New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-07
81. OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF The STATE OF LOUISIANA.


their headquarters, the American Hotel
Chestnut street, above Fifth, where they had
the opportunity afforded for q good nights
rest after the excessive fatigue of the day
During to-day they will visit the public
buildings and other points of interest in Ou1
city.
Staying in our midst for the period OF
| seven days, they will have many courtesies
extended to them such as sails on the Della
ware and fine excursion to the seaside
which has generously been rendered by the
Hibernia Engine Company.
On Tuesday evening next they will par
take OF grand banquet at the Continental
Hotel.
An opportunity will also be afforded them
to obtain fair insight into the workings OF
our fire department.
The engine of the Mechanics is a hand
engine, quite small, of the old New York
style of side levers. 1t is painted in lake.
relieved with gold and the air chamber is
plated with silver.
Its members cherish the opinion that it
will throw water as effectively as a steamer
of the same class. The truck and ladders
of the Hope are quite heavy, and of a more
cumbersome pattern than those In use in
| this section of the country. 1t is painted
blue and picked with gold. The apparatus
| of both companies are, however, quite
handsome.
The Mechanics brought thirty-nine mem
bers, and the Hope forty-two. They are a
| fine looking set Of men, and wear the usual
| style of equipments now in vogue in this
city, the hats being painted black.
| These two companies are regarded as the
champions of the South in running, erect
| ing ladders and throwing water. They
| have expressed a Willingness to give an ex-
hibition of their powers, but it is hardly
likely that any challenge will pass in this
| city. That they are a fine set Of athletic
| fellows is evident, but they will find in this
| city men connected with our department
| spry of limb and strong Of muscle.
The salutes of welcome fired on their ar
| rival. the display of bunting to their honor,
| the hearty cheers that greeted them, the
smiles and words Of welcome that they re-
ceived, must all go to convince these New
Orleans visitors that Philadelphia, her fire
men and citizens, cherish the most kindly
feeling toward them, and will do all in
their power to make the visit pleasant
one, and one long to be remembered after
they shall have returned to their far-off
Southern home.
The same paper reports on the following
day their visit to Independence Hall, and
the speech of welcome:
The members of the Hope and Mechanics
fire companies of New Orleans who are
now the guests Of our fire department, after
having obtained a good nights rest after
their arrival. and a sumptuOUs breakfast at
their quarters yesterday morning, started
out under the escort of the committee of ar
rangements to view the scenes of interest
in our city. Among the first things investi-
gated was the workings OF our tire alarm
and police telegraph.
The Office of the chief engineer of the
department, George H. Downey. ESQ.,, was
also visited. To the sacred precincts of In
dependence Hall the firemen of the Cres-
cent City then wendell their way. They
We're cordially received, and Hon. Daniel
Dougherty said:
In the name Of the Mechanic Steam Fire
Engine Company. in the name of the whole
Fire Department. and, may add, in the
name of the people of Philadelphia, l bid
you hearty welcome to Indepen-
denee Hall. Though you live far, far
away, though no old familiar face greets
yet here, on this sacred spot you are no
strangers. Every American is at home in
Independence Hall. Here. on this national
ground. We cease to be citizens OF Louisiana
or Pennsylvania-all are fellow country
men.
In all your wanderings from the Gulf to
the Lakes. from your departure to your re-
turn. though you will have travelled eight
thousand miles, yet you Will have touched
no foreign soil. you will have passed no
frontier you will have seen 10 people with
hostile or opposing interests. Wherever
you 60 you will still be within the bound
aries of your government, protected by our
laws and sheltered by our flag.
This you owe to the immortal deeds that
originated within these four walls. 1t was
here, pledging mutual sacrifices, was signed
the bond of brotherhood, sealed by the
blood of the Revolution, and which pur-
chased and proclaimed Liberty through
out the land, and to all the inhabitants
thereof 1t was here that the weak and
feeble colonies were welded into the vigor-
Gus and mighty nation. 1t was here that
the representatives of the old thirteen States
met, and. to form a more perfect UniOn to
establish justice, insure domestic tranquil
lily, provide for the common defense, pro-
mote the general welfare ard secure the |
blessings Of liberty for themselves, did !
United States.
These priceless blessings we gratefully |
owe alike TO Southern and Northern states |
men and soldiers. It was to preserve these !
blessings-pardon the alluSiOn-the rights
OF the States and the sovereignty of the
Union-that the woful sacrifices of the re-
cent war were made. But the war, thank |
God. is over. Let us, while cherishing the |
memory of our departed heroes, strive to
bury in their graves our late bitter bloody |
differences, and like friends. for Il time
Astranged and then reconciled, love each
other with an intensity never felt before.
Let there henceforth be no chickering's be-
tween the North and the South. We know
Iour valor; may you know our worth. Let
is all strive, by every act, political and per-
;onal, TO bring back the fraternal feeling
hot tod how @Io,, |
,hese wall.
company and the Hope Hook and Ladder
company, your enterprise and iberality in
making this long journey to the North ex-
ort our admiration, and assure us that,
ls flremen you would at the first alarm rush
% conquer the flames and rescue those in
'eril, so will you, if the time shall ever
iced you, join with lis in preserving the
beautiful temple of the American Union
rom all incendiaries, be they foes without
n traitors within.
And now let us mingle with one another,
md talk in a less formal way of the asso-
iatiOns that surround us.
The Captain of the Hope Hook and Lad
Ter Company, No. 6, of New Orleans, Henry
wan, made a short response III behalf OF
lis brethren.
After a thorough examination of the hail.
tc, they visited the steeple, and then left
or the Mint, the Academy of Natural
sciences, Girard College and the park. They
realty enjoyed themselves, and expressed
heir surprise at the greatness and goodness
t Philadelphia and her institutions. To-day
hey will take a sail upon the Delaware,
nd view the prominent places fronting on
he river. AS the guests of the Hibernia
,ngine Company, they will tomorrow pro-
eed to Atlantic City, to enjoy the luxurious
reezes floating from across the ocean