The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-27
TUGGING FOR COIN.
Herculean Struggle Between the
Canucks and the Danes.
The German, American, Norwegian and
Danish Teams Each Win a Pull.
Scotland Defeats ireland.

The vast interior of the Mechanics Pa
vilion fairly swarmed with humanity last
night Wherever the eye wandered there
we're heads. and rows upon rows of heads
around the platform on which the men OF
muscle tugged away for glory.
The first bench went down amid roars of
laughter at 7:45 o'clock sharp. The occu-
pants blasphemed and the gallery ap-
plauded. Another bench followed suit,
and another and another, until the air was
full of the sound of breaking timber.
Referee Hammond appeared on the plat
form at o'clock, and. pitching his voice so
high that he nearly lost sight of it, an
nounced that he wanted to introduce the
treasurer of the contest to the ladies and
gentlemen of the audience.
Treasurer Mcneil came forward and said
that owing to the success of the tournament
$500 would be added 10 the prize money,
and another $500 would be added If it con-
tinued a success. The spectators yelled
their approval and Mcneil disappeared.
For half an hour the spectators waited.
Then the band struck up Yankee Doodle,
and the American team came on the plat
form. Soon after it was whispered that
trouble was brewing between tie manage
ment and some of the performers.
TIE TEAMS WERE On SHINE
Referee Hammond established the truth
of the rumor when he stated to the audience
that the teams were on strike and would
not tug unless they were assured OF soma
share of the receipts whether they won or
not. The referee expressed no sympathy
for the dissatisfied tuggers.
I'll they don't appear on the platform
within fifteen minutes after they're called"
he shouted, 'I'll give the money to The team
that is here"
The team that was there was Uncle Sans
team, and their faces frightened perceptibly
as the referees watch licked the minutes
away, and no contestants appeared
-Four minutes are left" said the referee
in cold blOoded tones.
Here come those Germans. Hochl
Hoch! Hoch" screamed an excited Teuton
who had caught a view of the bro ad
shoulders of Captain Fuhrman'S team a d.
Vancing from the dreSSing-rOOm. The
were closely followed by the English tug
gers.
THE ROPE TAKEN UP AGAIN.
Saxons and Anglo-SaXons speedily took
their places along the rope, lay down beside
it and Rugged it affeetouately. The word
was given and the cable stifened and com-
menced to vibrate with the str ain. The
white globe that hung between the teams
commenced to dance 1t moved three
inches toward England and stood still.
1t then became apparent that the
on Saturday night. They had discarded the
light slippers, which gave their feet no pro-
lection from the sharp corners OF thecleaLs,
and haG on heavy shoes.
Then they had learned trick of throwing
one leg over the rope and thereby strength
ened their grasp upon it. Their 300 pound
"anchor " perspired diligently. Their cap
tain mutey appealed to them to tug as they
never tugged before, aud they obeyed. In
spite Of the cries of Stay with it. Johnny
NkaEr ard rtan
German line, and 10 minutes and 40 seconds
after the tug began stood trembling over the
broad yellow ribbon, behind which Fuhr-
man's men lay painting.
CANADIANS AND DANES.
Canada and Denmark, the Norsemen of the
Old and New World, followed England and
Germany. The tug was unpTecedeutedly
long. At the end Of an hour and quarter
the ball still hung almost half way between
the contestants.
Just then the white globe began to move
toward Canada. SlowlY-vtry slOwly-it
wobbled al the line. Fifteen minutes
passed, and the tuggers opened their
mouths aud were given little chunks of ice
Their hands and feet were burning, and
their eyes protruded from their sock
cts, as the eyes Of the green-coat-
ed melodists of the swamp prntrude.
The crowd whistled Home, Sweet Home"
The twenty fifth bench cracked and fell,
and the white ball slid back toward Dem
mark. 1t began to bound, and amid fierce
tumUlt OF applause touched the Danes rib
bon just two hours and three minutes after
the tremendous conflict commenced. The
vanqui he'd Canadians were c0ngra mated by
their successful opponents, and retired to
dry their perspiration- soaked garments.
AMERICA VS.. SWEDEN.
At II 80 o'clock America and Sweden as
sumed the horizontal TIE white ball be-
came agitated at once. 1t was an Ameri-
car, a Mckinley bill ball, so to speak,
and il lost no time in getting
home. At the end of the fourth
minute it was near the border. At min
utes % seconds it was there. The audience
went wild with delight, and the rafter phI-
lOsopher crawled over TO the big bell that
hangs from the middle of the roof and set it
a Changing. The betting on the American
team was 2 to l.
NORWAY AND ITALY.
Norway and Italy followed. 1t was north
against south. Victory was declared on the
Norwegians' side in IS minutes and sec
onds after the pull commenced. and just as
the thirty bench went into match
wood.
SCOTLAND AND IRELAND.
"The Wearing of the Green" followed
by 1.-The Campbells Are Coming" an-
nounced the opening of the last Pull, the
contest between Scotland and Ireland.
For five minutes the white ball stood
motiOnless and the silence was profound.
1t moved an inch toward Ireland, and the
yell that went up drowned the crashing Of
the thirty-ninth bench.
Then the ball rested for another five min
utes and set out for Scotland. Come Back
to Erin, Mavourneen," whistled the boy on
tie rafter; but the ball did not come back.
The pull lasted one hour ana two minutes
and resulted in a victory for the Scotch.
The record now stands: