The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-06-28

horses and picked team of men,
the fastest horses and the most expert
men the department. could furnish
The Sumter team that won the race
and gave this city the championship
of the State was made up as follows
Billy aud Barnie, the Monaghan
horses.
Franklin Anderson, the Monaghan
driver
DeIgar hose wagon.
S j. Rytteooerg, captain.
Fl c. Mum, huffman.
w. S. Graham.
J. B Miller.
A. G. Flowers.
Charlie Gallagher, nozzleman
The following account Of the great
race is taken from tie State
The fremen's tournament is a thing
of the past. 1t came TO ao end amid
excitement as great as ever charac
terized any contest of the kind in
this State-with the match contest
between the Sumter hose wagon
team and the Palmettoes of this city
For several hours the people stood in
the baking hot gun and waited with
their nerves strung to the highest
pitch for the race to take place.
Hundreds of dollars bad been put up
On each side. and it was known that
it was a matter Of only a few
seconds either way No finer horses
were to be found in the State for
such contest, and bets were made
at even figures. The knowledge that
the PaImettoes would use their team
Of thoroughbred bays made them in
some instances the two to-one favor
1te on the run TO the hydrant But
even those who had this confidence
were doomed to disappointment. 1t
was thought that the prospects would
be improved by having Henry, the
engine driver, to take the reins for
the run, but this was one of the mis-
takes easily seen afterwards
All knew of the match between the
Scmterises aud the Palmettoes and
when toe announcement was made that
it would come next there were Tasty
cheers. The judges we're asked to 60
up aud measure the hose 90 the wagons
and examine everything. A long delay
eosued owing to discussion over the
Sum.erites using light rubber bose,
wagon not originally used, the selection
of the judges and other incidental
points.
Finally. about 80 O'clock, the Pal.
uetto tboroughbreds we're ordered
hitched to the wagon and old Herry,
the engine driver. was told to get oo the
box and Bob Waites was placed on the
rare to make the leap AID bydraps
connection, relieving Dodson. By
this time bets had been made that
probably aggreated S1,500. The
Palmettoes were to 60 first and as the
team turped ioto Main Street the crowd
cheered The judges insisted that The
course be kept absolutely clear aOd
though the nervous tension was go
great the crowd for once heeded the
request. Getting 6ue start the bays
dashed cf in grard style. Henry used
the whip vigorously bu. the steeds
evidently missed their regular driver
and With the eye it could be seen they
we're no. making the run they bad done
ia The regular contest, Such vas the
case, for the run was "a seconds against
the original 20 IL. Waites remained
on the wagon just the least hi. too long
and though he did foe work 10 aligat
ing he bad, to pail the hose back to the
hydraos. All the other connections
were made aud the water was turned
on. It seemed as if the water came at
snail's pace aud would never reson its
destination. People watched its slow
pace down the length Of the hoee with
bated breath, but it would 60 no faster
When i, finally showed the watches
registered 81 2 5 seconds All knew
that the Palmetto pride wss defeated.
Then the handsome bays from Sun.
ter cane to the starting poict. They
we're pulling at their bits aDd praeosng,
anxious to get away. Finally the dag
dropped add The big animals we're seen
to spring like boarhounds to the chase.
Tie driver lashed them with his whip
and let his lines hang loose. With
every bound their speed increased and
old horssmen remarked that they had
aeger seen heavy horses fun 50 before
l. vas spectacle that called to mind
the picture conceived of the chariot
rsces Of ancient Rome. Oo they came
tbuodegug toward the goal as Il they
spev taat victory vas about to perch
on ;he:e Wagon. There was no decrease
of speech as tha hydrans vas passed
Maap made the leap gracefully aad at