THE GENTLE SPORT
We rushed the football Tuesday night and then gave it back to them; then the next night we had an old fashioned rush, cut the ball, and I got it out, and had it between my legs for some ten minutes, while a dozen groups were fighting to find it; at last I dropped it to the ground and put my foot on it. As I couldn't get away with it, and the Freshmen were watching me, I sneaked it to Drew and started off, the Freshmen following and rushing me while Drew went another way. Some followed him, though, and after they had searched me, we followed Drew (afterward U. S. Senator) and found a lot searching him up in front of Wentworth Hall, in the mud. We all went in, and Chandler Parker got it. The Freshmen felt "riled," They had gone in rough and some of them got hurt, struck, slung, choked, etc., for not rushing fair! Folsom (afterward State Superintendent of Schools for N. H.) slung one a rod or so; Wilson choked Clay, a Junior, till he was senseless, put his fist in Mike Rogers' face, and Drew about killed Brewer (who afterwards did such good work in Cuba and died there,) for choking him.
Last night, April 3d, there was a ball out, and Frank Johnson '70, Chandler, run it off before their eyes. They followed him and tried to rush the Walker House where he roomed. It was an exciting rush. Fifteen of us stood in the door way and held the whole Freshman Class at bay while four or five went in, locked the door and kept them out of the windows, while the Seniors, in the second story windows, by leaning out and taking their hands hauled them up. Soon Prof. Sanborn came down and got us to stand back from the door, and then we rushed, for fun, at the gate and held that. Then Prexy came down and made us disperse, but we kept the ball! It was a rough time, in a small yard, with a picket fence. Folsom and Page '71 would have fought, if Page had done it. Drew put Brewer '71 over on the fence with his whole weight on the pickets, slung Sam Page '7l into the middle of the street, head first. Woodbury slung Bates '71 down with one arm; Pike took Mike Rogers, '71 in the face with his elbow, to make him let go of Brockway, tore Thompson's '71 coat off; Smith blacked Page's eye. * * * * Next morning the Freshmen hissed Johnson when he came in Chapel, and we cheered him. Prexy got "riley" and gave us a talking to about it, and about last night, and totally forbid rushing! Well, we are willing; '71 hasn't got a ball yet.
THE GKEEN, SOUTH SIDE Looking Eastward toward the Gates House: about 1870
