Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-07-21
THE READING FIRE DEPARTMENT.
From the Reading Eagle Of Saturday.
WinIng and Dining eli CheSter.

The manner In which tho visitors from Chester c
entertained by the officials Of tue Reading
Rsllroad at the Mansion House: yesterday after {
noon, after inspection ofthe company's immense
car shops in this city, was one Of the most sgni-
hcalt affairs that has taken place in this city for
some time. ,s ~ gfHF. Fa.l Il
1t was the largest DINNER party ever served at
that reputable hotel, and eau be favorably COM
pared TO any that has ever been served in Read
| ing. Il
| 1t was nearly O'Clock before the 243 people
were properly seated. Mayor ForwOod occupied
the head Of the table, on the extreme right OF the
| dining hall from the entrance. Upon his lett sat
Mayor Evans, and upon the right, William Ward,
Esq, OF Chester The attorney Ot the Reading Com-
pany i'll that city. At the same end OF the table
AIR. u. A. Nicolls, 2nd Vice President OF the |
| Reading Railroad, and the members Of Select ana
Common Couno Of Reading, occupied cnairs.
The dinner was served by large corps Of wal
ters, and proved highly acceptable. 1t was not
i've minutes after the party sat down before poP"
} went bottle Of "dry verzenay" That sound was
} the heralding Of antapproaching storm. 1t was
the first faint echo OF the thunder cloud, as 1t
waited its significant sound along the aisles Of
the dining hall. And "pOp," t"pop,p went the
) bottles again, and thus conunued until the roar
. of the champagne musketry indicated lively ac-
/ tion In progress all along the line. aA fI
+ Then stout Chester representative arose and
u remarked that thsIo seemed to be pent up ocean
: of wit and sentiment in the party and Tor the
purpose Of tapping such an nustrious fountain he
t moved that the meeting come to order, with May
+ or ForwOod as chairman. This was OF course
= carried.
|. Mayor ForwOOd prepared himself, and amidst
. the hum of conversation, calling OF walters, pop
I, ping OF champagne bottles, there were calls tor
: :,Mayor Forwo0d," "AIayor Forwood," and cries
of "Order order" and amidst the noise his honor
= and said that If they wanted him to talk to
= them they must keep better order thau the Legs-
= lators did at Harrisburg, nor must they get up a
u condition OF affairs representing q Philadelphia
n riot of fire. TEey here to-day at the invita-
y y tion of the PhiPa & Reading Railroad Company,
. of whose hospitality they were partaklng and
whose guests they Wers-a company that has
3 | recently extended an arm to Chester and the
u u river front there, and it was meet that they
" should eelebfate the occasion. The Mayor here
~ read letter from Vice President j. W. Jones eX
re pressve of regret that his health would not permit
es him to Join in this excursion The Mayor theI
10 referred the Importance Of railroads. and gav
nc brief history OF their construction. he said tha
It, Delaware county built the frat railroad in tn
mt United States. In the course of his remarks, tn
les Mayor said that they had acquired BY this visit
ey very important impression OF the enterprise o
m the Reading RailGOad, and its great wealth an
of resources 1t was to be hoped that the new con
W. nection with Chester would provo OF very grea
of advantage to both the cities Of Chester and Read
re- ing and in fact to oil the business of the road
cir that the Reading Railroad would recognize To
nst importance of Chester az Convenient place tC
tn the establishment Of their ship-building yards
ers At the close Of the speeches, and when the La
his bottle had popped its last pop, the company aro
ne ard left the table. It was announced that I'll
Sed Fire Alarm Telegraph would be tested, and Ma
ssnt ors Evahs and ForwoOd together with the con
FED mittee OF Reading Councils, crossed over to bC
roI- 81, at Fifth and Penn streets, and sounded {
~, alarm. Ihe visitors listened to the omino
tha strokes OF the bell and drew out their watches
IL, time the Department. One minute passed, al
~ Mayor ForWood heard the sounds Of FIRE bell.
Nc Nc minute and half passed, and the Reading ho
- carriage came sWingIng around the corner Of Fiji
~ and Franklin vt fearful rate. Two minutes al
sse the hose carriage was within 10 feet of the be
III III A few seconds aftsrWaTd and the Rainbow he
~ carriage jumped lightly down the square, rea
tn9 ny for aotion, Then came the steamers. In m
enu utes the NeverSink engine came ratting over
iy,e iy,e stones and in 81 minutes the heavey engine
uiiiy the Junior came laundering down towards FIJI
WIN and Penn streets. In three and three-quar
eco minutes the Rainbow engine came rumbling do
lese the square, the horses at 0 full run, and ia
VINO Schilter at the reins. The Liberty hoved in oil
,hey ut the same time and in four minutes after
stru- first alarm was sounded the entire FIRE departm
'h OF Reading was on the ground. Mayor ForW'
timed the companies, and after witnessing sue
IDS remarkable condition of our volunteer fire depI
ment, he turned and declared he had never 7
IA 4 messed such thing in his life. And he never
4 de. Another volunteer department to be Compa
it with that of Reading, ct present Is not lobe to
nth anywhersin the land. The test gave univs
npted satisfaction.