Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 November 1897 — Out Kicked ’Em and Out Licked ’Em. [ARTICLE]

Out Kicked ’Em and Out Licked ’Em.

Fourteen to Nothing On Touchdowns, And Six to Half a Dozen On Knock Downs Is About The Size <jf Rensselaer's Victory over Battle Ground |Fri<lay. Again the laurel wreath of viclory, with a few patches of court plaster for variety, crowns the brows of Rensselaer’s invincible foot-ball players. They surely played the game of their lives at Brookston, Friday, and their victory was complete. Battle Ground came up loaded for bear, and anticipated an easy victory. On Rensselaer's part only the regular team was engaged, while Battle Ground had retained only three of the entire number who played Rensselaer in the previous game. Among their players was Lester, the champion foot-ball player of Indiana. At the beginning of the game Battle Ground won the toss and had much the advantage of position, Rensselaer having to play against the wind. The first half of the game ended with 10 scores for Rensselaer with nothing for Battle Ground. The’second half added four more to Rensselaer’s score, with Battle Ground still to get some, leaving the final score 14 to 0 in favor of Rensselaer.

An exciting and much to be depreciated incident occurred towards the end of the game, while every body was wound up to a high pitch of excitement and while the adherents of Battle Ground, which included the whole crowd except Rensselaer people, were out of humor at the way their men were faring in the game. One of Brookston’s line men rudely pushed back a Rensselaer spectator, and threatened him with a club, when the latter expostulated. This started a row, and friends of both parties interfered, and very soon there was mix-up. A Rensselaer councilman and druggist got knocked into a ditch, while some fellow with a billy raised a bump of caution on a head which never had one before, namely that of our chivalrous P. M., who never stands back when his friends need his help. That was about the extent of the casualties on Rensselaer's side, but Battle Ground’s backers got many a sound thump, though the only knock-down was scored by Battle Ground. Among Rensselaer's best knockers was the subcontractor of the water mains, who used to be a boss on the Pacific railroad, where no one could hold his job who could not lick every other man on it.

Luckily the trouble was pacified before it became serious, largely through the efforts of Editor Healey, of the Brookston Reporter, whose friendliness to all parties enabled him to talk for peace, very effectually. There were about 400 people on the ground, 100 of whom came from Rensselaer. There was no prize offered for the players, they getting only their expenses.