The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-09-06

ldu Il real street lOf tilc main portion
OF the parade. Even with automo.
biles parked on both sides from the
corner OF North to Stafford on Main
there was sufficinet room for the
parade and the new surface that had
been thoroughly cleaned during the
night was certainly appreciated and
enjoyed, both by spectators and
maj chers
The parade would Elave been con.
siderably larger but for the fact that
it was impossible for organizations
from the north to arrive here in time
to participate AS il was, il deyolyed
upon the local department and the
companies from nearby towns In
Massachusetts and New York to
cnrry out this feature Of the program.
As usual the parade was headed by
the regular police force and the Ben
nington City band which were follow.
ed by the local department. The
Bradford Hooks, The Starks. The
Putnams and the Eagles with their
apparatus. Then came the out Of
town organizations, from North Ad.
ans, Chester, VT. Salem. Cambridge
and Greenwich, n. Y. The second
division was accompanied by the Ben
nineton o. o. +. band
A number of years has elapsed
since any such crowd has gathered at
Hunts Upper Grove as that which wit
messed the hose races and the hand
engine contests The hand engine
contests developed the greater
amount OF enthusiasm because OF the
larger number Of men engaged and
because of the intense rivalry he.
tween some OF the visiting organiza-
tions from near by communities in
( New York state.
The first prize of 5000 for the hose
races went TO the Granite City run
ming team OF Barre II was evident
that tie boys from Barre had come to
/ the tournament to win. The company
already stands good chance to be-
come the permanent possessor Of the
prize trumpet offered by the state
association and Monday II secured
another leg" TIE Barre boys got
away to a good start and made good
spurt ut the finish The coupling
was quickly perfected and the time
announced from the stand was ~ -
seconds.
The Alests OF Adams made a good
run to the hydrant but lost speed in
the last 50 yards In SPITE Of a poor
coupling, however they came through
~ IL II second Tor second money Of
800.
The Unions of Salem did not have a
ful team and the man on the hose
met with mishap at the finish. The
coupling was slow and the time was
49 seconds.
The turf track was in good condi-
tion and the slight grade helped the
runners. Barre had second team
entered but the boys from tle Granite
City We're more anxious TO keep their
grip on the state trumpet than to
wn the prize money and the Barre
hose company withdrew.
The hand engine contests were not
] decided until the last throw by the
last company to participate and then
| tie ]. j. Grey company Of Cambridge
won from the Rough and Ready Of
/ Greenwich by one-halt an inch and
took the 300 prize The Greys made
a throw of 1877 feet, l2 inches. The
Rough and Ready boys pushed their
stream to 1877 feet and S.i inches and
took second money, $500, The Co
lumbia Engine company OF North Ad-
ans threw lSl feet, 3.i inches for
third prize OF 500. The Unions OF
, Greenwich made l66 feet, 3.4 incnes
for fourth money of SIS The Unions
OF Salem threw l55 feet 3 S.4 inches.
The victory of the Greys was de-
cidedly popular one. Immediately af.
tire the decisions had been announced
the members of the victorious team
hurried into the village where they
secured brooms and proceeded TO
celebrate after the manner of winning
teams at firemen tournaments since
tournaments were first invented.
As was expected the water fight,
which took place on Main street, just
alter dark, was one of the most spec
tacular features of the tournament.
Two teams. one from Hoosick Falls
and the other from North Adams, par
ticipated and the Hoosick Falls team
won. Each team was provided with
a line OF hose and placed at a spect
fed separating distance apart AT a
given signal the water was turned on
from the hydrants and the teams en-
deavored to wash each other off the
street" TIE lIoosick Falls team
had an advantage in that its host
was attached to the hydrant furnish
ing the heavier pressure and 1t looked
to the spectators as though its noz
zle threw a more solid stream, at the
same time Il must be conceded tina
the Hoosck Falls boys used bette
Judgment in presenting the smalles
possible target and keeping IL
,t,eam cont "uallv lined upon It's
opponents. The Adams boys made
Lame nglt however, and withstood
gruelling drenching that won the ap
prova Of the spectators.
The festivities concluded with dane
l.. ing on South street which had beer
, specially prepared for this feature.
The silver cup for the best appear
4, ing company in the line of march wa
, awarded to the Hook and Ladder com
. pany OF Cambridge by the village
. board OF trustees who acted as judge