The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-10-05
THE FIREnEN'S TOURNAMENT.
Words to Victor Hose Company, of
DaleiOh

Stop and read for yourself the full de
tails of the la Fireme n s Tournament at
Washington, \. {.
beg leave to state the following con-
cernng this affair:
We, the Enterprise Hose Company No.
J -, OF Henderson. do hereby declare that
i'll all of our meetings IN the various
cities and towns of North Carolina we
have never been treated better than We
were by the citizens of Washington. l
take pleasure in saying that our daily
department was such that the citizens
dared not to criticiee one OF Us.
But oh! wait just moment and let me
tell OF our treatment by our brother
firemen during our contest for the prize
between the various companies in the
State. The first company to run was
Victor, of Raleigh, which had to run
$50 yards and unreel $50 feet OF hose
and attach the same to plug, and show
water, which time was made in So sec
onds with 1870 lbs of water pressure.
Next to run was Enterprise, of Hender-
son, $50 yards unreel $50 feet OF hose
with only go lbs water pressure Now
why this was done we do not say, but
some unknown person after the Victor
had run before the next team could get
ready, which was Enterprise, OF Hender-
son, had so much interest in Victor took
upon himself to go down to the engine
that was forcing the water to the plug
and told the engineer that he had on too
much pressure and cut off to half, and
Just about that time it was Enterprises
time to run and we could not get any
water to show out of the mouth OF the
nozzle until laid upon the ground which
time made by Enterprise was 10 sec
onds with 60 lbs and Victor had 12O lbs
pressure.
SO now my friends be your own Judge
in this matter | will say to Mr.. S. }.
Hawkins, foreman OF the Victor Fire
Company, Raleigh, that the foreman Of
Enterprise Hose Company, of Henderson,
will meet them anywhere as they have
always been doing and give them IA
decent beating as any mother or father
has ever given them in days past.
want to say furthermore to the foreman
of Victor think he needs to be ashamed
OF himself to have gone to Raleigh
and nisinfOrmed the Neaos and Observer.
SO strange that men should do business
this way to msead people and so en-
thuse them by false statement. | want
to say to the Foreman of Victor Fire
Company | know he would like to beat
VI I1elutISUl, UuC tit.s uiC
not put up that way, aud have not been
every since Henderson has turned over
her water works to old Enterprise No. l
to show their equipment when at home
and abroad, and | would say to the
Foreman OF Victor, of Raleigh, that |
would not fool him for more change.
We have been showing our equipment by
winning first money for about 6 years
and have been holding championship
but for 3 years, and | take pleasure in
saying to the public that if Justice had
been given us 10 years ago we wou1
have had all first prizes put up in the
various cities and towns where We have
been going, but owing to such fraud that
has been practiced upon us is the
reason we have been getting left; but |
will say this, we understand how these
frauds come about now and the time
has come that you cannot fool all OF the
Fireman in the State and especially old
Enterprise, of Henderson. Now in con-
cluson OF what have said | can prove
ever word by the Mayor and Chief of
the fire department of Washington. N.
c. So hope the Foreman OF Victor Fire
Company, Of Raleigh, will be more care
ful hereafter in being so OverjOyed as he
calls it our fraud Victory. | want state
the victory is not to the swift nor to the
strong but him that holds out to the
end. Respectfully yours,
JOHN [. ROWLAND.