The record-union., 1891-12-04
AMERICANS IN THE LEAD.
The Boys in Red, White and Blue
Closing in on the First Prize.
Defeat of the Brassfnishers and Brew.
ers-Grand Struggle Between the
Carbuilders and Foundrymen.
I

tests at the old Pavilion last night.
The Americans scored another victory,
but did not have such an easy time with
the Brassfnishers as was expected.
The Scandinavian team showed up in
splendid form, and won bitterly fought
battle from the Germans
But the one grand struggle of the even
ing was that between the Carbuilders and
Foundrymen, a detailed report of which
appears below. Nearly every one eX-
pected to see the Foundrymen win, and
for time it looked as though this would
be the result, but the Carbuilders snatched
victory from defeat in most sensational
manner
THE FIRST BATTLE.
At S:26 o'clock the appearance of big
Jack Scroggs, the American teams
anchor-man, as he stepped up on the plat
form, was the signal for a burst of APP
plause from the audience. He was
quickly followed by the balance of the
boys IN red, white and blue.
In the previous contests the Americans
have occupied the northwest or lucky"
side of the platform, but this time they
graciously surrendered this privilege to
the Brasstinishers, and took the opposite
side.
The Brassfnishers put in an appear
ance soon after the Americans had got
into position, and busted themselves res
lining the rope and getting ready.
Captain Wilder ofthe Americans looked
confident and smiling, and just before
the contest began stepped down the line
where his men lay on the cleats and gave
each word of encouragement.
The Brassfinishers had a couple of new
men in their team, and they all looked
Stronger than on the previous contest
nights.
At $40 o'clock Referee Nichols raised
his pistol, and asked the Captains if their
teams were ready. Receiving an affirma-
tive reply from EACH he fired.
There was a lurch on both sides the
pinion which held the rope captive was
quickly slipped and the battle began.
NOT A HURRICANE BATTLE.
Those who had expected to see the
Americans haul their opponents over the
scven-foot mark from the jump were
disappointed, as the big fellows contented
themselves with simply taking cleat at
the slack, and then resting fora while. 1t
was apparent after a few minutes of pull
ing that the Americans did not intend TO
exert themselves too much. Besides this,
the BraSstinishers were making desper-
ate effort to redeem their two previous
defeats. They Strove hard to regain their
lost rope, but it was like trying to move a
house.
When ten minutes had elapsed Captain
leans to create some excitement, so he
signaled his men TO pull. They had been
waiting anXiously for this signal, and be-
gan to tug at the rope with a will Their
efforts told heavily on their opponents.
and before they stopped pulling the
marker showed that they had gained six
full cleats, or three feet. Five minutes
later they had increased the lead to ten
cleats.
The audience was howling Justify all
the while for the favorite team.
The Americans continued to squirt at
regular intervals, and at the end of
twenty-three minutes had landed their
opponents over the Seven-foot mark.
Dr. Nichols pistoEannounced the victory
and the audience set up a tremendous
cling for few seconds.
sCANDINAvIANs VS.. GERMANS.
After an intermission of fifteen minutes
the doughty Germans comprising the
Brewers team marched out and took
their places OF the lucky end of the
platform. They Were followed quickly
by the hardy Scandinavians in their
white caps and neat uniforms.
Little time was lost in getting ready,
end after Captains Lubbock of the Scandi-
navians and Binse of the Brewers an
nounced sail set" Referee Nichols sig
nailed the battle to begin at 9:1S o'clock.
The ScandlnavianS struggled hard and
gained one cleat at the start. The Brew
ers tried to take it back, but in vain.
A few minutes later the Scandinavians
took the cue from their Captain and
tugged the rope vigorously until they
had added two more cleatS TO their credit
Now and then the Brewers would
struggle desperately to get back some of
the rope, but the Scandinavians held it
in vice-like grips during these rallies.
and would invariably revenge them
selves by taking another cleat from their
opponents.
Thus the battle continued. At the end
of fifteen minutes the Scandinavians had
seven cleats to their credit Five minutes
later and they had nine cleats-equal to
four and half feet.
The marker was going slowly but
surely toward the Scandinavians' goal
and try as they would the beermakers
could not prevent it.
But when the half hour was up the
ScandinaYlanS had only gained one more
cleat, and We're getting tired The Brew
ers on the other hand were apparently
getting their second wind" and began
q final desperate struggle for victory
The audience fairly bowled when the
marker began to move back inch by inch
toward the center. The Brewers took
courage and pulled like Trojans. But the
time was too short TO make up the loss in,
the limit being fifty minutes, according
to the rules. They succeeded, however,
in recovering three feet of the lost rope
end of the contest-and that the Sean
dinavians had won Shy neck"
1t was splendid exhibition ofstrength
and endurance.
EVENT OF THE EVENING.
After another intermission of fifteen
minutes the contest that hadl been looked
forward to with great expectations by
everybody took place This was the
struggle between the Carbuilders' and
Eoundrymeu'S teams-two of the strong
est teams entered in the tournament.
There was considerable preparation by
the men on each side, neither Captain
desiring to permit the battle to begin
until their men We're all placed in the
best possible positions.
At 1925 O'Clock the referees pistol sig
naied the men to work and then began
terrific struggle for first honors. 1t
lasted but a few. seconds and when it was
over the marker showed that neither
team had gained even an inch of adj
vantage.
The Foundrymen were the first to
throw down the gauntlet again, and made
mighty ett'ortto pull the marker toward
their goal, but in vain. The lusty Car
builders held on like grim DEATH ana
when the swaying was over the marker
still pointed to the center line.
Then the Carbuilders tried a squirt but
We're equally unsuccessful.
After a lull of about minute Captain
Douglas signaled the Foundrymen to an
other effort, and this time they succeeded
IL gaining about half q cleat. This was
increased TO a full cleat-six inches-a
minute later in another rally.
When ten minutes had elapsed the Car
builders, in desperate rally, hauled the
marker back over the center line again.
and held it there for about a minute,