The herald., 1896-07-22
A LONG AND A STRONG PULL
Three Interesting Contests in the Tug OF
War Tournament
The American, San Diego and Santa Monica
Teams the Winners Last Evening.
Well Contested Events

Interest in the tug-of-war seems to
be on the increase, and last night saw a
perceptible addition to the number of
interested spectators as compared with
the evening previous. The contests were
also better, not nearly so one-sided, and
all three events were fought out inch
by inch and minute by minute. No one
team had walkover and it has been
demonstrated that some surprises are in
store before the close of the tournament
There was again the long delay in
starting and it was nsarly o'clock be-
fore the Electric and American teams
lined up along the cleats for the first
pull. In weight and size the men were
not unequal, although the huge anchor
and swing of the Star Spangled team
loked like the giants of strength they
proved themselves. The rope was re-
leased with snap, and for a moment
remained stationary, neither side gain
ing an inch.
For fully five minutes it was a wait
ing game with occasional lunges to no
purpose. Then the Americans with
measured heaves, which were irresist-
ible, took cleat after cleat, one at a
time, the Electrics fighting every inch
of the way. They made a gallant strug-
gle, but were clearly and fairly out
pulled, the referees pistol announcing
tHelT ldle IL minutes anu II SECONDS
from the start. Ringing cheers greeted
the victors as they marched off to the
strains of national air. The Electrics
also came in for share of the applause
for their manly fight.
The Spanish and Santa Monica teams
then stretched the rope and made the
gamest and longest pull of the evening.
To the surprise of the spectators the
Santa Monica men proved themselves
full of pure grit and although they av-
erage only about 100 pounds in weight,
as against much heavier men, they pull
ed the Spanish in II minutes and IA Sec
onds
San Diego and San Pedro were pitted
for the last pull of the evening, and it
was battle royal, although the San
Pedro men fought against odds, weigh
ing on an average but 17S pounds,
against 206 on the San Diego side. Both
sides pulled with a will, and at the jump
off San Pedro took three cleats one after
another. Then they stuck. Back to the
first, then gaining courage the San
Diegans hauled with will, and took the
harbor men into camp in minutes and
81 seconds.
The personnel of all the teams except
San Pedro was published yesterday. AS
they lined up last night the seaside boys
were: Andy Nelson, captain; J. Jacob
son. anchor; o. Skog, James O'Connell.
]. Nordblom, John Mattson and William
Palmer.
Admission to all parts of the pavilion
has been reduced to rs cents, and as to-
nights contests will bring the several
winners together it is probable that
there will be large attendance.
w. ]. Fifield, the 309-pound infant of
the American team is anxious to meet
any man single handed in a pull on a
smooth rope, no body belt to be used
He can find backing to the extent of
from $500 to $4,000, and prefers that cold
Hutch" the invincible anchor man of
the old American team accept his chal-
1enge, but bars no one. Should Hutch
inson see fit to accept the gauntlet thus
thrown down match can be quickly ar
ranged.