Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-08-30
REEL RACES CLOSE
f|REMEN'S CONVENTION
State Companies Contest Today
for Custody and Cash
Prizes.
BIG STREET PARADE YESTERDAY
Line OF March Extended over Mile
and Thousands of People Gathered
on Streets to Witness the Spectacle
Portsmouth and Hampton the
Prize Winners.

Reel contests on West avenue be
tween Twcnty-siXth street and Tween
ty-ciehth street at 10 o'clock this
morning Will bring to close the
celebration of the twcntyiirst ami
vcrsary of the founding Of the Vir-
sinia State Fircncn's Association,
which began in this city "Wednesday.
ltunning teams from StrasburE, Lex
inslon. East Covington Covington.
Woodstock aud Ilarrisonburg, will par
tic pate in the races and some unusu-
ally fast and interesting sport is an
ticipatcd There Is considerable in
tcrost in the reel events and 1t Is
expected that Il great crowd will wit
ness them
Each team will make two runs over
the course, the first run II the State
contest and the second In the world
race. The reel presented to the as
sociation In Richmond last year. VIII
be used in the races. the teams run
Ming with it against time. Each team
Will pull the reel over II hundred yard
course. lay section of hose. make
connection with the street plug. break
the coupling between the first and
second section of the hose. carried
Oh the reel. attach the nozzle and
throw water. The team having wa
tor going in the least time will be
declared the winner. he first prize
In each event will be 500 ana the
second $50.
All of the teams have been doing
some hard practicing for the races
and the contests probably will be very
close. Nearly all OF the teams have
won first prizes In reel contests NJ
~
stood that the fircment have wagcred
large amounts OH the results Of to-
days events.
Growing Event, the Parade
The browning event of the convcn-
| on was the street parade held yes
! tnrdny morning. In the line were
nearly thousand uniformed fire
mon. representing practically every
bands. six running teams OF fifteen
members each, four fire engines,
three hose wagons, squad of police
and numerous carriages. bearing May
or Buxton and the mayors of Ports
mouth. Bedford CITY ana phoebus, tho
members of the local committees on
arrangements, the Keystone Fire
Chiefs and other guests. and Chief
w. *. Slows buggy with Chief STOW,
the retiring president of the associa-
ton, and Col. Roller. mayor of Ilar-
risonburg. the new president
The parade was II splendid affair
and everywhere along the long limo
of march 1t was witnessed by thou
| sands of people of this city, Hampton,
Phocbus. Portsmouth and other cities
LOT The State. The fire fighters and
their bands were frequently greeted
with bursts of applause ana rcsound-
Ing cheers from the spectators.
Prizes Awarded.
| The judges who wcro stationed on
Washington avenue had no easy time
warding the prizes for the largest and
best looking company and best band
| In the line. All of the companies
showed up in excellent form and ii
was some time after the parade
when the judghcs could announce the
awards.
The awards gave Tic prize OF $i0O
for the largest and best looking com
pany in line to the Portsmouth IIooS
and Ladder Company No. T. This
company came over to this city on
the naval tug Alice yesterday morning
10 strong and was headed by the
band of the Norfolk navy yard The
| 4 rcmcn wore drab coats and blue
trousers and they made an imposing
showing
A purse of sac for the best band in
tho parade was awarded to the band
of the Twcnty-third United States
Infantry, stationed at the jamestown
Exposition. This band headed the
Hampton Company and was given an
ovation all along the line of march
Massie Chef Marshal.
The procession formed on IVES.
avenue between Twcnty.cighth street
and Thisiy-fifth street about 10: 30
o'clock and was headed by Chief Mar.
slial j. a. Massic Leading the line
was n platoon OF police ana then fol
lowed the carriages bearing the guests
Of the association.
Tho phocbus Company. nearly a
hundred strong, and headed by the
Fort Monroe band led tho fircmen
in The march and they made splen.
did showing. The company refused
to enter tho competition for the
prizes, considering itself host of
the association. Following Phocbus
was the Mnssanutten Company. OF
Strasburg, headed by Tom Collins.
who measures about six feet nine
inches in height and who attracted
moro attention from the spectators
Than any other fireman i'll line The
Clifton Forge company brought up the
rear of the first division.
Leading the second division was the
reliance Drum Corps. of Alexandria
followed by the Reliance Company. of
that city. rhs company made a
.crcditabc showing and the drum
corps. received great deal of applause.
The Shenandoah Company. OF WooG-
stock, followed Alexandria in tho di.
vision and the PhncniX CompnnY. Of