The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-07-16
The Firemen's Contest.
Wateree Messenger.

The firemen's Contest.
Wateree Messenger.
We are rather surprised at the char
acter of the Sumter Item reply to the
comments made last week with refer
ence to the fremen's tournament.
Ca1nden's fremen were guests Of Sum
| ter. but if the Items expresses the
sentiments Of the Sumter people, it
/ would seem that they were rather IN
welcome guests. The charge Of unfair
ness is not confined to Camden fremen
alone, but by a good many others as
we'll, and we lad hoped that salts
factory explanation would be given,
but instead the Items reply is rather
"adding insult to injury"
The following has been handed US
for publication:
In view of the article appearing in
the Sumter Item in reply to an article
in The Wateree Messenger affecting
the part played by The Camden Hose
SQUAD at the Fire Tournament held at
Sumter, June 25th and 26th, we feel
compelled 70 make a statement. We
diselaim any desire to enter into a
newspaper controversy over the matter,
but offer the following as final ex-
PLANTATION.
Concerning the charge made by The
Item that the Camden Hose Squad at
tempted to conceal remyable weights
in their wagon tool-box, the insinua-
tion is intended to carry further than
substantiation of such charge could
effect. It refers alone to the Quick
Hitch up contest on the afternoon Of
the 25th. Since the organization OF
our Squad land prior to the tourna-
ment at Sumter) we have attended but
two contests, one at Charlotte, and
another at Newberry. In both in
stances we experienced considerable
difficulty in securing shot or weights,
to conform to the rules of the races,
and in anticipation of the same trou-
bic at Sumter, we carried with US two
harness s-hanger weights, and surplus
tools which we're placed IN the wagon
tool box.
The weighing was done in the pres
ence of Mr.. Thos. Jenkins Of the Del
gars, and no objection was made by
him to the weights at the time. After
ward however, complaint was made by
Sumter that the wagon was too heavy.
We voluntarily explained and imme-
diately showed the harness hangers
and surplus tools. They we're at once
removed, and the wagon after being
stripped was reweighed, it being the
intention to make up the deficiency
with shot; but at this point it was
discovered that, owing to the incom-
plete arrangements nada by Sumter,
our harness could not be used and We
were then forced to accept both the
harness and wagon of the Indepen-
dents Of Columbia the courtesy of
whose foreman vas in striking con-
trast with the lack Of true sportsman
ship, and the ignorance of good fell
lowship, SO glaringly displayed by our
hosts.
It is clearly to be seen that the
pulport Of this feature OF the article in
question was to make it appear that
Camden would secretly unload its
weight before the contest. We feel
that it is giving such a low insinua-
tion too much Importance to even
allude to it here, inasmuch as it comes
from team, whose past record along
the same line, is so generally known
among the State Firemen. Toward
one feature of the insinuation how
ever, we do feel resentful and desire to
say that whenever we descend from
the level of fairness that has always
characterized our methods in similar
contests we will drop with at least
more shrewdness and cheat with more
intelligence.
With respect to the claim made by
Sumter that Camden attempted to
run the race with a shortage Of hose
and objected to its being measured
we brand this an untru5h. Objection
was made by US against the measure
mert of the hose by Sumter Firemen,
who had no authority in the matter.
On the other hand, we requested the
judge to measure the hose
and this was done by him. The hose
had been used here in practice work
without water, for fully two months
prior to the race IA recent IRE having
destroyed our power house. Two
measurements here showed 293 feet,
which we were to use at Sumter. 1t
became necessary to change the butt
connection, and knowing We had five
feet to spare, we reduced the hose 4
feet, still however being within regu-
lation. Having had no water passed
through it for oyer two months, the
shortage was due to shrinkage, caused
by water being run through the hose
after reaching Sumter. Assuming
there was an intention On our part to
run the race with shortage of hose
is it reasonable to suppose we would
have attempted it with a scant short
age of feet 4 inches? How could
such ridiculous shortage result ma
terially to our profit?
While we feel convinced that we
could with, ease prove the absurdity of
other reckless charges made by Sum
ter, and while we feel that we would
be justified in replying at length to
the dirty reflections made through the
Item we will ignore them.