Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-06-10
THE COLUMBIA WINS AGAIN.

Guy, was given prize OF $40 at AN
napolis, Md, this morning for an ex
hibition of water throwing and gettin,
| up steam. There was no contest, tn
other engines having failed to enter ant
consequently the time made to-day,
minutes and 9 seconds, with two gauge!
of water, showed that Engineer Wood
did not care to "push" his engine, thus
avoiding strain on the engine, which
might have done it damage. The re-
suit OF the test was bulletined On the
board in front of the GAZETTE Office 8
few minutes after IL o'clock and soor
afterwards the large fire bell at the Co.
lumbia house began to ring and tine
people knew that the Columbia had
won for the fifth successive time. A
later dispatch announces that after
wards the company was rendered re.
ception by Governor Lowndes. The
company will return tomorrow night
and greeting to surpass that OF pre-.
vious occasions will be rendered. The
Alexandria Light Infantry, Hydraulion
Company, Relief Hook and Ladder
Company and number of enthusiastic
citizens will participate. Fireworks
will be in profusiou.
A little over 26 years ago the City Council
appointed q committee of fire waIdens to 60 to
Philadelphia and negotiate for the purchase
Of steam ire engine. This committee con.
sisted OF E. s. Leadbeater, James 3. Smoot
aud James Coleman, and on its return submit
| tod report that q No. 1 steamer and hose
carriage, with 500 feet of hose could be pro.
cured for So 600 As the material was con-
| sidercd to be satisfactory and the terms sd-
! vsntageous, the en-, inc WAS ordered, and was
/ transp Drtcd from Philadelphia to Alexandria
| on the steamer George II. Strout, arriving
here February 13, 1871. 1t was Immediate
ly taken to the Hydraulion engine house and
| put in tho hands Of Engineer Joseph a.
Young, bv whom it was gwen trial at Royal
| and tameron streets and found to be in OK
cel'ont condition. A strong stream WAS thrown
| over the market house steeple.
This engine, known as Columbia No. 10,
had been the property of company which
| was disbandcd by the ordinance abOishing
Philadelphia volunteer systom and as indi-
! regarded by tho 'old timorS" in the city of
Rrotherly Love-" it is said that while the ma.
china was being drawn through the streets, to
tho boat, dead fox Was suspended with its
head in tho smoke-stack, and on piece Of
canvas WAS the inscription, Good bye Dan !.
Ho for Ale1sndris p This gibe WAS levelled
at Mayor Fox for signing the Objectionable
decree.
1t now became necessary to form fire COM
pany, and in response to an invitation from
Col NJ. D. Ball large number of applicants
for enrolment held a meeting in his office,
Mr.. William Kigore presiding. On motion
of Mr. r. j. Daingerfeld, it was unanimously
voted that tho new organization be known as
the Columbus s. F E. Company, and q com
mittee was appointed to notify the fire war.
dens to that effect, and request that the up
paratus be turned over to the compspy's caro-
At that time the wardens were Jas. E. Smoot,
E. 6. Leadbeater, w, II. Lambert and James
Coleman aud the request was acceded to by
them on the following evening.
The first meeting Of the company was held
March 8, 1871, whom the following officers
were elected and appointments made: Presi-
dent, William Kigore; first vice-president
D. A. Windsor; second vicepresident, Nj. d..
Ball; treasurer, NJ. II. Jsnney; secretary, A.
8, Marshall; corresponding secretary, Edmund
Burke; surgeon, DR.. James @. Hill; executive
committee, John B. Smoot, George Bryan,
w. H. Vandcgrift; commander of engine, W..
p. Underwood; commanders of hose, Joseph
Hardy, William Cole. William Zimmerman /;
pipemen, z. J. Daingerfeld, ] E. Pierpoint,
N Mclean, George Uhler, VIM. 81. Claridge,
A. T. Ramsay; members L. Z. Hardy, G. +
Glover, &. 8. French 3. T. Lucas, J. Fl
Mansfield, A. W. Chiffon, George Hinken, W.
II. Beck, B. W. Falls, Henry Herbner, B. B.
Lee Fleming
1t WAS voted that the company uniform
consist of black trousers, Baltimore firemen's
lat and belt. with company and personal
name gray shirt with trimmings, and compa'
ny number on front, black cravat. When on
parade white rose to DO worn on left breast.
The company was initiated in actual service
! at the well.remembered market house fire. on
| which occasion the men worked with great
enthusiasm, achieving gratifying results.
Vice President D. A Windsor having been
| deputed to procure horses made trip to Bal.
timore, where be purchased pair of large and
| handsome blacks with money raised by the
company for that purpose, and tho necessary
| stabling.
The organization has taken part in five
steam fire engine contests. The first of thes
was in Frederick, Md, June s, 1898, where
seven engines Of different makes and classes
| were entered. The rules governing the tests
prescribed that each engine should carry one
gauge of cold water, lay line of $50 feet "a
play toward q stake SGT at a distance of l5C
feet from the nozzle Water was drawn from
1 crook, through 10 feet of suction hose. The
Columbia won first prize in eight minutes 1C
seconds, throwing an inch stream $50 feet,
or 80 feet more than the required distance.
The next test was at Hsgerstown, Md.
Juno I 4, 1894, where Columbia won again
but against single competitor, M the Other
companies that had intended to participate IL
tho trial withdrew on finding the Columbis
present. 4 one-inch stream was thrown 165
(, ct; time seven minutes 81 seconds.
The third and best record made was al
Grange Camp, Va, September 10, 1894, wher
tho time was six minutes five seconds, aud the
distance thrown 1876 feet All records have
been searched, snd nothing can be found ths
nullifes the Columbis's claim to have woI
the championship of the world, in the matte
OF time, on this occasion. The nearest ap
prosch to this effort was made by sn engin,
company at the Chicago Exposition, but tn,
Columbia loads her time by 4 seconds.
The fourth test was in Cumberland, Md.
June IL, 1896 against ono competitor. Thu
time was minutes and 1 seconds; distance
thrown, 1913 feet
The rfth prize of 81 5 WAS taken at Annspl
lis, Md, this morning, the Columbia havlnI
thrown $50 feet with $50 feet of hose ant
two gusges of water in 8 minutes and soc
onds. There were no contestants.
When is stated that this engine WAS bull
, by the Amoskeag Company, Of Manchester
N. II in March 1863, over "a years ago. it
performances may we'll he termed remark
sblo. 1t is, to all appearances, as serviceabl
: to-day as it was when it left tho works, an,
. Engineer Wool, an expert machinst, is as