Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1890-06-26
FlREWEN'S TOURNAMENT
The 9TH Annual Tourney at Pierre q
Grand Success and Largely
Attended.
The Miller Hooks Fulfill the States
Expectations by Capturing
Everything.
A Class Race, The Banner, Free. .fOr.al
And The Base Ball.
Game.
OUR FIRE LAppIEs.

at least as Miller was concerned. The
sprightly little capital was in Sunday
attire and on her best behavior, and il
there is anything to be gained by treating
the firemen and visitors well she is GER
tainly entitled to it
The tournaments attractions were
similar to many Others described, except
that a gang Of Sioux Indians infested the
grounds with their hideous dances and
yells. The meeting was held in the shady
park along the river bank, and is one of
the finest places in South Dakota for such
gatherings. The attendance was large,
and the sport was participated in with
enthusiasm.
To the Miller hooks 1t was matter Of
great interest to step out upon the same
track, with the same scenery surrounding,
and turn backward the pages of time to
1886 and view again their feeble effort to
make reputation for the town they rep
resented. The lapse Of four years had
made wonderful change in the green
team that made its debut at Pierre in
1886, and a spark Of pardonsble pride
glistened in the eye Of every Millerite as
the crowds generous Applause indicated
appreciation Of ''our boys" and their re-
markable achievements. The hook teams
present were, Madison. Pierre, Miller,
The races they engaged in were: A class
race, won by Miller in A seconds, the
champ ionship race for banner, won by
Miller in A, and the free for all. won by
Miller In AZ 1-5 seconds. j. w. Coquill-
ette won I'd money in two ladder climb
ing contests. "Coki" had lame leg and
was not in the shape he had been in
former years, so his old rival Elliott, cap
tured first money.
After capturing everything in the hook
and ladder contest, the boys concluded
they might just as we'll bring home the
$500 base ball purse, so they rustled to-
gether nine men, and defeated the Pierre
club "a to IS.
The Miller Hook and Ladder company
thus finishes a remarkable career. For
the third successive time they have won
the banner, which entities them 10 it with
out further competition, and bars them
from future championship contests in the
association. 1t is pleasing coincidence
that they end such a carer where they
began-at Pierre The teams work has
been told from year TO year by the
PRESS, but as the boys retire with all the
honors possible TO obtain, brief review
may at least afford a record for future
reference.
The company was organized III 1885,
with Geo. Beasom as chief, and who has
continued in that position ever since.
J. w. Coquillette, Bert Moffatt, Chas.
Smith and Doug Miller have been the
respective foremsns.
In 1886 the boys went TO Pierre, where
they accomplished nothing. In 1887, at
Mitchell, they ran first in the novelty race,
and third in the championship, winning in
all $4,000.
The next year, 1888, at Huron, they
paralyzed everybody by capturing first
prizes, lowering the record to iIb, and
bringing home $3.50 with the banner.
Yankton's 1889 tournament produced
for.them S470 in cash, the banner. and
worlds record of 404
Again at Pierre this year the prizes
amount to $465, and $500 banner.
This makes in oil total cash winning
Of 81 ,745 09, added to the banner, the
aggregate number of prizes being Is. In
all probability there has meyer been in
the history of the world another record
equalling that of the Miller hooks. The
town has received a state and national
reputation and notoriety through this
team that is very gratifying.
The PRESS voices the sentiment OF our
citizens in extending grateful and sincere
thanks to the members of the team in st.
Lawrence, and throughout Hand county
for the matchless manner in which they
overcome obstacles strewn along the
tracks OF FIVE tournaments, TO at last retire
from the contest with the highest honors
ever accorded any team in any state.
AT HOME.
The patriotic citizens OF Miller rallied
once more to give the FIRE boys fitting
rec ception as they returned home Satur-
day. Orders we're received on the way TO
hold the train at Miller 20 Minutes, and
as the five coaches full of fremen came
into the station the booming of anyils
called attention to the vast crowd OF peo-
pie waiting at the depot. The cry Of DIRE
went up as a claim shanty sitting ia the
middle of the street burst into flames, and
the burning building was rescued from
an ash heap by the Ozark Town Fire
Brigade creation of the fertile brains
of John Pusey and Fred Morrill,. The
brigade was ludicrous impersonation OF
a negro fire company by business men and
citizens, the power Of two streams OF
water handled apparently coming from an
old tank where pumps we're being
manned The sable hued laddies, dressed
In every conceivable costume. rushed
through ths building onto the roof in
their frantic efforts to put out the fire,
only to be caught with the full force OF
an inch stream Of water which sent them
off the building with an unseemly
haste. Other attractions were posse OF
Indians on horse back, a juvenile hook
and ladder team, ladies broom brigade,
etc.
After few moments devoted to this
amusement procession of the firemen
and citizens marched up and down the
street. then assembled in front Of the VAN