The “Grand Steam Fire-Engine Contest”

Extract

The sun arose on the morning of Tuesday, August 31, 1858 upon a strange scene on Boston Common. A scaffold reared its ugly head close by the flag staff and a huge tank was placed conveniently near. By nine o'clock throngs were gathering in the streets, pressing for a view of the Common. However, the crowds were not such as one would expect at an affair heralded by the erection of a scaffold. Rather were they a jubilant and excited gathering: now and then could be heard exclamations of surprise and no few were wagering and betting as though a horse race were the attraction of the day. A race it was indeed, but a race of fire engines and not of horses. The City of Boston was holding a trial of engines before procuring two or three for the use of the City.