Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-09-28
MINNEAPOLISNEWS
Specially Reported for the Daily Globe
THE FIREMEN.

Immediately after dinner the companies
bers arrayed in full uniform, and prepared
for the procession.
Shortly after o'clock the lower town
com anies marched up Washington avenue.
preceded by the Total Abstinence brass band,
Second to Hook and Ladder house No. |.
Here the East Division and upper town
companies joined them and the procession
in the following order:
Grand Marshal A. A. A-as and Assistant.
Fire Police.
East Side Coruet Band.
Chief Engineer and Two Assistants.
Members of Mutual Hose Go. No.2.
No. 2 Hose Carriage.
Cataract Company and Steamer.
Hose Company No. and Cart.
Germania Engine Co. No. (no apparatus.)
Union Brass Band
Minneapolis Steamer Co. No. and Steamer.
Hose Company No. and Cart.
Hook and Ladder Company No. and Truck.
Hose Carriage No. 2.
Germania Hose Go. No. 3.
Hose Carriage
Total Abstinence Brass Band.
TeutOnia Hose Co.. No. and Carriage
Minnehaha Hose Co. No. S and Carriage.
Acme Hook and Ladder Co. and Truck.
THE PROCESSION
formed in front of Hook and Ladder house
on Second street and marched across on
Third avenue north to First street, down
First street to Bridge Square, and formed in
column by companies in front of the east
end of the city hall, where a primitive dry
goods box had been utilized as platform
from which the mayor was to review and adj
dress them.
THE APPARATUS
was in splendid condition, and had been
most beautifully decorated with evergreens
and autumn leaves. Located upon the ex-
trerne top of the smoke-stack Of Minneap-
oils steamer was the proud bird of freedom
i'll the bodily presence of live
AMERICAN EAGLE,
which kept it's wings spread in the almost
vain attempt to maintain its perch. Cataract
Engine company, not to be outdone by their
West Side brethren, had located in like po-
siton another American bird, less graceful
but far more useful, in the shape of full
grown, sleek and well-fed
RACCooN,
which reposed lazi)y on its high and airy
bed and gazed at the multitude of poor devils
of men below with all the comfort and dig
nifty Of bondholding philosopher.
THE MAYORS SPEECH.
After the companies had taken their posi-
ton, and his honor the Mayor had comfort
ably posed his form of dignifed proportions
upon the dry goods box aforementioned, DIR.
A. a. Ames, grand marshal, stepped to the
front and remarked:
Mr. Mayor-It is with unalloyed pleasure
that discharge the duty imposed on me of
presenting to your favorable notice the vol
unteer fire department of the city of Mime
apolis. In the history of mankind, sir, no
soldiers have proven themselves Drawer in
time of danger Or truer to their sense of
duty than the gallant volunteer tiremen of
America; and in this our home, the city of
our boast and pride, exists volunteer fire
department ranking second to none upon the
continent Of America. [ desire, sir, to
mind you and others in authority, of the la
bors they have discharged gratuitously in be-
half of their fellow citizens, and ask full
credit from you and others in authority for
those labors.
The mayor responded:
Firemen of Minneapolis:
congratulate You this afternoon upon the
splendid appearance of your department
upon this your annual parade. l have a
most pleasing recollection the most delight
full perhaps, of my life-of the vealy days of
my boyhood, when | wedged myself i'll be-
tween strong men, and took hand at "the
breaks of the old-fashioned hand engine
And 1 look now with constantly increasing
wonder and astonishnent at the improve
ments we have made in apparatus for fight
ing this mighty element, which sometimes
breaks from control We have taken
that noble servant of man, the horse,
and made him the patient servant of our
will in doing this work; we have corraled
that mighty power, steam, and compelled it
to do the LAHORE of ten Thousand muscular
arms; nay, not content with using merely
the forces of earth, we have reached into the
clouds, and plucked even the thunderbolts
of old Jupiter, harnessed them to our wants,
and now drive them safely to do this work
of mercy and salvation.
The mayor continued at some considerable
length, speaking of the courage, patience,
and endurance of the volunteer fremen,
and how thankless t lsk they had imposed
upon themselves; tn coming voluntarily to
the front. He also alluded to the probably
near approach of the time when their vol
untary services would no longer be de-
manded, and limited that in the near future
the city would be compelled, as the duties
grew more and more arduous, to employ a
pay department.
At the conclusion the firemen gave three
hearty cheers for the mayor, and the mayor
responded by again mounting his calico
casket platform and calling upon the citizens
present to give three cheers and a tiger fol-
the Minneapolis fire department..
The companies then resumed their march,
and soon after returned each to its house and
the members dotted their good clothes and
retired to await the next alarm.
The parade was most creditable to the
department, and those who are acquainted
with the merits of the men who comprise it,
will hope that the day of its usefulness as 6
volunteer organization will not soon ter
inmate.
At any rate it is advisable that the deter
mination to resign should come from the
companies themselves, and that such step
should not be forced upon them until they
express wish that way.
MINNEAPOLIS GLOBELETS.