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Newspaper
Boston Post
Location
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
Date
Nov 01, 1909
Page
10
The article reports the death of cadet Byrne at dawn near the Hudson, with his Civil War veteran father John Byrne at his bedside. It notes the army's accustomed view of death and predicts the possible end of football at West Point and Annapolis due to the tragedy.
Cadet Byrne, 21, captain of the Army football team, died from a neck injury suffered during a tackle in the Harvard Army game. X rays showed a dislocation at the first vertebra pressing on medulla centers governing breathing. Surgeons fought through the night with artificial respiration as the cadet’s condition worsened, and the academy suspended activities and lowered the flag at half mast.
Harvard football players are deeply upset by the death of Cadet Eugene A. Byrne in a game with Harvard. The loss surprises and saddens the team and the Harvard Club at 27 West Forty-fourth Street plans a funeral delegation with funds for flowers. Secretary Marvin anticipates potential football rule revisions.
Tomorrow Hyde Park High hosts Milton High and Melrose meets Quincy High. Other matches include Everett at Brockton, Wellesley hosting Concord, Dedham at East Boston and more across multiple venues through Saturday.
Georgetown faces Fordham in New York. New York U plays Wesleyan on the same day. Harvard meets Cornell at Soldiers Field and Yale visits Brown in New Haven. Dartmouth off against Princeton in Princeton. Pennsylvania tangles with Lafayette in Philadelphia. West Point hosts Springfield Training and Annapolis welcomes Washington and Jefferson. Amherst hosts Vermont, Bowdoin travels to Lewiston, Colgate visits Rochester, and St John’s plays Washington. Stony Brook State plays New Hampshire State in Manchester. Penn State faces Bucknell in Lewisburg. Worcester Polytechnic Inst. meets Rensselaer at Troy. Swarthmore vs Villanova at Swarthmore. Ossining hosts Syracuse. Hart State meets Carn State in Hartford. Williams plays Wesleyan in Middletown.
The academy community grieved as news of Byrne's death spread. He was cherished at West Point for his football talent and fellowship, and his loss cast a somber mood over ongoing sports and school activities among students and staff alike.
L. P. Marvin, secretary of the Harvard Club, states no mass play occurred as Cadet Byrne broke his neck diving into the line. He emphasizes the incident happened during an open play and the game was clean.
Harvard players blame Army officials for keeping Eugene A. Byrne in after he showed clear physical collapse in the Harvard West Point game. They describe a sequence where a flying wedge overwhelmed Byrne as he tired, leading to his fatal injuries. Coaches and officials declined to comment, while an official statement was anticipated.
Football has exacted a heavy toll in the past nine years with three players dead this season. Earl Wilson of Annapolis is in critical condition. Last year saw ten fatalities, the smallest since 1901, while 1908 recorded the peak with 24 deaths. A table lists killed and seriously injured over the period.
At West Point Eugene A. Byrne left tackle suffered a broken neck. At Philadelphia Michael Burke of Medico Chururgical College sustained a fractured skull. At Kansas City Roy Spybuck of Waskell School had a fractured skull.
Players across multiple colleges suffer serious injuries. At Boston Harrington Boston College fullback receives blows between heart and stomach. Milton Panul Zerrahx Milton High School left halfback breaks ankle. Annapolis Frantz Princeton left end suffers broken jaw. Minneapolis Captain McGovern Minnesota University quarterback breaks collarbone. Philadelphia Mercer Pennsylvan ia freshman halfback wrenched knee. Kokomo Olge engraves Kokomo fractured skull.
Washington news notes the death of Eugene A. Byrne from a football injury at West Point and the critical condition of Midshipman Earle A. Wilson at Annapolis. Acting War Secretary Robert Shaw Oliver says action requires public demand and may be deferred until Secretary Dickinson returns.
Smith said Byrne was exhausted before the collision and that the Army left tackle’s fatigue caused the injury. He insisted Harvard players bore no fault and blamed the overwhelming toll of the play rather than any specific action by Harvard.
Amherst officials declined comment on Cadet Byrne's death while Dr. Hitchcock urged modifying the game as too strenuous. Dr. Phillips noted the incident may not alter play, citing 15 to 17 annual football deaths and favoring Walter Camp open plays despite risk to ball control.
In a Kokomo versus Noblesville football game, Ogle Sea graves of Kokomo sustained a back of head kick injury causing brain concussion and convulsions. Doctors fear skull fracture as condition is critical.
Michael Burke 21 of Shenandoah Pennsylvania died in a Philadelphia hospital from head injuries suffered during a football game between the Medico Chirurgical College and the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. Burke a Medico Chirurgical College junior, was knocked unconscious after a tackle and died shortly after.
Harvard crews prepare for the fall race from Stillman Infirmary to the Union Boat Club on November 10 weather permitting. The varsity lineup includes Cutler Ward Newton Bacon Strong Metcalf Leslie Sargent and Faxon with Coxswain Faxon. King the coxswain returns today after tonsillitis as illness caused shake ups and a slump in power and control. The second crew, though weaker, shows better form and aims to rebound from a recent retrogression.
The Boston Terrier Club announces its annual specialty show in Mechanics' building on November 17 18 and 19 with entries closing on November 3.
Somerville champion 12 mile walker John Crudden is set to meet William Spurry of Charlestown in a Thanksgiving Day walking match from Union Square Somerville to Brockton.
Dartmouth coaches remain undecided whether to use Pishon or Brady at quarterback for next Saturday's game against Prince. The outcome could decide the halftime strategy and scoring approach.
A. Sweetser of Harvard defeats E. T. Dana in four sets at the Brookline Country Club to capture the singles tennis title. The match score was 8-6 6-3 4-6 and 6-1 in the playoff.
Yale football coaches order secret evening practices this week at Yale field with gates closed to undergraduates for 15 minutes daily. The probable backfield for the Princeton and Harvard games includes Howe Coy Philbin and Murphy with Daly sidelined by a rib injury. Captain Coy notes veteran backfield adaptability while Brooks recovers from a practice injury and staff strategists meet nightly to plan the campaign. Yale aims to select referees Mike Thompson of Georgetown or similar candidates for the Princeton clash.
The Yale football community mourns Cadet Byrne of West Point after his fatal accident in the Yale Army game. Yale officials say the tragedy will not alter football play, emphasizing sport as a manly pursuit guarded by training and oversight. Walter Camp, the head advisory coach, declined to comment on Byrne’s injury without seeing yesterday’s Harvard game.
Unruly play marked several games Saturday while Georgetown meets Fordham in New York tomorrow drawing crowds. Yale and Dartmouth stay undefeated as Cornell and Harvard trek into the season with tough tests. Michigan routed Syracuse, Minnesota crushed Chicago 20 to 6, and Amherst punter Fitts outkicked Coy in Yale Amherst clash.
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