The morning call., 1894-07-15
TUG-OF-WAR.
Why the Next international Tour
nament Should Re a Success.

Next month there Will be held IN Central
Park, Eighth and Market streets, tugOf- war
tournament which will put in the shade any
thing OF The kind that has been introduced in
this city, or any other city in the world for
that matter, and that is certainly saying great
deal.
The reasons for so believing are many. In
the first place Manager Mcneil is we'll aware,
owing to his experience of the past. that TO
guarantee successful tug-of-war contest,O or any
other contest for that matter, the public must
rest satisfied that everything pertaining TO it
must be, so 10 speak, on the square Hippo
dromes are things Of The past, consequently
anything in the athletic line must be genuine
and above bOird to attract the attention OF
people who have suffered from catch-penny
shows OF divers Kinds.
Alter the last tug-Ofwar tournament held In
the Pavilion, Mr.. Mcneil vowed that he would
never again become associated with that line Of
sport In this city, and he had good reason for
saying so, as some Of The contestants acted IN
such a manner as 10 disgust and dlshearten the
mos enteIprlsng and energetic manager that
ever looked upon a ceat
What was the result?
Some months afterWard'men who had become
infatuated with the sport interviewed Mr.. Nc
Nell with view OF inaugurating an other series
OF contests, but TO their entTeatles he turned a
sickenng disgust which attacked him toward
the end OF the tournament.
wen, TIE lDIeTceQeTS on seeing MT. hlCN ell
was determined TO wash his hands OF any sport
that was not conducted honOrably by the con-
testants. got their heads together and planned
out scheInr by which tournament could be
c0uduc ed on small scale, and rs many sports
men are aware, four nights match was con-
tested In one of tie small halls of this city, but
just as soon as the people who patrOnize ath-
ietlc sports learned that the father OF tug Of
war had no connection with the game the al
tendance fell away, leaving only a few adj
mrers oil the sport TO witness the first contest.
Nothing in the line of IugOIwar has been
attempted since, but when the men WHO handle
the rope had seen their folly they quickly con-
sented 10 any agreement Mr.. Mcneil would in
sist upon, 30 as 10 get the pastlme once again
IN the position IL held when first introduced to
The spOrt-lOVing public OF San Francisco. 1t Is
hardly necessary to say that before Mr.. Nc
Nell gave his consent TO manage another
tournament he had caStlrOn articles drawn up,
which, although severe upon the contestants,
have been signed and agreed upon by the large
number Of teams that are now In training tor
what will certainly prove To be the greatest
rope pulling event mat has ever been wit
messed by man and woman. Ii Will be strictly
an international contest with teams represent
ing almost every nation OF the earth where
English is spoken.
The principal incentive that the big men
have for their active training Is, first, the SO
per cent of the gross receipts that the winners
10 receive In prizes and the privilege OF con-
testing with the Iish cOnstabulary team OF
Belfast, Ireland, who are 10 m Ike a tour OF
this country in The fall of the year.
Inc uedNy weight lIisu team vi lHlS CITY DluS
fair 10 be the one that will meet their brethren
from the ''Old sod The brawniest OF IRISH
men have been training for some time on The
POtrero, aud by The I'd of August expect to
have team in the field fit TO Uull for mans
life.
1t is believed that the limited-weight teams
In this tournament Will be better in proportion
than the heavy-weights, they being more
evenly matched and better trained.
SO far no favorites have been picked out.
Each one of the teams expect 10 win first
prize, and 1t looks as though no man can tell
until the teams come together in the mighty
struggle for the coveted five feet OF rope.
The German heavyweight Team Is now under
the captaincy Of Z. Waller and training faith
fully.
The Slavonian team Qmited) is new organi-
ZatloO; only TWO of the old team who took part
In the tournament given at B'nai Birth Hall
Will Participate, NJ. Jamcovch a. anchorman
ana Peter kucich. captain. "Big Nick" Backu-
lien Is displaying quite an Interest In the team,
ana Is assisting them ds far as lies IN his
power.
CAPTAIN Joseph Merani of the Italian teams
Qlmted and unlimiIej) has selected his men
from The ranks of those who defeated The Sac
ramento champions, and has a few OF the lighter
ones IN the limited team
Inc rules OF the tournament require that all
the teams be photographed and the names,
ages, weights and blrrhplaces OF the men be
named TO the management after which no
change can be made in the personnel of the
teams. number Of The teams will be photo
graphed to-day.