The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-01
LOCAL INTELLTGFNCR.

2 ,
could not have been wished Tor or o sn
iected had they been permitted to chonso
At two O'clock precisely. the IIni~,,
Hook and Ladder Company. nrecadsa
by Whiddon's. celebrated silver c"r,'o.
band, marched down Main street nas,
the Atlantic hotel. The truck was n pss,,s
nificently decoratedLwith small nationoI
flags, evergreens, and beautiful wreatbs
OF rare flowers. Her iron work shone
like Furnished steel. On the side of the
ladders which surmounted the truck in
letters of gold. was inscribed, "TJnion
Hook and Ladder Co. No. ~ and IN
the perch Were two elegantly colored
lanterns, cleaning axes, picks. crow
bars, DC. The men were dressed Il,
black pants and blue shirts, with hook
and ladder crossed OH the h{east =,
white their hats were the New YORK
style, neatly painted black, the front;s-
piece with the number and mama re-
their company, and below the initials NJ
each members name The comnanv
turned out thirty members, under com.
mand of their captain, N. 1. Bennett
who marched at their head, bearing in
his hand magnificent and elaboratelv
Ornamented silver horn, valued at S5O3
the gift of Fire Company of this citv
to q favorite captain. We neglected to
state In the proper place, that the truck
was Ornamented with o magnificent
wreath of evergreens, interpreted witt,
beautiful flowers, inside of which was
handsome 'front.' representing n
tigers head, from the mouth of which
was scroll, bearing the words "Sem.
per Paratus ct Fidelis.n Upon the sur-
face of the "front" was the following
inscription, "American Hose No. 6. Of
Bridgeport, Conn.,, to Union Hook and
Ladder Co. No. l, Norfolk" Both the
wreath and 'front.' were presented to
the company, the former by the CAP
tain's estimable lady, being the work of
her fair hands, and made specially for
this occasion.
About half past two o'clock, the pro.
cession started from the United engine
house, on Broad Water street, arranged
in the following order, by the Chief En-
gineer: First-Whiddon's coronet band:
Chief Engineer Folger, fianked
by his able and worthy assistants, Thos.
Kevill and Charles III. Langley; third
the Hook and Ladder Company; fourth
the two stalwart, fine looking axemen
of the United; fifth-the Secretary and
Treasurer of the United; sixth-the
United Fire Company, hauling, with
beautifully ornamented rope, their new
machine. The engine was not deco
rated-"beauty unadorned, adorned the
most, $50 her bright work shone with
the radiance of a thousand lights, every
particle of her machinery being burn
ished to q dazzling brilliancy. The
company, under the command of Capt.
Edward Lakin, turned out So members,
uniformed in red shirts, black pants,
black belts, and white gloves.
Their hats were the standard pattern
of the Department, with black fronts,
centre piece white, bearing their num-
Der and the name of the company. In
the fuel-box of the Engine was juve-
nile specimen of the Fire Department,
dressed In full uniform, and armed caa,
a pie, as ifready to take de butt" One
feature of the procession was Capt. Ed.
Lakin's celebrated watch dog Tiger, a
favorite of the Company, and quite an
institution of this noble and efficient Or
ganization.
The invalid corps of the Fire Depart
ment brought up the rear of the process
ion, in one of Huyck g. Veasey's splen-
did Omnibuses, driven by Dan KOwles,
the head centre of the pudding creek fe-
man circle. Among the invalids we no
ticed the wounded of the United, Nance
ly Nick Chestnut, w. H. Hodges, VIM.
Weber, Henry Hill, and Billy Belote.
DR.. Baylor, surgeon ofthe United Fire
Company, rode in the procession at the
head of the boys. He Isl general favor
lite of the company, and loved by them
for his noble traits and self sacrificing
character, as well as admired and appre-
ciated for his talents.
The procession paraded through the
principal streets of the city, and the bal
comics and windows were alive with the
fair sex to witness the grand display. In
some portions of the city the boys were
literally smothered with showers OF
bouquets. On the National Hotel bal
cony we noticed large number ofladies
who, as the procession passed, sent forth
their sweet compliments with storm
of flowers. 80 it was all along the line OF
the parade. The fuel boxes of the " City
ofNoHolk" were filled with the fiowery
compliments of the lady friends OF the
"United.n The Hook and Ladder was
also quite hidden amid the .blushing
roses. Yesterday was indeed great
day, for Norfolk, and the Inauguration of
the new engine on the 3lst of January,
1866, will be an epoch long to be re-
membered in her history. The cere-
monies of the day were wound up byan
excellent collation. at the United engine
house in the afternoon. Good cheer
and sentiment were the prevailing
features of the occasion. Speeches were
made by Chief Engineer Folger, En-
gineers Kevill and Langley, Capt. Lakin
and Capt. Bennett. Long life to our
noble firemen, and may their shadows
~ loc