SLAVONIAN TUG OF WAR TEAM

The New Orleans Slavonian tug-of-war team in1892, perhaps the first Croatian athletic organization in the United States. Tall and muscular (from pulling oars and nets and tonging oysters) the men on this team consistently overpowered Norwegian, German, French, Irish, Spanish, and American teams in tournaments held in the Washington Artillery Hall in New Orleans.

The team refused an offer from an impressed P.T. Barnum to tour the United States. Sitting, left to right: Matthew Perisich, Matthew Drazeta, Samuel Fucich (captain), Gregory Kacich-Miosich, and Anthony Protich; standing: George Slavich and John Radovich (sixth and seventh from left, respectively); others unidentified.