The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-07-10
LOST But ONCE
Astoria Hose Team Defends Its
Championship Title.
Returned Home Yesterday With
Three Prizes, Losing Fourth
Because of Accident.

The members of the champion As
toria hose team returned home yes
terday afternoon on the special. They
were bountifully supplied with brooms
and were cheered as they hauled theil
cart through the streets. All We're en-
thusiastic over their victories. which
make easier their contemplated triI
to the worlds fair. The oregoniar
published the following account of the
races OF the final day:
After having failed to win the dry
test, through a defect in reeling the
hose, the Astoria hose team success
fully defended their u:ann 10 the state
championship yesterday afternoon by
winning the New Tory test In IL sec
onds better time than the nearest COM
petitor.
The contests were held under carni-
val auspices.
Several hundred people witnessed
the races OF the teams on Sixth street,
north OF Burnside. Each team seemed
to have an ample number OF rooters in
the crowd and each received its share
OF the applause.
The first event was a dry test, in
which the contesting teams were to
run rs yards. lay ESQ feet OF hose and
fasten the nozzle. The Fulton team,
the first team to appear in the con-
test, won the event in "a seconds. Or
egon City was second in rs is Sec
onds. After getting well under way
In this event, the Astoria team suffer-
ed setback which delayed them to
such an extent that they gave up the
race. A coupling on the hose fouled
the reel as it began to run. causing
a jam that could not be unfastened
for some minutes.
we would have won the event."
said Captain Fred Brown Of the AS
toria team. but for the accident. We
had made good time up to that point,
and / am confident that we would have
won"
After thus losing the first event the
Astoria boys were subjected to a great
deal Of ridicule from the crowd. This
turned to praise, however, when the
New York test occurred. In this
event the contesting teams were to
run rs yards, lay $50 feet Of hose. get
first water. break a section and take
it back, insert the section and get sec
ond water. The oregon City team ac-
complished the feat in 55 4-5 seconds
and was generally appIauded by the
crowd. Smarting from the sting of
one failure, the Astoria team went TO
the line with the determination to win
out or die in the attempt. Every man
on the team knew he was there to de-
fend the championship, and Captain
Brown took the necessary pains to tell
them SO.
you win this" he cried, "or wen
never dare go home"
Up and down the sidewalks walked
Astorians with money, which they
yainly attempted to place on their
home team. Supporters of the other
teams were not gambling at that par
ticular moment. The revolver was
fred, and the team was off like shot.
1t was evident from the first second
that the team meant to do things. The
couplings were made with the precis-
ion Of clockwork. Almost before the
last section of hose left the reel the
nozzle was attached and the first wa
ter came. Then the section was re-
moved and hurried back toward the
plug. The two necessary breaks were
made in the line, the section was in
serted, there was another squirt of
water, and the deed was done.
Everyone asked the time, and when
it was announced, the crowd cheered
the Astorians to the echo. They had
successfully defended the champion
ship and won the New York test in
43 2-5 seconds, over IL seconds bet