The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-07-27
THE HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY.

NO. 4 ItCclFeu Lie Joyful 1ulSAlScI1Ct
that at last their long looked for
g Truck" and the appurtenanees be-
longing to it had arrived IN the Peer
less that evening from New Orleans,
and was then at Washington. 1t hard
ly needed a meeting to tell the menu
bers to be in readiness, as the occasion
had too long been looked forward to, to
need such a command. A delegation
composed of some of the members re-
paired to Washington at early dawn or
Tuesday, to transport the "Truck" to
this place. The Fire Company in full
uniform, with their Engine beautifully
decorated, assembled at ten o'clock on
the Court House Square, at which place
they were joined by their colleagues,
the Hook and Ladder. Company, dressed
in their new, handsome and TASTEFUL uni
form, led by their gallant Foreman, Mr..
William LiglAley. Three cheers were
given by the Fire Company as their
worthy brothers joined the procession.
Orders were given to move, and the
procession marched down Court Street
in the following order, viz The Ope-
lousas and Washington Brass Band in
front followed by the Hook and Ladder, !
the Fire Company bringing up the rear
with their Engine. When the process
sion reached the outskirts of town, they
there found the Delegation which had
been sent forward to convey their
q" Truck " to this place, awaiting them.
The Company under command of their
Foreman, moved forward and took
possession of their property, amidst the
widest excitement, and an hundred
hearty cheers from the spectators and
their gallant colleagues. Fair hands
had been at work before their arrival,
whose touch had transformed their
Truck into almost a thing of life, GER
tainly into one of almost perfect beauty
and elegance. Wreaths and garlands
of rare and beautiful flowers, decorated
almost every portion of the machine.
The procession being ready to move
forward, Miss Frances Munzesheimer
stepped forward, and in q most grace
full and elegant speech presented to
Col. Claudius Mayo, Grand Marshal Of
theday, a beautifully embroidered scarf.
She was followedby Miss Aida Larcade,
whose beauty, grace, and elOquence
lent additional charm to her very ap-
propriate speech, as she handed to the
. gallant Foreman, Mr.. Lightley, of the
, Hook and Ladder, a similar scarf, OF
p rare beauty and workmanship. Miss
Mollie Mayo next stepped forward, and
presented to Capt. F. J. Hunley, first
Assistant FOremen. a magnificent scarf,
-, delivering at the same time II of, the
: most beautiful and ~eloqUently wOrded
! speeches it has ever been Il good for
= tune to listen to. Her graceful manner,
self-possession and earnestness, brought
, down thunders of applause from both
spectators and the companies assembled.
Col. Mayo then responded in the fol-
: lowing neat and appropriate speech:
= -" Young Ladies-In behalf of the
a members of the Hope Hook and Ladder
No. /, I-thank you for the beautiful
Badges which have just been so grace
e fully and appropriately presented
: In performing this pleasing duty,
/, hardly know which most to admire, the
: beauty of these tokens of your kindly
4 regard, the happy style III which they
!. have been presented, or the beauty and
v grace of the fair donors. Pledging our.
selves to strive to merit the esteem
S evinced on this pleasing occasion,
again thank you for your handsome
. gifts" a# a.
g The three young ladies were then es
/; eorted to their carriages by the Crane
Marshal, and placed at the head OF thu
e procession, which position they KEEP
during the march. They were followed
d by the Fire Company, the Hook ant
= Ladder coming next, and the rea
n brought up by a large c%oncOurse of citi
zens-both ladies and gentlemen, il
carriages and on foot.
When opposite the residence of Hi
Honor Homer Latour, Mayor of thu
l. town, the Company were p~Fesentet
with two magnificent Wreathes, com
: posed of rare and beautiful flower;
r. made in a most artistic style. The frs
was presented by Mrs. III. Latour wit
the motto "In Thee We Trustn inter
n woven in it. The second was p~resente
by Miss Anna Pasquier with the word
!" Presented to Hope Hook and Ladde
CO.. written on il. Enthusiastic cheer
were given by the members OF the Com
Ie pany, as the fair donors presented the
e. gifts. The Grand Marshal then rod
Ne tothe front and in his usual happy styl
n, thanked the ladies' in behalf of til
u members in the following words:
t. "LadiesI wish 7 could give in. II
N turn for these two exquisitely WrOugl
and beautiful wreaths, a more apprt
e, pirate expression of our thanks than
IN am now preprfed to offer. / can onl
is say that we accept them as tokens {
your esteem, and that we will endeavo
n should occasion call upon us for duty j
IN this town, to prove ourselves like TIL
Id fair donors, NsefaIds Gela8 ornamental
or The band then struck up. and I'll
to procession proceeded up Main sire
until they arrived opposite the res
MT dence of John Cochran Esq, at whie
m place each of the two Foreman
I'd the companies was presented wit
of a large, elegant and handsome b,
r. ls RsA&