The San Francisco call., 1897-01-04
THE SWEDES VICTORIOUS
The Canadians, Though Beaten,
Gave Their Opponents All
They Could Do.
A Team Runs Away in the Park,
and a Man Drops From a Balloon
Near the o ympic Club House.

One OF the most interesting of the series
OF tug of-war contests at the Sutro Baths
took place yesterday afternoon between
the champion teams of Canadians and
Swedes. The programme announced was
varied somewhat by ireland versus Den
mark being the first event, instead OF
Germany versus Norway, and Italy and
Portugal did not measure strength at all.
In the first contest the Irish had an easy
conquest over the Danes. 1t only occu-
pied few minutes to prove that Der mark
was considerably overmatched. In the
second struggle Norway and Germany
gave the spectators much more excite
ment by their evenly matched prowess.
The event seemed very doubtful for some
time, but the Germans had the greatest
endurance and pulled their competitors
across the line of defeat in about seven
minutes. The Norwegians had an anchor
man who looked heavy enough 10 have
required an immense effort to pull lust
his dead weight. The Germans seemed to
have so great a majority of friends in the
building that no doubt their encouraging
shouts stimulated the team from the
fatherland to the efforts of the final strain
that gave them victory.
AS soon as the Canadians and Swedes
came upon the platform, the prophecy of
an exceedingly well-contested tug Oh war
could be heard on ali sides. They had
both been victors in many battles and are
all powerful looking fellows, with deter
minatiOn on their faces as we'll as big
muscles on their limbs.
After the pistol shot Canada had about
half cleat to the good. Then for long
time both teams lay as still as dead men,
apparently exactly matched. Canada
made the first vigorous tug and gained
five cIeats in all before the tables turned
against them, and then Sweden pulled
back exactly what they had lost.
Then began a long test of endurance
The tense strain lasted without result till
the watch showed half of the thirty
minute limit was used up. Then Sweden
nearly gained cIeat, but at sixteen
minutes the Canadians drew the staff back
TO the center. The tie lasted till twenty
two minutes. when Canada gained cleat
and held 1t two minutes. The Swedes put
forth their reserve power and game ed five
cleats which they held four minutes, and
just at the next to the last minute of the
limit, they tugged again and won amid en-
thusiastic cheers.
The day at the Cliff House was a very
quiet one. The park had quite an excite
ment between and 3 o clock, caused by a
runaway team, which was gaIlantly cap
tured by Captain Thomson.
E. Gossman of 404 Stockton street was
driving spirited team through the park
when one of the horses began to kick and
got over the pole, breaking it. Both
horses then became terrified and dashed
off, upsetting the buggy on bank. Goss-
man was thrown out with great violence
but was not much hurt. A stabIem an
took the horses home. They were not in
jured.
The most interesting event at the
Chutes yesterday afternoon was the bal
loon ascension of Professor Markeburg.
1t was one of tho best they have had. He
made q parachute descent and landed in
the park. just this side of the Olym pic
Club house.