The record-union., 1891-12-02
TUG-OF- WAR CONTESTS.
Strength and Endurance at the Old
Pavilion Last Night.
Americans Beat the Scandinavians,
Foundrymen Win From Brassfnish-
ers, Carbuilders Beat Brewers.
Success? Wei. rather.

VI course the projectors OF the tug-of-
war expected a large attendance on the
opening night, but the most sanguine of
them did not look for anything like the
thtong that gathered in the old Pavilion
last night. The place was packed.
The opening contests were all good,
and We're exciting. The audience was
given samples of quick and short strug-
giles and the long stubborn battles for
supremacy.
The arrangements for the affair were
good, with the exception that the placing
of the reserved seats might be improved
so as to give those who occupy the
benches an opportunity to see the tug-of-
war men.
THE OPENING BATTLE.
Last nights entertainment opened with
magnificent exhibition Of strength and
endurance. The first teams pitted were
the Americans and ScandinaYians. The
two teams marched out at S:l5 o'clock in
step with a lively march played by the
Hussar Band. DIR. G.. b. Nichols, the
referee, headed the procession and as
signed the teams to their respective
places.
The cleated platform on which the
pulling was done extended diagonally
across the hall, with the goals in the CEN
ter. An ingenious contrivance in the
shape of a marker was elevated above the
goals, by means OF which those Of the
audience who could not see the tug-of-
wars men could tell how the contest was
going. An inch and one-quarter rope
WAS used.
The American team was composed of
Q. Gallagher, John Scroggs, A. Sunday,
Quarrells, Fagg, Miller, Bird, Tom Con-
ISOLATION, Kendall and Mclaughlin, with
Frank Wilder as Captain. The Scandi-
naVlan team was made up OF j. Il. Berg,
NJ. MichaelSon, Sven Hansen, O. Larsen,
Severn Hansen, G. Holten, E. Eckstrom,
j. Larsen, a. Norman and j. Erickson,
with August Gustafson as Captain.
1t was just twenty-five minutes past s
O'Clock when DR.. Nichols shouted: Gap
talns, are your men readyY'
Yes" came from Wilder and Gustaf-
son.
The rope began to crealx; there was an
audible drawing in of breath, and then
''One twoW
Bang
Simultaneous with the report of the
referees pistol the men threw themselves
backward clutching the rope with
might and main. The marker on the
center swayed over and back for a few
seconds and then steadled. 1t was then
seen that neither team had gained frac-
tlon of an inch in the start.
STUBBORN STRUGGLE.
Both teams settled down on the cleats
for Il long siege of it, and save for the
anxious movements Of the Captains, who
busted themselves watching their own
men as well as those of the opposing
team-watching for a chance to signal
their men to a herculean effort-there
was little action.
For nine minutes the rope did not
bulge an inch, despite the fact that sew
eral efforts were made by each team to
pull the opposing side toward the seven
foot marker.
Then the Scandinavian Captain took
out his watch and glanced at the dial.
His men saw him, and gave a sudden
heave to the rope. A great cheer went
UP from the audience as the Americans
withstood temporarily the tremendous
efforts of their opponents. But the
doughty ScandfnavIans were determined
and they tugged away with dogged tenac-
ity until they had gained a cleat-just
six inches. A few minutes later they
tried to repeat the operation, but the
Americans fought them off.
Then there was another lull. The men
all began to show signs of fatigue.
Perspiration poured from their brows in
streams. and many of them were painting
audibly. 1t was terrible struggle, and
had settled itself down to a contest of en-
durance.
THE AMERICANS PULL.
1t was just S:45 O'Clock when Captain
Wilder of the American team gave
peculiar signal with his right hand-un-
seen by the opposing team.
The effort was magical.
With shout the braWny boys in red,
white and blue laid hold of the rope and
for few seconds the scene was an ex-
citing one. The audience rose and
cheered Justify when it was seen that the
Americans were slowly but surely tax
ing back the six inches of rope they lost
on the Scandinavians' rally. 1t took
about ten seconds to accomplish this and
each of the Americans planted his foot on
q new cleat.
Ten minutes later the same signal came
again, and once more did the Americans
set their teeth and pull for all that was in
them. They gained an inch and the audi
ence fairly stormed.
Then the signal came again-and an
other inch was added to the Americans
advantage. After lull of a few minutes.
the same signal, the same superhuman
eifort-and three inches were gained
Under the rules of the tournament fifty
minutes are allowed for each pull, and al
the end of that time the team having the
advantage shall be declared the winner.
When the Americans and Scandinayians
had pulled torty-five minutes, and the
indicator showed that the Americans had
the best of it by about nine inches, the
enthusiasm of the audience became de-
monstrative. The broke out into cheer
ing as the end drew near. Then
Bang!
1t was the referees pistol again and
America had won.
The cheering, hand-clapping and yell
ing was deafening and rush was made
for the members of the winning team
The were shaken by the hands, patted Oh
the backs and cheered Justify.
Referee Nichols called the teams up tC
the center and formally awarded the tug
to the Americans. He also took occasion
TO compliment the losing team for the
gallant fight it had made.
TWO MORE TEAMS.
There was an intermiSSion of fifteeT
minutes after the Americans and Scandi
navians had retired, and then the Foun
drymens' and Brassfinishers' teams pu
in an appearance. The former team was
composed of John Harris, William John.
son. Jack Woods. William Ropt, Adam
Newman, George Newman, William
Spencer, Henry Cook, w. Collins, Chas
Keller, and was captained by James A
Douglas.
The Brassfnishers were Thos. Peek
ena, Geo. Ault, Earl Smith, Geo. Moltby
W. W. Herman, Geo. Brakeman, Chri.
kastberg, G. ]. Renken, John Schaere
and r. Kaeser, with 2. NJ. Bender a!
Captain.
Some little time was lost in getting
ready, but finally tall set'' came from
both sides, and Referee Nichols pisto
sent them to work at 9:42 o'clock.
The rope groaned under the terribl,
strain that was upon it. Both side
fought desperately for the advantage
The Foundrymen evidently had thei
minds made up to "do or die' rightaway
and not pull for fifty minutes.
When the first struggle was over thu
marker showed that the Foundrymen ha(