The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-06
THE PALMETTOES IN GEORGIA,
A USING wELoo ONE.

| THE PALMETTOES IN GEORGIA.
USING ELCoMB.
Details OF the Firemen's Celebration
The Trial OF Engines-How the Pal
metto Won-The Banquet, sc.
ATLANTA, GA, May 4, 1869.-Nothing coult
be more agreeable than the various episodes
which have marked the excursion Of the Pal
metto Engine Company of Charleston 10 thi
"Gate City, Of the South. Leaving home las
Saturday morning, in company with delega
tions from the Vigilant and stonewall com
panies, we reached Augusta to be as,onishet
by a greeting from the entire department o
that city. No welcome could have been more
kind. There appeared to be universal desire
officially and individually, to reciprocate tht
atentions that had been bestowed upon some
of their number while participating in. our owr
parade and exercises OF April "a, and all wat
done that men could do to mark with pleasure
our entrance into the Empire State.
After a reception speech by Chief Bryson, o.
the Augusta Department, and an appropriate
response by Chief Nathan, Of Charleston, the
several companies formed in procession and
escorted the Palmettoes first to hearty sup
per at the Planters Hotel and thence to The
engine houses Of the Viailants and Georgia
Independents Zone of the companies which
visited Chsrlest0n.) In each OF these refresh
ments were literally provided, Of which the
boys partook with becoming moderation. AT
l.8 P. N. the escort was again formed,
and at 9 O'Clock we we're once more en- route
10 Atlanta. Two hours thereafter, any one
walking through the cara would have seen
the human form divine distorted into
intoevery conceivable shape, from the longi-
nal-"l"-like figure OF Chief Nathan, too
fat to double, to the six foot form Of President
Ferguson. twisted into very correct imitation
Of figure 8. The snoring reminded one OF o
chorus OF oo flee mills, and the tanese Of pro-
truding legs was q superb illustration of the
intricacies Of the labyrinth Of Crete. The
early part Of the night was warm, and the cars
in condition Of tumultuous perspiration.
This was disturbed towards morning. however,
BY one Of those sudden changes common to
the climate Of Georgia, which sends the mer-
curry from fever heat down to freezing point.
and made Us shiver ss II we had bsen in cold
bath.
Three several times that night we met with
an accident. First, the truck conveying the
Palmetto engine ran off the track, and after
Intellectual efforts to The contrary, both truck
and engine we're left behind. Next, the engine
departed from its ways, and was replaced with
difficulty; and, finally, the sleeping car, con-
tanning goodly number of the fremen, was
going thumpety thump over the sleepers, at
rhe rate Of twenty miles an hour. There was
an immediate change Of base by sundry fright
ened individuals, and series Of manauvres
calculated to exemplify all the gymnastic i'm
provements Of modern circus, but fortunate
ly no one was hurt. We arrived
AT ATLANTA
Sunday morning, at daylight, where deleea-
tions Of the Fire Department, including the
entire Company Of Mechanics, No. 2-who were
to specially entertain the Uharlestonians-were
II should be mentioned here that the Geor-
gia Railroad Company, through its officers,
extended in their way the same hospitality
which was shown by the citizens. They pass
ed the engine free Of charge, and liberal de-
duction was made from the usual price Of the
passage.
We were welcomed in Atlanta by the Chief
Of the Department, Thomas A. Hauey, Esq to
whose brief but per ioent speech President
Buist, of the stonewslls, and Chairman Of the
Board of Firemasters, responded in his happi-
est vein on behalf Of the Palmettoes and the
Charleston Fire Department. We were then
escorted to the National Hotel.
Sunday Was quietly and appropriately spent.
Without exception. the men avoided the en-
gins houses where, with open doors and open
hearts, the Atlantians sought 70 show their
kindly feelings 70 al guests.
Monday morning, at about three o'clock, We
were treated to rousing fire. which, although
not down ON the. programme Of entertainment
was permitted TO burn without much molesta-
ton, and did 30 With an industry which, in
two hours, left bare the ground that had before
been Occupied by four substantial wooden
buildings. The truth is, the Atlantians want
to Use every patch Of ground IN the heart OF
the city, now covered by shanties, for the CON
struction Of substantial stores and ware
houses; every lire Of this character is,
therefore. blessing in disguise. Before the
ground is cold, on these occasions, hardy ms
chanios are at work with brick and mortar, and
a few weeks developethe stately proportions Of
Structures which make the name OF Atlanta
synonym for enterprise and progress. What
the Gate City has done since her destruction
by General sherman ls ilu ,trated by single
fact, which is q volume in itself. Foe thousand
tou- hundred houses we're burned IN the great
eonfsgration. That occurred in 1855. It is
now only 1869; yet scarcely trace Of tue old
ruin remains. In less than four short years
seuen thousand houses have grown from the
ashes; and while write three hundred more
are in course Of completion. Al this improve
ment with population OF thirty thousand
people.
THE GALA DAY.
The preparations for the parade and display
we're in keeping with the go-ahead spirit
already described. The City Council-whioh,
by the way, is composed Of active men. and
Drao;aad nvar hv q t,va anaoimen of Vouno