The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-05
PRICE, FIVE CENTS.
THE FIRE FIGHTERS.
The Fortieth Festival Of the Fire.
men Of New Orleans.
An Immense turnout of the PeO.
pie to see Magnificent
Parade.

Fifsmens Day, and the Fortyapihth Annivsr-
sary Of the New Orleans Fire Department. Few
of the mary thousands who rave turned out to
witness tho celebration OF 1877 could 60 back.
| almost half century, to the fret procession.
held when the city itself WAS Jonng. Yet, Of
those locking on, there was not one who had
missed single Firsmen's Day that they we're in
Now Orleans; not one who oou'd net recall how
The fAyorlts sBRas was dressed at the eelebra~
tlon OF half dozen years before.
IL came, this year. fortunately, on Sunday. No
one, however poor, WAS prevented seeing it, seq
ipg 1t not once. bat " dozen times; aud every
body took advantage OF this and dashed here aud
there, seeing new beauties every time he saw he
procession pass. The heavens seem 10 have
been waglng o war against cur holidays Of late.
They sp0ilt christmas, ruined Mstdi Gras, and
hBve generally thrown feeling Of melancholy
over. every fete day, every day Of joy
and merrimeHt, as If they meant to
say, We erght not to rejoice,
but yesterday, Elareh 4tb, Was petfsoiop--lbe
very perfection Of spring tms--b ttlns warm In
the morning, but cooling off into u delicious
breezs when tho march was over, to cool off the
men, wearied with their long aud til esoms
march.
20 ities, news. everything, seemed TO give way
before the tremsD; aud, although u President
was being sworn in@sotue say two--the people,
men, women and children, did not s6eIa TO care h
hg for this, were only anxious to know how
strong such an engine would turn cut, how such
another would look. Perhaps, for the only day
words, "Whats the news 7" we're upheeded.
The streets were crowded the whole six miles
Of route the gallant boys paraded over thst none
might miss their procession; that all, KEEP ut
home by sicknsts, ~ well AZ those In good
health, might see their engines and decorati
and bs oheersd by the music Of their bands. At
fsvorite corners, such as Canal and St. Charles,
poydras and Camp, the crowd WAS fearfully
dense. and good deal Of goodsnatu ured showing
and elbowiDg took place. Small boys fought
their way TO the front 10 get better view aud
stood broiling into the sun in order to be- better
able TO present bouquet 10 some friend or
sweetheart whom he marched by.
All along the route tho galleries were crowded,
as neither Rex nor Comus had seen them, for
tho frem0p's procession has In IL everything TO
make II success aud popular; tho decorations
and ornaments are beautiful, and them almost
everyone having some rel stve In il, feels person.
ally Interested, and, last but not least, is the
feeling that all this IL not mere show, but that
these men mean work-@glorIous work-bsve, for
half century defended our lives and property nj
tho risk OF their own. 1t iB these facts that
make 6remens day so grand an occasion for ali,
men, women and children, for it represents do
vctioB, courage and ruccess.
But Of oil gazing on, two classes seem he most
delighted and most enthusiastic, and these arc
tho boys, whose ambition looks forward to the
day when they shall take part In this, and the
young ladies', 80 many Of whom have just as per-
sensl an Interest in the procession, or Mt least
some member In IL. Few Of these but have q
bouquet ready as special mark Of favor, and the
fireman who returns homo after his march
bouauetless can be certainly marked as mis-
ogynist or some erabbid old bachelor.
At O'Clock the boys were up and dressed, the
engine FURNISHED up and ready for the march.
Ah, how before the appointed time they were ali
ut Cat al street. for 1t is the boast Of our Fire De-
partment that II 10 never behind hand q second
whether on duty or parade. For some half hour
or 80 everything looks like confusion. En-
gines are passing and repassiog everywhere
dozen bands are pining discordantly out ~ many
tunes; marshals and aids are dasbing up aud
down tho street; everything looks in disorder.
1t Is soon evident that order 10 coming out Of
this chaos, that the procession is organizing, and
the various companins selecting their various
positions. Tho work is Mt last done, tho organ
ization ID finished, aud promptly as tie clock
rattles ont eleven, tho procession starts amid
thousand shouts q "ohs, and "oh, how beauti-
fui -