The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-07-26
GREAT DAY IN CHARLOTTE.
The Queen City Celebrates Firemen's Tourna
ment With Many Events.
(staff Correspondence.l J


Charlotte, ~ c., July 25.-Charlotte
was in the splendor of its Fireman's con-
vention when the Seaboard Air Line train
puffed into the station yesterday morn
ing and unloaded the hundreds who came
from along its line to join the thousands
already on the ground
Up Tryon street the procession was
moving and from the distance came en-
tbusiastic cheering and the stirring notes
of the fife and the rat-a-plan of the drum.
The delegation from Raleigh consisting of
Messrs. Sherwood Higgs, T. j. Pence, r.
G. Rivers, j. d. Boushall and the writer
were soon alongside of it, bowling merily
along in the admirable electric cars. The
firemen in suits of white and of blue, with
scarfs, sashes and trimmings of various
hues, the carriages, hose wagons and reels
gaily bedecked, with bright faced little
girls still further ornamenting them the
three handsomely uniformed bands and
the Charlotte drum corps the military
of Charlotte the beribboned marshals on
prancing steeds, the streets, piazzas, bal
comics, windows all tbronged with de-
lighted visitors and residents made all
a most charming introduction to great
day in the Queen City.
an CASllibS lntluSHL VI I1It DdGdub, OC-
curing just as we reached independence
Square was the alarm of fire which came
from the bell. There was great excite
ment for a moment, but Chief Marshal
Orr ordered the procession to move for
ward, spurred his horse to the rear and
soon detached the Charlotte fire com
panies which dashed along the side OF
the procession and whrled off down a
side street, soon to conquer the flames
and to return TO the procession for its
final review.
The steam engine contest was an easy
victory for Winston, as it's only competi-
tor was Charlotte with an out-of- date en-
gine that failed to draw water. The horse
race in the afternoon was exciting and
was witnessed by a immense crowd
There was much regret expressed at the
baking of Pat" the horse of the Will
son company which cayorted at the crack
of the starting pistol but never crossed
the line.
There was hush among the vast crowd
when Henry Coffey, the plugman of the
Asheville hose company fell as he jumped
from his racing hose wagon. He missed
the hose as he jumped, struck squarely
on his breast and bounded up, only to
topple over as he reached the curbing.
He is dangerously hurt. several of his
ribs being broken and a blood vessel rup-
tured. Just before leaving Charlotte this
morning | heard that his condition had
improved during the night.
In the contest Goldsboro won both
prizes. Company No / took 800 and the
Eclipse the $50 prize. The hook and lad
der contest drew another big crowd which
saw Winston and Greensboro win and
nearly 1,500 people were at the ball
ground to see the triumph of the Red
Birds over the Hornets. One source of
annoyance at the fireman's contest was
the utter inability of the police to keep
the people off the track President Nc
Neill, of the Fire Association. was in des-
pair many times during the day because
of this trouble.
At night the contest for the best