The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1869-05-20
THE JOURNAL.
Camden, May 20, 1869
THE FIREMEN' S PARADE.

On Tuesday, the llth inst the Fir
Department Of Camden were out in fu'
force, and made very fine appearance
There may be, and no doubt are, othe
places that have a much larger fir
department, than ours, but We venture
the assertion, that there is no othe
place of its size in the State, that cal
boast of as strong and we'll organized
a fire department as Camden. But t
the Parade.
At three o'clock, the different com
panies handsomely uniformed, will
their engines tastefully decorated will
flowers, assembled in front of the mar
ket, procession was formed in the fol
lowing order:
Camden Independent F. f. Company
Capt. DEAs' Company.
Capt. JENKINS Company.
Capt. MARKS Company.
Preceded by band of music, the
line of march was taken up, under the
direction cf j. X. WITuERsPooN ano
C. J. DUNLAP, Fire Masters. We
missed the manly form of Maj. E. f.
SILL, Chief of the Board of Fire Mas
ters, who was, unfortunately, prevented
from joining the procession. They
marched in good order up Broad Street
to the public square, thence to the court
house, and returned to the starting
point, filling their engines at the differ
ent wells on the route, ready for action
Then came the tug of war. Every fire.
man was determined that his engine
should excel the others in the tria
which could throw water the greatest
distance.
The old Independent, of course did
not expect the other companies to com
pete with her-she is one of the finest
hand engines in the State, and oettel
company of tiremen cannot be mustered
in any place, not excepting Charleston
or Columbia.
The three colored companies perform
cd to the satisfaction and delight oi
every one. The greatest enthusiasm
and commendable spirit of rivalry
peryaded tie whole exhibition. We
have never known an afternoon, crowd
ed as the streets were, pass of more
pleasantly. The distance thrown BY
each engine is as follows:
No. |, lOo feet
No. 2, III
Hvdrauliap. l39
independent, I'll "
We defy any town in the State te
show q more efficient and well manned
colored fire department than Camden
They are all first rate companies, and il
would be difficult to say which was best
All dispersed quietly after the exhibi'
tion Of water throwing was over. -
The old l. F. E. Co., with number
ofiuvited guests repaired in the evening
to the town hall, to partake ofthcir an.
nivcrsary supper. The table was boun'
tifully supplied with every luxury, from
fine turkey gobblers, to delightful fruit
cake, all provided By that young prince
of caterers, Mr.. GEO. CROSBY. We
were among the invited guests, and
when we heard that friend CROSBY was
"chitf cook" VIC knew what we might
expect. The supper could not have
been surpassed. The Hon. A. A,
MOORE, Intendant, presided at the ia.
bic, and delivered touching speech to
the fire company. 1t came from warm
heart, and that mutually good feeling
that has always existed between the
Iutendant and fire companies, was ce
mcntcd afrcsh. Capt. DEPAss wa:
then called on, and, as he always does
delivered a fine speech. Everything
. passed off quietly, and before that-oh
was all gone, all retired with man,
wishes for the return of the Fireman
Parade.
SOUTHERN LIFE INSURANCE