The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-07-10
DOWNTRODDEN BANGOR.
Portland Has Again Offended BY Arr
ranging For Fireman's Muster.
(Bangor Commercial. J


The Portland fire department. has at
last gratified the spite engendered at the
state muster of flremen in Bangor last
year by coming out in a plain attempt to
ruin the muster to be held by the state
association In Gardiner this summer; the
action of the Portland people comes as q
surprise to the association and Chief
John Mason Of Bangor, it's president, has
called special meeting of the executive
committee in Gardiner for Thursday of
this week to consider matters.
AS the public we'll remembers, the
Portland contingent introduced a
characteristic Casco ''kicIz' at the close
of the steamer contests here last year be-
cause under the rules their steamer could
not win the pumping trial The Portland
steamer had peculiar advantages in size
and steam pressure, but the rules pro-
viding the usual regulation that the
gauges ON all engines should be one hun
dred pounds with ten pounds leeway, her
machine could not win. There was pro-
test, but the judges took the ground that
the rules applied to all steamers engaged
and that in spite Of the dignity and mag
n1fcent traditions Of the Portland WISH
tors. no exception could be made in their
case.
Portland accordingly went home dis
gruntled, as the Commercial OF that time
reported. Now she is getting even with
the association.
The state association OF fremen has
planned to have it's meet in Grd1ner,
where preparations for a royal entertain
ment and lively set OF contests are now
being made A sum of money is also be-
ing raised there fer the use of the local
committee and for the prizes, and every
attempt was to be made to give the Maine
dremen one OF the days OF their lives.
Gardiner showed her usual enterprise IN
taking hold of the plan with Will.
A few days ago before the association
had had an opportunity to begin its cam
paign OF publicity and advertising, Port
land suddenly announced that she was to
bold a muster on her. own account, with
prizes aggregating larger sum than that
offered by the association. The result is
the endangering of the we'll laid plans of
the association and the calling of the
hasty meeting of the executive commit
tee. Gardiner people are. greatly distressed
over the situation and will do what they
can to avert the collapse Of their prepara-
tions.
How many other western Maine cities
have been influenced by Portland to en-
ter her meet is not known yet. Chief
Leighton of Westbrook is secretary of
the state association and will probably
be at the meeting on Thursday, and it is
believed that he can throw light on the
situation. 1t is hoped that as yet no
other cities are influenced and that all
but Portland at any rate can be brought
together in the state meet in Gardiner,
in which case the loss OF the Casco bay
department. would not be seriously felt.
Chief Mason, president Of the assoeia-
tion, asked to be excused from discussing
the matter when called upon by a repor-
ter on Monday. He said, however, that
it was true that Portland was advertis-
ing a muster and that if the plans
there were carried through all right the
effect on the state muster as planned in
Gardiner might be unpleasant. Chief
Mason viii be at the meeting on Thurs
day.