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

gathered a big crowd early in the after
noon. Great interest had been manifested
in this trial OF speed and agility between
the different companies of the state and
much practice has for long time been
put in by the fire laddies. Friends of the
contesting companies were out in force
and did great deal of cheering for til cir
favorites.
The judges were Messrs. Paine, Hatch,
Hodgdon and Smith, the assistant chief
engineers of the Portland fire depart
msnt. Captain Hodgdon acted as the
starter and Captain Hatch was the time
keeper.
Five companies ente red the list. Lad
ders 3, and OF Portland and companies
from Rockland and WaterviIle. The con-
test consisted of raising an extension lad
der fifty feet in length and then having
one of the members of the company run
up to the end of the ladder, ssslide downs
stopping midway to uni ock the extension
and finally to again place the ladder in
position. Each company was allowed ten
men.
The Wateryille company was the first
to try it's speed, and after reporting that
everything was ready the word was
given. Captain Hodgdon discharged his
revolver and the men were off. They
seemed at first rather awkward as they
made hard work of lifting the big ladder
and getting 1t into position before level
ling 1t to the clock tower. George Innig
was the man who had been selected tC
make the ascent. He went up as agile as
cat for the first fifteen or twenty rungs
Then he slowed down in his hustling
and on his descent stopped a needless
number of seconds at the connection OF
the two ladders, while he adjusted the
joining. This done he tried to make uI
lost time, but after he had landed safely
on the ground and his fellow firemen had
placed the ladder In its regular position,
the account showed that the time that
had been taken was one minute and fifty.
eight seconds.
Ladder of Portland came second
on the list and as the members of this fire
company ran over to their position TO gel
in readiness their friends In the crowd
sent out lusty cheer. The men were
spry in giving the word and within a few
seconds George Partridge was off and uH
on the ladder making his best efforts
His work was so fast in comparison with
his predecessor that all Of the crowd ap,
preciated his skill, and gave a round of
hearty applause. Everything went along
all right with Partridge, although like
the Waterville fireman he became a little
bit confused in trying to unlock the con
nections in his eagerness to do well.
When some twenty feet from the ground
Partridge lost his hold on the ladder just
as it was being shifted from the tower.
He tried to save himself, but was too late
and the crowd held their breath as they
saw the young man falling towards the
stone paving 1t was thrilling moment
Luckily for Partridge, however, his fall
was broken by c. j. Clark, one Of the
members of the company, who taking in
the situation at a glance, caught Par
fridge before he struck the stones. Par
fridge struck heavily on his back. In the
excitement oocasioned by this incident
the people broke through the ropes and
police much trouble to clear the grounC
again. Partridge was not seriously in
jured, and beyond feeling faint for q
minute or two was soon all right. H
said that he did not care to meet witt
this mishap again. His time was fifty
five seconds.
Ladder was the next contestan
and Frank Wallace was chosen to run up
Evidently the selection was not a bal
one, for Wallace almost flew up the Ia1de
and then dashed down. He turned tn
trick in forty. three seconds, a time whicl
was to be the best of the day and which
won for his company the first prize.
The Rockland company was mex
brought out. These men placed grea
hopes in Ray Smith as a climber. Hi
time was ifty-three seconds.
Ladder 3 of Portland came last and
Fred Doe made 6he ascent and descent II
fourty seconds. There was no sec
ond prize.