The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-04-10
THF REELS RACE AGAIN.

Chief Bloom announced Friday to the
Fire Department that a false alarm would be
sounded daring the afternoon, and gave the
boys notice to be ready for it. The arrange
ments were az follows: A bonfire was
kindled at the &C L. depot and the race
was to be from the reel houses on Liberty
Street to the FIRE.
At 4 90 o'clock the boys began to assem-
bile at their respective reel houses and wait
for the alarm. And 10 make success more
certain tie captains Of Monaghan and Del
gar SQUADS, between which the 6ercest sort of
rivalry has existed for months, made nu-
merous plans. The Delgar boys had their
squad divided. At the reel house we're a
sufficient number to get the reel out and of
with a rush. At the corner of Dugan Street
another crowd was stationed to carry the reel
90 with untired vigor. and al the Episcopal
Church there was still another crowd.
Monaghan squad was also divided 10 much
the same manner.
SQUAD No. d, stationed on Court House
Square, and Squad No. S. on Liberty Street,
both colored, also undertook TO be 10 the
race.
And last, but not least, when it to
running, were the boys with the rope reel.
The wal, was rather long to the members
of the squads as we'll as the crowd Of citizens
who had collected on the streets TO see the
race. At 5.55 the bonfire was blazing
briskly and the alarm was rung. The reels
were out of the houses and off like a fash,
with Monaghan slightly in the lead. When
the corner of Main Street was reached this
advantage had been improved sufficiently to
permit this reel to cut in ahead of Delgar and
hug the corner so closely that Delgar would
have had to fall behind and cut across the
wake Of Monaghan to make the turn Of the
corner. But just here the proverbial luck
of Delgar Squad came to the rescue. As
the Monaghan reel made the turn, it was going
with such momentum that it became un-
balanced and turned completely over, break
ing off the tongue and jamming the wheels
out of plumb. The amusing part Of the
affair was the antics j. R. Watson cut in the
air. He was running behind the reel, push-
ing. AS the reel cut the somersault, be went
it came down. He was unhurt, fortunately,
but it was a narrow escape.
The accident was to the advantage of Del
gar Squad, for the somersault of Monaghan
threw ii out into the middle of the Street and
lett the way clear for Delgar. his squad did
not halt a moment, but went on TO the FIRE
with undiminisbed speed.
The run was made FROM the reel house to
the foot of Main Street and a stream thrown
on the FIRE 10 less than Eve minutes by the
clock in the City Hall tower All things
taken into consideration, the tut was made in
remarkable fast time, and the Delgar boys
came back with Foreman Will Graham
seated on top of the reel holding aloft a di
lapidated broom.
The rope reel was second ia the race, while
the colored squads were a close third.
These contests and false alarus are con-
demned by a few people az foolish and use-
less, br: this is a mistake, for it keeps up
interest, and the enthusiasm with which the
boys enter into the work Of the FIRE depart
ment and adds much to it's efficiency when
there is actual work TO be done.