The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-05-20


"City by the Sea-" the Independents
turned their heads homeward yesterday
morning. Tie intention was to leave
by Thursday nights train. but their
entertainers would not permit it'll They
were escorted to the depot by the Eagles,
who manned the drag ropes and depo-
sited the steamer on board the train.
The steamer vas almost entirely covered
with flowers, wreaths, and an immense
banner, which had been displayed by
the Eagles in. their house, inscribed
Welcome, Brother Firemen." After
three times three cheers and ..tigeer,"
the whistle blew and the locomotive
moved oil. The ':boys'' are profuse IN
their expressions of thanks to the citi-
zens generally, the fire depar.n1ent par
tlcnlarly. aand their old fzienas, the
eagles. especially whose guests they
were to great extent; as '.opeh house
was kept'at their engine ho1Iuhssi dnffng
the entire viait. The Independents and
Captain LSBrand's '.Tiremen's Band"
which accompanied ,hems we're highly
commended and comptimented bY ono
md MI. The .'yisitors Priizzse,,,i'yt ~ wabpich
the Independents received, is magni6-
cent affair-a heavily plesedll ;salvef,
carofs. four igoblets and slop :bBWi.
Although much fatigued. the men, main
tanned their. jovial spirits. and the. tip
from Charleston to. Columbia. was very
pleasant indeed; the, band discoufsed
lively airs at many Of the stations
The arrival OF the train in Columbia
was the signal for loud and cordial
greeting from the multitude assembled.
Captain Stanley, at the head of his Pal
mettoes, went forward i and welcomed
their returning brothers," the steamer
was disembarked. the Palmettoes1 took
her in charge. and. headed by the band,
marched to- the engine house, where
Captain Stanley, addressing Captain
Mckenzie, said lie greeted>him and his
company cordially, md congratulated
them upon the success OF their earnest
efforts in securing .snch handsome
prize. BE declared. that though there
had been doubts implied. il notS.ex-
pressed, TINT the Independents would
not be able to come MP to the Charleston
boys. lie had never donhted it: Az this
was bat an impromptu affair, he should
not attempt to make speech. but would
invite them to. .partake OF a collation..
Capt. Mckenzie replied, thanking
Capt. Stanley for, lis pleasant and com
mandatory remarks, at the same time
declaring that credit was also due to his
company, l.he Palmettoea) for. there
we're several with the visiting party.
The company, although they did we'll,
wonld have done much better, had it not
been for the, plagued cobble-stones-at
the same time declaring that hie acmps=
ny came i'll third best. He hoped, at
some future day, they would be able to
give their Charleston friends trial On
our sAnd- hills. The remarks we're loudly
applauded.
AT this junoture. Vice President
Shields announced that the punch was
getting weak; the beer fat; the tongue
required attending TO; the sardines,
ham, snlad. etc., wnnted to be discussed.
The first floor wns then visited, and soon
the clatter OF knives md forks showed
conclusively that the first great princi-
ple-how to dispose Of palatable articles
in the shortest tiue-was thoroughly
understood by the entire assembly. It
was remarked that some Of the party
''put the brakes down heavily.' but tho
comment was unheeded, and the clutter
continued until "big hungry" announced
himself satisfied, when there was uni
versal suspension Of tho pleasant occu-
pntion.
The procession was then reformed and,
escorted by the Palmettoes. the Inde-
pendents proceeded to their own house,
where the steamer was stripped of her
decorations and put in order for active
service.
On Thursday. the visiting fremen had
a delightful excursion nronnd the harbor,