The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-28
WAITING FOR THE VERDICT.
The Line of March-sketches OF the DIFF
fcrent Compa MI es-The Race for the
Cup-The Incidents of the Day.


until every particle of brass and cop
per shines like miniature sun; new
recruits are drafted in by the score to
swell the number at the ropes; and from one
end Of the city to the other there is heard the
hum of busy preparation. Nor is this at all
singular. The Fire Department Of Charleston
bears upon its rolls more than one thousand
men, the flower Of the intelligence and worth
Of our city. They represent every interest and
every profession, and the oldest and most ven-
erable citizen has deeply at heart the victory
of the company to which his boys belong. In
their ardor and zeal he sees renewed his own
lusty youth, aud by their aid recalls the days
when he, too, telted and helmeted with the
best Of them, might march on the annual par
ade. The ladies', also, take lively interest in
the appearance Of the companies, and weave
with nimble fingers wreaths and coronals with
which to adorn the machines. And when
the labor of love is done, they are found along
the line of march to cheer the young combat
ants with their presence and encourage them
with their smiles.
This is the ordinary condition of Charleston
upon parade day, but this year the agitation
and excitement have been greater than ever
before. There was never firemans parade so
anxiously looked for, or so much tho subject OF
discussion and calculation, as that OF yester-
day. A change was made in the whole plan OF
the parade. 1t had been the custom for the
different companies toHassemble and march
through the city in the forenoon, the playing
off taking place in the afternoon. This playing
off was the trial which determined who should
possess the prize. Each engine in turn was
brought out aud played its best, the company
throwing solid water the greatest distance be-
ing the victor and receiving the silver cup.
This was an excellent test as far as it went,
but it did not prove what was the relative
efficiency for fire purposes Of the different
companies. A hand engine or steamer
might be bought at great expense which would
throw ten inches or even ten feet farther
than the engines already in the department.
This engine would carry off the prize, not by
the superior skill and industry Of the men, but
by the greater cost of the machinery. And it
might happen that the engine so victorious
would be the last to arrive at ire, and there
fore of the lowest order of practical efficiency.
A love Of fair play is the great characteristic
of Charleston fremen. Many Of them felt
that they were labo:ing under great disadyan-
tages. But all they had to do WAS to obey or
ders, and keep to the rules laid down for their
guidance And this they did. The whole sub
ject was, however, brought before the Board
of Firemasters by the First Assistant Chief Of
the Department, r. N. Alexander, Esq, who
prepared plan which should make the an
nual parade true trial OF the merits of the
different companies This plan was maturely
considered, and set Of rules were drawn up
for carrying 1t into effect.
The New Plan.
Is founded upon the assumption that the most
valuable company in the Department, all things
being equal, is the one which can traverse
given distance and throw stream of water OF
given length in the shortest space OF time.
This is the whole theory, and sound one it
is. What the details are will be seen BY the
following extract from the rules:
The exercises will begin by the hand engines
starting from the corner Of Queen and Meet
ing streets, in the same condition as going to
to a fire, running four hundred yards, with
eight men to the one thousand pounds weight
Of engine. reelins off one hundred feet OF hose
at the termination OF the four hundred yards,
taking suction from the drain pit IN Meeting
street, opposite Hayne. and playing htty feet.
As soon as the fifty feet is obtained the time
will be called.
The steamers will follow the same regula-
tions, except that they are allowed five men to
the one thousand pounds weight OF engine
(not including engineer and 6reman.) Steam,
ers will be allowed to carry what water ana
such fuel as they desire: No member pulnnR
on the reels will be allowed to handle the
engines during the run. Fres to star. elgines
will commence when the word is given by the
starting Judges, and engines to be ready at ten
minutes' notica. Cold water must bs IN all
the boilers, and the boilers must be cool. ANY
enoine having heated water IN their boilers
viii be ruled out. After the fifty feet is OBJ
tained each engine viii be allowed to remain
at the pit ten minutes, but not to e1er Else.
Hose reels may precede the % engines sn on ,n, ,ne
ming the hose reels may extend one hundred
feet OF hose, attach the pipe and work the
engine. One officer from each steamer anu
hand engine to- be appointed to inspect the
boilers, suctiops aud boxes, and 10 sec that
the brakes are strapped down and secured IN
the usual manner.
The doubie-break hand engines will be allow
ed to use their lower brakes only, il they so
desire.
This programme was wholly and entirely
different from any that the fremen had had
before, and it was rot surprising that it threw
them into fever of expectation.
Making Ready.
For the last month the different companies
have been making ready; and during the last
eight or ten days they appear to have been
practicing every night. Most OF them tried
the regular course in Meeting-street; but
there we're others who preferred to keep per-
fectly quiet, to practice at q distance, and to
trust to bone and sinew to rattle them over the
stones when the trying moment came. There
were some few mishaps, of course. Firemen
will run fast and shout till the welkin rings,
the consequences OF which are probable
stumble and an inevitable cout Of breath"
All. too, we're encouraged by the thought
that they had a chance. OF carrying OIL
the coveted prize. Some relied on their
stayins power, others uponh their cash. One
party thought that muscle was not gen
teel, and another was Of the firm opinion that
the CLERKS and lawyers would soon play out. A
hundred patent plans for carrying OF the cup
to dead certainty were proposed. One young
fireman advised the runners to go easy until