THE IRISH WIN IN ADELAIDE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 22, 18 March 1892, Page 27

THE IRISH WIN IN ADELAIDE.

(Sydney Freeman's Journal.)

Ihe Irish team, under Captain M. Ryan, have in the International Tug-of-War at Adelaide, South Australia, followed the example of thi:ir countrymen in Melbourne. In Melbourne Captain Flannagan carried " the boys " through without defeat, and secured the first prize of £100. In Adelaide the " stout-hearted Paddies" also came through tae U urnament with an unbroken record against 17 competing teams, and carried off the bag of 100 sovereigns.

Irelaud's record was 8 pulls and 8 wins. The Port Natives came second with 7 pul's and 6 wins, while the Swedes' score was 8 pulla and 6 wins. The other principle records were Australians, 8 pulls 5 winß ; S.A. Natives, 7 pulls 4 wins; Young Australians, 8 palls 4 winß ; Australian Police, 8 pulls 4 wins.

From the Adelaide Advertiser and South Australian Register we glean the following particulars of the last night and its exciting incidents :—: —

On Wednesday night, despite the exceedingly oppressive weather and a huge counter-attraction in the form of Messis fiells Brothers' Circus, the attendance at the Jubilee Exhibition Building to see the concluding struggle for the tug-of-war prize was a large one. A horseshoe coy .-red with fljwers and adorned with yellow and black ribbon was hung from tbe supports on the southern end, the side the Sweaish team had allotted to them. On the northern end was sub-

pended a floral fcarp entwined with the coloured ribbon Irishmen so ■ love. Enthusiasm, like the weather, was warm, and it became positively hot as the contestants for the first prize of £100 took tbeir prices. Hearty applause was ehowe'ei od both. In many parts of the buildiug flags of emerald hue, ornamented with a harp in yellow, were to be seen waving to and fro by ardent Irish supporters. The public feeling was evidently in favour of the sons of Erin, as when the National emblem, with green streamers attached, was suspended in front of them, cheer after cheer was sent up by the spectators. When the Irish team marched on to the platform to take up their position at the rope to the strain of a well-known national air, the applause was repeated, the excited " baraskers " giving vent to loud cries. Borne little trouble was caused before the rope waa tightened owing to the Swedes including a new man in their racks, but thi-t difficulty waa overcome by the Inthmea offering to pull them as they were. When the first strain was put on the rope the cheering whs deafening, and the Irish rapidly set to work Gradually inch by inch they brought their opponents over the rope, the crowds w iving their hats frantically and uiging their men to put forth every tff irt. The centre knot was gradually carried about a foot over the centre line, and with it in this condition it seemed as if there would be no alteration. The continned strain soon began to tell upon the men, and the hot air in the building brought the prespiration out of them in immense beads. Although the Irish supporters kept np such a running fire of applanse, and tbeir opponents bad such an advantage, the Swedes hung on to the rope p'.uckily, and by degrees brought the knot back. Flags and fans were worked in the direction of the Irish, and every effort was made in their quarter to encourage the men to pull. But the captains had the whole of tbeir attention fixed on the teams, and whenever an opportunity was afforded a rush was made. The time went rapidly, and nine minutes before time was called the Irish had still an advantage of lOin or a foot. The men then began to Bbow signs of distress, but the s'rain on the rope waa intense. During tne last five minutes the excitement w*a imme isa ; the crowd seemtd inclined to rush the platform, an i they b 'C*me almost frantic in their efforts to enourage the men. The Bnedts strained their hardest to regain the advantage obtained by the Irish, but it appeared to be of no avail. The Irish seemed to be embedded on the stage aa firmly as a rock, and all eff jrts on the part of their opponents were fruitless. The Swedes tried to work the knot back by swaying from one side to the other, but do alteration was observable. The last minuto showed no difference in the state of affairs, and tbe second hand worked its way gradually around with the knot still over the eleventh inch. It was still in this position when the half-hour gong sounded, and a secoad sufficed to allow the Hibernian supporcers to rush the platform and chair the winning team to the dressing-room mnids' deafening applause, a numbjr of the spec 1 ators throwing down their hats on the floor and dancing upon them. Alter a few minutes' interval Kyan made his appearance on the platform, where in view of the onlookers be was presented with the first prize of 100 soys. Tbe Irish captain, Kyan, after receiving his prize, was permitted to take down thu horseshoe. He did so, and banded it to the Swedish bkipper. This generous act drew forth bearty cheers. It was then announced that owing to the win of the Irish over the Swedes the latter team would have to pull tbe Port Adelai le Natives for second place, and consequently a further interval was necessary to enable the Swedes to prepare for the event. At the end of half an h mr, however, the Swedish captain informed the Btewaids tbat bis men were too much distressed to pall agaiu that evening, and the Port Natives, who trooped up on the sta»e, were therefore awarded the second prize of £25, tbe Swedes the third prize ot £15, and the Austrians the fourth award of £10. The Irish win was* the most popular throughout the whule contest, and the spectators were most pronounced in theii congratulations. Mr Darrell states that the largest bouse during tbe season waa £138 \2s 61, while the smallest was £19 13a. A third of the gross receipts, after deducting bare expenses, is to be divided tqually between the winniug teams and all losing teams. The Southern Cross, Adelaide, gives the following personal particulars of the team :— G. Sayers, 37, County Kerry, police constable ; M. Molone, 34, County Clare, labourer ; T. Magee, 26, County Clare, police constable ; J.Aden, 30, County Wicklow, stoker ; J. Patten, 42, Belfast, farmer ; M. Flanigan, 35, County Clare, labourer ; J. M. Flanigan, 40, County Clare, ganger ; D. Ahearn, 40, County Tipperary, hcemei victualler ; John Murphy, 26, County Leitrim, smelter ; aud B. O'LoughliD, 32, County Limerick, police constable. The captain of the team was M. Ryan, 35, County Clare, carpenter. Unfortunately, on the opening night of the contest. G. Sayers hurt himself, and he had to retire ; but bis place was well filled by J. Hogan, 31, County Clare, police constable. Jn the first trial between the Irish and Swedes, G. Sayers again took his place in the team ; but was afterwards obliged to give placa to Hogan, who pulled iv the subsequent events. Tbe total weight of the team w*»a 141 stone. It wilt be noticed tbat the County Clare was well represented, aix of the con-

testants having been born there. The police force is also strongly to the fore, as the team includes four police constables (F. O'Loughlin having proved himßelf a worthy " anchor " man), the otherß comprising two labourers, one stoker, one f aimer, one ganger, one licensed victualler, and one smelter. The Irish team being composed mostly of working men wtre unable to train or prepare properly fot the straggle.