The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-04-26

Following the presentation the de-
partment was formally turned over
TO the new officers, the roll was called
and the installation ceremonies con
cluded, the fire boys breaking ranks
and returning 10 their homes
HOSE CARRIAGE RACE.
Soon after dinner the firemen and
hundreds of citizens repaired to the
Drive, in the Tel tn ward, to witness
the hose carriage race for an elegant
silver pitcher and goblet donated 10
the department by the Baker Gutta
Percha and Rubber company of New
York. The teams were to run i've
blocks, reel off four sections OF hose
and get water through the nozzle, not
less than four men to ride on the
truck. The starting point
was East avenue and the
ontcome at the hydrant
inst cas- of the church, level piece of
road in fine condition for such a race
The timers aid judges were Messrs.
Frank Hamilton, Jno. o. Johnson, A.
l.. Teagarden and 5. q. kingsbury.
In order to get the time these gentle
men separated, two going to the
score and the other two remaining at
the outcome, their watches all Get
together and time consumed in the
contest suOtraGted.
The Drive was lined with
crowds of enthusiastic but deep
ly interested spectators and ii
was with the greatest difficulty that
the officers were enabled to keep
them from encreaching on the road
way, all thought of keeping them en-
tirely out of Danger being out of the
question. They lined the walk,
perched on fences and the irrepressi-
bic small boy infested the branches
of trees like black birds III spring
time. Dudes were there in sparkling
buggies, pretty ladies and sedate
paler familias in cosy family carria'
ges, youDg men anu boy, on horse
back representatives. OF all Austin's
people-and all in good humor and no
body boistrous in the least degree.
SOon everything was ready, and
John Wallace with the shiny black
team of Colorado No. 2, appeared at
the score and instantly They spraDg
forward. extended themselves like
thoroughbreds and came laundering
down the stretch Straight as a die
they came, guided by master hand 4,
checking up at the hydrant ard COM
ing to stop at a proper distance. In
stantly the coupling was made ana
water shot out of the nozzle in one
minute. sixteen and tOur.tilUh seconds
from the Time the team lefi the score.
The winning team was composed OF
Rad PJatt, captain; Will Plumb,
Frank McGinnis, Tom Smllh and W..
Is. Cooper.
Next came Washington No.
with its team of fiery bays
guided by Lee Geismer. They
ran beautifully, and many thought
the :, had beaten the blacks, but when
water showed at the LoZzle the mer i
less, industrious little tickers had
passed Colcrado's work and showed
minute and 10 seconds.
Now come the high-headed, rangy
grays of East Austin No. 4. They are
guided by Tom Doss, the youngest
driver in the department, but his
early lessons OH the race track are fine
capital in his present occupation. At
the word they were off, but not
with the lung bursting, quarter horse
speed of some OF the others. Care
fully he nursed his teams powers,
calculating we'll just how much speed
they would have left for the finish,
aud as result he passed the hydrant
at least six seconds better than the
OF her teams. But the best calculations
OF skillful hremen sometimes fail ana
when the hose was attached TO the
hydrant it was found that several
kinks had to be Strengthened out be.
fore water could come through, and
this occupy ing about twenty seconds
OF time the remoI seless st0p-watChes
had again passed COlOrado's mark,
and Que minute eighteen and one
fifth seconds was chalked up against
them.
Protection No. 8, was the last team
to 90 The course. The Protection buye
had cinch on the race up to Wedne~
day night. At least they tnOughG so
AID would not have sold their chances
for the pitcher for two.bits less than
its MAJ ket value. But on Wednesday
evening while giving their team ID
trial run their beet horse, Son-tear
old Son, the company's hope aud
pride-stepped into a hole and 80
verely strained the posterior muscle
OF his left foreleg. sadly the boys
gathered around their idol,
beseechingly he looked to nis friends
for relief, his big clear eyes seeming to
speak his regret more than his pain,
but he was hurt beyond repair in time
for the race, and the boys were forced
to press into service Mr.. Doehler's
buggy horse, a nervy animal and IasE,
but the lack of harmony between HIM
and his impromptu mate, despite MIR.
Cox's mas erly Workmanship, doubt
less knocked off the fifth of second
neces sary to reach Colorado's figures
The run was pretty and the coupling
we'll executed, but II was what the
stopwatches said, and that settled it.
The judges retired, reduced their
findings to writing and reported as
above indicated. The decision was
received with great enthusiasm by
Colorado's friends and accepted as
just by ali parties. Chief Babcock
presented the trophy to the victors in
neat speech and the fire boys
crowded around to congratulate them
The races were admirably managed
Closely contested and highly enjoyed
by participants and spectators
Though dense crowds lined the