Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-28
THE STATE FIREMEN.
Their Tournament at Newport News.
Lexington's Triumph.

NEWPORT NEWS, September 30
Especially 1.-THE last days programme OF
the twelfth annual convention Of the
Virginia State Volunteer Firemen's As
ISOLATION consisted solely Of reel con-
tests. While the teams which en-
tered made remarkable runs, 1t must
be said that the programme OF
contests was not what the people ex-
pected. as the first three numbers on the
list were stricken out. owing to the abb
sence of competitors.
The Lexington Fire Department team
carried off the honors Of the day. win
ming all three Of the real contests.
The first contest on the programme
was prize drill. the prize being s25.
There were no entries.
A hook -and-ladder contest for a prize
Of $50 was next, but there were no teams
to compete.
The third number was an interstate
reel contest for a prize OF so Neither
were there any entries In this race.
The reel contest for association teams
only was started at noon. The first prize
was go and the second $25. The track
was 225 yards. and the race was run on
West avenue between Twenty-fifth and
Thirtieth streets. Each team competing
was required TO start on given signal,
pull the hose-cart to the plug. and make
connection, and then break the hose at
225 yards and attach the nozzle. Suffolk
was the first to run, and cleared the
course in 113. Roanoke followed, and
when the team attached the nozzle in 81
seconds its friends cheered the feat 70
the echo. Lexington ran last, and when
the team filed out Of the Hotel Warwick
In athletic costume and sprinting shoes
tho Roanoke nkfaotfor
claiming that this team should be re-
quired to run as firemen and i'm firemen's
uniform. and not as college athletes
As there were no restrictions made be-
fore the races. the Judge decided TO allow
the entry. and the Lexington team rot
| ted up West avenue TO the starting point
The pistol was fired and the young sprint
ers dashed down the avenue 10 the goal
On reaching Twenty-sixth street, the fore
runner opened the plug and quickly made
connection, and the reel was swiftly car
ried to the finishing point where the noz
ze was attached, the whole requiring bu
| forty-seven seconds
While the judges would not give out tn,
| time. ii was apparent 10 all who haC
watches and followed the races that Lex
ington came out ahead. and the Lexing
| ton firemen gave their team men an ova
| ton.
The next event was a reel contest, opel
| to the world, for a prize OF $25 and sill
yer trumpet. The Roanoke and Suffoll
teams refused to run. and Lexington wen
in on the condition that it would receive
| the prizes If il should beat its own tim
| OF the previous contest.
This the Lexington boys did, makinl
| the course in forty-six seconds.
| Then followed the principal event Of tn
| day, the worlds reel contest for a priz
Of $3.50. Roanoke and Suffolk refused L
| enter and Lexington won the large priz
in a run of forty-seven seconds.
The Board of Judges decided late thi
evening that Lexington reel team wa
not entitled 10 the first prize Of $3.50 Il
the worlds contest, and refused to awar
| the money. The judges decided that tn
Lexington team used four men at IN
plug, and the rules of the Virginia Volun
teer Firemen's Association plainly state
that in all reel contests only two me
| shall be used 10 make connection wit
the plug. Captain " e. Funkhauser, G
the Lexington team, this evening filed
protest with the Citizens Executive Com
mittee, claiming that 1t violated no rule:
and is entitled 10 the prize money. Car
tain Funkhauser will also protest agains
the judges action to the association.