The following is the second half of an article
taken from a publication written
by Herbert Milnes and produced by the Oxford Museum in April,
1976.
Alex Clark
William R. Munro |
Robert McLeod
E. L. Sutherland
(Captain) |
Ira Hummason
Robert
McIntosh |
Be that as it may, during those two years
a mighty foe had arisen, the Chicago Highland Association team, which
boasted that it could pull its own weight in wildcats. In August 1890,
they challenged the Zorras for the championship, and the challenge was
accepted.
August 23rd,
1890
The Zorras journeyed to Chicago and the two teams
faced each other at Elliot Park, where the Zorras lost! However two incidents
occurred which smelled of skullduggery.
Bob McIntosh -
Anchorman
|
The home team insisted that Bob McIntosh, the anchorman,
not be allowed to wear the belt which he wore customarily to lessen the
rope friction on his body; also a starting signal was used, to which the
Zorras were unaccustomed; the result being a quick victory for Chicago.
Thousands of spectators vigorously protested the decision, saying it was
grossly unfair, and milled around the Zorra team, emploring them to demand
a return match in Zorra's own backyard. |
The challenge was issued and accepted. It was
originally intended to have the contest take place on October 1st, in Woodstock
at the County Agricultural Exhibition, but the place and date were changed, as
it was felt that the pull should be in Embro, the hub of Zorra, on October 10th,
during the Embro and West Zorra Agricultural Fair.
October 10th,
1890
A fine crowd of some four thousand people gathered
at Embro, not only from Oxford County but from many other parts of Ontario and
included in the audience was Sir Oliver Mowat, Premier of Ontario and
representative of North Oxford constituency in the Provincial
Legislature.
The pull was to be the best two out of three heats
if necessary. The first pull went to the Zorras easily, in less than one minute,
but the second heat was an entirely different affair. The telltale marker
remained as if frozen over the centre line, hardly moving a fraction of an inch
in either direction for a full twenty-five minutes, with both teams like rocks,
straining and hanging on for grim death. The tension was transferred to the
crowd of spectators which stood almost breathlessly, not daring to shout
encouragement lest they should distract their heroes. Women closed their eyes,
and possibly prayed, fearful of permanent injury to members of both teams. It
looked as though it would finish a dead-heat, with victory going to neither
side.
None could say whose idea it was, but a couple of
bagpipers began to play and to strut to and fro along the straining line of
competitors. What was the tune? Some say it was "The Campbells are Coming",
others vote for "Cock o' the North", but no one could be certain, so tense were
the nerves of all present, but ''twas a traditional air. Whatever it was, the
skirl of the pipes gave new life to half dead men with their heels sunk six
inches into the ground.
The marker moved perhaps an inch, then another. Very
slowly it moved towards the home team; now to the foot mark; now 18" and finally
past the two foot mark. A tremendous roar went up from the crowd. The Mighty
Zorras had won after a battle which had lasted for thirty-five minutes, and
back-slapping was the order of the day. However, both teams still lay in a
semi-comatose condition on the ground for several minutes, while good Samaritans
with gentle and willing hands carefully pried fingers, one by one from their
near death grip on the rope. It was a great victory for the Zorras, and no
disgrace to the vanquished team from Chicago, for they too had proven themselves
to be stout-hearted men even in defeat.
Members of the winning team each received the
regular medal issued by the Agricultural Society, but on the backs, within a
wreath of grain was engraved:
PRESD.
BY
W.Z.&E.AGL.S.
TO
ZORRA TUG OF
WAR
TEAM
OCT. 10TH/90
It is not known whether a purse of money was won at
the time, but in any case, the people of Zorra were a proud folk, and it is most
likely that the honour of winning, and the avenging of mis-treatment at Elliot
Park were sufficient.
When the 1893 World's Fair was being arranged, it
was announced that tug-of-war teams would be on hand from Britain, France,
Belgium and Germany as well as the United States, so the contests would not be
for the North American Championship only, but for that of the world. There was
not even a discussion as to whether the Zorras would take part; it was a
foregone conclusion.
Another Sutherland was the captain of this team,
Ebenezer L. familiarly known as "Little Abe" to distinguish him from his heavier
built cousin "Big Abe", yet he was hardly little, being over six feet tall. His
team comprised Alex Clark (206 lbs.), Robert McLeod (197 lbs.), Ira Hummason
(199 lbs.), William Munro (188 lbs.), and Bob McIntosh (215 lbs.). The members
of the team were all well into their forties, except one, and he, Ira Hummason
was an astounding fifty-one years of age. They certainly could not be classed as
handsome, nor as young bloods out to test their strength, yet they were so used
to being known as the "Zorras", never fairly beaten, that their Scottish
"thrawnness" forced them, as a matter of honour to try for the championship of
the world. This, at a time when others of their age would gladly retire to the
side-lines to become mere spectators.
Meanwhile, if all went well, they expected their
greatest opposition to come from the Chicago Humboldts, who had been exercising
for weeks past in contests with a number of powerful teams in the mid-west, and
always winning.
(Here a discrepancy crops up. A clipping from the
Stratford Beacon with the dateline "Chicago, July 5" says, "yesterday"; the
Toronto Globe says, "It was the fourth of July ... in a national festive
setting", and other clippings give the same date. The cup in engraved "Aug
3/93"; and the Embro cairn reads "August 1893" - but this was erected only in
1939) ... so, we give: July 4th, 1893.
July 4th,
1893.
The teams from Britain, France, Germany and Belgium
had been eliminated the previous day in a series of grueling pulls, and now the
anticipated time had come.
The Humboldts appeared very muscular and exuded
confidence; veritable giants in their natty knee-breeches, brown shirts and blue
caps. In contrast, the Zorras looked decidedly rural as they slowly entered the
field of the baseball stadium, in their slouch hats and long boots. They quietly
removed hats, coats and vests and stood in rough cotton shirts, ready to meet
their opponents. Superficially it seemed that the contest was to be a one-sided
affair.
As the contestants faced each other, ready to pick
up the rope, history repeated itself when the captain of the Humboldts objected
vigorously to the belt worn by the Zorra anchorman, Bob McIntosh. But the Zorra
captain, "Little Abe", would not hear of discarding the belt, nor using the one
which the magnanimous Humboldts offered to lend them. In the sizzling sun the
argument over the anchor belt waxed fiercely and tempers began to fray. Finally
it was grudgingly agreed that neither anchorman should wear a belt.
World
Championship Trophy
|
In six minutes, the first pull went to the Zorras, then
the site for the second pull was shifted over to the opposite corner of
the field. Here with the hot sun shining in their faces and the hard
surface preventing the Zorras from digging in, the superior weight of the
Humboldts showed - almost twenty-five pounds per man - as they won the
pull in two minutes. Now it was do or die; each team having won a heat.
The third and deciding pull took place in front of the grandstand, on
black earth, where a westering sun cast a shadow. The Zorras, as usual,
fell into their famous supine position and dug their heels in; the
Humboldts too, got splendidly set. A.G. Hodge, the referee, gave the
signal and the pull was on. This time there were no skirling pipes to urge
them on, but Zorras, straining every muscle, stirred the ribbon marker
perhaps an inch, then held. |
A few deep breaths and another heave - a rest -
another few inches gained. Then the call from "Little Abe", "Now all together
boys" - a long steady pull with McIntosh taking up the slack, and suddenly the
rope is in the possession of the Zorras. The contest is over amid deafening
cheers as the crowd erupted onto the field. The cup, valued at $200 was theirs,
and the World Championship too. The time for the last pull is not recorded,
everyone being too excited, and it did not matter anyway. Surrounded by a
seething throng of admirers, the team left the field, with Zorra's oldest and
proudest member being chaired.
The Inscription on the cup read:
"Presented by the World's Fair
Scottish Assembly to the Zorra Tug of War Team on Occasion of their Victory at
the International Scottish Gathering in Chicago. Entitling them to the
Championship of America", on on side, whilst on the other side, "Captain E.L.
Sutherland, Robt. McIntosh. Robt McLeod, Ira Hummason, Alex Clark, Wm R. Munro,
President James Sutherland, M.P." Then an engraving of two tug-of-war teams
pulling on a cleated board, and beneath that, "International Tug of War August
3/93".
The team never pulled together again but there was no need; the
impossible had been achieved.
There have been lots of other tug-of-war teams in the Zorras
since that day, but even today when people speak with baited breath of THE
ZORRAS, this is the team of which they speak.
At sometimeall three trophies were placed in the custody of Hon.
James Sutherland and were probably kept in his house on the south-east corner of
Ingersoll Avenue and Graham Street until he moved to "Altadore". where they were
kept in the billiard room for all to see. When Bob McIntosh moved to Woodstock,
about 1912, it was felt that they would mean far more to him, and they were
transferred to his keeping at his house on Wellington Street. At onr time he had
the 1893 cup on show in his office at the County Courthouse. After his death and
the house on Wellington Street sold, the trophies went west to Winnipeg with his
daughter Mrs. Jessie Clarkson, where they remained until the end of March
1976.
Through enquiries started more than four years ago, and a great
deal of correspondence, the wishes of many of the descendants of the team
indicated that the cups should be returned to Oxford County to rest in the
Oxford Museum, where they may be viewed by anyone interested in the mementoes of
those famous men.
It was fitting that they should be brought home by Ross Little
from Winnipeg, and presented by him on behalf of Jessie Clarkson and the other
descendants of the team members to the Museum, for ot was his great-uncle, the
Hon. James Sutherland who had foreseen the great potential in the unassuming
strength of those who brought worldwide fame to Zorra.
The presentation of the trophies took place at the Museum on
March 30th, 1976 with a large attendance of direct descendants and other
connectionson hand to live again the glories of the past.
In 1939 the people of Zorra erected a huge cairn at the
entrance to the Embro cemetary, where E.L. Sutherland and four of his team
rest forever, and on it is the Gaelic inscription,
DAOINE TREUNA AIR ROBH EAGAL
AN TIGHERNA,
and the English,
MEN OF MIGHT WHO FEARED THE
LORD.
For Zorra remembers, and will ne'er
forget.
Siol na fear fearail
Offspring of Manly
Men |
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(Besides the three large trophies, the original belt
which on two occasions was a bone of contention, two of the 1890 medals, and
some original photographs are to be seen in the Oxford Museum).
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