The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-09-01
TUGS OF WAR END IN
VIGOROUS PROTEST
CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDED TO
SWEDES, BUT FINNS OBJECT
IN STRENUOUS MANNER

AT the conclusion OF the series Q
tug Of war contests last night in ,h
Fosri & Stokes hall the champion
ship was awarded to the Swedisl
team But the Finnish team at one
voiced vigorous protest, and tn
claim is made by the members OF til,
Finnish team that the award wa
made in manner that was eutirel,
unfair and unsportsmanlike, The dc
cision last night was made not at III,
close of contest between the Finn.
and Swedes, whose men make up the
two mighties, teams OF the various
contestants, but was given TO the
Swedes mainly by a default The
Firms refused TO appear last night
that is, they refused to enter the
contests in the manner that had been
arranged by those in charge OF the
contests The Firms being out OF it,
and the Swedes having defeated all
the others, the championship was
therefore awarded TO them.
Extraordinary interest has been
manifested in these contests by hun
dreds, to whom the tugs OF war con.
stitute a sport OF the finest kind. 1t
is said that thousands OF dollars were
wagercd upon the championship, and
therefore the outcome OF the matter
is bitter disappointment TO many
who hoped for a clean-cut and dccis-
i've victory The judges last night
were G. G. Fulton, Judge olof Ander.
son and DR.. Rosenberg, with Fred
Oberg as referee and Mace Grant as
timekeeper. Whether the men who
had money up on the Firms will be
willing TO pay their bets is considered
very doubtful now.
Last night was to have have decid-
ed the contest between the two lead
ing teams. but TO understand the mat.
ter it must be promised that the Aus.
trians and Americans were also to
contest The Austrians are the third |
strongest team, while the Americans
were admittedly the weakest. The
Firms wanted to enter upon the great /
contest at once, that is, against the
Swedes, but the judges announced |
that it had been decided that first
he Firms were to pull the Austrians
md the Swedes the Americans. This
eft the Swedes to pull against 'thc
weakest team" according to the
'inns, while they would have to tire
themselves out against the Austrians,
he third strongest team. For that
eason the Firms objected strenuously
,ut their objections were overrulcd.
They then refused 10 continue, and,
fter 10 minutes, were declared out OF
t. Thereupon the Swedes defeated
he Americans in two minutes and 10
econds Then the Swedcs and Aus
rians contested, and the Swedes won
rom them in slightly less than l6
cconds, and thereupon the cham.
'ionship was awarded to them
The Firms declare that to oppose
hem first to the Austrians was "a
rick to tire them out" and for that
eason they withdrew. On the other
and the men in charge Of the con-
csts, and the Swcdes and others de-
lare that everything was as fair and
quare as it could be. Finland insist
d upon pulling against Sweden first
ccording to their accounts,
The conclusion Of the contests
GEMS to be very unfortunate, for both
cams are big and strong and their
iany admirers thought them about
venly match.
After the contest closed representa-
YES of both teams called at the Office
t The Astorian for the purpose of
ranging a match to settle the con-
-oversy by decisive contest. Each
ide seemed willing to do this, and
ach side suggested that wager of
1000 or more be pift up to lend a
tile more zest to the struggle. II
le match takes place it should be
,orth while coming far to see, for it
certain to be struggle the like of
hich has never been seen here. The
rowd last night filled the hall, and !
ach night of the contests the hall has /
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