The Portland daily press., 1891-07-16
IF THEY HAD GATHERED AT SHAWMUT
The Big Pulp Mill Might BE at
Work Today.
Feats of the Fire LaddIes at the
Great Bangor Muster.
PortIand's Representative Carries
offthe Steam Engine Prize.

BANGOR, July 15.-Fourteen hundred
strong, the firemen from all Maine and the
Provinces, marched through the streets Of
the Queen City of the Penobscot today. The
firemen's muster, judging by the attendance
and the success OF the first days exercises
is to be an event long to be remembered In
the annals Of fire fighters. Many Of the Wis
itors arrived yesterday aud at 6o'clock this
morning there had been unloaded Of today's
arrivals 81 cars Of engines and reels, with 80
carloads of passengers as stated at the
Maine Central. The Maine Central yard
looked as though Barnum was unloading his
show.
The extent of the country which contribu-
ted to this affair can best be understood
when it Is considered that Halifax is 4S4
miles east of Bangor, while Pittsfeld, Mass,
Is 404 miles west of Bangor. Thus visitors
from these places reside S88 miles apart
Few parades like that seen here this
morning were ever seen in the state. The
Bangor men who 0fficiated as aids were
from the ranks of the leading business and
professional men of this city who, like the
rest of the town, in fact. gave up everything
work, but they stuck, while Of course the fire
boys themselves were oblivious to the rays
Of Old Sol and felt as though they could put
him out, even as did the Josh of old stop"
the moon. Gen. Joseph Smith of extension
ladder fame. and known by.name in every
hose and carriage house in the country, was
marshal.
At 1875 Gov. Burleigh, Adj. Gen. Sprague,
Surg. Gen. Robinson, Col. Pullen, Col.
Thompson, Col. Blunt and Mayor Snow
were waiting at the Bangor House to review
the parade which started at 945.
The ST J0hn hand ont the noet 0f houar
and led the march to the tune of Yankee
Doodle, playing 1t when passing the Govern
or. Then followed all the Provincial men.
The st: John. N. b fire department is one
OF the finest bodies of men ever seen in pa
rade here, Thirty;five men were in line in
broad cloth with Engineer Blake in charge
and fine band of % men. The salvage
corps from st. John is richly dressed.
The Cumberland Company of Portland
looked fine in the parade and received much
applause.
The parade was through streets along
which the buildings were gaily decorated,
nothing like the elaborate display having
been seen since the visit Of President Grant.
While the parade was going Cd, great pre-
paratlons were being made for the dinner.
Caterer Jacques had been guaranteed cash
enough for fourteen hundred dinners, and at
Maplewood Park under the grand stand he
and his corps spread acres of linen and pro-
vided viands which soon disappeared when
About $50 this afternoon, at Maplewood
Park, commenced the contests of steam en-
glneS and hand engines, in alternate heats.
The races were not finished until about 8. 80
this evening. Owing to the crowd and the
darkness the judges were unable to decide
definitely the results, as claims were made
by some companies which could not be veri-
fed then, and the trial allowed in each case.
The following were the results:
STEAM FIRE ENGINES.
City of Gardiner, No. 2, of South Gardiner, 222
feet, IL inches.
Steamer skOwhegan, No. l, of skowhegan, 2ol
feet, inch.
Steamer Kennebec, No. 3, Of Bath, 21s feet 1
inch.
Steamer Fairfield, No. 3, of Fairfield, reported
to be 264 feet, but not finally decided.
steamer Cumberland, No. 3, Of Portland, 255
feet, inch.
HAND ENGINES.
Dirigo, No. 3, of Ellsworth, 1G0 feet inches
Union, Mo. 2, of Ellsworth, l7S feet. 1 inch.
Excelsior, No, 2, Upper Saltwater, 165 feet, 10
Ttcouic, No A, of Ellsworth Falls, reported to
be l6o feet, 10 inches, but no decision has been
rendered by the judges.
Monitor, No. z. of Orono reported to be 1G2
feot inches, but no decision has been given.
The hose races were postponed on ccount
OF rain this afternoon, and will occur tomor-
row morning.