Back to Album belonging to Colonel F F Colvin 9L (1860-1936). Contains newspaper cuttings and paper ephemera
Photographs
Item 0048
Purchase a copy
Image details
| Accession number | 912L : 2124/6 |
|---|---|
| Transcription |
PLSUFAARRAGE ENGLAND'S GREAT POLO TEAM Winning from the Americans in the Initial Struggle . FASHIONABLE NEWPORT PRESENT . Brilliant Horsemanship and Superb Play Throughout Many Games . [ BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD . ] NEWPORT , R. I. , August 25 , 1886. - It was a gay spectacle this evening on the level turf carpet stretching out beside Morton Park . Parti - colored flags and streamers waved in the stiff breeze . The borders were thickly covered with vehicles of all de scriptions , from the four - in - hand mail coach to the bright hood village cart . Equestrians and well and ladies dressed gentlemen on foot , all long went 11D toward filling way the of accessories and to the picture form a frame for the principal objects . The latter were equestrian subjects and consisted of eight stal wart young men mounted on ponies . Four of the riders were in yellow silk jackets and caps , while the remaining quartet sported pale blue . What was it all about ? Why did all of fashionable Newport turn out , and why did the portion of the town that isn't fashionable swarm over the adjacent heights ? It was the first meeting of the Hurlingham team of polo players , who came across the ocean from Erg land to win the Yankee players ' dollars and all . Did they do so on the present occasion ? They did , and the following story will tell how : TEAMS AND CONDITIONS . The make - up of the teams was as follows : ENGLISH TEAM - Mr . John Watson , captain ; Cap tain the Honorable R. Lawley , Captain T. Hone , of the English army , and Mr. Malcolm Little . & AMERICAN TEAM - Mr . Thomas Hitchcock , Jr .; Mr. W. K. Thorn , Jr .; Mr. Raymond Belmont and Mr. Foxhall Keene . The conditions of the match were the best two in three . The play was to be in intervals of twenty minutes each , with two minutes ' rest after each goal and ten minutes ' rest at the expiration of each interval . Mr. S. Howland Robbins , perched on a high platform , was the referee . Mr. Edgarton L. Winthrop , Jr. , umpired for the Americans and the Hon . Mr. Lambton umpired for the English team . The duties of timekeeper were intrusted to Mr. S. S. Sands , Jr. The Americans wore yellow and their opponents bright blue . The band played , the groups in carriages chatted and laughed , then began to be impatient , when the warning bell rang out the call . THE HONORS EASY . FIRST GAME . - The match was opened by a charge , the English team chase the north on down hill , and were obliged to work the ball up the hill , but had the assistance of a strong wind at their backs . The charging was by Messrs . Keene and Little , the former , on a very fleeted pony , reaching the ball first , and he rattled it home in finelstyle , none of the other players being able to touch it . The spectators applauded as freely as polite society is capable of doing , and the band played " Yankee Doodle " with patriotic ardor . Time , 24 seconds . SECOND GAME . - The charge in this , as well as in all the succeeding games , was omitted , and the players assembled in the centre . Mr. Lawley opened the game well for the English team with two pow erful blows . Mr. Thorn was at his heels , and a knock out was the result . Mr. Thorn , in sending the ball in from the whitewash lino , knocked it in front of his goal , where it was met by Mr. Little , who dashed to goal and took the ball with him . There was some applause , principally from the suburbs , and the band played " God Save the Queen . " Time , 45 seconds . FINELY WON BY THE AMERICANS . THIRD GAME . - The captain of the English team , as usnal , stationed himself in the rear before the bell rang , this being done in order that he might call for goal . Lawley opened the game well and took the ball to goal , where a yellow man sent it out of bounds for safety . It was in this game that the Englishmen showed their style of play to advantage . A clever backhanded blow by Law ley brought out considerable applause from the paddock , which was utilized by the men having charge of their ponies . The Americans were soon placed on the defensive , and they were obliged to resort to knock outs . The ball was kept on the move , and it was often rushed club past the house , where the ladies fairly shivered at the daring feats of horsemanship . Mr. Thorn here showed to advantage . He took the ball down the hill with three rattling blows and was loudly applauded . Captain Watson went on the defensive and sent the ball out of bounds for safety , and when it was knocked at again the Eng lishmen rushed to the opposite end . Mr. Keene was on hand and returned it , but a backhander by Hone threw the Americans off their guard . Mr. Thorn then sent the ball skyward , and at this point Captain Watson broke his mallet , but kept on using the stick minus the bit of wood on the end . This mishap was fortunate for the Americans , who lost no time and soon turned the ball down the hill , after it was thought that Lawley had scored . A pretty contest took place over the boundary boards on the wost side , after which Hitchcook took the ball in charge and with three blows sent it home and scored a nota ble victory . The spectators applanded and many thought the home team would be the winners . Time , 6 minutes . FOURTH GAME . - Three men in rapid succession missed the ball when the bell rang . The Americans 1layed well and backed each other in a very expert manner . Hitchcock was at his best and dashed up the hill with the ball in charge . When lie had fin isbed , Keene , who was at his heels , sent the ball be tween the red flags . Time , 1 minute . was THE VISITORS GAME . FIFTH GAME . - Lawley got the first crack at the globe , and then Captain Watson with his powerful blows sent it almost between the flags . The goal was saved , however , by Mr. Thorn . Then Mr. Hitchcock rushed down the hill and dealt the ball three consecutive blows , only to be returned by Little in an equally energetic manner . It was now out of bounds , and when tossed in Mr. Keone took it to the boards , on which the Americans seemed to be at home . Lawley finally picked it out and rat tled it to goal , with Thorn skipping at his heels . Belmont then sent it to the boards . The English men outrode the home team almost invariably , and they rarely failed to disturb the ball . Another save Thorn after had scored Lawley by The clever come within an ace of winning . backhanded blows of the Englishmen stood them well in hand , and they never resorted to that kind of play until they saw their mea were located . Little was always on hand . The English team . the take ball work to found it hard the hill . Keene was compelled to change his pony , but he did it quickly . The Englishmen knew that the time of the first series was nearly up and that the score was in favor of their oppo Every man the of American nents . team made and good record , they imitated of the of their moves antagonists . many Thorn changed his pony after treating the ball to a flight skyward . Little's play was the feature of the latter part of the game . The ball was kept in mo tion and was as often at one end of the lot as the other . The game was finally won for the English men by Little . Time , 10 minutes . up a THE ENGLISHMEN WINNING . SIXTH GAME . - Only two minutes of the first twenty minute series was now left . The game was opened in an aggressive manner by Messrs . Lawley and Hone , and the latter broke his mallet with the first blow . The bell finally rang , it being the signal that the time allotted for the first series of play had expired . The game was resumed after ten minutes ' rest . After a pretty struggle in close quarters Little " stole " the ball and rushed down the hill with his pony and ball under perfect control , but he failed to score , the ball going out on the wrong side of goal . The Englishmen played remarkably well toward the finish , their team work being all that the lovers of polo could wish . The finish was brilliant in the extreme on the part of Watson , who scored for his side with three powerful and telling blows . Time , including time occupied in first interval , 4 minutes . Little to goal w was made SEVENTH GAME . - Little opened this game to ad vantage , taking the ball along the boards as neatly as the Americans . The ball was kept near the crowded club house for some time , where the sound of ponies ' fert on the boards was heard all over the field . Just ball was taking the telling strokes Hitchcock seri ously injured ted . again appeared in the saddle the spectators appauded . Play was thoughtrully suspended , the Englishman being perfectly willing i to hold - up . When play was resumed , Hitchcock rushed down the field and struck the ball three telling blows . He was followed by Keene , who took the ball up and across , and a splendid record , and one that was duly recognized by the spectators . As he dashed past the referees ' stand , several shouted Good , Foxy ! " Captain Watson roared , " Go behind , Dick , " and " Dick " promptly obeyed . Thorn made a splendid " save , " centre . The and the Americans now took to both excitement intense , teams Was and men wore worth . played for all the finish was especially noticeable . While all the play ers were crowding about the goal looking for the ball , Captain Watson , who was well in the rear , took it home by one of his tremendous strokes , and caused the shower of " hands " he received . The Americans were demoralized by this brilliant coup . Time , 9m . 15s . The ' Halt ! Who comes there ? " ning applause for his many good moves , and at one time he took complete control of the ball , and took it almost home with three consecutive blows . Then until the finish the visitors had everything their own way . Lawley backed by Little made a brilliant record . The ball was worked between the flags by Hone for the English team . Time including that occupied in the second interval , 14m . 30s . was too score NINTH GAME . - Hitchcock opened this game well for the Americans , but as he rushed toward goal he closely pressed and failed to at a critical moment . The English players " back handed blows sent the ball to the right person every time , and they rarely missed , except when crowded by the opposing team . Hone rattled the ball well to goal , which it passed on the opposite side , but before it touched the whitewash line he gave it a backhanded blow , send ing it to Captain Watson , who drove it home with a terrific pelt of the mallet . Time , 2 minutes . TENTH GAME . - The home team made but a feeble effort in this game , which was oasily scored against them by Lawley , whose backhanders are very de structive to any hope held out that the Americans stood any show the first day at least . Time , 30 seconds . 110 80oner ELEVENTH GAME . - Messrs . Lawley and Hone took the ball to goal with their superior ponies before either of the Americans touched it . A very exciting struggle took place and Lawley , with a backbander , sent the ball almost through a goal . Thorn was on hand to " save , " but he had taken the ball to centre than Hone re turned it . A backhander from Thorn and a down hill blow by Hitchcock was the signal for ap . plause . The Americans , however , were unable to keep the ball at their end but a few seconds , the vis iting team almost doing as they liked with it . Messrs . Little , Hone and Lawley , in the order named , got a crack at the sphore in centre and scored again , the ball being sent between flags by the last inen tioned . Time , 5m . 30s . TWELFTH GAME . - The game was opened for the home team by Keene , who gave Captain Watson con siderable trouble , and he was obliged to pay strict attention to him . There was an exciting struggle be tweon Little and Keene , but the game was won by Lawley . Time , 2 minutes . THE VISITORS THE WINNERS . THIRTEENTH GAME . - The tame play of the English men was the feature of the game . A visit was made to the club house , after which the ball was rushed . home by Lawley , who scored another game to the contest already won , there being now ten to the credit of his side . The home team never got the ball from centre . Time , 1m . 158 . FOURTEENTH GAME . - This was an unusually fast game , and it must be admitted that the Americans made a good fight against fearful odds . The home . team outplayed their opponents . The ball was rattled across and down the lot rapidly , the players riding superbly . The game was finally scored for the home team by Thorn . Time , 3 minutes . When the last game was finished only thirty seconds remained and two min utes was allowed after each goal . No further play was called . The score - 10 to 4 - was a surprise to a few , but before the match friends of the English men openly announced they had $ 50,000 to bet The against $ 25,000 that the visitors would win . betting before the match was 10 to 7 on the Eng lishmen , but previously it had been 2 to 1 . The second day's play is set for Saturday . The visitors to - night were dined at " By the Sea " by Mr. Belmont . Mr. Robbins , who acted as referee in a very able manner , has resigned that position , the Englishmen positively refusing to play if the referee was allowed to be mounted . Mr. Robbins is of opinion that the umpires should have backbone suf ficient to claim fouls when they occur . WHAT THE VICTORS SAID OF THE DEFEATED TEAM , [ BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD . ] NEWPORT , R. L , August 25 , 1886. - Captain John Watson , the leader of the English polo team , was dressing for the dinner party at Mr. August Bel mont's when he expressed . his views on the exciting series of games in which had led his followers to victory this evening . WHY THE AMERICANS LOST . ho very " I attribute our success , " said the captain , " first , to the superiority of our ponies , and , second , to our skill as a team collective playing . You noticed that we did not take remounts as often as our op ponents and our beasts carried us through better than theirs - not quite as fast , perhaps , but they are tougher . We played better together than the American gentlemen . The games were exciting . I have played polo in all parts of the world , and I never met fairer or better intending opponents than those of to - day . There was nothing that looked like an intentional foul and the Americans played with great dash and spirit . A deficiency in team work and a want of " stay " in the ponies did the business , for the greatest draw back that we had lay in the difference in the length of the grounds compared with Hurlingham . I paced the distance this morning and found fifty paces less . It was against us . " GOOD WORDS FOR THE DEFEATED . Mr. Shaw Safe , the sixth man of the Hurlingham team , expressed himself as " greatly surprised when team captured the American first the goal I didn't know what was coming . The American gentlemen went in with a rush , and if their ponies had more thoroughbred blood in them the result wouldn't have been so marked in the dif ference between the two summaries . The Americans played with great spirit . Did you ever see anything prettier than Mr. Foxhall Keene's brush with Captain Watson ? I feared Hitchcock was badly hurt . Some of Thorn's dashes were very clever . I never saw a more exciting meeting than this one . The fellows over at Hurlingham will be awfully anxious to know how the games wont . They take a great interest , don't you see ? " A SPORTSMAN'S LAMENT .. civil y lalitary . THE " UMBALLA MILITARY AND HUNT MEETING December 16th and 18th . STEWARDS . Col. French , Queen's Bays ; Major Turnbull , R. H. A .; W. Bignell Esqr . , C. S .; Capt . Sadlier , Queen's Bays ; Col. Le Marchant , R. A .; Capt . Dalbíac , R. H. A .; Cel . Palmer , 9th B. Lancers ; Major Sheringham , Cheshire Regt .; Capt . McKenzie . 9th B. L. Honorary Secretary , Capt . Scott , Queen's Bays . N.B. - The Steeplechase Course has been altered and made easier . The ditches are filled up , and all the rails removed . The fences are well sloped and bushed , and are well littered on the landing sides . " SIR , When we wept over the departure of the 9th Lancers , it was a great consolation to us , when a keen youth said " the Bays will fill their place . " He was right , and in their zeal for filling things , they have filled in the ditches on the steeple course , and advertised a meeting , a Hunt meeting . Bravo Bays ! Good men and true ; this meeting of yours will cheer the souls of many , and wives and sweethearts will bless you for having the course so " well littered on the landing side . " I hope your Colonel will have the fore thought to prevent your riding in caps ; steeple racing is very dangerous and a pugree is indis pensible . " The course has been altered and made easier . " Shades of the 9th Lancers ! When we shook our lances and followed him who never returned when we crashed over boulders and nullahs into ten thousand Afghans at Shah pur , it was not because we had been schooled over filled - in ditches . I wonder where Percy Vere is ? Old Nimble foot would be worth a fortune to him now , and Frank Johnstone and Chang would be out of it . But truly I grieve over the dear old water - jump in front of the stand . How we used to charge it , how Kate Coventry , used to whiz over it , and how we yelled like fiends the day we left the aesthete and his velvet jacket in it , and went on to fall at the next fence , and up again to make hay of the post and rails i They have filled it in ! Lord William bind up your bad shoulder , and assist me in my protest ; Bertie , Frank , Bailley , Humphreys , all of you come to my aid ; or I swear we shall have " Ding MacDougall , " and the ghost of " Grey Friar " haunting our stand and lamenting the departure . Shades of the time when we begged for a mount in a jump race ! Now steeple racing is done with filled - in ditches , removed rails , well littered land Australian bushwhackere ings and nine stone . for jocks . The United Hunt Steeplechase , " is valued Rs . 150. Ye gods ! what a fortune going begging ; and what a treat to see a 13-3 pony staggering along with 12 stone on him . How the little mite will revel in , and enjoy it ! Then we have the " Grand Military " also worth one - fifty - why be so lavish ? Kate Coventry is flexing her stiff , and thickened tendons , and Advance , and Hector are alive again , and no doubt Major Cook has imported two for the occasion . It will pay him . He might also raise up Gazelle from Calcutta and come up , and see her run in the " Liverpool " which is worth Rs . 90 or so . He could have a reserved carriage out of that , and he would see the Cesarewitch and the Cambridgeshire , and the Serai Stakes - how lovely ! I once won a " Saddle and Bridle " at a fair ; but we did not call it the " Cambridgeshire . " I am out of the hunt now , and my chest is not my greatest circumference , and I frankly confess I don't climb on to anything the way I did twenty years ago and a " filled ditch " is about my form now . But then I am not a youth . I have had my fling and my oft set collar bones are aching to see some one else have theirs cracked . Where is the chance now that glorious Amballa water - jump is filled in P However , I hear that the 20th Hussars are coming out in a body . and I have written to " Taffy " Williams , " Johnnie . " Alexander has been wired to , and Tipping is coming down and Arthur is coming up fr n Nowgong , and we will mingle our tears on te " well littered landing side " where we have so often proved that our heads were harder than the ground about Amballa , and we will scrape up the newly filled in earth , and see if the " Bays pat " laurel leaf " at the bottom before they Alled it and " well littered " its landing side . ONE OF THE OLD SCHOOL . new one or 8 ANOTHER LAMENT . A correspondent , not wholly ignorant of the Sporting Times , with strong views on the subject of filled in ditches is respon sible for the following : " The ghost of Grey Friar may get up at night And romp over hurdles for play ; But Umballa don't run to the riders it did , Because it's not built that way . " ICHA BOD . 6 ( See letter above . ) Get a nervous lady's pony - get the oldest you can find Strap an ulster on the pommel - tie a bedding - roll behind ; To a Hanoverian Pelham hitch a standing martingale- Then hang upon his jaws , my son , and listen to my tale . Many ages since , my infant , we were green as Dehra grass , Though we lacked the shining silver we were mil lionaires in brass ; And we gathered at Umballa when the " seventies " were low , And we rode like Helen Blazes in the days of long ago . Those were times when life went swiftly both for rider and for horse When we sampled with our clavicles the tex ture of the course ; For the Stewards built the fences up to five - foot six or so . And we pecked " about those ramparts in the days of long ago . Answer , man of many fractures , William Beresford Give ear . " Bertie , " sweltering in Calcutta , Johnston , Ilum phreys , Percy Vere , Did you fill the yawuing ditches ? Did you la the railings low , On the old Umballa race - course in the days of long ago ? Yea the ditches filled aforetime ; but they filled with wrathful men ! Yea the railings were demolished by a bolter now and then ! More than once the " well - bushed fences " sloped c de before the staggering blow Of a ler , gazing skyward , in the days of e long ago . d There was litter - lots of litter - spread about the landing side " When a blown and basted leader checked his last half - hearted stride , And the ruck came up behind him - and they made a holy show the days of On the old Umballa race - course in long ago . Many ages since , my infant , we were green as Dehra grass ; We were guileless as the morning - but we knew what riding was . But a newer generation seem to make the pace more slow Than we made it at Umballa in the days of long ago . To an iron - bound ring - saddle nail a safety stirrup ; the n Stitch a four - foot sofa - cushion just across your abdomen . With a length of double stove - pipe guard your neck incase it breaks , And - enter at Umballa , for the Military Stakes . KINGCRAFT . ( Umballa . ) Programme . M.C.O. Ball . January 14th , 1887 . MIDDLETON HUNT Private Subscription Ball . 651 WEDNESDAY , FEBRUARY 16th , 1887 . ASSEMBLY ROOMS , MALTON . MP |
