The Popular Game of Football

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 299, 24 June 1896, Page 2

The Popular Game of Football

A REFEREE ARMED WITH A REVOLVER. (Per Press Association) Sydney, June 22. Football threatens to become a decidedly unhealthy game if the tactics pursued in a match at Home Rush are persevered with. The referee had oc- , casion to order two men off tho field, ( which led their comrades to proceed to! deal out punishment to the referee,, kicking and striking him, and pelting him with mud. Tne referee evidently guaged the men he had to deal with, and had come to the match armed with a revolver, with which he cowed his assailants. It is rather an innovation, although, perhaps, a useful one, for the referee at a football match to come armed with a revolver either to enforce bis decisions or defend himself when they did not I suit either the players or the public. 1 The worst of this sort of "mode" is that if shooting does eventuate, it is seldom or neyer the offenders who are scared or wounded, but some unlucky and peaceably disposed/ byestander—a woman or child having the preference. In the opinion of "Him Who Knows " the better plan would be to leave revolvors out of the question altogether, and to use the common or garden variety of butcher knife with the point (for there the danger lies) rounded off and given a serated or saw-like edge. A scratch from this weapon would have a remarkably soothing effect, much nicer, as our readers can imagine, than half an ounce of lead in the body of a stranger. . Knuckle dusters are effectual for a little time, but the fingers of the operators are often bruised and sometimes broken when applying these pacificators, therefore their use is not recommended.