Page 4
The CHEMAWA AMERICAN
ATHLETICS
CHEMAWA LOSES TO ORANGE ROOKS
A host of O. S. C. Rooks soundly trounced our team
at Corvallis last Saturday 33 to 7. Their four big teams
bore down upon our moleskinners with tremendous
weight, speed and power in the first two quarters and
scored four touchdowns and succeeded in converting
two tries for extra points. But not for an instant did
any one yelp or call for help, but stayed right there
and played ball.
Our left wing played hard but not what could be
called smart football, allowing themselves to be block
ed in or out while the rooks paraded through and around
them for long gains. On the other hand the boys of
the right wing were too aggressive and everlastngly on
their toes to permit such consistent gains through their
side of the line. As a result the Rooks did not try
their side very often.
As for the thrills of the game our ball players fur
nished the bulk. Though the score would not indicate
it they made three marches to the goal line that failed
because of a bad play or a costly fumble. Repeatedly
our team crossed up the Rooks with a drive through
a hole in the line when they expected a run or a pass.
Meachem and Franklin, the two smallest men in our
backfield, were our big ground gainers through the
line. Our backfield functioned so nicely that their
double and trippie passes left the Rooks holding the
sack. The trippie pass on which Wallace Hosie, our
left half scored, put him out in the open before a single
defensive hand could be laid on him. Wallace carried
the ball 35 yards on that play for our score. On a
play from fake punt formation Albert Miller, our right
end, repeatedly gained considerable ground.
“Buck” Smith, our quarterback, used excellent
judgment in the choice of his plays in building up an
attack that repeatedly threatened the Rook goal line.
Alonzo Hoover, our center, received a knee injury
early in the second quarter and was taken from the
game. While in the fray Hoover played a fine game.
However, his understudy, “Pa” Perkins, was not so
dusty himself. Isaac Curley, our husky right guard,
and his side partner, Bill Jones, were easily our most
outstanding linemen. It is not unlikely that one of
these two boys will be switched to the left wing to
bolster things up there in general.
S ophies upset S eniors
The hottest battle in the inter-class football league so far this
season was played last week between the seniors and the soph
omores. Boys, how those fellows did smack ’em. Both went
into the battle with a percentage of one thousand. For almost
two whole periods they battled up and down the center of the
field, nothing to nothing. Just in the final minutes of the
second quarter Arnold McKay, senior signal barker, booted to
the Sophs’ three yard line. From this bad position the seniors
blocked the sophomore’s attempted punt and recovered. Two
tries at the line resulted in losses and then a swing around the
end scored McKay for the first score of the game. The try for
the extra point failed. In the final quarter the sophs got red
hot and “Goose Egg’’ Weaver, Iheir “Jim Thorp’’ of the day,
aided by a couple of penalties, slashed and dashed his way to
a touchdown. That drive was just as spectacular and as hard
fought as the biggest on the coast. “Egg’s’’ try for the extra
point was blocked.
Just before the game closed David Bears Ghost, sophomore
center, picked up a blocked punt and scored the winning touch-
down. This game credits the sophomores with leading the
league. Wilder, Franklin, Gouley and Curley, officials; handled
the game efficiently.
Schedule for the week: Juniors Vs. Freshmen. Che-
mawa Vs. Medford at Medford. Hotshots Vs. Parrish
Junior high here.
AN ALASKA LEGEND
By VICTOR K. SMITH. Chemawa Student
“We hear very little of the Indian festivals these
days,” said Mr. Bagelly, of Craig, Alaska, as we sat
conversing one evening during the time my injured
foot kept me in the hospital. “Some of those old cus
toms were both entertaining and instructive. I recall
one, especially, that gave a name to an Alaskan berry
of peculiar flavor.” My interest being assured, the old
gentleman, who is a judge and a United States customs
officer, rambled on with what proved an interesting
story:
“Long ago, perhaps before Alaska was even thought
of by the white man, the Indian witch doctor ruled a
country of overwhelming wealth; a land where wilder
ness was plenty, where beauty was divine, but where
superstition was enormous. In this place, among other
gracious products, the different berries yielded a healthy
yearly crop. These were blueberries, huckleberries,
chokeberries, all growing profusely in many varieties,
and with them, a particular berry of delicate tang.”
Ascertaining that I was following him with atten
tion, the judge continued:
‘ ‘You, w’ith your knowledge of the Indian ‘Poltatch, ’
can readily understand those great gatherings of the
tribes, where friend feasted with friend. They always
filled a big place in primitive life.
“In this part of Alaska gatherings and feastings were
carried on at the edge of the land where the tides
visit the beach, and fish being the chief food, was
prepared in a certain artful manner. Between the
high and low tide marks upon the beach a trench was
dug in the damp sand. Each brave had his special
task to perform about the trench, but women picked
berries. The salmon were placed on a mat of sticks
and lowered into the trench with a heavy layer of berries
over them.
“Continuing this process (a layer of fish and a layer
of berries), the trench was filled. On the top, leaves,
moss, and sticks were arranged and held carefully in
place by huge stones. The ‘Potlacth’ was, of course,
a stately meeting of braves and women, but the uncov
ering of the great trench was the signal for young and
old to gather on the beach and indulge in the lavish
feast. The salmon was delicately flavored by the ber
ries, and the sauce of hunger was supplied by the sea
air.
“From the fish feast, as I have pictured it,” con
cluded Judge Bagelly, preparing to take his leave, “our
Alaskan salmonberry derived its name.”