The long-lost Stanford Axe was in protective custody of the University of California yesterday, back in the hands from which it was stolen last June, by virtue of a 21-21 tie in a thing called "Big Game."

The old blade, since 1898 the symbol of rivalry between the two institutions, was discovered in the automobile of Stanford football team captain Norm Manoogian Saturday a few hours before the Big Game began.

Manoogian, whose car was parked near the President Hotel in Palo Alto where the football team was quartered, said he found the package containing the Axe and an anonymous note.

"I gave the package to Joe Mell, the student manager," Manoogian said, "and told him to sneak it into the stadium so there wouldn't be a riot or anything like that."

Mell subsequently turned the Axe over to Stanford athletic director Al Masters who saw that the trophy was returned to UC student body president Ralph Vetterlein.

The Axe was then brought before the UC rooting section amid cheers. It reappeared for a few minutes at the end of the game -- this tim on both the UC and Stanford sides of the Stadium.

Vetterlein said yesterday he had what he termed "proof" that the theft of the Axe was made by Stanford students. He said that UC's senior Axe-finding committee had the names of "five Stanford students" who allegedly took the Axe.

The ASUC president said he would "know more about it" today when he talks with the Axe-finding group and Stanford student body president Don Lozabnick.

Other UC student leaders also said that they believe the purloining of the historic relic was the work of Stanfordites. They said they had information that the Axe was hidden in the Stanford Firehouse for a time. Chief John Marston of the Stanford Fire Department, however, sadi he knew nothing about the Axe being hidden there.

The letter found with the Axe was addressed to Manoogian and said that "in handling this Axe over the past five months we have been through many trials and tribulations regarding its final disposition. The thing that may seem hard for you to realize is that all events circulating around its existence -- campus vandalism, etc. -- have been a constant fear and worry to us and a regret if we turn out to be the cause of more than the normal amount of damage to the campus, or danger to the students.

"Regarding the whereabouts of the Axe over these months will probably never be known because of the remaining risk to ourselves. But the success of the whole caper centered in the absolute silence of all parties..."

The letter urged Manoogian to "rest assured that this is the real Stanford Axe, and the same one which was removed from the plaque last June."

"Accept no substitutes," it concluded.