The Portland daily press., 1875-10-13
TRIAL OF. HAND TUBS.
The Eurekas victoriOus-Descriptio of
the Contest.

1t will be remembered that early last month
the P. Walker engine company No. / of
Vinalhaven, visited Hudson, Mass, to contend
at trial of hand engines The result of the
trial was that the Eurekas of Hudson took the
first prize, and the E. P. Walkers the third.
fhe Vinalhaven company were dissatisfied and
when he prize was sent to them they returned
it to the Hudson company with challenge to
play them in this city. The challenge was ac-
cepted, and yesterday was named as the day
and Presumpscot Park as the place for the
trial. The contest was for $4,000, the largest
stake ever played for, and great deal of inter-
est was manifested in the trial. The Boston
boat brought large number of iremen and
sporting men. while the early train over the
Name Central conveyed quite a number to the
scene OF the contest.
Abou5 O clock both companies marched to
the Park, while their engines were carried out
by horses of the fire. department. The morn
ing was cold and chilly, and the ground very
damp, making it extremely unpleasant to
stand and wait for the ever tardy preliminar-
les. The trial came off on the inside of the
track, and large tank was set and filled with
water from Lake Tewksbury for the engines to
play from. Ths terms of the trial were not
less than 200 feet of hose to be used, but fifteen
minutes at time for each company to set their
machine, make their play, and get out of the
way, and each company to have four trials al
ternately, or an hour apiece. The contest was
to take place between 10 and - a. M, but it
was Ills when the E. P. Walkers, who won
the toss, got the word to start from ex chief en-
gineer Rogers, who was appointed time keeper
About 600 persons were present, including a
committee of the Salem Fire Department, con-
sisting of assistant engineer j. B. Osborne, and
j. III. Stanford, who witnessed an exhibition of
our extension ladder as we'll as the contest.
The judges were, as we stated yesterday
morning, Ex-Chef Engineer Damrell and D.
r. Deering of Boston, for the Hudson com.
pany, and W. W. Castle of Belfast, and J. E.
Emerson of Bucksport, for the Vinalhaven
company. By the unanimous consent of these
gentlemen. Chief Frank Merrill of this city,
was invited to act as referee, position which
he filled to the entire satisfaction of both com
panies. George Houghton of Hudson, and
George Murch OF Vinalhaven, were chosen to
mark the solid water. Mr.. T. j. Lyon was
chief pipeman for the Walkers and W. S. Fair
banks for the Eurekas. While one company
was playing the other assumed the role of po-
licemen to keep the crowd from the engines.
When the Walkers commenced work the wind
was blowing fresh and the circumstances ap-
peared against them, but they succeeded in
throwing 1881 feet through 21l feet and II inch
es Of hose. They made another trial, but the
hose burst and as their time was nearly up
they retired.
The Eurekas backed up TO the tank and set
to play with 2O4 feet and II inches Of hose.
The wind was favorable and at the seconl trial
they marked PIG feet and 21-2 inches This
made the crowd cheer, and things began to get
exciting.
The Walkers fell into line again, but for some
reason were unable to throw much of stream.
They retired and.the Eurekas came to the front
again, feeling very confident This time they
threw solid water 219 feet and q inches. THIS
made great excitement and the Walker boys
were not the favortes of short time before
But they had good pluck and took their places
for their third trial with determination in their
eyes. A fine stream was thrown, but the pipe
men threw it into the air instead of giving it
horizontal direction, and it marked but 2O2 feet
when it might have given 235 if the pipemen
had attended to business.
Then the Eurekas threw a stream 229 feet
and IL inches. This made matters lively
and surprised all hands, even the members of
the company themselves. This was the best
narI@ @la hoI L. A.
had reason to be proud of it.
The Walkers now came up to the line for
the fourth and last time. After little time
spent in getting the machine at work they
threw stream which measured just 228 feet
inches, or 10 IL inches less than the best play
of their opponents. This practically ended
the trial, but as the Eurekas had another
chance they spurted little, but to no purpose.
The judges and referee retired to talk over the
subject, but as there were no points raised on
either side it was very easy matter for the
referee to make his decision, which gave the
money to the Eurekas. The decision gave gen.
era satisf action and the foremen of the COM
panes shook hands and declared the contest
perfectly fair. In fact the whole affair was
conducted in the most pleasant manner possi-
BILE, and no one who was present saw the least
disturbance. 1t is a notable fact that although
the judges for each company were wide awake
to the interests of their respective companies,
not single issue was raised between them
The builders of the two engines were on the
ground during the trial to look after their inte--
ests The Walker engine was pronounced the
finest hand tub in New England, but still an
other not considered SO good had beat it
throwing water
The Eurekas returned home with $4,000 on
the afternoon train. The Walkers returned
minus $1,000 at 10 o'slock last evening by the
steamer