Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-07-16
For the Free Press.
STATEMENT OF TORRENT ENGINE.
CO., NO. 2.
Editors Darlington Free Press;

Ot IohhENl ENGI
CO., NO. 2.
Editors burlington Free Press;
Dear Sirs-Permit me in
behalf of the officers and members of Torrent En-
gino Company, No. 2, of this place. to give you a
statement of facts in regard to the recent trial of
Fire Engines at your place on the I'd day of July,
the treatment they there experienced, and the
sons for the course pursued by them.
The Company have no reason to make the least
complaint of any treatment except at the trial of
Engines for the several prizes.
In your issue of July Sd, you suppose the
members selected from the Machine Shops"
at this place. but such is not the case.
The Vermont Central Rail Road Company has
owned Fire Engine for several years. 1t is man.
aged by Company selected exclusively from the
Machine Shops and men in the employ of the Rail-
road Company.
Torrent, No. q, Fire Engine wa, purchased by
the Village of Mortified about one year ago. The
Company is omposed of members from all tho va
rous trades in the village the members being only
fair representation of the honest working men Of
Mortified. They went to your place with the in
tention of conducting themselves and being treated
like men being shown l." fair play" They had nc
idea ofjoining in the celebration for the purpose of
advertising for the Zimmerman Engines or of play
ing against advertisement for letters 4 Co.
On the trial for the first prize, the water in the
well was not as high, by several feet, when the
other companies worked their Engines, and requr-
cd three lengths of suction hose, while the other
companies used but two
They were challenged on the trial for the first
prize on the complaint that they had on only $50
feet of hose, which was untrue, they being able to
prove by members of other as well as their own
Company, that they had on 800 feet, or all that
was required. They were allowed but As seconds
in which to make the trial.
1t is also n well known fact that on the first
trial, the stream thrown by Torrent, No. q reach
ed the height of and wet the first white flag above tho
wires, although in the nnhiishnd 'cport, lorrsht,
No ?, have credit for only l45 feet The fact can
be proved by many witnesses who stood OBJ
servatpry nearly as high as the Judges. How is
this? Was complaint made to the Judges that
Torrent, No >, had on but $50 feet of hose and did
the Judges give credit to the report without any
inquiry in regard to the facts, and deduct IL pro-
portion from the height really thrown, on the sup
position that but $50 feet were used?
The members of Torrent Engine Co., No. ., would
much rather have the height stated correctly, and
be informed whether they were prccludcd from
their right because of the supposition that they
had on only $50 feet of hose
When they reached the well for a second trial
they put on two lengths of suction hose the same
used by all the other companies and on putting it
down into the well the water did not cover over ten
inches on the end, therefore they could not make
the trial without draugAting air At this time there
was water running into the we'll
Capt. Patterson, foreman of the Company,
asked the man who had charge of letting in the
water if he would let in more, and give him as good
chance as the others and received for an answer,
" no play with what there lie, or not at ALL"
Word was then given to make the trial. Capt
Patterson refused to order his men to make the
trial until they could have an equal chance with
the rest of the Companies.
Word was then brought from the Chief Engineer
for " Torrent No. 2, to play or retire.
They accordingly took themselves and their
Engine away.
They would further state that before they had
got fairly away from the we'll the water was let in
and before the next Engine commenced working
there was several feet difference in the depth Of the
water the we'll being filled to within four feet of
the surface.
1t is true that some Of those having charge Of
the trial after having ascertained that the
members of Torrent No. 2 were highly dissatisfied
with the taken, offered to fill the well to the
brim if they would again consent to make the
trial.
But they went to your place asking no odds, ex-
pectng none would be given to them or any other
Company,
They went there knowing very we'll their capa-
biliies and Getting to have the privilege Of ex
ercisinG them ; but after having been twice mis-
used they considered it the best policy withdraw
and have nothing more to do with the affair,
They consider their treatment in this respect |
unfair, and cannot but think and believe that it
was the deliberate inteAton Of some if not all of
the managers thus to impose upon them.
ISAAC B. HARVEY, Secretary
of Torrent Engine Co. No, ?,
Norhfeld, July sth, 1858.