The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-05-09

were brought IN succession 10 tne starllng
place, and then the fires were lighted and the
steam generated. The moment that the steam
gauges indicated pressure OF twenty pounds
of steam, the word Ego" was given, and the
heavy engine, with it's attendant hose-reel,
started with bound under the tugs of the
stalwart fremen manning the ropes. The
goal of the engines was the cover Of the tidal
drain opposite Hayne street, and when this was
reached the supply pipe was to be lowered
and submerged, the hose unwound and at
up Meeting street, q distance. of one hundred
feet, the prize being for the quickest time
between the instant of starting the engine
and the instant that the stream should reach
the limit of one hundred feet. It was test
Involving all the points of drill and efficiency
of the company. Every motion needed in ac-
tual service was needed here, and 1t was all q
question of seconds. The engines jumped
over the ground from the starting point,
steam was made, the drain pipe uncovered,
hose unwound, couplings made, and water OBJ
talned and projected a.dlstance OF one hume
dred feet, all in about two minutes by the
slowest companies, and by the three or four
who especially distinguished themselves IN
about one minute and half.
The first company which essayed the feas
was the
with an engine of five thousand seven hun
dred and ten pounds weight, manned by
I'm MI ho uocft hrO n al
side of the way, crowdng the sidewalks, fill.
Ing the windows, aud even swarmiug on the
housetops, under Improvlsed awnings, were
all on tip.toe with expectation, and as the
Eagle Jumped from the starting place and
clattered over the cobble.stones, the enthusl-
asm was intense. A fine run was made to the
fire we'll, but there, unfortunately, an accident
to the hose-coupllDg occurred, and caused q
delay that was fatal to the Eagles chances.
In unwinding the hose, an end dropped on
the pavement, and q dent made In the brass
which bent the threads of the screw 80 that
the nozzle could not be attached. It was, of
course, a mishap which in actual service
would be remedied by rap or two OF q
| wrench, or perhaps Strengthened out by the
aid of q casual cobble-stone, but In the tourna-
| ment, where seconds we're flying and time
was noted by scores of amateur judges, the
| accident was enough to throw the engine out
of the race, with the time of their run not re.
corded. Next came the
vIGILAET,
with their engine. weighing five thousand
and eighty pounds, and twenty-five MEN strip
ped to their work and tugging like heroes.
They made splendid run, reaching the fire
well in less than fifty seconds, but when they
inserted their supply pipe Into the drain the
water failed to come. 1t is, perhaps, only
the VigiIant's misfortune that they were not
placed lower In the list; but, at all events,
they failed to get the requisite one hundred
feet of stream, and abandoned the contest.
The next company was the
GERMAN,
with their tremendous engine of seven thous-
and pounds weight, manned by thirty-hve
stalwart Teutons. The flag dropped, and they
came with rush, each man springiDg to his
work, and perfect accord anlmatlng them
ALL. They got promptly to work, aud soon the
dropping of the flag held by Chief Nathan, at
the end Of the course, told that their stream
had reached the hundred feet, aud the black.
board displayed on lofty. pole recorded the
time-one minute and forty-ave seconds. This
| was recognized at once as an achievement OF
| which the Germans might we'll be proud, and,
as they marched of the ground, headed by
Muller's Band, they were repeatedly and en-.
| Enthusiastically cheered. Next came the
sroNEwALL
engine, weighing sixty-three hundred and
sixty pounds. This was the engine that had
been drawn during the parade by a mounted
detachment of Unitedstates artillery, kindly
detailed by the officers On duty at this post,
and on the run for prizes, among the thirty
two men allowed by the regulations to man
the drag ropee, there were several of the Fed
eral soldiers in uniform. The run to the fire
well was made In splendid style, and the
stream was very promptly played, reaching
the mark In one minute and Afty-three
seconds, but the moment that the mark was
reached the hose bursted, and some delay was
caused In getting off the ground, 30 that the
time of leaving was not recorded The next
steamer was the
MARION,
weighing forty-seven hundred and thirty
pounds, and dragged by twenty four men.
The engine was handled well in every respect,
aud was particularly lively in getting off the
ground after throwing Its stream. Every man
Jumped to his place as If by instinct, and the
company got away in the unprecedented time
of forty.five seconds. It will be seen by the
summary below that this was remarkably rapid
work. Next came the
ETNA,
and from this company great things were ex-
pected. They had triumphantly borne of the
prize for the past two tournaments, and they
came into the coptest flushed with former vic
tories and confident of another success. They
made splendid run, but were detained per-
haps second or two by one of their mem
bers falling at the we'll. He rolled out OF the
way, however, in short order, the supply pipe
was lowered aud the stream reached the
mark in one minute and thirty-eight seconds,
which was by all odds the best time yet made.
A tremendous cheer greeted this achievement,
and as the NSnas marched off the ground
their friends felt confident thas the prize was
won. They were followed by the