The Tug-of-War at the Pioneer Square Celebration
A grueling contest of strength between Coast Seamen and Longshoremen turns the Fourth of July into a high-stakes spectacle.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The Fourth of July celebration in Seattle turned intense during the tug-of-war contest at Pioneer Square. For over an hour, the Coast Seamen and the Longshoremen were locked in a death-like struggle. The tension was palpable as the rope was pulled until the veins on the men's heads stood out like whipcords. Under the coaching of Paddy Glynn, the Coast Seamen finally secured the victory, winning the $100 prize. The personnel of the winning team included Captain Paddy Glynn, John Erhmd, and several others from the Coast Seamen's Union.
“Victory was in sight. They pulled until the blood stood out in the veins on their heads like whipcords.”
The tug-of-war was more than just a picnic game; it was a physical manifestation of the labor power dynamics that defined Seattle's waterfront for decades. Pioneer Square remains a hub for civic gathering, echoing these historic displays of local strength.
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