The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-09-13
ST. MICHAEL'S TUG OF WAR
Police and Firemen Have an
Exciting Contest.

Another large crowd attended st.
Michaers lawn party last night. The
dancing pavilion was at all times crowd
ed and the v arious attractions were duly
appreciated. The athletic feats of Thomas
B. crotty, Jr.. and Michael stalfa, aston
ished all who witnessed them. Stalfa
draws a nail from a board with his
teeth, bends an inch iron bar with his
teeth and does other astonishing feats.
Thomas B. Crotty. Jr, who challenges
any man In New Jersey to lift more than
he can, did some remarkable feats. One
was to lift two iron balls connected by
a rod n Weighing $50 pounds, rest it
upon the back of his neck, and allow a
good sized boy to sit upon his shoulders
and two others to swing on the handle
near the big iron spheres while he spins
around like a top.
Interest was greatly aroused over the
promised tug-of-war between teams from
the Fire and Police Departments. There
was much pickering before the contest
was on.
The fremen objected to a certain kind
of belt worn by Sergeant Cannon, as
anchor of the police team. A certain kind
of block is attached to the belt that gives
the wearer an immense advantage over
the anchor of the other side. 1t is but
fair to state that Cannon offered to ex-
change belts. But the firemen insisted
that the test OF skill and strength should
be made without any artificial applian-
res. Cannon. whose ponderous belt look
ed something like a life preserver, ex-
changed it for an ordinary belt without
block attached.
1t was claimed by the firennen, Wit won
over the police at st. Bridget's party,
thai thew did not nave their regular team;
hat they were two men shy and had to
find substitutes. The police called atten-
ton to the fact that they were shy one
of their biggest and strongest men and
had to substitute Sergeant o'Brien, who
is mot quite so young as he used to be"
In the matter of weight the police had
the best of it. Roundsman Noonan and
Patrolman Patrick Brady, two giants of
the force, looked as though they alone
could beat the four trim but muscular
looking firemen, and Cannon, the Adonis
of the force, astonished many of his
friends when after he Invested himself
Of the lfe-preserver like arrangement, he
was scarcely able to find a belt that would
meet around his waist.
Excitement was intense as the two
teams, braeed by footholds dug in the
soil, strained and tugged for five min
utes. The little knot over the peg seemed
to stand still. So quiet was 1t during
the strain that the men of both teams
could hear the low voices of the men
as they signal1ed one another, ''One,"
Two" Three tFourt." AHeave!'
AT the end of two minutes the referee
announced that the police had gained
two inches. A great cheer went up. For
three more minutes the cams strained
The little knot seemed to slide backward
and forward, and those a dozen feet
away could scarcely tell which side Of
the peg 1t was on. At the end of five
minutes, however, the referee declared
the police had won by only one inch. The
firemen had regained an inch lost. Botn
were cheered.
night. Both cams will be on hand to-
night and two more tests will be made.
the winner of two out of the three will
be declared the strongest team.
The teams were off,
Firemen-William Speicher, telegraph
lineman. anchor, Clarence Clements OF
No. S Truck; Captain Hugh Hague of No:
2 Engine. and William Dunn of No. 3
PoIice-sergeant Cannon. First pre-
cinct. anchor; Patrick Brady, FUNDS
man Cornelius Noonan. Sixth precinct,
and Carpesant OtJ3ripn Second Precinct.