The morning call., 1892-12-03

journey anu less inclined 10 grum bic at the
elements than those who stayed away,
And it may have been damp outside. but
inside, under the dazzling lights, mingling
with the CHEEKY, good-natured throng,
| listening to the inspiriting music and witt
| Messing the stirring tugs and tussles one
forgot the weather and enjoyed himself
| wholly.
Have you ever seen a mounted tug Of
war?
Well. there is great crowd of men and
| women-more or less eXcited-on each side
| OF ten-f0ot sawdust-eovered track that
stretches lengthwise the entire depth OF the
| great Mechanics Pavilion.
In tbs center of the track there stretches
| great. long Snake-like thing. Some one at
| the farther end gives 1t a jerk and il sQuirms,
you think. like serpent.
| Ii is the rope.
After you have waited. perhaps, half an
| hour or more. and duly placed your money
| on your favortes, tall man, dressed In a
| long black military coat with heap Of
| braid on it, with black eyes and handsome
| black mustache and derby hat stands up on
| the press platform and announces that the
| tugs will now commence. 1t is Captain
| Blumenberg, the master OF ceremonies.
Last night he announced that Germany
would pull against England, Native Sons
against the Spanish. Canadians against
Danish, Germans against Spanish, Irish
against English lyon expected thaO, Ger
mans against First Cavalry Troop.
You walt little longer.
Then the captain blows a silver whistle.
The teams appear.
No. the horses are not beauties, but they
know their business and can pull.
You wait another little while till all Is
ready.
Then yen see the captain hold one hand
downward. You know what is coming,
yet you are startled just little. when bangl
sounds the pistol that starts the fun.
The first pull was between the English
and Germans
just upon the stroke of O. o'clock the
Englishmen rode into the Enclosure, the
band playing "Rule Britannia"
The anchorman had discarded the big
saddle which he wore on his back the pre-
vious night
Instead he had a gunnysack stuffed with
hay hrmly liked on the pommel OF his
saddle.
The horses were not so frisky, and their
riders paraded them up and down the in
closure to accustom them to the glare of the
lights and their Surroundings
In minute or two the sturdy Teutons
rode slowly into the Enclosure, to the strains
Of ''The Watch on the Rhine"
The steeds were as pOnderous looking "a
their riders, and gave the impression that
the Englisbmen would have a mighty hard
job TO score victory.
Each anchorman tied the end of his roma
round his waist, and the'others lay stretched
along the backs of their steeds.
The Germans lay facing the north and the
English the south.
1t WAS evident. from the methodical way
in which the teams prepared themselves for
the tussle. that each was determined to win
Don't hurry yourselves, bows" said
Captain Blumenberg; "take,plenty OF time"
The injunction was hardly necessary. as
the signs had all been tending the other way.
Are you all ready nOw?" shouted Cap
tain Bumenberg, Both captains yelled "All
ready"
There was the crack of the pistol. sound
OF rafting hoofs against the cleats, and the
horses of the Englishmen made a combi
break for the Larkin-street entrance.
The sudden strain Of the rope seemed to
paralyze the Teutons. One OF them had
barely time to grit his teeth when he found
himself embracing the shavngs on the floor.
He was scarcely on his feet when two of
MS comrades we're sentfying off their horses
against the fence.
They ran q narrow escape of being
trampled upon. as the four horses got
They were facing in all directions and
plunging and pressing against each other.
while the endorsed men made run out of
the tangle to save themselves from injury.
Inc anchorman hung on like grim death
to prevent himself from being dragged from
his horse. He couldn't let 20, as the rope
was tied round his waist
The English were all this time pulling
and yelling ike demons. At last the Teu-
tonic anchorman and his steed were forced
along the floor till the animal slipped and
fell.
There was a shout Of dismay from the
spectators as the plucky anchorma9 disap-
peared from view, but in an instan he was
on his feet assisting his horse To rIse
1t was one-sded affair for the English
men. who galloped TO the stables waving
their hats In the air and yelling with ioy.
Not so the Germans. They gazed blankly
al each other for a moment, silently mounted
their detected looking steeds and rode
silently away, as II they were taking part In
funeral procession.
The next pull on the programme was be
tween the Native Sons and the Spanish.
When the whistle blew the Native Sons
rode into the Enclosure and took up their
position at the west end
After patiently waiting for few Minutes
the referee shouted TO an attacbe. "Bring
out tnat Spanish team, as time Is up, Twill
give them two minutes more"
AT the expiration Of the two mInutas the
referes went TO the stables and agreed 20
wait i've minutes longer.
AS the Spaniards still failed to make their
appearance the master of ceremonies a n
nounced that the referee had decided that
the Spaniards had forfeited their null and
the Native Sons had won by default.
Inc M Y. again called for silence. and
said: mt. McNeili wishes it 10 be dis
ns,i, toou .uat INC teams come here
70 pull Tor bis money and for nobody slse's.
and any team not coming out at the nroper
time must forfeit the pull"
just as he finished speaking the Snan.
iards rode into the Enclosure. but were in
gracefully retired. "AN
Some one threw out remark in the hear
Ing OF Archibald of the Native Sons thai II
was unfair Tor them to take ADVANTAGES of
the referees decision. He promptly ordered
ms men 10 mount again.
La q few minutes both teams x.ra s..,r,