The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-05-10
THE FHREMEN'S ANNEVERsARY IN
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI.
bad Weather-But n Beautiful Tur:i
OUt--All jackson AstIr.
Special Correspondence of the N. O. Times.

Special Correspondence of the N. o. Times.
JACKSON, May l, 1879
Jackson is noted for its fine fire compa.
MES, and her annual celebrations are always
looked forward to with more than ordinary
interest," which takes place on the first of
May. Unusual preparations had been
made to make this annual reunion surpass
those of former occasions.
But early i'll the morning, clouds began
to grow denser, and it did not take Pro-
lessor Tice to predict that the festivities of
the occasion were destined to be interfered
with by inclemency of the weather. About
IL o'clock it began to rain in good earnest,
but despite the mud and slush all the differ
ent companies were organized by Hon.
Jno. McGill, preliminary to the march.
jackson has four well organized fire COM
panies, presided over by efficient officers,
and No. bo,tsts of being the Oldest COM
pany in the State, being organized about
forty years ago.
The following was the line Of March:
first, the Pearl Hook and Ladder No. l,
presided over by E. II. Reber; next, came
the West Jackson No. l, John W. Clingan,
foreman; next, the jackson No. l, steamer,
5. L. Virden, foreman, and fourth, Gem
No. 2, presided over by the efficient mayor
of jackson, Hon. John McGill. This
engine was handsomely decorated with
flowers, and made splendid appearance.
Although the rain came down in torrents,
the streets were lined with people, and the
fremen almost wet to the skin, moved
through the different streets until they
reached Hamiltons Park.
Hamilton's Park is located about mile |
northeast of the capitol, and has all the |
surroundings to make it an Ornament to
the place. Located on lofty hill, you
have splendid view of the whole country |
About mile to the northeast, the beau
tiful Pearl threads its way through groves
of old ancestral oaks, which look gigantic
in the distance, while little further to the
west, looms up the stately buildings of the
State asylum The grounds are tastefully
laid out into serpentine walks, and dotted
with trees and shrubbery, and few sparks
ling fountains cool the atmosphere. And
the short time since the work
has commenced, it compares favorably with
some of the parks of our cities
The citizens of jackson are indebted to
Col. j. Hamilton for this new enterprise,
who has done most of the work at his own
expense. Not more favorable spot could
lave been selected to wind up the festiyi-
les of the tiremen's parade.
long building was nicely improvised
or dancing, and good band furnished
music. Most of the visitors carried their
baskets of provisions-and here and there
ould be seen gathered out of the rain, en-
Dying their viands with peculiar gusto.
n Tie, evening the clouds began to dispense,
nd those VINO were not able to be there in
he morning, took advantage of the even |
ng. |
Take it upon the whole, the affair was a |
uccess, and if the day had been as bright L
nd beautiful as yesterday, instead of v
mall attendance on the grounds, thousands h
f persons would have congregated from n
10 surrounding country and from the ad- +
Icent towns. y
For courtesies shown us we are indebted y
} Mr. Geo. S. Donald, local editor of The u
oMET and also, to Capt. G. d. Subway. u
S. II. 8. L