The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-28
WAITiNG FOR THE VERDICT.
The Limo OF March-SketchesO OF the DIFF.
serent Compa nj cs-The Race FOR the
sssCup-The Incidents OF tho Day.

AnOAS3 viz Sht5Ai1Oc uAQjsAuUO0O dBu pOuSu0Q
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
mon, 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 clmpany to which his boys belong. In.
their ardor and zeal he sees renewed his own
slusty youth. aud bys their aid recalls the days
when he. too, beltedSend 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 adoln 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, bat this year the agitation
and excitement have been greater than ever
before. There was never fireman's parade so
anxlously looked for, or 80 much the 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 to assemble 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 eng inc in turn was
hrO 4 N,9to 1,1lo -
throwing solid water the greatest distance be-
ing the victor and receiving the silver cup.
This was an excellent test as far as Invent,
but it did not prove what was the relative
efficiency for fire purposes of the different
companies. 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 80 victorious
would be the last to arrive at a fire, and there
fore OF the lowest order Of practical efficiency.
love OF fair play is the great characteristic
OK charleston firemen. Many Of them felt
that they were labocing under great disadv van
tages. But all they bad to do was to obey or
ders, and keep to the rules laid down for their
guidance. And this they did. The whole suD-
Ject was, hOWevoA, L.v~sLA IS Sho D~uIu
of Firemasters by the First Assistant Chief Of
the Department. r. Nj. 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 a set OF rules were drawn up
for carrying it into effect.
The New PLAN.
Is founded upon the assumption that the most
valuable company in the Department, all things
being equal, ls the one which can traverse
given distance and throw stream of water Of
a 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 fire, running f)ur hundred yards, with
eight men to the one thousand pounds weight
Of engine, reeling of one hundred feet Of bose
at the termination OF the four hundred Yards.
taking suction from the drain pit in Meeting
street, opposite Hayne. and playing fifty feet
AS soon as the fifty feet is obtained the time
will be called.
The steamers will follow the same repula.
tons, except that they are allowed Ave men to
the one thousand pounds weight OF engine
ttnot including engineer and frenan.) Steam
ers will be allowed to carry what water and
such fuel as they DESIRE No member pulling
on the reels viii be allowed to handle the
engines during the run. Fires to start engines
viii commence when the word is given by the
starting judges. and engines to be ready at ten
minutes notic.. Cold water must bs in all
the boilers, and the boilers must be cool. Any
engine having heated water IN their boilers
will by ruled out: After the fifty feet is OBJ
tanned, zach engine will be allowed to remain
at the pit ten minutes, but not to exer ,ise. !, J
Hose reels may precede the engines on the
run, but will start together. The men run
ming the hose reels rAay extend one hundred
feet OF hose, attach the pipe and work the
engine. One officer from each steamer and
hand engine to be appointed to inspect the
boilers, suctions and boxes, and to see that
the brakes are strapped down and secured in
the usual manner. e0s
The double-break hand engines will be allow
ed to use their lower brakes only, If they so
desire. e
This programme was wholly and entirely
different from any that the fsrenen had haa
before, and 1t was not surprising that it threw
them into fever of Ofe&pectation. n p. q
~ Making Ready. s,
For the last month the different companies
have been making ready; and during the last
eight or ten days they appear to have been
the regular course in Meeting-atreet; but
there were others who preferred to keep per-
fectly quiet, to practice at o distance, and to
trust to bone and sinew to rattle them over the
stones when the trying moment came. There
were some few mshsps, OF course. Firemen
will run fast and ehout till the wellzin rings,
the consequences OF which are probable
stumble and an ninevs.aslls sse... ,.ss breath hseats