FOOTBALL IN A FOG

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 10, 12 July 1922, Page 15

FOOTBALL IN A FOG

REMARKABLE CONDITIONS AT CHRISTCHtTRCH.

.Let the ball oome out!" yelled a wag in the crowd. Overßooo pairs of eyes searched for it. But the ball remained hidden—and so did most of the players, for that matter. It was not their fault, either, but that of the fog which descended o'er the scene of the Rugby football match between Linwood and Marists on the oval at Lancaster Park on Saturday afternoon (states the Christchurch Sun). ; Men, big, solid men, were engaged in a strenuous struggle. The next moment, it almost seemed, they had become spectral shapes, looming up occasionally, and then melting into the grey. With the insistence of a bleat of a sheep lost on the hillside came-the plaintive note of a whistle, but the referee, attired in white, had become a person impalpable.. Seldom have more extraordinary conditions ruled at a football match at Lancaster Park. A roar of excitement would come from the crowd at one end of the field, as it glimpsed an incident in the struggle. , The next moment players would 'be lost to sight, but from the other end the crowd would take up the yell, as it, too, caught sight of some movement.

The fog rolled in from the sea., and it made its appearance about 4.20 p.m. on Saturday. It covered the wholo city and environs. Naturally, it added to the difficulties of traffic. One party from Rangiora, who attended Lancaster Park, left in a taxi owned by Tyler and Sons. When the Marshland-road waa reached, the driver of the taxi, Mr. C. A. Tyler, misjudged a turn of the road. The car stopped at a ditch, tilted over, and jammed against a fence. The passengers were bruised and shaken,- but too ono was badly hurt. They were taken to their destination by another car, for the car in the ditch was so firmly jammed that it was not until Sunday afternoon that it could be got out. It was very little damaged. The densest fog experienced at Lyttelton for over a year set in about 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, and did not lift until early on Monday morning, when a nor'-easter set in. Some incon-„ venience was caused to shipping in consequence. The steamer Tekoa sailed at 4 p.m. for Wellington, but dropped anchor in the stream, where she remained till _ a.m. on j Sunday. It was expected that the Mararoa would be late in arriving on Sunday, but Captain B. Irwin stated there was no sign of fog up till within half an hour's steaming from the Heads. He received a wireless message on Saturday night from Captain W. D. Cameron, of the Maori, warning him of the thick fog, in the /inner and outer harbours, and also of the fact that the Tekoa was at anchor Opposite Camp Bay. Once inside the Heads, the MaraToa. had to creep along cautiously, as all landmarks were obscured. She managed, however, to reach port safely at 9.30 a.m.