The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-08-08

der favorable circumstances, in TACT, 1t |
was remarked universally that the con-
d1tions for contest were never bstter. |
Mr.. John Cousens OF this city, stood on !
the platform beside the several engines
as they played, ana ofioiatsd as judge of
the steam gauge, while ex-Chief Engineer
G. IL. Leighton of Westbrook stood beside
him in the capacity of time keeper. On
the platform just ahead, where the hose
men stood and handled the hose, were
ex-Chtet r. W. jackson Of Portland and |
Chief J. Clark Flagg of Richmond, as
! judges of the pipe. At the lower end of
the field were Chief Frank, Morse of Bath
and Chief A II. Plaisted of Waterville
as the ju1ge OF the distance played.
The contest started in with Col. Sise
engine Of Portsmouth, n H., on the
stand. The engine showed itself to be
good machine, but the men were not
able to establish an inyincible record,
and at the end of Is minutes, the time
limit, Withdrew from the stand with a
record OF 24s feet 10 10 inches to its cred
it.
Richard Vines engine company of Bid
defOrd were the next to line up for the
honors. The members Of this company
lost little time in getting underway
on account of a trifle of a dispute which
4 they had with the Judges with regard to
the method of computing actual dis
tances played, but this was soon settled
by the rules, and the engine was put
under steam for the trial. Before the
time limit had elapsed this engine
suffered little from time lost on account
Of the parting Of the couplings from the
hose and engine. The best record scored
I by this company was POI feet ID inches
The third engine to compete for the
honors was engine Of Portland, entered
I by hose Company NO. s of WOOdfOrds.
! The engine was in charge of II. q. Rowe
OF the Chemical engine company, who
ana not seem perfectly at home In the
management OF his machine, and before
the engine had been under steam eight
minutes it was barred out because OF the
fact that the steam gauge sprang quickly
from 80 pounds up to lis, which was
above the limit allowed. The engine sue
ceeded in playing 220 feet and 1 inch.
What had been set down as record
breaking engine in this contest was the
Il. =. Peck engine of Lewiston. Yhi
engine behaved splendidly when once
underway, but in spite of all endeavors,
the best that could be shown by the tape
line, was a distance of 264 feet 10 l-2 1
inches. This was the best record made
up TO that time and served as a spur TO
the men who We're to follow.
Engine of Portland, in charge of En- |
gln9er L. ii. Williams, was next hauled |
on TO the stand for the test For four or |
tive minutes this engine seemed to re- |
main at halt, but when once under |
way the. water began to leap forward past !
the marks previously made. The crowd |
went wild and for few moments it /
looked as though the engine would make |
phenomenal record but as the signal |
was given, warning the engineer of hay- |
ing completed his time limit, the judges |
computed the distance played at 273 feet /
and II l-2 inches.
Judge John COusens remarked about /
this engine that she held her steam bet /
Ter than any other engine in the contest.
Engine of Portland was next in line, |
ana she dld some good work, but had |
20 remain content with a marking of 256 |
Iee6 ID inches, The contest from this !
on until near the close was not as inter
es6lng and the records began to lower
Inc Saco engine company, No. l. was
Jhe next to enter. This engine labored
under dlfnculties, but put up a plucky
trial and wound ND with a record OF 231
feet Is inches played
Engine 90. OF Portland was the next
contestants, and while they did not make
a very big showing in the water throw
ing contest the members Of the company
are certainly deserving OF much credit
Tor the manner in which they placed their
engine Ia position in readiness for the
play out. This engine was placed upon
the stand the quickest ana most sys-
geha6lc OF any of the engines, thus allow
ing the company more on its actually
playing time.
Engineer French certainly did his best,
put the water refused TO be forced a
point. equal to that of the established
record, and wound up with a record OF
S2l feet 10 5-S inches. /