The Philadelphia Record
November 19, 1893

CENTURY WHEELMEN WIN

They Outplay Park Avenue for the Football Championship.

WAS A GREAT SLUGGING GAME

Calver and Peralto Disqualified -- Police Asked to Stop Slugging,
but They Would Not Join in the Game.

Yesterday afternoon, at Philadelphia Ball Grounds, before an attendance of about 2000, the Century Wheelmen football team won the championship of the cycling clubs of the city by defeating the Park Avenue Wheelmen by a score of 12 to 6. There was not much scientific play, as far as football was concerned, but all the elements of prize fighting were present. Rumors had been rife ever since the game was arranged that there would be lots of gore, and those who were drawn thither in the hope of seeing it were not disappointed. On the second down after the game was started, Curt Calver, of the Park Avenue, was disqualified for slugging. In the second half Peralto, of Century, was forced to take a seat on the bench for a similar reason, and what added interest to these disqualifications was the fact that the disqualified men each required about ten minutes to make up whether he would retire or go on regardless of the umpire's decision. Yet the causes for these disqualifications were each love taps compared to what the umpire didn't see.

Once Tucker, of Century, and Walter Calver, had an argument, in which Tucker got a punch in the neck and Calver two -- one on the jaw, the other on the necck. Neither was disqualified. Another time the ball was driven toward the side line where P. A. W. substitutes were gathered. Here another free fight started, which caused Captain Griffith, of the Century, to call for police protection. The police, judging discretion the better part of valor, refused to be drawn into the fight, and the teams had to fix it up themselves. From this out nearly every down resulted in someone quietly, but none the less effectively, punched.

The reason for Centuries victory is not hard to find. What little science was in the game was all on their side, and, while considerably lighter than their opponents, they yet managed to break through their rush line time and time again. While Peralto was in the game he made two or three good runs, one for about 35 yards making the Century's first goals possible. After his retirement the Century team confined its work to going through between the tackles on each side. Park Avenue likewise confined its play to bucking the centre, its heavier weight making this possible. Only once did they succeed around the end,  but this try netted them 35 yards. Highley going around the left end for distance. For Park Avenue Highley did the best playing: in fact, the best playing for either team. For Century Peralto and Aitken shone. The game was advertised to start at 2 o'clock, but it was nearer 3 before Joseph Shannon, A. C. S. N., and J. Greer, S. E. W., were agreed upon as referee and umpire respectively, and then the game started.

Century won the toss and took the ball, attacking the north goal. on the usual V 10 yards were gained, and then 10 more were made around the left end; 5 more were made by Aitken around the same, and then Wood went around the opposite end for 5 more, taking the ball to park Avenue's 20-yard line. These continued gains caused Willie Calver to lose his head and he tried slugging, which happened to be seen by Umpire Greer, who promptly disqualified him. Calver, however, stopped the game for ten minutes, refusing to go off the field. When he finally relented, Conaway took his place and the game proceeded. The ball was given to Park Avenue for holding, and they proceeded to work the ball down the field. they first went through centre for 10 yards; then Highley went around left end for 25 more. Here bucking the centre was tried again successfully, and the ball was once more in Century's territory, which caused the latter to brace up, and they got the ball on four downs. Peralto was dent around left end for 30 yards and on the next snap made 18 more on the same play; Aitken then went through centre for 8 yards more, and the ball was on Park Avenue's 15-yard line. By continued bucking of the centre, Century managed to shove Tucker across the line for a touchdown, from which Aitken kicked the goal. Score -- Century, 6; Park Avenue, 0. Time, 23 minutes.

Park Avenue took the ball up to the centre of the field, and on the V made 16 yards, but immediately lost the ball on four downs; they recovered it almost as quickly on holding, and Highley tried the left end for 15 yards. Time was here called, Park Avenue having the ball on Century's 20-yard line. The intermission of five minutes was utilized for wiping the mud and blood -- principally the latter -- from faces and rubbing bruised noses, ears, etc., so that the second half started with both sides seemingly as fresh and as thirsty for gore as at the commencement of the game.

Park Avenue started the second half with the inevitable V, and made 18 yards. The ball was next given to Kendrick, and he carried it, and three or four Century men, for 10 more yards. Here occurred the fistic encounter between Tucker and Calver, from which Tucker emerged with a split cheek. On the next down another fight started on the side lines, for which police protection was asked by the Century men, but refused by police. Park Avenue still had the ball, and without losing it once, carried it over the line for a touchdown by Highley, who afterward kicked the goal. Time was called for ten minutes once, however, by the umpire, in order to allow Peralto, whom he had disqualified for slugging, to retire top the side lines, which he did not want to do, he claiming that he only hit Ludlam's arm, the latter holding him, and he wanting to break away. Score: Park Avenue, 6,; Century, 6. Time, 12 minutes.

Century took the ball to the centre and started with the usual V, which netted them only 8 yards. But they here started bucking the centre, which netted short but substantial gains, the largest being 10 yards, and enabled them to hold the ball till it was carried over the line for another touchdown by Aitken, from which he kicked the goal. Score -- Century, 12; Park Avenue, 6. Time, 12 minutes.

On the V park Avenue made 10 yards and then lost the bal on a fumble. The Century started their usual bucking through centre, and carried the ball slowly, but surely down the field, and it looked like another touchdown. Century quickened its play, while Park Avenue got desperate; still the ball kept nearing the latter's goal, and at last but two yards separated Century from another touchdown. Park Avenue made a wonderful brace, however, and got the ball on four downs. They immediately kicked up the field, but the ball was out of bounds on the 15-yard line, and Highley made three more in a try around left end, but was thrown by the prettiest tackle of the day by Kelly, and time was called with the ball on Park Avenue's 18-yard line, greatly to the disappointment of the crowd, who wanted more gore, and to the relief of the players, who were glad it was all over.

During the progress of the second half Griffith, of the Century, got his nose in the way of someone's knee, and the game was delayed for some time to allow him to lose sufficient blood to clear his head, which required about eight minutes. This accident was a sort of damper on the Century rooters, for "Grif" was the trainer, and his presence on the team was necessary to steady the line. An audible sigh of relief was heard from that part of the stand occupied by the Century "push" when he took his place in the line again. At the conclusion of the game a calithumpian band, which had been under cover, made its appearance, and "See the Conquering Heroes Come" was played with variations. At the clubhouse of the Century Wheelmen last night the victory was celebrated with fireworks and a grand illumination. The teams lined up as follows: