The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-09-21
RAINEY'S RAZZLE DAZZLE.
But He Failed to Down the AstorianS
Who Return In Triumph This Morning.
TACOMA, Sept. 10, '89.

The 1889 tournament of the north
western firemen's association is over,
and the visitors tonight shake from
their shoes the dust of Tacoma, those
from Astoria returning not as sheep who
were shorn, but as victors with scalps at
! their belts.
An Astorian who was not present can
have no idea of the the trickery, stu
pidity and unfairnesS attempted. j. ID.
Rainey, the man who by some strange
| freak of fortune CHANGED to be chief of
the fire department of this city at time
when the largest number of delegations
of firemen ever visited any northwestern
city to take part in tournament that
might have been grand success had it
not been for his asinine folly in trying
to outbeat men who came here calmly
and fairly in friendly rivalry, but who at
last became little angered at his antics.
ignorance is often excusable, but after
he had had the rules explained to him
and was shown the governing law IN the
case his ignorance changed to defiance,
To hell with your rules" said he to the
editor of THE AsToRIAN. II am running
this tournament" He came near run
ming it into the ground, and had it not
been for the fOrbearance of the Astoria
delegation who when smitten on one
cheek turned the other, grave trouble
would have arisen.
1t was not till yesterday morning that
with the aid of his own department who
deeply felt the shame attached to their
city that the Astoria boys succeeded in
making him shut up and realize that he
was only one man, plain ordinary hu-
man not endowed with the attributes of
the Almighty.
AS SOON AS he SUBSIDED
Peace spread her snowy wings, and har-
mony reigned supreme.
Mr.. Burbank, the gentlemanly and ef
icient secretary of the association, who
had been in a most difficult and delicate
position, came to the front and on be-
half of the Tacoma fire department and
the citizens of that enterprising city,
ple6ged his word that the prizes would
be honored by warrants from him in ac-
cordahce with the decisions of the
judges.
All Astoria had asked at any time was
fair-show, and an equal chance with
the other eleven teams in competing for
the various contests. Yesterday, to Sc
cure peace, it became necessary to fight
for IL.
In self defense, one of the visitors, Tom
Linville, struck big bully of "a police
man."
This was Tacoma's chance; it was the
only contest Tacoma had any show of
winning. He was hauled this evening
before an individual called a Justice of
the peace" named Best, who Bested Lin
vile in the face of reliable testimony by
filming him one hundred dollars and costs
for striking a bully-in self defense.
That was the Best and worst he could
do.
This is the only contest Tacoma won,
though the game was made up differ
emily.
Let it be duly announced, Tacoma won
one race-the race between fair play
and private revenge, in Best's fining
an Astorian $1C1 and costs for keep
ing back bully who disgraced the
star he wore.
1t was not until
THE DRY TEST RACE
Had been awarded to VancouYers, of b.
c., fine team and deserving of great
praise, that Tacoma woke up. Astorians
had offered to bet them that they
wouldn't bet that they were alive, and
had joshed them ON their lack of sand,
in vain; but as soon as Vancouver had
been given first money in the dry test, the
local sports put up all they had or could
pool or borrow on Nancouyers beating As
toria in the association championship.
This gave Astorians who are always
ready TO back their team, a chance to get
more than even; a chance they were not
slow to avail themselves of, and
blanker crowd was never seen when As
toria's crack team, the pride of our city,
sped down the track; "look at the fish
ermen," ''see those - of -"
was the courteous cry. But when the
record beaters' time WAS announced
"1.09 3d." there fell holy hush, and
the loudest of the lot groaned inwardly.
Then came. the Vancouvers, wildly
cheered, "Lord Dundrearv" capering
nimbly alongside; time, 81 15 80.
The subsequent proceedings inter
ested them no more"
This evening a handsome testimonial
was presented Secretary Burbank as
token of appreciation and esteem on be-
half of the visiting fremen.
THE ASTORIA CHAMPIONS.
Considerable amusement was afforded
Astorians tonight upon the arrival of
the OregOnidn, which proclaimed in big
head lines, all same "Astoria Must Wait"
last July, that Canadians Can Run"
and that the Vancouver team had got
away with both the wet and the dry test.
In the absence of authentic informa-
ton the OregoniGr, which never loses a
chance to hit Astoria whack, might
and should have delayed such announce
ment, which was false and misleading.
But those of us who knew the facts
could afford to smile, for the judges, by
majority vote, decided that Astoria
got time, 81 Ito, and the first prize, $l,r
900. So that up to present writing the
Astoria team has won the championship
and $1,000.
A TACOMA ACCOUNT.
given the Astoria team half a show in its
reports, publishes the following regard
ing to-day's hilarity:
"The fair name of Tacoma came very
near being tarnished and the firemen's
tournament breaking up in a row this
| morning. They Yakima avenue race course
was crowded with spectators, the band
played gleefully, the heavens were as blue
as the waters of the Sound, and the sun
shine bright, but great big, black
| cloud hung over the situation here be-
low, and only the presence of the police
avoided the necessity of sending for an
ambulance and corps of physicians to
patch up broken noses, red. white and
blue eyes, fractured limbs and lacerated
faces. AS the racers and fighters wear
| tights, ten to one against Astoria, there
would also have been immediate need of
a seamstress. .. -
"The crowd was there, and the hose
carts, and so was chief Rainey with both
declared yesterday, to-day and the day
4 l-1f Al l.