St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-24
mERVINE THOMPSON.
He Pulls Against IL Horse. Block and
TacksesRigged.

llC announcement tlldJ MeTNIle 1uOllp-
son, the Cleveland hercules, was to pull
against famous draught horse at Mime
haha falls yesterday was the magnet that
attracted throngs of people to the falls.
Each outgoing motor was loaded to the
guards, and the streets leading in the direc-
ton of the falls were literally alive with
teams, equipageS and fine turnOutS. -Four
O'Clock was the time designated for the test
of strength, and by that hour the largest
crowd of people that ever assembled at the
falls thronged the grounds. 1t was per-
feet crush. One could scarcely 90
was obliged to elbow his way
through the crowds. There seemed to
be misunderstanding, however, regarding
at just what place the pulling was to occur.
Consequently the number who actually
witnessed the feat was comparatively
small. There was 10 banner or anything
else to indicate that it was to take place in
j. L. Booths flower garden.
4 KICK.
Mervine Thompson was on the ground
early. He had his strong and heavy ladder
securely chained to huge oak in the garden
long before the given time He then
Strolled carelessly about the grounds until
o'clock. Meanwhile 'Tobe" Broderick
and Steve Terhune had arrived with the
araught horse upon which they had placed
their money. The quietlyy lifted from the
wagon double block and tackle and threw
it beside the ladder.
''What are you going TO do with that?"
lsked Mervin Thompson.
1--WE are going to use it, replied Brod-
Mick.
''Not on me-"
'Surely."
''Do you take me for a house? A horse
ought to pull house down with that rig
gin. l know something about this block
and tackle business
''Of course we propose to win this bet /
would never have put up my hundred dol
lars had / not thought l had show for my
money"
'Wen. won't pull against that. don't
want to get hurt had rather pull against
four horses"
Ibid you not give me the choice of
hitch? All right; propose to exercise my
right. l was to make any hitch / saw fit,
and this is my hitch"
The crowd meanwhile became impatient
and were not slow in manifesting il, either.
They howled for their admission fee, but
finally Thompson consented to don his
heavy harness and take his chances. He
did it upon the consideration that match
for 5000 a side should come off next Sun
day, in which he is to pull against three
horses, straight draught, no block and tackle
or other mechanical continuance to be used.
Thompson laid down Oh the ladder. Every
thing having been placed in readi
ness, the word go was given.
The horse Strengthened out and
the machinery creaked and Thompson
grunted but he chung tenaclously to his
position. The round in the ladder turned,
and he was given time to fix it. Again the
horse was started. He Strengthened out, his
hOOfs dug deep into the soil, but he did not
bulge the man on the ladder. The horse
settled back repeatedly. and finally Broder-
lex cracked him with the whip. Some
thing had to come this time, but it was not
Thompson. The rope hitch gave way.
The crowd cheered Thompson and con-
graduated him upon having won his money.
Broderick, however, claimed another
chahce. lie stated that the conditions OF
me match were that the horse
should be given three trials and
that thompson was to have
five minutes rest between each trial. On
the other hand Thompson claimed that each
time the horse eased up a trial had been fin
ished, ana therefore the horse had been
given i've TRIALS. Owing to the technicality
of the case, the referee refused to decide
the match until he had better information
regarding tne rules governing such contests:
the matter, however, will be definitely SET
tied this evening.
Next Sunday Thompson will mil AGAINST
three big draught horses, but probably NOT at
Booths, as that person prefers not to have
1t occur in his garden.
The Elks' Social.