The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-09-17
UnexceIIed Victor In
Firemen'S Test

As SAhbSH SSN
: Three Thousand firemen and so of
the best apparatus in Monmouth coun-
ty and scattered parts of the state
formed a parade two miles long that
featured Monmouth County firemen's
fell day and parade at Belmar and
So tn Belnar on Saturday.
Rumson fire DEPARTING ut appeared
with the best de GRATED truck; the
machine was covered from n end
to the other with flowers of every
kind.
Burlington fire department. one of
the most distant representatives, was
awarded first prize for haA ing the
m st firemen in line from outside
Monmouth county. 1t had SO men, a
band and tw, apparatus, Red Bank
with 80 men in line received fire prize
for Monmouth county.
The judges decided that Allen
bursts hook and ladder truck was
the best appearing apparatus in the
parade. Oakhurst' new combination
engine was given second place i'll this
division.
Sea Girt with it's men looking like
admirals dressed in blue coats and
white hats and trousers were given
first award for being the best uni
formed company. Second award went
to East Newark.
Many thought that the oldest APP
paratus award would go to Ocean
Grove with its ~13-year-old hook and
ladder truck. Hazlet's hose wagon
beat that record however having been
in operation since 1911.
George e. Burgesser, 81 years of
age, a member of Manasquan Volun-
teer Hook and Ladder company was
adjudged the ldest man in line.
The aged fire fighter said he had been
in the company since 1848 and was
still going strongly.
Much interest was shown in the
hose laying and ladder raising con-
tests, tho many of the para lie onlook
ers attended the baseball game which
started as the march neared its end.
Altho six companies started, but
two qualified in the hose laying con-
test, Unexcelled Fire company of
Yves Grove winning first prize by
laying $50 feet of hose after a quar-
ter nile ruu in Al 1-5 seconds. Man
qua the only other company that
qualified, completed the run in AZ 20
SGEOllQSs 4WO COH4D aIlOS pal OACAR1e-
cd IN the ladder reising contest, won
BY the Unpxcelled company in BIZ
seconds, with the Sherman Hook and
Ladder company of East Newark sec
ond in 10 SECONDS,
The hose laying contest proved a
dangerous sp TT for the contestants
and a thrilling one for the onlook-
ers. -Four of the companies dis
qualified, when their men stepped
outside the 10 foot wide foul line;
they were the Oak Groves company
Of Matawan township, Liberty COM
pany of Whitesville. Wesley of AS
bury Park and Defender Hose Of
East Newark.
The hose wagon drivers had an
OPP rtunity to show good driving and
SD endid exhibitions were given I in
several instances. Manasquan the
first company TO run skidded right to
the plug after a whirlwind run and
duplicated the performance at the 100
foot mark.
similar good driving was shown
by the West Grove entry, its men al
so being complimented for their team
work.
TIE Oak Groves apparatus scarcel0
slackened speed as it came to the
plug and in jumping one of its plug
men fell hard outside the line.
In the ladder raising contest. too,
there was opportunity for teamwork
and it was shown by the West Gro e
men when they snapped the ladder
into positi n after an elapsed time of
81 seconds. Their ladder mar was
half way to the top Of the pole be-
fore the ladder rested against the
pole.
Fairly Quick work was also shown
by the East Newark men. from the
Sherman Hook and Ladder, company,
who required 70 seconds to set up the
ladder.
The line of march for the parade
was TO r miles long. The parade
completely circled Belmar, and South
BeIInar, coming to> an end at Me-
mortal field where the prizes were
awarded.
1t was headed by a police escort
and color guard consisting of Chief
of Police Winslow NJ. arkett. and
off ers Harry Stout, Charles Chase,
Samuel Newman, Clarence Smith and
IN, rman Carver, Eight bands were in
the parade.
The judges were Ben Farrier, Fire
lChief William Taggart Of Asbury
Park; Fred Tagg, Mayor Claude w.
Birdsall of South Belmar; Charles
Hildsiner and Captain William III.
Notschert of Engine company 30,
Newark.
crh0nl Attendance