Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-08-28
Finland Fire Department.
ANNUAL INSPECTION.

The annual parade and inspection of
the Rutland Fire Department took place
Saturday afternoon, under direction of
Chief Engineer w. G. Landon. There
was good turn out, both of firemen in
parade and sight-seers along the line OF
march.
The line formed at about two O'Clock
at the Town Hall in the following order:
Drum Corps.
Nickwackett Engine Company No. l,
under charge of Foreman
N. f. Page.
Washington Engine Company No. 2,
under charge of Foreman A Ross.
Killington Steamer Company, under
charge of Foreman Levi q.
Kingsley.
Hook and Ladder Company No. l,
under charge of Foreman
Jas. Levins.
The line of march was, from Town
Hall through Merchants Row to Center
street, through Center to Wales, through
Wales to Church, through Church to
William, through William to Chestnut
avenue, through Chestnut avenue to
Garden, through Garden to Grove,
through Grove to Merchants Row and
through Merchants Row to Town Hall,
where the companies proceeded to man
their apparatus for an exhibition OF
strength and proficiency.
The engines were drawn to the depot
park and placed in position at the reser-
voir. NickWackett first took position
and laid six hundred feet of hose south,
along Merchants Row. The wind was
from the north, and though generally
with the stream, also crossed it to some
extent and took it out Of a straight line,
if it did not further interfere with it.
After throwing through six hundred
feet of hose each company made the
trial with three hundred, and below is
the result:
Nickwackett No. 1, 600 #. hose, 165
fl. 81 inches 300 #. hose, 212 #. 6 in.
Washington No. 2, 600 fit. hose, $50
#. 5 inches; 300 #. hose, 228 #. 2 in.
This, it will be readily seen, is re-
markably good throwing. In fact,
when No. 1 had done playing many
thought that their throw was beyond
reach and considered it of no use for
No. to try TO beat it. The Chicks
themselves felt quite jubilant, and just
ly believed their Bennington reputation
retrieved. Remarks such as Chow is
that for Bennington ?" ''talk Benning-
ton now, will you ?" ''the old thing
works well yet, boys" ETC., were fire.
quently banded about, and though there
were no extravagant demonstrations, the
boys were in high glee. Nevertheless,
the Washington boys manned their
brakes and worked with hearty good
will that told when their stream shot out
and overlapped the other, as indicated IN
the record. But it was their turn 20 win
anyhow, as the Nickwacketts were the
successful ones last year. and they took
their hOnors with q grace OILY equalled
by that of No. in accepting defeat.
We learn that No. rs brakes were better
manned than those of No. l, and that
the latter was not allowed, as is usually
done, to select men from the ''HOoks' TO
fill up their complement. This, of course,
made a difference in the working of the
machines-how much, is question diff
cult of settlement.
After the display by the hand engines,
Killington steamer played through 200
feet of hose, the horizontal stream meas
uring 1916 feet, which we venture to say
cannot be beaten every day. They after
ward threw, through 300 feet of hose,
and did splendidly.
The judges were Newman Weeks,
Ben. K. Chase and E. c. Lewis, assisted
by Thomas c. Robbins and Fl. w. Nye,
as measurers.
Hook and Ladder No made dis
play of the facility With which they
scale building, by splicing their ladders
and putting them up on the Central
House-the whole being done and a man
sent to the roof in one and one-quarter
minutes, Chief Engineer Landon taking
time. .....
The number of men appearing on pa
rade, in each company, was as follows:
Nickwackett, GO; Washington, Sc; Kill
lington. 20 Hook and Ladder, SO.
One thing little surprising to us, and
somewhat unusual, we believe, was that
the companies appeared on parade with
out machines. They certainly would
have added much to the appearance of
the line, as, with the single exception of
the Hook and Ladder truck, they are
all splendid pieces of fire apparatus. AS
regards the "Hook's'' truck, we think we
hurt nobody's feelings, and run counter
to no sensible persons opinion, when we
say that is disgrace to the town. 1t is
not fit for the purpose it is designed to
serve, in any particular, and the best
possible use we car suggest for it is its
immediate transformation into kindling
wood Rutland should have a complete
fire department. 1t now has most of the
essentials for one, but until a good, snb-
stantial and serviceable Hook and Lad
der truck and apparatus is added, there
will be a large deficiency. This is one
of the most important branches of the
seyice, and until the men are supplied
with proper tools we need not be surpris-
ed if it happens that their work is not
well done
The drum corps was improyised for
the occasion, it being composed princi-
pally of f1remen. The music they fur
nished reminded one strongly of old
fashioned June Trainings" and was
not at all such as the boys should have
had to march to. 1t really is a pity that
Rutland has become so poor that it can
not furnish band of respectable music
one day year for the firemen, who
work or are yyillino +o x,,orIv 4bo ,,,l,oIo