, 1889-07-11
THE II TEST.
The Alerts Victors. LoveIand Second,
Durants Third.

In a dry test the contestants must make
haste slowly. There must be Just so
many turns at the plug and with the noz-
zle. 1t is a wet test without water, and
while perhaps less exciting because less
hazardous, is Just as interesting and re-
quires about the same degree of skill on
the part of the men at the points.
The Boulder team was the ~favorite in
the pools, but the Gramms of Laramie,
Alerts and Lovelands were backed heavily.
On account of the accident to Fonda the
Boulders withdrew.
LoVELAND.
That stunning Loveland team was
called first. The big fellows presented a
dashing appearance and scarcely belied
their looks. for they yanked the heavy
cart down the course at a lively pace,
made all connections nicely and were
ready for water in SO seconds.
They made a fine scratch start and con-
sidering the fact that they were a man
short did remarkably well. The coupling
breaker had a place on the rope the first
500 feet. He dropped out and did his
work well.
LARAMIE.
The hackers of Laramie's great team
were not quite SO noisy, but had just as
much confidence in the ability of the men
as on the previous day. The namesakes
OF Chief Otto Gramm made a run that
was a magnificent squirt from end to end.
They were beaten by a plugman who is
either totally unfit for the place or crook
ed. He labored at the hydrant several
seconds after the nozzle was in place and
once with an oath declared his inability to
make the connection. The team was not
given time, but several watches showed 80
seconds when the pipe was in place.
CLARK's.
Deliberate preparations were made by
the Clarks of Cheyenne, who looked in
better trim than they were on the pre-
vious day. They were a little slow in
getting away, but made a very pretty run
and called for water in 81. Their per-
Torrance was creditable. but there is no
denying the fact the company was a trife
too fast for the boys.
ALERTS.
With the pickup Collins team the
Pioneer Hooks of Cheyenne waived claim
to dry test purses and the idolized Alerts
we're called.
Here come the world heaters. " sound
ed along the line as the invincible eleven
appeared. Some of the ladies' said they
were lust too sweet for anything" and
the masculine praises of the sturdy
brides of Cheyenne were unstinted. There
isn't a big man in the lot, but Zach one
had been fitted for the tourney and came
with hard muscles, plenty of reserve lung
power, ambition and confidence that was
half the victory. A photographer was
on hand and caught the boys as they
were braced for a start.
The cart is manifestly too heavy for the
little giants and they must al
ways tug and tug and struggle
before they get the machine
fairly under way. They have the power,
though, and the load comes. They skim
med along the gravel path like deers and
strained the harness after the plug was
reached, maintaining the terrific pace and
finishing strong as they ran when 100 feet
from the target. The point men did per.
feet work and the watches of the three
timers pointed to 80 3-5 seconds when the
pipemen, who received timely assistance
from the coupling breaker, threw the noz.
zle to the ground. 1t was generally CON
coded that this time would not be beaten
and the Alerts were given the royal greet.
ing of %victors.
DURANTs.
Frank Hills surprise party" as the
Durants have been dubbed glided to place
without unnecessary preliminaries. They
seemed to be feeling good and ready to do
the best possible, The boys made a neat
clean run, the plugman. coupling breaker
pipe men were perfect in their work
and the team landed home in the very
good time OF 33-second best.
REAL RACING.
Grand Struggles of Nine Fast Teams in
the Speed Contest.
Now came the genuine racing of the
meeting. The event was the STRAIGHT.