Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-11-16
WHEN CLANS SMILED.
Can,-s, ~ Decide Question oi
Great Moment.

The curtain like scenes on the stage of
a New Work hall were rolled up To the
ceiling. and three men IN white coats
were standing behind long pine coun-
ter opening CLAIMS So fast that the shells
fell In three continuous streams into the
barrels under their hands. and all the
shouting and batting and quarrcling of
the fifty Young men scattered among the
500 chairs in ,lw hall did not once dis
uart their attention from their work.
The gathering was in attendance upon
a clam-ov~ning contest. The following
wcrc the competitors George Jones,
Thomas O'Brcn. owen Murphy. John
Gill.n, John wcinhart aud James Con-
nelly.
The umlrr-s drew strips from hat
for the men o'Bricn, Gillcn and Con
nelly thus go, in the first rank. They
took their places, and each graspvl his
knife and a clam. O'Brien is a stalwart
blcnd.. with blue eyes and light mus
tache. tllen IL a handsome young
nan, with jet black hair and snappish
black eyes Cennclly Is n smooth-faced.
boyish-lacei man, oi under size. 81
give yen warning" said Mr.. Savage,
"rm going 10 send You Oft in y minute.
When that expired lac said "Go" In
stantly the sin hands came together;
there was the grating and the swish
swirl III rix knives in six bivalves, and
the contest began. OBricn was the
first to open clam, hut Connolly and
Gilien dropped the contents Of their
shells simultaneously. and Connolly an
nounccd his work with a shout, First
clamv'
Each man stood before u square par
titioned of on the counter, each square
held hilloek ~ CLANS with a big new
dish pan and little handpan, and there
was a round hole close to the front edge,
through which the shells were to find
their way Ia the barrels under the coun-
ter. Just beyond the round hole was
an opening block. O'Brien was cool
and smiling. lie held each clam, fitted
his blade in the lips. and then struck
the block with the back Of the knife so
~ 10 split the clam on IL. With curv-
Ing motion he spread the shells, cut the
ligament, and threw the meat dexter
ousiy into the dishpan. t;illen was
more deliberate. and did not use the
block. II is said oi him that he cannot
be beaten at oyster opening. He did
all his work on a level with his chest
and seemed AT times Ia be AZ fast as the
others. Connolly was like personified
high pressure engine from the start
The cords stood out In his forehead, his
eyes were fixed, and every motion re-
vealed nervous strain. He used the
block and worked like O'Bricn in all re-
rJecis except that he held his hands
over the pail when he freed the meat.
O'Brien from force of habit washed his
hands and knife whenever he gOt bad
clam. The others used tue hand dishes
only when their hands became hot and
dry.
John weinhart, n youAg man with
full round farc. Redeemed by sunshine,
was skillful but tremhlcd so Nom nerv-
ousness that he was not nj his best.
Owen Murphy, u tall, slender man with
long reach. and "A thin, Intelligent
face. got tho first clam. lie dug it out
and shot II into his pan as II IL was the
pit from peach. He held the clans at
his waist and'twirlcd the meat out a. il
II was the easiest thing in the world
though without the appearance Of great
speed lie was the only one in the
group that shelled the bivalves without
using his block George Jones Ia q
slightly-bald. .smooth-faced. earnest
lcoking young man, and pounded his
clans ont with rhythmical rub-a-dub.
duh. ~ they worked, the unknown
perspring like a water-coolcr. Murphy
spatiering his coat with the mud o
Princes Ray, and Jones pounding away
as steadily ~ the ticking Of clock.
The results were only obtained Will
great difficulty and the casual interfer
ence of the police. .Wcinhart won will
o4o clams.-I New York Sun.