The morning call., 1891-10-25
TUG-OF-WAR
TOURNAMENT.
An Immense Attendance at the
Contests of Strength.
America Defeats England, Canada Germany,
Denmark Sweden, Scotland Norway, and
ireland Walks Away With Italy.

Mechanics Pavilion was packed from
main floor to gallery, last night with an
enthusiastic crowd to witness the opening
Of the international tug-of-war tournament,
which will continue this week.
The contests between the ten teams OF the
ten nations represented were mighty tests OF
Drawn, and evoked the greatest applause.
Canada, America, Denmark, Scotland and
Ireland were the vctors of the opening
pulls over Germany, England, Sweden,
Norway and Italy respectively.
Long before o'clock the streets to the
Mechanics Pavilion were filed with crowds
of people. The entrance to the building
was almost impassable SO great was the
Jam. The keenest interest was manifested
on all hands and betting on the outcome
was lively on all sides, the booksellers IN
sides doing lucrative business.
BY S 40 O'clock, wien the first contestants
went upon the platform, the hall was posi-
lively jammed, many ladies being present,
and who took as intense an interest in the
contests as did the men. Ranged diagOnally
across the center of the main-f0Or space,
and raised about 8 feet above it. was
platform 10 feet wide and $50 feet in length.
Across its surface were nailed ceats SIX
inches apart. This was the tug-of-war
platform.
SEATS CAME CRASHING DOWN.
The seats we're ranged in tiers, ranging
above and TO either side of this. These
seats, by the way, were about the most
fimsily built things ever experienced at any
public gathering in this city. All through
the contest they were breaking down, and
for the first two hours there was heard an
incessant crashing OF lumber II every dlrec-
tion. That no one was seriously hurt was
due more TO the good luck Of the victim than
to the good carpenterlng.
1t was about 80 O'Clock when r. 7. Ham
mund Jr., the referee, stepped upnn the
platform, followed by George A. Dali of the
Olympic Club. and +. Attinger of the San
Francisco Turn Verein, the judges. In an
nOuncng the event. Hammond briefly stated
that the tournament would be fair one,
and the prizes would be awarded upon the
merits OF tue winning teams. These prizes
were $500 to first, $500 to second, $50 to
third and consolation prize of $50 to the
fourth. In order TO win the losing side must
be pulled seven feet. Any team losing four
tugs was to be declared out Of the contest.
There were ter teams entered, the indiyid-
ua names and captains OF which were pnb-
lshed in last Sundays CALL. The pro-
gramme was: Germany vs.. Canada, Amer
lea vs.. England. Denmark VS.. Sweden, Nor
way VS.. Scotland. Ireland Us. Italy.
GERMANY CAME FIRST.
Germany came first on the platform, cap
tanned by A. Fnhrman. They were twelve
strong, including the two substitutes, who
did not pull. They were big, STRONGHOLD
ing set of men, and in the betting odds were
in their favor at 10 to 6. Their anchor man
was a specially heavy man, weighing nearly
300 pounds. Their front man WAS Max Fen
ner. the pugilist.
The Canadian team came quickly after
ward. captained by J. j. McKinnun. They
were smaller men than their opponents,
but they fully made up for loss In weight
by the perfection Of their physical develop
ment.
The Canadians wore seal-brown shirts
and caps while the Germans wore
white flannel Both looked in the
prime of condition. The signal 20 pull was
given at S:51 by pistol shot, and for just
fifty-eight minutes the two teams strained
and struggled for the mastery. The Ger
mans worked especially hard, while the
Canadians settled down to their task with a
quiet determination and a never-give-up
resolution OF purpose that won for them
inch by inch.
They were materially aided to win their
victory by the excellent management and
coaching of their captain. The difference
in the appearance Of the two teams was
marked. The Germans labOred hard, and
were perspiring freely with flushed faces,
while the Canadians we're as cool as their
climate. 1t was a very even contest OF
strength. and the superior headwOrk of
Captain Mckinnon had much to do with the
winning They were considered the two
best-matched teams in the tourney.
LACK OF TRAINING TOLD.
1t WAS twenty-five minutes before Canada
had much of start, and for few moments
nfterward the Teut0ns nearly regained 1t.
| The CaDucks had better staying qualities,
however, and in the last twenty-five min
uIes pulled away inch by inch. Captain
| Fuhrman attributed his defeat to lack of
training and overconfdence on the part of
| his men.
While this tug was in progress Mayor
Sanderson and Charles F. Crocker came in
and took seats In the press box, remaining
throughout.
The American team, all soldiers from
the Presidio, under Captain Soyer,
had ten stawart Englishmen under
Captain Hogan for opponents. The En-
| glsh were in white, while the Americans
wore their army uniforms. They were
| much smaller, but they made better show
on the platform than the English and won
| the tug with snirited spurtin five minutes.
Denmark and Sweden we're on the plat
| form just 1k minutes when the Danes, who
in appearance and size resemble the soldier
buys, won. Captain Nelson commanded the
Danes and Captain Purdy the Swedes.
1t required one hour aud nine minutes for
Scotland to defeat Norway. This was the
| most stubbornly contested tug of the night
both Captain Sharp, who wore a High
lander's costume, and Captain Johnston.
doing excellent work. 1t was a hard battle
for the Scotch to win, but they did it to the
tune of the "Campbells Are Coming" The
| Norwegians were all sailors.
LAST IN THE LIST.
Ireland and Italy were last In the list.
| The teams presented a strange contrast.
| The Irish were all tall, fair complected.
/ sin ewy fellows, clad only in thin garments,
while the Italians were short heavy-set
men, wearing red flannel shirts. The
Italians were pulled inch by inch over the
| line and lost in fourteen minutes. The
Irish team was commanded by Captain Gar
vey anu the Italian team by E. Paulini.