The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-02-16

Arrangements for Annual Meeting
And Tournament to BE Made.
From The Daily Item. Feb. 10.

Assocauon ana the big fremens 3
tournament to be held In Sumter
during the month of May next. will
occupy the interest and attention of
the local firemen and the Sumter
Chamber OF Commerce from now on.
A conference was held last night be-
tween Secretaries r. 8. Hood. of the
state Firemen's Association and Z.
I. Reardon Of the Chamber Of Com
merce regarding the coming meet
ing and the tournament. Secretary
Hood, who as Is well known. Ia chief
vf the Sumter Fire Department, also.
said that the question of the date of
the annual meeting having been left
with aim after conference with the
other officers Of the association he
had decided that the month of May
was the best time for a firemen's
tournament. He desires that the
Chamber OF Commerce take charge
Of the arrangements for the tourna-
nent. appoint committees. etc.. with
the Sumter Fire Department having
suitable representation on the differ
snt committees.
IL is proposed to make a three-day
AFFAIR Of the annual meeting. The
nrst day will be devoted to the busi-
ness session OF the association and
the two other days to pulling of the
tournament. The State Firemen's
Association at its last meeting did
Sumter the honor Of unanimously Sc
iecting this city az the place for the
1910 meeting and tournament over
several other places which made a
warm night for the meeting. While
sumter made no special effort to
land the association meeting, will
nevertheless warmly welcome the
0rsmsn and give them a big time.
Chief Hood Is anxious that the new
nre department quarters be COM
pleted before the May tournament
and Contractor d. p. Kelly has prom
ised to rush the work to completion
within ninety days. II the weather be
good. II Is estimated that there will
be ten thousand visitors In Sumter
during the two days Of the tourna-
ment for each day thereof. Fire
companies and delegates OF different
fre departmnts from all parts Of
South Carolina will be here for the
association meeting and the tourna-
ment. Sumter enjoys the pleasure
AID advantage OF being on very
friendly terms with the flremen Of
all the cities In the ssociation. They
want to come to Sumter as was fully
demonstrated by their attitude to-
wards this city at the last annual
meeting. or course every visiting
team will have scores of admirers
and rooters to accompany The teams
and the rivalry though friendly will
be great.
Eastern Carolina cities and coun-
ties will turn out and send large
crowds to Sumter to see the fun. The
city council will have to get busy
very busy putting Main street into
smooth and good running shape for
the hremen's races. But the city
council can get there when II is nee
essary.
There is nothing which stirs up the
sporting blood OF the average Game
cock City citizen as a firemen's tour
nament. The ladies' are as enthusi-
astic as the men folk. 1t has been
quite while since Sumter has had a
general old time blow out I'm which
everybody. could have an interest and
the opportunity to enjoy anything
like tournament or a fall festival.
A little fun will do no harm but on
the contrary will do much towards
bringing the people of Sumter county
and city and the people of the great
Pee Dee section together.
Secretary Hood will get up his re-
port OF what Will be necessary and
turn II over to the Chamber of Com
merce when Mayor Boyle. Chairman
Finn of the Fire Departme Com
mittee. the firemen. aldermen. and
the Chamber OF Commerce will meet
and get busy with arrangements for
financing and otherwise pulling of
the tournament In characteristic
Gamecock City style.
During the last firemen's tourna-
ment held In this city. Sumter offered
the largest prizes ever offered In the
south. She will do so again. The
hre teams of every city In the asso-
citation are coming to a man, unless
sickness prevents. The Sumter fire.
men are enthusiastic and the local