Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-10-17

The Cedar Rapids Tines gives the fol
lowing account OF the recent visit of the
tiremen Of that city, to Independence:
The excursion of the Independent Fire
Co. No. l, of our city, to- Independence
on Thursday last, was grand success in
all that pertains to general good time,
and especial good treatment by the fire.
men and others or Independence. Some
sixty or seventy of the "boys," headed
by the Cedar Rapids Cornet Band, with
few ladies and several citizens compris-
ed the party. They left here at half past
eight O'Clock a. m, on special train, and
after pleasant trip over the B., c. r. &
NJ, arrived at Independence. On their
arrival at the depot they were met by the
members of the City Council, Chief En-
ginecr Of the fire department, and the
members of the Fire Company Of indie
pcndence, who were in waiting to give
them cordial welcome and hearty re-
ccption. From the depot they were es-
corted to the rooms of the fire company
where Mayor Roszell made a short, ap-
propriatc address of welcome, which was
responded to by "three times three"
frcm the boys. The firemcn's rooms by
the way, are deserving of more than a
passing mention, being provided with
chairs, tables, books, papers pictures and
and everything calculated to make them
pleasant, comfortable and homelike,
place where the members can resort and
enjoy themselves, feeling at home. At
ter resting short time in these pleasant
apartments, the grand parade was in or
der, the fircmen of Cedar Rapids and In
dependence forming in procession and
marching through the principal streets,
This concluded, the visitors were escort
ed to the Merchants Hotel, where
sumptuous dinner was served, to which
the boys did ample justice, judging by
the rapidity with which the substantials
and delicacies disappeared.
After dinner "grandtrial of muscle' on
the engines between the Cedar Rapids
and Independent companies was had.
All put in their biggest licks' but our
boys confess to coming out "leettle be-
hind" They think, however, if their ma
chine hadn't "busted" about the time
they commenced operation they would
have been able to hold their end of the
swingle tree about even, if nothing more,
They console themselves however, with
the assurance that if they didn't have so
much muscle their machine would have
stood the pressure. Be this as it may,
they submitted gracefully and yielded
the palm with an elegance which did
them credit. After the muscular exer-
else, the boys of course all needed "restor-
ing" So, the Independence boys took
the lead and all marched to sundry res,
taurants where by by the judici0us appli.
cation of proper restoratives, the fatigue
soon wore off. After enjoying good
social time and having lots of fun init
der boys" supper time arrived and all
marched once more to the Merchants
Hotel. This concluded, torch light pro-
cession was formed, and never were the
streets of Independence more brilliantly
lighted than on this occasion. After
marching through the city they repaired
to the depot, where hearty cheers and
hand shaking and affcctionate farewclls
concluded the pleasures Of the visit and
our fircmcn left Independence feeling that
| it had never before been their good for
tune to meet with hesstier welcome OF
more wholesale generosity than they had
received at the hands of the firemen and
citizens of that town. Everything passed
off most pleasantly, and the Independent
"boys came home feeling that the day
had been well spent and the kindness
with which they were met and the prince
~ manner in which they were entertain
ed by their brother iremen of Indepen
dence shall ever be among the pleasan
ecollectiops oftheir experience as firemcl
ither at home or abroad.