlemanly and considerate spirit manifested that our high school games have usually been charactized with. And it is no excuse for rough and dangerous play, quarreling and fighting to say that ‘the other fellows’ were just as bad. The boys must ‘cut all that out’ hereafter if they expect to retain the good will and patronage of the better element of our citizens.”

The worst injured player, Edward Schoen of the Shortridge team, was kicked or punched in the side by Homer Dobbins of the home team, the latter’s knee striking him a fearful joilt and the lad is said to have made a pitious outcry so badly was be hurt, while the demons in the crowd of spectators shouted themselves hoarse with glee. It was thought the boy would die on the grounds, and he was picked up in an unconcious state and taken to the hotel where he remained in a semi-conscious state until the night train when his father, who accompanied the team here and was one of the time-keepers, took him home. Dobbins and this boy had had words before in the game, and by sane it is thought the accident was noA wholly unintentional. Doctors examined the injured lad say that bis liver was mashed and one kidney was badly injured. His condition is told in the clippings from Indianapolis papers which follow.

After the same, while this boy lay between life and death at the hotel, with the chances strongly favoring the latter, a banquet was given the “heroes” at the Comer House and the high school teachers heaped praitMs on the victors in the bloody battle. Following are comments of the Indianapolis papers on the game: Monday’s Sentinel: The member* of the Shortridge foot ball team ar* loud in their denunciation of the tactic* used by the Benmelaer player* in Saturday’* game. a reault of th* game* two of the beat player* of th* bln* and white ar* laid up, one being in a very critical condition. Bdward Schoen, left half back of the Shortridge eleven, and one of the mort popular atudent* in the North Side School, *eemedtobepfokad a* a victim by Renaeelaer. While backing up the tine he wa* cruahed in a maa* play, and according to the atatement of on* of the local team, Schoen wa* kicked in th* aide while h* lay uneoneoiou* on the field. Otto T. Schoen, father of th* injured lad, i* bitter againrt Rtmmelaer. Mr. Schoen aaid Al* morning: "I accompanied the Shortridge team to Benmelaer on Saturday. Thia waa the Brat trip I had ever made with

th® lads and I had a presentment that all would not be well. It teemed to me that the mmnber* of the Rensselaer team directed their efforts toward crippling Lowry, McLaughlin and my son and none escapes without injury, although my son, Edward, was the most seriously hurt. When my boy was knocked uneonscious I heard one of the Rensselaer players say, ‘We talk for him and now we have got him.’ We feel much encouraged over Edward's condition today; He had a bad night last night, but is resting easier this morning. The hemorrhages have been stopped and we believe now that he is out of any immediate danger.” R. W. Lowry, father of Robert Lowry, quarter-back and end of the Shortridge eleven, said: “I talked with Robert this morning about the Rensselaer players and he said that he never witnessed any dirtier play on the gridiron. Robert has a ligament broken in his right arm and he wiU not play again this year. While my son is not so seriously injuried as is Edward Schoen, I still feel that some steps should be taken to stop the kind of foot ball that was played by Rensselaer. Bdward McLaughlin of the blue and white was bruised considerable, but was able to attend class today. Monday's News: Two of the Shortridge foot ball players, Edward Schoen and Robert Lowry, received severe injuries in the game with Rensselaer Saturday, in which the team was defeated 10 to 0_ Schoen is in a very serious condition and suffering intensely from internal injuries. He was carried from the footbail field to the hotel in an ambulance and immediately lapsed into a semiconscious state. He was kept in Rensselaer all night and arrived home Sunday morning. On his arrival he became totally unconscious and later in the morning had a severe bemorrage. This morning there wag marked improvement in his condition and he was pronounced out of danger. Schoen has played two years at left halfback and is regarded as one of the stars of the team. He is probably out of the game for the season. His injury was received while backing up the Shortridge line in a heavy mass play. His father is indignant at the manner in which the Rensselaer players tried to “get” the little half-back. Robert Lowry, end and quarter-back, received a severe injury to his left arm that will keep him out of the game the rest of the year. The conduct of the Rensselaer players and spectators will cause the cutting of all games in the future in the small towns of the State by Shortridge, where guarantees can not be given of strict enforcement of the rules and protection of players from crowds on the field. Manager Williams, of the team, says athletic relations between Rensselaer and Shortridge will be severed immediately.

Indianapolis dispatch t® the Cincinnati Enquirer, Oet. IS.—Edward Schoen, the star left half back on the Shortridge High School football eleven, is lying in a serious condition a his home, as a result of internal injuries sustained in the football contest played with the Rensselaer High School team Saturday last. At the time he was retired from the game it was not thought that he was seriously injured. Dr. J. T. McShane said today that the boy was in a critical condition and that his chances for recovery were slim. The Shortridge players say they received the worst treatment while at Rensselaer that they have ever been forced to contend with. They also declare that the members of the team they played against frequently “slugged" and used rough tactics. All athletic relations between the two schools will be severed.

The Star is equally severe in its comment, and says: The Shortridge players say they received the worst treatment while at Rensselaer that they have ever been forced to contend with. They also declare that the members of the team that they played against frequently "slugged” and used rough tactics. All athletic relations between the two schools will be severed.