The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-03-03
OUR FIREMEN AT STREATOR.
The I'd Visit by the Members Of the Undinc
Hose Company.


In response 10 an invitation received by the
Ottawa Fire Department to attend the 18th An
nual Parade and Bali of the Streator Fire Co.,
about Is Of the boys" took n wash, got shaved,
and got French twist on their moustache, and
departed on the noon train, Thursday, Feby. 22d.
The ride on the train was delightful, and the
crowd Il jolly one. The passengers were amused
to see the boys gathered together talking about
the biscuits and ham that would fall prey to the
Ottawa delegation and as they read the initials
on the fremeHs caps,"F. d. they wondered
what it stood for. Some said it meant Fish
Department" and one man with his back turned
and his mouth in his hand, had the audacity to
say it meant First Drunk" or French Dukes"
and all such honorable titles but our Asst. Chief
informed one OF those health travelling indivdu-
ais that the company represented city OF
wealth and polished manners, and that each
member had n return ticket in his pocket and
was backed by community that owned $780,
600 worth OF stock in the c. b. IL O. railroad, and
that they were out for 3 days ramble, attended
by Norwegian doctors. The company arrived
in Streator about noon, and received hearty
welcome by delegation Of the Streator Fire
men, and were escorted to the best hotel in the
city, where they enjoyed an excellent dinner
which was arranged for the occasion. After din.
ner the boys took an airing on the vcranda, read
old newspapers, and anxiOusly awaited the time
for the grand parade. At the ringing Of the bell
the members of both companies assembled at
the engine house, where the procession formed.
The uniforms of the Streator Co. looked grand
as the boys marched in their faultless style, and
the Ottawa boys with their neat and plain outfit
looked splendid. The music by the martial band
of the Streator Co. was in no wise wanting to
further the perfect arrangements, and as the
procession moved through the streets it was
viewed with admiration. In the evening the
ball was opened by the march Of the two com.
panies into Oriental Hall, which was gaily deco
rated, and after the address Of welcome by the
Chief Engineer of the Strcator Fire Dept and
the response by the sce'y. OF the Ottawa Co.,
dancing commenced. The music by Willi.'s
band made the most awkward and clumsy dancer
to feel that he was professional, and as the
boys picked their darings-eXcusc us--for q
waltz many a sIspender was broken by the beat
of the boys hearts. {" Clubs" beat the boys all
the afternoon) At twelve o'clock an elegant
supper was served at the "boss " restaurant in
the city, after which the dance continued until
half past four, when ali separated feeling thank
full that everything had passed of so fine The
Ottawa boys are under great obligations to
the Steator Co. for the manner in which they
were treated; nothing was left undone that could
heighten the pleasure of their visit. We cannot
close this article without giving due credit to
the ladies in attendance at the ball They were
all dressed nicely. were good dancers and ccur.
teous to the visiting delegation. The members
of our Co. arrived home on Friday the ed.
INCIDENTS OF THE TRIr
Five OF the Ottawa Firsmen were not content
to stay around the hotel until the time arrived
for the procession, but stroed around the city
In search of curiositics. Now it is not unusual
to get married up in balloon, neither is II any.
thing strange for a bank to sell common soap,
but to bclieye that our boys would attack mil
linery store, and insist on having their pictures
taken, is a thing we can hardly swallow. But
Geo. don't deny it, and John says he didn't see
any camera, and Al. said that he thought that a
good many persons were In ahead of them from
the number of bonncts he saw on the show case
Frank and Buster say they were along, but they
didn't want any pictures, anyhow.
One Of our boys nearly missed the procession,
having oversight himself at the dinner table.
| The two fat men OF the company, and "slim"
member, were standing in front OF Heenans
and boot black remarked, ~ guess they amt
all had dinner yet" Now A. didn't get chilled
10y this remark, but he had his overcoat sent to
him and he Illcd the pockets with newspapers
and would passed for an ordinary sized man uf.
ter that.
| The BARRIERS in Streator told our boys that
they didn't charge anything for shaving, that it
was simply pleasure that they were after, but
when " Slim Gin got three loayes OF bread OF
the baker and told him to charge il to John Lo-
masney, it was no go. He didn't know him. 1t
was good bread, though.
The two :" fat boys" OF the Undnc Hose Co.
caught severe cold. Their belts didn't reach
clear around them They are nearly well now
and Charley can sing almost two lines Of" lime
sweet hime," without getting on top Of the
fable NJ