Arizona republican., 1899-12-06
EXPERT ROCK DRILLERS.
Miners Contest a Feature of Yester-
 days Programme.

we've got to get the money if we want to have a time; pound her hard, old man-now she's walking
 Talk about your coaching and yolr rOoters on the gridiron if you want to, but if you dd not attend the miners drilling contest at Lightburne plaza this morning you missed a treat that is not often presented. The miners who did the drilling could not spare any breath to talk. but the attendants who kept the drillings wet with a quarter inch hose spurred on the workers with the most original coaching ever heard. His position was one which could not be properly played without enthusiasm. He was between the muscular giants who swung the hammers and as the time drew near for the final blow he became mesmerized and talked without knowing what he said. His mind gave up the secret plans for the disposition of the prize money-the good times that were being so laboriously earned all appeared before his eyes, and his lips communicated the most urgent pleas for the realization of the feast of pleasure.
 But the miners swung the heavy hammers with quick and effective blows upon the drills and if they heard what their enthusiastic attendant said it was not apparent on their faces. The muscles of their arms bulged out with the demand upon them, and the blows came quick and hard during the last minutes of the striking contest It was an exhibition of physical endur- ance as Well as great skill. To per- sons who are unfamiliar with the work of the miner it seemed impossible that man could stand such a strain for fifteen minutes.
 Jim Bark conducted the contest, and Will Pomeroy of Mesa was chosen time keeper. Some delay was occa- stoned in the preparations. and the show did not commence until nearly Il o'clock. The entries were all in early in the morning. There was a double drilling in which three teams entered, and a single drilling in which there were also three entries. The drills used were 7s-inch steel, and all the drills were carefully measured and tested before the contest began. The prizes offered by the carnival associa- ton for the viators was s250 and sixty five per cent of the entry receipts, and a purse for the second best in the contest.
 Felix Newell and George Baxter of Bisbee, the champion team of the Cop per Queen mine, won the double drill ing prize. They drilled thirty and .hree-efghth inches in the fifteen min ute limit A n. NcDougalI and c. .. McGowan of Prescott came near carrying off the prize. During their drilling the hammer slipped from the f11.i1 lost. This team sunk thirty and one quarter inches, leaving a margin of one-eighth for the winners. Had it not been for this misfortune the money might. have been theirs. But the prize was won fairly by the Bisbee team and there was no hard feeling over the decision of the referees. The third team was Thomas Carbin and George Beck who sunk z57s inches.
 The single drilling contest was won by Dan McGowan of Prescott. The hole drilled by him measured 15 15-16 inches. J. H. Donnelan drilled 1S 9-16 inches and Walter Smith made a depth in the granite of 10 7-16 inches.
 The rock used was a fine grained granite, such as was used in the superstructure of the new capitol building. It is much harder than the Gunnison granite which was used in the Denver contest, when a record of 3S7s inches was made. At Prescott on the last Fourth of July the drilling contest resulted in a depth of PTS inches.
 The participants in the contest of yes terday probably represent the fastest and most powerful drillers in Arizona. The miners worked hard to win, and there was a great deal of interest in the contest. The crowd was held for over two hours, and there were more people at the close than when it began.