East Saginaw courier., 1865-09-20

We recollect reading "in a book"
or elsewhere, of q number of gentle
men, who from early association and
kindred tastes and sympathies had
become much attached to each other,
entering into compact that once in
each year, so long as they all lived,
they would dine together, and that
the observance should be continued as
long as any survived, the board being
spread on every anniversary for the
original number of parties TO the
agreement Year by year this ar
rangement was carried out, the guests
dropping off one by one, until finally
the last Of these lifetime companions
sat down alone to do the solemn hon
ors of the feast SO happily inaugurated
and SO sacredly observed. Not pre-
cisely like nor yet altogether unlike
this elimination was the recent Fire
mems Tournament at Port Huron
The prizes were there, but the knights
of the ''ma-sheen," once so chivalrous
and powerful, came not forth at the
round of the trumpet to enter the
lists in manly competition, as Of yore,
for their possession. The few taken
were without a struggle and but for
the interesting and bravely contested
"brush" between Pioneer No. l of
this city and Torrent of Port Huron,
for that ching of silk" the Champi-
on Banner, there would not have been
a shadow of shade Of circumstance
calculated to recall the Iadient days
when volunteer fremen were esteemed
the pride and glory of the nation,
hand engines the perfection of ma
chinery, and not to be willing and
anxious to "man the brakes" was suf-
ficient to break any man in the esti-
nation of an enlightened community.
The S,lcer Cornet Band from East Sag
inaw took no small part in the per-
formances Of the two days devoted to
the business and pleasure of the Tour
nament and the manner in which they
acquitted themselves gave the fullest
satisfaction TO our Port Huron friends
by whom they were employed to do
the musical for the occasion. Pioneer
Engine and Hose Co.'S with their ma
chine and carriage, together with the
Band were sent through without
change of cars from East Saginaw to
Port Huron the arrangement there
for being made by DIR. Potter, Supt.
of f. G. p. NJ. Railway--and the train
arriving there at S.3OP. NJ, Tuesday,
the boys were comfortably housed,
experienced the benefit Of a hearty
supper and comfortable nights lodg-
ing, and camo out in prime condition
for the exercises Of the
FIRST DAY OF THE TOURNAMENT.
These consisted in looking for other
outside companies that didn't GOMEZ
A grand display procession in which
the following companies were repre-
sented:
/. Huron Engine and Hose Cos |
No. 2, Port Huron with Champion |
Banner.
2. Pioneer Engine 6 Hose Cos No.
/, East Saginaw.
3. Pioneer Hook & Ladder Co No
/, Port Huron.
4. Torrent Engine & Hose Co.'S No.
l, Port Huron;
And miscellaneous exercises among
which was the impromptu reception
of Lafayette Steamer No. /, from
Detroit, which arrived on the steamer
Reindeer at 5 o'clock p. NJ, having a
full compliment of 13 men,
SECOND DAY.
Thursday at little after 10 A. M,
the throwing commenced; by the
drawing, Torrent Company of Port
Huron, with their engine Silver Sides,
having been elected to throw first,
Pioneer of East Saginaw, second
Huron Of Port Huron, third. 20
minutes time allowed to each, with 10
minutes additional for every break
Torrent Co, in 80 minutes time, to
which she was entitled by having ex-
,perienced one break in her extension
gear, threw four times, the first, second,
and third time through an inch nozzle
an average distance Of about 200 feet,
the fourth and last time through q !
nozzle, distance 213 feet s inches.
Pioneer ca. threw 45 minutes having |
experienced three severe breaks AM !
being obliged TO borrow the Torrents
hose on account of tho inadequacy of
her own, each time through an inch
nozzle, making, the last time, 205 feet
and 10 inches, and finally taking up
by some misadventure while yet there
-. -. 49, c.. - Al =. Al. -.