Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-07-09


Monday was the most disagreeable day of
this unpropitious season, was not the pro-
nounced success anticipated, but was
nevertheless u success. The indomitable
spirit of our Firemen anu their guests was
not to be quenched by ordinary obstacles,
and notwithstanding the rain which fell
copiously at intervals all day, and the
mud which was everywhere present, the
full programme was carried out in every
particular.
The early hours Of he morning were
spent by our home companies in receiving
and escorting incoming firemcn and
strangers. The o'clock train on the
Central road brought the Cedar Falls
company with their fine steamer and hose
apparatus. The 1923 train on the same
road, from the east, brought the Manches-
ter Babcock and Hook and Ladder COM
panies with numerous force of excur
sionists. Then followed at II O'Clock, the
southern train on the B., G. r. & M. r. r.
consisting of about a dozen cars, contain
ing the watson" Hand Engine and Hose
companies of Vinton, and the OWN.
Greene" Babcock Engine company of
Cedar Rapids, with their apparatus, and
large number of guests. not firemen.
An hour later train of eight cars came
down the road bringing accessions to the
crowd from West Union, Oelwein, Halle
ton, and other points. During the morn
ing hours people were coming in from the
country by teams, SO that by noon our
streets presented quite an animated scene
notwithstanding the dripping skies; the
expectant throng making themselves as
comfortable rs possible under q canopy
of umbrellas, and with tucked up skirts,
waterproof wraps, &c. We cannot form
on estimate of the number present, but it
was quite large, and very suggestive of
the immense crowd that would have borne
down upon our city if the weather had
been pleasant.
The rendezvous of the french was on
some vacant lots on the west side, and
here at II 80 A. NJ, they were formally
welcomed in behalf of our citizens by
Mayor Holdridge, in speech rcpletc with
appropriate expressions and sensible
suggestions After this ceremony the
Firemen, clad in their bright hued uni
forms, with the apparatus of the several
companies polished to the last degree and
tastefully decorated with flowers, flags
and notices, formed IN procession, and
under the direction OF Chief Marshal Don
nan and his aids, Harmon, Palmer and
Luther, paraded through the principal
streets until the dinner hour, making a
very fine appearance despite the adverse
condition of the weather and streets
The afternoon was set apart in the pro-
gramme for the competitive contests for
the prizes offered in the several classes
Refreshed and strengthened in the inner
man by a hearty dinner, the boys in red
and blue were promptly on the ground
near the engine house at the appointed
hour, O'Clock.
The first trial was for Hook and Ladder
companies, the first prize $25, and the
second SIS. There happened to be but
one contestant for this class, "Rescue"
company No. 1. of Manchester The
test was to run one block, raise two lad
ders and man them in the shortest posi-
BILE time. The absence of com petition
was amply compensated for by the admi-
rable manner in which the Manchester
company did its work. On the first trial
the above feat was accomplished in II
minutes, and on the second, the boys were
at the top of the ladders in just so sec
onds from the time they started, 90 rods
away.
The next contest on the programme
was that between the chemical engines,
first prize $50, second $25. For this the
"Protcction" of Manchester, and the
"Wm. Greene" of Cedar Rapids were en-
tered, both Babcock machines if we mis-
take not. Two immense piles of boxes,
barrels, &c, were placed just east of the
Methodist church, and after being satura-
ted with kerosene were fired, or attempted
to be fired, the material being wet did not
burn promptly. After half an hour Of
coaxing however, they began to burn :;
and when fully in glow the word was
given and the two streams of carbonic gas
and water were let on. Whit! the mass
of burning boxes were black as pocket
in about minute. We could not deter
mire which company did its work the
quickest, but the first prize was awarded
by the committee to the Cedar Rapids
machine, the Manchester boys taking the
second money
Then followed the trial of Hose Compa-
MES, the test being to run with carriage
20 rods, lay 800 feet of hose and
attach pipe. First prize $40, second s..
The Independence, Vinton, and Cedar
Falls Hose Companies entered for this
trial, and the victory fell to the Vinton
company Time, 20 seconds. The indie
pendcnce boys were second, but CLAIM that
they would have been first but for the fact
that the successful company had their 800
feet of hose already uncoupled before the
trial commenced, while the others under
stood the trial to embrace the uncOupling
of the hose. By this evident nlisunder-
standing of the exact terms of the trial,
the Vinton company gained considerable
time, enough, as their competitors claim,
to give them the victory. But, as was
proper and courteous to the guests, this
point was not urged.
The next contest was for Hand Engines
and for this change Of base to the river,
north of the Touring mill, was ordered.
The first prize in this trial was 800, and
the second $50. The entries were the
Watson" engine, of Vinton, new ma
chine, and the Cataract" of Indcpen-
dence, manned by sturdy sons of the
"Faderland." The conditions of the con-
test were pop squirt" through 300 feet
Of hosa and another thrOu0h 100 feet Tn