USA > Michigan > The Michigan book > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
26
THE MICHIGAN BOOK
Hiram A. Burt, A. B. '62, was the first alumnus to become a member of the Board of Regents, to which body the constitution of Michigan entrusts the government of the University. Since his election in 1867, thirty others have been elected or appointed to seats in the Board, of whom the following have been students in the University: Jonas H. McGowan, B. S. '61, LL. B. '68, 1870-77; Claudius B. Grant, A. B. '59, 1872-79; Charles Rynd, M. D. '59, 1872-79; Byron M. Cutcheon, A. B. '61, LL. B. '66, 1876-83; Samuel S. Walker, B. S. '61, 1876-83; Jacob J. VanRiper, '62 l, 1880-86; Lyman D. Norris, '45, 1883-84; Charles J. Willett, A. B. '71, 1884-91; Charles R. Whitman, A. B. '70, LL. B. '73, 1886-93; Charles S. Draper, A. B. '63, 1887-92; Roger W. But- terfield, LL. B. '68, since 1888; William J. Cocker, A. B. '69, since 1890; Peter N. Cook, LL. B. '74, since 1891; Levi L. Bar- bour, A. B. '63, LL. B. '65, 1892-97; and Frank W. Fletcher, Ph. B. '75, since 1893. So it appears that of the thirty-one members chosen during the past thirty years, sixteen are sons of our Alma Mater.
Among the distinguished clergymen who have studied in our University the following may be named: David M. Cooper, A. B. '48, of Detroit; Justin D. Fulton, '52, S. T. D., of Brooklyn; the late Tillman C. Trowbridge, A. B. '52, for many years a mis- sionary in Turkey; Edward G. Thurber, A. B. '57, Pastor of the American Chapel at Paris; William J. Darby, A. B. '69, one of the leaders of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church; Edward A. Horton, '69, of the Old South Church, Boston; and Joseph M. Gelston, A. B. '69, of Ann Arbor.
In the Federal Judiciary the University is represented by Wil- liam B. Gilbert, LL. B. '72, Circuit Judge, and by Henry H. Swan, '62, William Story, LL. B. '64, and John A. Riner, LL. B. '79, District Judges. Of the Supreme Court of Michigan the fol- lowing graduates have been Chief Justices: Claudius B. Grant, A. B. '59; Isaac Marston, LL. B. '61; Frank A. Hooker, LL. B. '65, and John W. McGrath, LL. B. '68; and Joseph B. Moore, '68 l, is one of the Associate Justices. In the Supreme Courts of other states and of the territories the following has been our represen- tation: Albert H. Horton, '60, Chief Justice, Kansas; Theophilus L. Norval, LL. B. '71, Chief Justice, Nebraska; William Story, LL. B. '64, Chief Justice, Arkansas; John B. Cassoday, '57, Chief Justice, Wisconsin; Thomas Burke, and Thomas J. Anders, LL. B. '61, Chief '74, Justices, Washington; John C. Shields,
27
GRADUATES AND FORMER STUDENTS
LL. B. '72, Chief Justice, Arizona; Timothy E. Howard, '59, and Allen Zollers, LL. B. '66, Associate Justices, Indiana; James H. Cartwright, LL. B. '67, and Joseph N. Carter, LL. B. '68, Associate Justices, Illinois; LaVega G. Kinne, LL. B. '68, Associate Justice, Iowa; James E. Riddick, LL. B, '72, Associate Justice, Arkansas; Orlando M. Powers, LL. B. '71, Associate Justice, Utah; William H. Barnes, A. B. '65, Associate Justice, Arizona; Charles N. Pot- ter, LL. B. '73, Associate Justice, Wyoming; and Alexander Mar- tin, A. B. '55, Judge of the Supreme Court Commission of Mis- souri.
The following, all graduates or former students of the Univer- sity, have been or are Circuit Judges in Michigan: Jay A. Hub- bell, A. B. '53; Jared Patchin, A. B. '53; James B. Eldredge, A. B. '55; William D. Williams, B. S. '57; John J. Speed, '58; Robert E. Frazer, B. S. '59, LL. B. '61; Claudius B. Grant, A. B. '59; Or- ville W. Coolidge, A. B. '63; Edward D. Kinne, A. B. '64; Her- man W. Stevens, A. B. '66, LL. B. '68; Aaron V. McAlvay, '68, LL. B. '69; Frank Emerick, '70, '75 l; Victor H. Lane, C. E. '74, LL. B. '78; George S. Hosmer, A. B. '75; James B. McMahon, Ph. B. '75; Joseph H. Steere, A. B. '76; Norman W. Haire, A. B. '80, LL. B. '85; Dan J. Arnold, LL. B. '61; Levi L. Wixson, LL. B. '62; Henry Hart, LL. B. '65; Frank A. Hooker, LL. B. '65; Clement Smith, '67 l; Richmond W. Melendy, '67 l; Philip T. Van- Zile, LL. B. '67; George P. Cobb, LL. B. '68; Robert J. Kelley, LL. B. '68; Joseph B. Moore, '684; Charles H. Wisner, LL. B. '71; John A. Edget, LL. B. '72; Silas S. Fallass, LL. B. '72; George Gartner, LL. B. '72; Luke S. Mon- tague, LL. B. '72; Stearns F. Smith, LL. B. '73; John H. Palmer, '74 l; Rollin H. Person, '74 l; George W. Smith, '75 l; Peter F. Dodds, '76 l; William L. Carpenter, LL. B. '78; Samuel W. Vance, '78 l; Robert B. McKnight, LL. ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY. B. '79; Roscoe L. Corbett, LL. B. '80; and John W. Stone, '86 l. The late Lyman Cochrane, A. B. '49, and the late J. Logan Chipman, '47, were Judges of the Superior Court of De-
28
THE MICHIGAN BOOK
troit, and Edwin A. Burlingame, LL. B. '69, is Judge of the Super- ior Court of Grand Rapids.
It is not altogether uninteresting to note that our University claims three of the five Justices of the Supreme Court of the State (including the Chief Justice ), twenty-two of the thirty-five Circuit Judges, and a considerable majority of the probate Judges.
Space fails for the recording here of all of our graduates who in other states have served as judges in courts not of last resort. The roll is long, and contains the names of many who soon will be sitting in courts of final jurisdiction. Suffice it to mention Alfred Spring, '74, of the Supreme Court of New York; John E. Mc- Keighan, A. B. '66, of St. Louis, Missouri; Morris L. Buchwalter, '69, of Cincinnati; Carroll C. Boggs, '66, of the Circuit Court of Illinois; and John A. Shauck, LL. B. '67, Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit of Ohio.
It is impossible to name here more than a few of the alumni and former students who have become distinguished in the active practice of the law. Many of these are mentioned elsewhere in this book, and need not be recalled now. The following list, which includes no graduates of classes later than '76, is suggestive merely: Sidney D. Miller, A. B. '48, William A. Moore, A. B. '50, Henry M. Cheever, A. B. '53, Ashley Pond, A. B. '54, Levi T. Griffin, A. B. '57, Browse T. Prentis, A. B. '58, Henry M. Duffield, '61, Hoyt Post, A. B. '62, LL. B. '63, John Atkinson, LL. B. '62, Levi L. Barbour, A. B. '63, LL. B. '65, Don M. Dickinson, LL. B. '67, Edward E. Kane, A. B. '67, Charles F. Burton, A. B. '70, LL. B. '72, Harlow P. Davock, B. S. '70, the late George H. Lothrop, '70, Edwin F. Conely, '71 l, Charles K. Latham, LL. B. '72, Frank D. Andrus, A. B. '72, LL. B. '79, Edward W. Pendle- ton, A. B. '72, Samuel T. Douglas, Ph. B. '73, Henry Russel, A. B. '73, LL. B. '75, and George Whitney Moore, '73 l, of the bar of Detroit; Dan H. Ball, '60, of Marquette; Edwin F. Uhl, A. B. '62, William J. Stuart, A. B. '68, LL. B. '72, Moses Taggart, LL. B. '67, and Loyal E. Knappen, A. B. '73, of Grand Rapids; Edgar A. Cooley, A. B. '72, of Bay City; William B. Williams, A. B. '73, of Lapeer; O'Brien J. Atkinson, LL. B. '60, of Port Huron; Orlando M. Barnes, A. B. '50, and Samuel L. Kilbourne, LL. B. '60, of Lansing; Henry H. Barlow, A. B. '70, of Cold- water; Frederick L. Geddes, A. B. '72, Barton Smith, B. S. '72, and George P. Voorheis, A. B. '72, of Toledo; Lawrence Maxwell, Jr., '74, of Cincinnati; the late James M. Walker, A. B. '46, H.
29
GRADUATES AND FORMER STUDENTS
H. C. Miller, A. B. '68, William H. Barnum, '61, Sidney C. East- man, A. B. '73, Charles H. Aldrich, A. B. '75, James L. High, LL. B. '66, and M. D. Ewell, LL. B. '68, all of Chicago; Joseph V. Quarles, A. B. '66, Charles Quarles, '68, and Charles H. Hamil- ton, B. S. '69, of Milwaukee; Oliver H. Dean, A. B. '68, LL. B. '70, and Homer Reed, A. B. '72, of Kansas City; Charles L. Buck- ingham, C. E. '75, of New York; Melvin M. Bigelow, A. B. '66, of Boston; Walter S. Harsha, A. B. '71, of Detroit, Clerk of the Circuit Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Michigan; Darius J. Davison, A. B. '54, Clerk of the United States District Court for that District; and Charles C. Hopkins, LL. B. '76, Clerk of the Supreme Court of Michigan.
Not a few of the eminent physicians educated by the Univer- sity have been named in the lists of college presidents and profes- sors. Others follow: The late Edmund P. Christian, A. B. '47, of Wyandotte; Samuel P. Duffield, A. B. '54, the late Henry F. Lyster, A. B. '58, M. D. '60, Theodore A. McGraw, A. B. '59, the late D. O. Farrand, '62, James B. Book, '64 m, John D. Mulheron, M. D. '69, David Inglis, '70, Hal C. Wyman, M. D. '73, Howard Longyear, '75 m, and Rolin C. Olin, M. D. '77, all of Detroit; Samuel A. McWilliams, A. B. '61, of Chicago; Henry M. Hurd, A. B. '63, M. D. '66, now Superintendent of John Hopkins Hos- pital; James D. Munson, M. D. '73, Medical Superintendent of the Northern Michigan Asylum for the Insane; and Edward A. Chris- tian, A. B. '79, M. D. '82, Superintendent of the Eastern Michigan Asylum for the Insane.
Many names familiar in science have been mentioned in the lists of college professors already given. To those may be added Asaph Hall, '60, Director of the United States Naval Observatory; Newton H. Winchell, A. B. '66, State Geologist of Minnesota; Charles F. Brush, M. E. '69, inventor of the electric arc-light which bears his name; Marcus Baker, A. B. '70, Geologist of the United States Geological Survey; and Robert S. Woodward, C. E. '72, Astronomer of that survey.
William E. Quinby, A. B. '58, of the Detroit Free Press ; Almon L. Aldrich, B. S. '60, of the Flint Globe; James H. Goodsell, '62, President of the National Associated Press; Charles M. Goodsell, A. B. '65, of the Daily Graphic; Abram J. Aldrich, A. B. '65, Editor of the Coldwater Republican; Isaac M. Weston, '67, of the Grand Rapids Democrat ; Stanley Water- loo, '69, of Chicago; Lucien Swift, M. E. '69, Manager of the
30
THE MICHIGAN BOOK
Minneapolis Evening Journal; and Newton McMillan, A. B. '79, Associate Editor of the Chicago Evening Post, are a few of the representatives of the University in journalism.
Among the bankers who spent their college days at Ann Arbor the following may be named: the late William B. Wesson, '44, Edward H. Butler, '61, Joseph .C. Hart, A. B. '64, William A. Butler, B. S. '69, Hamilton Dey, Ph. B. '72, and Edwin F. Mack, A. B. '83, all of Detroit; George R. Gibson, '74, of New York; Luther Mendenhall, A. B. '60, of Duluth; James J. Hagerman, B. S. '61, of Colorado Springs; Oliver P. Dickinson, A. B. '66, of Kansas City; William N. Ladue. A. B. '60, of Salem, Oregon, and Archibald B. Darragh, A. B. '68, of Alle- gheny City. Jacob L. Greene, '61, President of the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company, and Schuyler Grant, A. B. '64, General Agent for Michigan of the Mutual T. W. PALMER, '49. Life Insurance Company of New York, represent the University in insurance circles. Henry W. Ashley, A. B. '79, General Manager of the Ann Arbor Railroad, Charles B. Lamborn, A. B. '58, Land Commissioner of the Northern Pacific Railroad, Horace G. Burt, '73, President of the Northern Pacific, and James D. Hawks, '70, of Detroit, are types of the alumni who are interested in railroad matters. The Michigan roll embraces also such merchants, manufacturers, and business men as Eugene F. Cooley, A. B. '70, of Lansing; Charles A. Rust, B. S. '71, of Saginaw; Francis D. Bennett, '72, of Jackson; George H. Hopkins, '73, LL. B. '71, formerly Collector of Customs at Detroit; and Franklin H. Walker, B. S. '73, Charles H. Jacobs, A. B. '75, Walter S. Russel, C. E. '75, John H. Avery, Ph. C. '77, Frederick K. Stearns, '77, William C. Johnson, Ph. B. '78, and William H. Murphy, '79, all of Detroit:
Nearly six hundred former students of the University were enlisted in the federal armies during the Civil War. Of these the only one who attained the rank of Brigadier General was a non- graduate of the collegiate department, Elon J. Farnsworth, '59. He was killed at Gettysburg. The following, sixteen in all, acquired the rank of Colonel: Dwight May, A. B. '49; Edward Bacon, A. B. '50; Jasper Packard, A. B. '55; William W. Wheeler, A. B. '56;
3I
GRADUATES AND FORMER STUDENTS
Frank Askew, B. S. '58; John W. Horner, A. B. '58; Ozora P. Stearns, B. S. '58; Charles F. Taylor, '59; Arthur T. Wilcox, A. B. 59; Byron M. Cutcheon, A. B. '61; Isaac H. Elliott, A. B. '61; William T. Frohock, '61; George D. Robinson, B. S. '62; James H. Kidd, '64; Norval E. Welch, LL. B. '60; and Henry H. Jef- ferds, LL. B. '61. Nearly all of these, and several Lieutenant- Colonels, were rewarded by the brevet rank of Brigadier-General.
Recapitulating the lists that have been presented we find that the roll of Michigan students includes eight Senators of the United States, fifty-nine Representatives in Congress, four Cabinet Minis- ters, three Assistant Secretaries (Interior, War, Agriculture), two Solicitors-General of the United States, one Ambassador, two Envoys Extraordinary and Envoys Plenipotentiary, one Consul- General, four Governors of Territories or States, one Federal Cir- cuit Judge, three Federal District Judges, eleven Chief Justices and eleven Associate Justices of State or Territorial Supreme Courts, forty-two Judges of the Circuit Courts of Michigan, fifteen Presidents of Colleges, forty-two Professors in the Faculty at Ann Arbor, sixty-three Professors in important colleges, one Brigadier- General, and sixteen Colonels.
Forty years ago an organization somewhat informal in its nature was effected by the alumni of the literary department. On the 26th of June, 1860, a constitution was adopted for the society, which thenceforth was known as " The Association of Alumni of the University of Michigan". According to the preamble of the constitution the objects of the Association were "the improve- ment of its members, the perpetuation of pleasant associations, the promotion of the interests of the University, and through that of the interests of higher education in general". In June, 1875, the Association was superseded by an incorporated organization " The Society of Alumni of the University of Michigan ", which had been formed in July of the preceding year. Notwithstanding the gen- eral name, membership is restricted to graduates of the collegiate department. Merchant H. Goodrich, '45, was the President of the literary alumni from 1859 to 1860, and his successor was Datus C. Brooks, '56. Among later presidents have been Charles W. Noble, '46, Lieutenant-Governor Dwight May, '49, Thomas W. Palmer, '49, O. M. Barnes, '50, William A. Moore, '50, Ashley Pond, '53, Charles Kendall Adams, '61, Martin L. D'Ooge, '62, Levi L. Barbour, '63, E. D. Kinne, '64, and William J. Cocker, '69. The most important business of the literary alumni has
32
THE MICHIGAN BOOK
related to the thrice unfortunate " Williams Professorship Fund ", which was started for the purpose of providing for the venerable Professor Williams. For the business meeting of the Society the morning of Alumni Day, the day preceding Commencement, is set apart, and the literary exercises, consisting of an oration and poem, are held in University Hall on the afternoon of the same day.
An association of the graduates of the law school was formed on the 29th of March, 1871. The society held its first reunion at Cook's Hotel, Ann Arbor, on the evening of Tuesday, March 26, 1872. Isaac Marston, '61, was the first president, and among his successors have been Byron D. Ball, '61, Byron M. Cutcheon, '66, George H. Hopkins, '71, George W. Moore, '73, and other well- known graduates.
Before many years all of the departments had graduate asso- ciations of their own. ' It must be admitted that the interest taken in these organizations was perfunctory. The annual meetings and literary exercises were poorly attended, and little enthusiasm was displayed. In view of these facts-which however are equally true of all other universities-it was decided to unite the societies; and on the day before Commencement in 1897 the consolidation
was affected. "The Alumni Association of the University of Michigan " as the amalgamated society is called, has a Board of five Directors. The President is Levi L. Barbour, '63. All per- sons who have received degrees or who have been recommended for degrees from the University are members, and any person who has been in attendance in any department for a period of not less than one year may be elected as an associate member after the expiration of four years from such year of resident study.
One of the earliest efforts, perhaps the earliest effort, to or- ganize a local association of alumni was made in Detroit, where, April 7, 1869, at the office of Wilkinson & Post, a meeting was held for the purpose of combining in one society the graduates residing in the chief city of Michigan. This meeting formed the " Michigan University Club of Detroit", with E. B. Wight, '57, as President, Levi T. Griffin, '57, as Vice-President, Duane Doty, '56, as Corresponding Secretary, W. A. Green, '58, as Recording Secretary, Darius J. Davison, '54, as Treasurer, and Henry F. Lyster, '58, Browse Prentis, '58, and Theodore A. McGraw, '59, as Directors. Notwithstanding this formidable array of officers the organization never enjoyed a very vigorous existence, and be-
-
33
GRADUATES AND FORMER STUDENTS
fore long it became a memory. Once in a decade or so an attempt was made to start a new society in Detroit, but the nearness of the city to Ann Arbor seemed to render organized effort less necessary or less popular than in more distant localities. What promises to be a permanently successful society was organized on the last day of October, 1895. It is called "The University of Michigan Alumni Association of Detroit", and has already held two success- ful reunions. William E. Quinby, '58, is the present presiding officer.
Beginning in 1869 three attempts have been made to estab- lish or revive a society of Michigan's alumni in the city of Chicago. James M. Walker, '46, was the first President of this organization, which in 1887 was incorporated under the laws of Illinois. During the past decade the Chicago Graduate Association has been unceasing in its efforts to promote the interests of the University. It estab- lished the Chicago concerts of the University Glee and Banjo Clubs; it arranged for the presentation in Chicago by Michigan students of a Latin play; it founded the annual football contest be- tween the elevens of Mich- CHEMICAL LABORATORY. igan and Chicago; it contributed largely to the Waterman Gym- nasium; it paid for two years the salary of a coach for the foot- ball team; and it founded a medal and testimonial for the winners in the annual oratorical contest at Ann Arbor.
December 7, 1876, "The Ann Arbor Club of the Pacific Slope " was formed, and three weeks later forty alumni members had a reunion dinner in the Palace Hotel, San Francisco. The alumni in Grand Rapids organized an association in 1877. Two years afterwards the New England Alumni Association was insti- tuted. On the 17th of March, 1882, the alumni in New York gave a dinner at Delmonico's to Judge Thomas M. Cooley, and constituted themselves into a society, and fourteen days later the graduates in Cleveland held a reunion which was followed by the usual feast. An association was formed at Minneapolis in 1883, with N. H. Winchell, '66, as the first President.
34
THE MICHIGAN BOOK
On the 18th of February, 1885, a meeting was held at Wil- lard's Hotel in Washington, for the purpose of forming a perma- nent organization of the alumni residing at the national capital. After articles of association had been adopted, the fifty alumni partook of a dinner over which the first President of the Associa- tion, Senator Thomas W. Palmer, presided. In response to the first toast "The University", Professor Charles Kendall Adams spoke concerning the part of the University of Michigan in the work of higher education. The activity of the Washington alumni has been continuous and successful; and the annual dinner is attended by nearly all of, the many congressmen who claim Michigan as their Alma Mater.
"The Central Michigan Alumni Association", with headquar- ters at Battle Creek, was formed in 1885. It has had several reunions. In 1887 the University of Michigan Alumni Associa- tion of Colorado was organized. The second annual reunion of that society was held March 27, 1888. In 1889 a graduate asso- ciation was formed in Kansas City. During the present decade alumni clubs have been founded in Buffalo, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Macomb County ( Michigan), Saginaw, and elsewhere. It is believed that the cause of the University will be strengthened greatly by these organizations.
CHAPTER III THE DEPARTMENTS
From the opening of the University in September, 1841, until the organization of the Medical Department in 1850, all the stu- dents were nited in the pursuit of academic studies. Had the conditions precedent to the study of medicine been made as rigor- ous as those imposed upon would-be matriculates in the college proper, and had the time required for graduation been the same in both, it is possible that the two branches would have stood from the first upon an equal plane in popular opinion and in student esteem. But with slight requisites for admission, and with only two years-those years of six instead of nine months as in the col- legiate department-it was impossible for medical students as such to receive much consideration from their fellow matriculates on the other side of the campus. With the opening of the law school in 1859, the difference between the so-called "lits " and the " pro- fessionals " was accented rather than diminished. As the require- ments for admission to the law department were nominal, and as the term examinations were by no means rigid, that seat of learn- ing became a retreat for academic students and others who desired to enjoy the advantages of university life without labor of prepara- tion or of daily study. Thus it happened that in addition to the large number of college graduates and of other well-equipped stu- dents to be found in the law classes, were men who never should have been matriculated, and whose conduct was not invariably creditable to the University. Moreover the professional school undergraduates of a generation ago paid less attention than their literary comrades paid, or than their own successors pay, to mat- ters of dress and address. But whatever the reasons, the students in the college proper used to look upon "laws " and " medics " as creatures of an inferior mold.
During the interval between the departure of President Haven and the inauguration of President Angell literary prejudice against the professional students was at its height. University Day had its origin in a resolution passed by the University Senate at the in- stance of Judge Cooley in 1868, and the express object of it was
36
THE MICHIGAN BOOK
to consolidate friendly relations between the departments; but be- fore the arrival of the date set for the first celebration disputes arose about the order of the different schools in the procession, and about the selection of the chief officer of the day. Finally it was decided that medicine should precede law, and that literature should follow both. Orson W. Tock, '70 m, was chosen grand marshal. Notwithstanding the preliminary controversies the first University Day, November 17, 1869, was very successful. The public was impressed by the parade, and the University profited by the attention the affair attracted. For the second celebration, November 9, 1870, Preston C. Hudson, '71, was elected grand marshal. The order of march was law, literature, and medicine. Un- fortunate arrangement! As the procession was returning from the exercises-which were held in one of the city churches- that part of the legal contingent in which was carried the beautiful blue-silk ban- ner of the department came by some strange tactical evolution in contact with the under-class " lits ". A wild "rush " followed; many combatants lost collars, cuffs, and even more important parts of their raiment; and the banner of the law was sadly torn. Betaking themselves LAW BUILDING, 1863-98. to their lecture-room the law stu- dents made many fiery speeches, and adopted a series of incendiary resolutions. A third University Day was not attempted. Speak- ing of the departed celebration The Chronicle said " We doubt if a real, genuine, University feeling can ever be established, how- ever desirable it may be. The ties are too slight by which the professional school men who constitute a majority in the Univer- sity are bound to the institution, their connection with it too slight, to inspire any great enthusiasm. The connection between the three departments exists more in name than in reality ".
A great passage at arms between literature and medicine occurred November 9, 1872. For that day a game of football between academic freshmen and sophomores had been scheduled, and the medical students determined to play at the same time on
37
THE DEPARTMENTS
the same ground. A meeting was held the evening before, and the medical students decided to wear, as an appropriate badge of the department, a red ribbon around either their wrists or their necks, and to put off the ground every person not so distinguished. Without any such organizing by the college men the two parties assembled in the northeastern part of the campus. The doctors tried to play, but the noise and the confusion were too great. Then the literary boys challenged them to play football just as they were. They refused. A crowd soon gathered around two excited speakers; some one on the outside began to push; and the rush began. Seven hundred and more men pushed and shouted, and tugged and wrestled, the "lits" trying to carry the "medics" eastward and the latter seeking to force the former westward. The senseless struggle continued until both sides needed rest, so rings were formed, and the wrestlers of both parties met in the midst. This was not exciting enough, nor as yet was sufficient damage done; at it again went the whole mob, and the pushing and battering were renewed. Spectators from all parts of the city filled the campus around the ball-ground. And now a large area was formed, and more wrestling and more boxing took place. As darkness came on many of the medical students re- paired to their boarding houses, since your true "medic " never allows himself to remain hungry for long. Taking advantage of this strategic error the college men rushed upon their weakened foes, and soon every one of the ebryonic doctors, his red badge torn from him, was over the fence and out of the campus. Then the literary students formed in a triumphal procession, arranged in the order of the classes, and marched down into the city, where cheers were given and songs sung.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.