Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-08-06
TO TIE pI BIC.

The Managers Of the Firemens Muster held ut
Burlington, July "a, desire to submit the follow
ing statement of facts.
The trial was designed t, show the qualities Of
different kinds of machines, their working clpac
ties, anl tho discip pline OF the companies; and
certain rule. and regulations were adopted with
reference to those "bo; pubii he'd and cir ;ulatcd
with tho notice, OF tue Muster, and announced to
tho Foremen of the seycral companies as they On
tered for the prizes.
The rules provided, among other thing. that
each company should play in its proper turn and
time, when called and also, that in Of burst
ing hose, new trial should be granted
Tho order in which tho several companies were
TO play for the different prizes was determined by
lot
The Prudential Committee, to preclude any charge
offavoritsm or prejudice for any makers machines,
selected as judges of height, DIR. J. VI. Knox and
A. II. Grovcnor of Richmond, and ECO. b. Isham
of Shelburne men known to be impartial, Of good
judgment and keen sight. rhey also invited Col.
Stone of the Plattsburgh Republican Gen. Clark
of the Burlington Times, and q. e. Benedict of
the Burlington Free Press stand with the Judges
and the Committee, and they did SO.
a mark prescribed for the water in tho we'll.
and a competent and faithful person, Mr.. Picker
ing, was detailed to take charge of tho hydrant,
and TO keep the water as practicable at the
same point for each machine. Mr. Pickering en-
deavorcd to discharge his duties faithfully, and to
the letter, but the crowd was dense between the
hydrant and the well, that he found it all but iu-
possible to get from the other to observe the
exact height of the water, and in consequence the
well was at times, too full, but we are sure that
the water was at no time below tho prescribed
mark, and that there was at no time less than IS
feet depth of water in the well.
The complaint from the Northfeld Company to
the Judges stand that there was no water
and nothing but mud As the water was then up to
the mark and above it, the order was given by the
chief Engineer to play or withdraw. But soon as
the complaint made known at the Judges stand,
two of the Prudential Committee left the stand to
ascertain the facts and satisfied that the water
at the prescribed he ght when the company took
its position, but that the water had been above the
mark, and higher, when other machines had played
They and the engineers, therefore, sought at once
to induce the Mortified Company to play, and Of
fered to fill the well to the hi CHEST point which
they claimed it had been for any other machine.
Much to regret, they refused, and continued to
refuse in lite of all our solicitations and those of
many citizens.
No deduction made from the height played
by the Mortified Co. 1t is true that complaint was
made at the Judges stand, that this Company had
played through 80 instead of 800 feet of hose.
The complaint was made by men of character from
aneghboring town, and with an offer to verify the
charge. But as another machine threw higher, it
did not become necessary to investigate this charge,
The Middlebury Company played in its proper
turn for the S25 prize, and broke io~a. When its
turn to play for the $50 prize, it could not,
lost its turn, afterwards sought and received
permission from the Umpire stand to play after the
other companies had made their trials for this
prize, and did then play and broke iowa again. So
that when the Midilebury Company was called in
its proper turn and time to play for the SlOO prize
they could not play, and were publicly announced
by the Chief Engineer as " broke down and with
drawn
The Mortified Company had previously become
dissatisfied about the water in the WELL and refus-
ed 10 participate lurther IN the lal anu TINS lelt
the Troy Company the only contestant for the 500
prize and they would have been justly entitled to
it by any fair rule, even ii they only had played
one foot over the hoop. But in order that the
complaint of the Middlebury Company may be
seen in its true light and its character understood,
We will relate the playing for the 500 prize
The Troy Company played l5l feet, and burst
hose played again and burst hose before their
stream reached the hoop they then played again
and played $50 or l52 feet but their first play
was the only one reported by the Judges, snd,by
the rules of this muster, to that play they were
strictly entitled. For if the hose bursts when
company is in full play, it is impossible to tell
whether they have made their best play or not,and
the very object of granting new trial in such
case is to ascertain that fact, and to give the COM
pany credit in such case for its best performance
As soon as the Troy company finished, our own
engines, the Boxer and Allenplayed and closed the
performance of the day The three judges at once
left the stand to hasten to the cars, as they had
delayed until the last moment by special request
to mark the playing of the Boxer Allen, and
none Of US knew that Middebnry proposed, after