The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-02

Big Bob Smith was the Canadian anchor.
He was the admiration of every boy in the
stables. He had grown wiser by experience
and had bought big fur vest to protect
him against the rope.
1t came up high about his ears, and made
him look a perfect giant. Smith don't mind
ii people know he is anchorman. He
walked about conscious of the interest he
excited. aud pulled nightly on cigar.
You could see it was glorious thing to
be anchor. Smith was the worse for his
russell OF the night before. He said it was
breezy sensation to be perched up on the
back OF big horse and feel the sudden
strong tug on the rope. and then to have it
burn and cut into your hands as it ran
through.
Dunning, who pulled No. 8 for the Cana
dams, denied ever having had previous
experience of this kind. lie said he was
trife "rattled" as he got in position for the
tug, but felt more than anxious for the fray
before the pistol was fired.
ITS pretty tough work though. A man
don't have time to do any thinking; he
must just hold fast and grit his teeth"
Dunnng then held up his left hand with
three fingers tied up in bandages.
II got that last night" he said. 'The
rope cut the flesh off into the bone"
George Meihling of the cavalry team
walked stifiy up and down the stables.
''You wouldn't feel over lively your
sell" said he, ruefully, eff you had been
sawed up as | was last night. My fingers
and body still smart from the burning / got
with the rope. But pull like this don't
amount to much. Why. we work harder
every time we have guard mount at the
Presidio."
70 0t mt in, -ho To
also member of the cavalry team.
"a man with the drill we get shouldn't
mind tug-of-war very much. 1t rests al
together with the quickness of the horses.
The side that gets off first is going to win."
The cavalry team was the popular one on
the grounds. Everybody had confidence in
their winning
show do you like pulling In a mounted
tug-of-war?" was asked of Srane OF the
Danes.
''Ob, well enough" he laughed. 81 never
tried it before last night. / guess it is we'll
to have such an experience 1t was an
experience. too, / tell you. l pulled all /
could just as soon as the pistol snapped l
could almost feel the blood running up into
my ears. Then the rope came slipping
back and l had to let it go. Our horses
were not quick enough at the DROP"
Another e axen-haired rider drove up be-
side him.
I'VE never had any practice" he said.
Not a man on our team had ever been in
such thing before. Pm not very hopeful
of winning tonight"
The lrishmen in the far corner were
DOMINIC their green sashes and caps in
silence. They had won easily enough the
night before, and 1t was evident they had
no fears of disaster this time
Big Anchorman Bell was getting into
his "schapps."
"Oh. tug-of-war is great sport he
called out. "Have plenty of confidence in
yourself and sit hard in your saddle and
pull. Pull as though your very life de-
pended on it! Never think of falling
Leave that to the other team. Just make
up your mind TO win and you will do it."
All of his team had his spirit and it
looked dollars to doughnuts as though they
would have a walkover.
The representatives of Sunny Spain were
not so sure Of just how TO win.
Captain Bartolo BojorQues frowned and
looked very serious.
"The Irish will be matched with Us to-
night" he remarked gloomily. 1--WE are all
green men at tug of-war contests, and to-
day two Of my men left town. | don't be-
lieve my men are afraid of anything, but
still it is queer and altogether novel situ-
alton to feel rope buzzng by your ears"
The yells OF the crowd in the arena inter-
rupted him.
Then the doors we're flung open and in
poured the jubilant Canadians. ave have
won from the cavalry team. Hurrah~
. A moment later. heralded by breezy
round Of soldery oaths, the gallant cavalry
men came tro oping in.
The atmosphere in their immediate neigh
borhood steadily and rapidly turned blue.
ut was all the anchors fault" every one
was saying.
''But the Canadians pulled a square tug
They are good set of fellows"
The Englishmen sat apart and forecastad
what a snap they would have when they
met the cavalry. They are great team,
these Englishmel, and know how to pull on
tug-of-war quite well enough for an or
binary occasion.
The Native Sons were now mounted and
anxious to get out and have their round
Are you going TO win 2"
1--WE are mad enough to-" was the re-
Spouse. as they looked toward the crest
fallen cavaIrymen.
I'VE have been practicing for the past
four weeks, and intend to make any one
hustle to beat u.s.
The German team was nowhere to be
found. They had left in disgust at last
nights decision against them, and declared
they had had enough of tug of-wars.
There was plenty Of good nature among
all the contestants. They laughed and
joked freely at their own mistakes when
pulling. and were perfectly willing to con-
cede the honors they had lost.
This was especially true of the big-hearted
Swedes, who made thousand friends by