Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-09-18
-------r- nd |

page.
LCemmurilatedI
The FIRENES's ToURyANENT-Itiss is sincerely
to be hoped that there will be no more Fire
mems Tournaments in Cleveland. It is impos
sibe to estimate the amount Of ill-feeliug the
late parade has engenlered, as well between
certain Cleveland Companies $50 reliabe infor-
nation leads me to believe) as between the
Cleveland Department and a number Of the yis
iting Companies. It has begotten excitement
at hOm,, and created dis2sst abroad. The dan.
gerous irjury of one of the visiting fremen al
the hands of members OF a Cleveland Company,
and his possible death therefrom, will cost the
peorle from three thousand to five thousand dol
lar, in the prosecution and punishment of the
ruffians, Gfa consumma;ion so devoutly wished
is ever brought ab5uD. Whether the men now
under arrest for tLis crime are convicted or not
the people will have to foot Zig bill of costs
as their share of the expense Of the performance.
Scarcely a newspaper published within reach of
the influence of iremen who were here on that
occasion, has reached the city since then las
see by the papers,, which has not contained ac-
cusations Of meanness and uniairness against
the Cleveland Department. Such charges were
abundant indeed even the day Of the contest
The winners from abroad have been insDlent in
their triumphs, and the defeated profuse in their
epi'hets of contempt and hatred Their, is no
Disgusting the fact, too, that while we enter
tanned these visitors, drunkenness and debauch-
cry Tan riot, and confusion prevailed in nearly
every quarter Of the city. The ears of persons
passing along the streets at night were assailcd
with the most shocking profanity and obscenity
in several instances ladies' were ruthlessly
and brutally crowded from the sidewalks into
the streets-drunken men reeled at every cor
ner, and fighting was by no means rare. These
disgraceful scenes were not confined TO the
night; the day also beheld them but happily
less violent and disgusting. Order-loving and
Peacea5le citizens felt relief when they were
gone, and breathe freer in the hope that rope
titiOn OF them viii never occur here.
l DO not wish % be understood as charging
the whole Cleveland Department and al our vis-
itors with participation in this carnival Of dis
oIder-the large majority of all were panied
and outraged by such misconduct. Honorable
exceptions could be made Of whole Companies,
both at home and abroad, who viewed these
things with adherence and held themselves
a!oof from the rioters. But there lcas a proper
ton, and ! am not afraid to assert, and believe
correctly, that three-ffths of them were from
abroad, whose vile actions were 4 disgrace to
themselves and dishon5rable to the name OF
Fireman.
Nothing but a sense of duty induces me to
write thus. am impelled to It by sincere
desire to discover If there is no remedy for this
condition Of things. It seems wrong that the
name and calling of the volunteer fireman should
slways carry with them the stigma of dishonOr.
Is there no way in which our Department may
be pufged of the scamps who cling to itOnly
to degrade it II there Is not, it had better
disband at once, as well for the good of its
respectable members as for the good Of the city
at. large.
l speak from another consideration. It has
q strange seeming to me, and indeed to many
many others, that our Companies tolerate the
presence and companionship at their engine
houses Of runners and rowdies, or those
whose constant habit Is to lounge about drink
ing saloons and drink to excess. There are
those who permit these things in a full know.
ledge Of them, and yet claim to deserve the re-
sPeet and friendship of the public Let such
Companies nd themselves of these hangers-on
and lOafers, and they will then stand before the
public IN their really noble characters Of pro.
tectors and preservers of the lives and property
of the people.
In spirit of kindness have the foregoing
paragraphs been written. admire and honor
the manliness and true heroism Of the brave
and self-saeTihcing fireman. No other organi-
zatious Of the same numbers in the world con
tain so many warm-hearted and noble men. For
the honor and reputation of thestrue and good
among them have thus written. Let this class
(who compose nine-tenths Of the whole Cleve.
land Depar. aent) be careful to continue to de.
serve their good name by firm and determined
action with reference to the cases of those who
degrade and dishonOr their calling.
Sept IA. REX.