Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-06-19
OUR GALLANT FIREMEN.
The Annual Picnic at the EXPEDITION
ButIdsnE-Grand and Imposing
Procession.
All the. Machines" !" IneEadfng 6he CheI-
sea HOse Carriage I'm Line, Etc.

J DAauu anu AITdLldf on 1OISeDacki anu
squad Of ten pstroImen. Next was
a brass band, which afforded excel
lent music, and following it was the
/ famous
INvINCIRLE HOSE COMPANY, NO. 8,
headed by President A. H. Douglass,
| Vice-President Daniel Adams, Secretary
I and Treasurer John Balm, and forty men
| who form the volunteer company. The
/ members OF the company were uni
/ formed with white straw hats, white
/ shirts, black pants, and leather belts,
bearing the name "Invincible Fire Com
/ pany, No. 81 The hose-carriage was
/ looked upon with no little interest by
/ the hundreds of persons who thronged
I the streets along which the procession
passed. 1t is relict of the past and re-
! called many pleasant rem niscenses
! and incidents of the long ego
when those whose hair is now whlte
with the fr0st Of age were young, active
men, jealous in the discharge of their
duties and fearless in assisting those
who needed the services Of brave and
reliable firemen. But the good old days
of the "yolunteersD have passed away,
and vet q deeD interest is cherished for
the "Invincibles, and yesterday it
found vent in the compliments and
praises bestowed by our citizens. The
hose carriage cost originally three thou
sand dollars, and was named DAvy
Crockett. On the bars Of the carriage is
the famous motto of the hero of the
Alamo: "Be sure you are right, then go
ahead" Portraits of Davy Crockett
and Of Julius Hoist, and q picture repre-
senting the "Tolling of the Indepen-
dence bell,n ornament the carriage,
which was tastefully decorated with
ribbons and flags. The company has
been reoTganized and numbers over
eighty members, all well and tried men,
who treasure and prize their carriage as
a link connecting the present with
the past. Next to the Invin-
cibles was a miniature hose-carriage
drawn by goat. A little boy in full
firemen's uniform held the reins on the
goat, which at times required the skill
ful management of its delighted driver.
This feature of the procession was bur-
lesque, which is significant enough, as
the "machine" bore the inscription,
"Chelsea hose carriage" This caused
no little comment, and called forth
many remarks from the spectators. Fol-
lowing this carriage were ten or twelve
hacks, containing leading citizens, and
members of the city council. The pro-
cession moved from the corner Of Second
and Adams, up Second to Overton, up
Overton to Main, down Main to Union,
up Union to Shelby, down Shelby to
Linden, down Linden to DeSoto, up
DeSOto TO Beale, up Beale to Second, up
Second to Jefferson, down Jefferson to
Exposition building.
After the procession had reached the
Exposition, Colonel Douglass made
speech, in which he thanked the COM
pany for having elected him to the
proud and honorable position Of presi-
dent. He expressed his pleasure in see
ing such unity and harmony Of feeling
among the different companies Of the
department.. This, he thought, argued
for the good of the city and the promo
ton Of its interest. His remarks were
attentively listened to and appreciatiYe-
ly received.
At three o'clock the dancing COM
menced, and was participated in by the
ladies and gentlemen present with much
zest. Though the attendance in the
afternoon was not large, yet the enjoy
ment was none the less agreeable, for it
was general. The best of order was pre-
served, and the entertainment was con-
Quoted in an excellent manner that re-
flscting the highest credit upon the fire.
men, in whose praise too much cannot
be said. Both by night and by day, in
sunshine and in rain, the Memphis fire.
men are ever found on the alert and re-
spond promptly to the calls Of danger.
THE BALL LAST NIGHT
was one Of the most successful and bril-
liant ever given in the city, and at
trRcted a very large attendance. The
entire hall from the fountain, which
was in full play with its spray glistening
like diamond shower under the gas
light, was filed with dancers aud pre-
sented one Of the most picturesque we
have ever bebeld. The gaily dressed
ladies moving with fairy-like ease and
grace through the mazes Of the dance,
blended most artistically with the red
uniforms of the members Of the relief a.
sociation and constituted tout ensemble
no less charming in appearance to the
beholder, than agreeable to the delighted
participants. Tue occasion was all the
more gratifying TO the public, as well as
to the iiremen, because Of the presence OF
so many of our leading citizens, coun-
cilmen, aldermen and other city
officials. Among the number present
we noticed President Robbins, Of the
board Of aldermen; Alderman Dwyer,
Chief Athy, Councilman ROush, Alder
man COlligan, and Councilman Walsh.
The last-named gentleman was eager
for the dance, and was
THE MERRIEsT OF THE MERRY,
displaying an agility and esprit well
worthy a man OF youthful summers.
The entertainment, in every respect,
was managed with admirable excel
lence, and there was nothing whatever
to detract from the pleasure Of the visit
ors. The firemen, we are glad to know,
shared the enjoyment of the occasion,
and, at the same time, were unremit-
ting in their attentions to the pleasure
and comfort Of their many appTeciatlve
visitors. The Firemen's relief assOcia-
ton should well feel proud Of the mag
nifcent entertainment of last evening,
and certainly deserve the thanks Of all
who attended.
THE LARGE ATTENDANCE
was another and a just evidence Of the
esteem and appreciation in which our
firemen are held by the public. Such q
recognition Of ability and worth will not
pass by unheeded on the part of the fire.
men, but will act as further additional
incentive to the continuance of their
efforts TO discharge with promptness the
onerous duties assigned them. We can
not permit this occasion to pass
by without speaking of the Firemen's
relief association, which was organized
August 10, 1868, its first president being
the lamented Captain William Kehoe,
who rests now in Elmwood cemetery.
At present Chief McEadden Is presi-
dent of the organization, which num-
hers forty-four members, The objects Of
this organization have already been
stated and are too well known to be
given here. Let the public recognize in
1 the purposes Of the association the laud-
able motives that actuste its members,
and encourage them as they deserve.
/ After the fatherless child, the needy
I widow and the stricken brother In the
I hour Of misfortune or the time OF sorrow
/ have been tenderly and cheerfully cared
4 for by the brave, noble men who COM
pose this organization. The midnight
( PRAYER and the silent gratitude oi
thankful hearts can well attest.
Within the last twelve months -four
l members of the association have died,
J. b. Hackett, Of No. 4; John Cunning.
ham, driver of No. 4; Joseph Hiskey,
engineer of Danbury No. /; and Charles
Randle, OF No. 4. These men fell vic
Tins to the yellow-fever Of last year
Though dangers increased with each
hour, they never shrank from duty, but
remained at their post watching through