The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-23

The ANNUAL PARADE OF THE CoLoRED
F1RE DEpAnTMEST.-The annual parade OF the
Coored Fire Department took place yesterday after
noon. The companies that compose the organiza-
ton, four in number, assembled at their various
houses about three O'Clock, and then proceeded to
Meet:ng-sfreet, opposite the Citadel Green, whcro
they formed in the following order: Mitchels Band;
Ashley Fire Company. No. 9; Comet Fire Company.
No. 6; Prompttude Fire Company, No. Z; Niagara
Fire comp:ny, No. g. The procession then marched
through King Hasel, Meeting, Market, East Bay and
Broad streets, and at the corner of Meetng-street
counte1marched and formed in line FOR inspection
by Chief NJ. II. Nathan, and Messrs. R. NJ. Alexan-
der, c. P. Ainar and J. C. E. Richardson, assistants
When tho line was properly formed on the south
side of Broad street. Logan, tie Chief and as
sisants Passed hem in review.
Tho first company was the Ashley, No. g. Presi-
dent John Scanlon, 45o feet hose, foityeight men,
dressed in dark blue frock coats with yellow acings
and trimmings. black pants. and regular fire cap.
House in Co!umbus-street, upper wards
The next was the Comet, No. s, President
James Proctor, 400 feet of hose, scyenty men,
dr. ssed in white lDnel freck coats, blue cuffs,
facings and trimmings blacs pants, and regular i.e
cap. House corner Beaufnin and Ruledge streets.
Then came the Prcmpttude, No. Z, President
Farls Atey, 400 feet hose fty-hve men. dressed in
Confederate gray coats, red CUTS, acings and trim
mings, black pants and regular FIRE cap House in
Smith.street-
Lastly the Niagara, No. s, President c. c. Tolley,
ESQ feet hose, forty men, dressed IN blue shirts red
iacings and trim ipss. House in Siies.stree upper
wards.
After the inspection of men and apparatus by the
Chief and Assistants, attended By the Clerk of the
Board, B. NJ. strobel, Esq, the ASHLEY" took posi-
ton for playing Off, and went through the perform
ance with great credit to the engine and men. Then
the Comet" followed and played well, ard it was
generally supposed she would GARY off tho 'laur.
els" but the "Niagara" took them from her amidst
great excitement aud hurrahing. The Prompt
tude" got ready for the fray aud ecirsad them all,
and was pronounc d tue "victor" of the day.
After the contest Chief Nathans addressed the fire.
mon as fellows Gas Chief Of the Fire Department
and in behafof yself and assistants, have accept
cd with pleasure your invitation to inspect ard review
in uniform your organization. The condition of your
companies merits from US the statement that as
cooperative body yoi are cf1cicn'. Much, also is
due 10 tie promot, useful and orderly aid Afforded
by y5u on all necessary occasions in arerting the
ravages and sofeaing the calamites of fire. Let
this benevolent effort in behalf OF our venerable
home continue 10 be our common purpose. TIE
peaceful decorous and wiling aid Of your orsaniza
ton, cmonstrates how much good caa be brought
about by cheerful and hearty union Of all classes,
in every ende e.vor to promote the interest and wei
fare Of our common hone, and avert the evils which
discora can always provoke und unfrcndly ccling
nurse into ST. :'enGth" [Grca. applause.l
Mayor Clark being preseat, addressed s1me COM
plimentary remarks to the irenien composing
the organization, and begged them to maintain the
statu, of good citizens. and show that, nolwhstand
ing their skins wero dark, the worthy of the
commentators oe men. Tire parade was then dis.
missed There was a large crncourse OF colored
persons on the ground-in Broad-stree'. near Frank
nand save in rifing instances, attributable 10 the
excitement quito natural the OCCASION everything
passed OF quietly aid orderly. The engines weie
decorated handsomely with flowers and Algs, while
in the front Of each company appropriate banner
was borne In brief, the parade WIS a very hand
some affair, and displayed to advantage the material
and CONDITION of the eolored fre department Of
Charleston.