The sun., 1896-09-22
FLUNKED THE WATER DUEL
NECKAR WAS READY At TINE HOSE,
But WORTH DIDN'T COME.

He Was the Challenger. but Sent Word
that He Couidn't stnna the Pubiicity.
and Disappotnted n Big Crowd Then tho
Firsmsa Gave Hin n Burissquo ssrenade
John Worth, assistant engineer Of the Union
Hill Fire Department will have TO hustle for
months to redeem the reputation as fireman
that he lost inside Of half an hour last night
Over $500 citizens Of Union Hill turned out on
the broadway boulevard to SEQ him fight duel
with fire hose with Assistant Foreman William
Neekar OF Columbia Hose No. g. Eeokar
was on deck at o'clock at the lighting ground
with the nozzle Of Columbia hose IN his hand,
ready to begin the duel. He waited in vain for
half an hour for Engineer Worth. The latter
didn't appear or send note of apology, and the
disappointment of the citizens found vent In
tho unanimous verdict johnny Worth 10
worth nit in the department after this"
For the benefit Of benighted New Yorkers
who never witnessed the thrilling spectacle OF
duel with FIRE hose II should be explained that
the chief requirement of the battle was that the
two ombatants should stand thirty feet apart
and SQUIRT streams of water at each other until
one or the other dropped his nozsle and took to
his heels.
When tho fact 10 stated that tho water pres
sure of Union Hill 10 great enough to throw
stream of water soventy-nve feet into the air
without tho aid OF fire engine II will be under
stood that the duel was something OF porten-
tous undertaking. II struck sauarely In the
chest by the stream from the nozzle of tho hose
either duellest would have been instantly sent
spinning head over heels.
What added to tho Intensity Of the feeling in
Engineer worth's disfavor last night was tho
fact that it WAS he who was tho author of tho
remarkable challenge. The challenge grew out
OF an incident at the practice wash down" Of
the Columbia Company last Tuesday night.
oneo every smonth during May, June.
July. and August tho company meets for
fire practice on the vacant sward at
the Broadway Boulevard between Fourth and
Fifth streets. Tho practice includes steam
throwing, hose laying, and management OF the
hose nozzle. which is a task requiring skin.
Worth. who is o shoe dealer. volunteered to go
into active FIRE service a member Of the Column
bia Hose. and. as 10 usual, the members ar
ranged to initiate him by giving him ducking.
Worth backed out from this ordeal OF being
guyed him numerically. Neckar who is an
undertaken rs we'll as fireman. was pnrticu-
larly jocular. He succeeded In netting Worth.
"i'Il bet l can stand much wett!ng as any
fireman in the department." cried Worth to
For how much money ?" ouerled Under
taker Neckar. taunttngly:
"rii g 90 you YOU" cried Secksr. delighted: Wen
the agreement was clinched with Filon and
Foreman Phil Dlener OF the Columbia and Fire
The sixty nremen OF tho Columbia hose
decked the hose cart gayly and marched from
the engine house on Bergen street at $3.50
Ahead marched tho Lincoln fife and drum
corps. composed OF sons OF the frsmen and vet
@ interest in the expected duel tha, iIIum mated
trolley cars were rnn % 70 tho dIeiiinE @ grGpnd n5
The young men took their best girls
with them on the trolley cars, ana by
aoaseSed the .. both .dss Of the BoaeTsrd
were jam med with sightseers. Tho crowd set up
an echong cheer as the hre laddies came dash
recognized by hundreds In tho throng. Tho
girls eiapped their hands at him. and the men
lines of hose were uncoiled In double quick time
by the fremen.
fire laddies when they found that the challenger
hadn't arrived y, yet, w,. w,-.s -, .,,.,
the crowd of spectators inpatientiy. Under
erowled at the absence Of his rival. and. hitch. M
street corner OF the Boulevard. walked down till
he reached the nozzle end and waited. Fore
big hydrant at the Fourth street corner and
waited Then the crowd took up e. the the. yell again.
Fifteen minutes passed and still there was no
sign Of tho challenger. The hremen were an
"Give them show, Billy" they. yelled to Un-
dertaker Neckar. Don't let us dissppoint tho
ladies anyhow"
the water on. He held the hose. and the. water
shot TDwFSd in Ss ss In
taEer sprayed the stream, sent It up
the fs'th figure - s, and did other tricks that
made the girls applaud admirinRly. Foreman
Diemer set his hydrant going presently aud
and the electricfg htslshot irridescent hues over
the showers OF spray. Both men kept II np for
aquarter of an hour and then shut the hydrants
down.
Five minutes after 1t was all over man came
with verbal message from the miss ing Worth.
He says there has been too much publicity
over this thing" the messenger said and that
he rather thinks the JOKE is on Neckar"
Rusted when they heard tho reason for the in-
terruption OF the n ight's fun. some OF the hre.
men were mad clear through, and talked of
counsels prevailed, though. some of the
older heads aaid that Worth would have been
foolish 10 risk the danger of pneumSSn,ia S, in FAC
Neckar said he was not afraid OF tho cold The
men spectators growled in disappointment
each OF which was painted tho inscription:
Where is Worth 2"
The Lincoln ffe and drum corps formed In
line in front OF the men, who lifted the banners
high in air. Then the fire laddies seized the
the shril music of the drums and fifes.
The crowd followed. cheering and shout,
ing for Worth. The girl. In the crowd
everybody along tho route would be sure to SEQ
them. The Columbia boys had made mp their
revsnre 70 toT tho trIok ho played on the $500
citiIoIs who had come out tn SEQ the water duel.
And that. Just why Johnny Worth Will have
old popularity.