Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-08
The Spanish Defeat the
Police Team.
The French Easily Succumb to
the Germans.
America Gains the Day With Ireland
in Quick Time.
Thousands Watch the Opening of the Tug
of War-The Greatest Excitement and
Enthusiasm Exhibited-The Pro-
grammc for Tomorrow.


All Los Angeles was on hand at Haz
ards pavilion early in the evening, and
the shekels rolled into the box Office al
rate that both surprised and pleased
the directors OF the Athletic club, under
whose auspices the tournament is being
held. n l.
A steady stream of people eurged UP
Fifth street long time before the hour
set for the first tug. The street in front
of the entrance was completely blocked
with people anxious to secure ticket
and gain admittance to the novel show.
Many OF the fair sex were in the crowd
and they evinced as much anxiety to
get in to see the contest as the most
ardent devotee of sport in the crowd.
sURGING CROWD.
1t was struggle to get to the ticket
window, but by o'clock nearly 1000
persons had deposited their entrance fee
and passed into the big building. Fully
200 who would have gone in turned
away, tired OF waiting and struggling to
get tickets.
1nt duNlSHC6 Wdo q Va dii
nationalities and conditions. Each team
had its following, and in most instances
these partisans were grouped, and re-
minded one somewhat of college crowd
by the yells of encouragement in which
they frequently INDUCED to encourage
their teams on TO victory.
The irrepressible small boy was on
hand in good numbers. This individual
patronizss the uppermost balcony and
keeps up constant din. The gallery
was crowded almost beyondit its capacity,
some of the spectators perching them
selves on the rafters in order to see the
struggle.
The balcony was reserved for ladies'
and their escorts, and did not contain
an empty seat. The lower floor was
likewise jammed and many were COM
PEELED to stand throughout the evening.
AN ENTHUSIASTIC, AUDIENCE.
Despite the discomfort experienced by
many of the spectators they stayed un-
til the last tug was finished and wished
they could see more. Unbounded ap-
plause followed the slightest advantage
gained, and at times the crowd was
fairly wild with excitement. Such en-
thusiasm has seldom been displayed
upon any occasion in this city. and Los
Angeles last night secon 1ed San Fran
cisco in voting the tug of war a success.
The teams pulled on along platform
extending from the stage to the Fifth
street end of the building and of an
equal height with the stage. Seats were
arranged along the sides of the audi
torium for the spectators. The report
ers were located on the stage in very
good position to view the contest, but
the accommodations for writing were
very meager, owing possibly to the
hurry of preparation. A number oil
spectators made for the stage, and in
their excitement and enthusiasm sur
rounded the one small table furnished
and made work an impossibility. The
managers will gain the everlasting
thanks of those members of the press
who have to report the tournament if
they will arrange some convenient place
where they will not be hampered by the
crowd.
With few exceptions the management
was excellent. Good order was main
tanned, and everything went offsmoothly
and creditably to the promoters. The
sport is comparatively new in this city,
but its popularity cannot be doubted.
1t is a clean, manly sport, in which the
muscle and Drawn of the contestants
are strained to their utmost. and the
tugs are invariably won on their merits.
MUSCLE AND STAMINA.
Comparatively few people are familiar
with the tug of war. 1t is as old as the
hills of the proverb, and has always
held high place in athletics, requiring
<.f ,rn,rcolno u orI Il
and with sufficient endurance to hang to
a rope for hours, if need be.
A tug of war team is made up OF ten
men. They must work together, for in
dividual strength goes for little when
put against good team work. The rope
used in the contest now going on is
about 65 feet IN length and nearly two
inches in diameter.
When the teams takes their places
the rope lies along the platform, which
is provided with cleats firmly nailed on.
The anchor man or end man of each
team is provided with q padded harness
which fits around his waist and is sup
ported by straps passing over each
shoulder. The portion of this harness
which fits about the neck is made OF
wood and metal, and has deep groove
for the rope, which is tied around the
anchor to give him firm hold.
In the center OF the rope is ribbon.
A stout piece OF board fitted in an iron
staple holds the rope firmly. The teams
are warned to make ready and each
man braces himself for the pull, The
referee waits an instant after giving the
warning and then fires his pistol, and
the struggle has begun.
In order to win, one team must pull
the other distance OF seven feet, under
the rules of the tournament. The dis
tance is measured off from the center
where the ribbon is located,
and when the ribbon reaches the
mark, a crack of the pistol announces
the termination of the contest.
Rounds of applause greeted each
teams appearance, and Douglass mill
itary band added to the welcome given
the men by playing national airs as an
introduction before each contest.
The result of the contests was con.
siderable surprise to many, the general
opinion being that the police
team would ghave an easy thing
with the Spanish, and the Ger
mans with the French, while the Amer
lean and Irish teams were set down for
a long and hard struggle. All these
calculations were wrong except in the
case of the German team. The AmeriA
cans walked away with their opponents
in shout eight minutes, while the Span
ish and the police made the big ight.