The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-06-23
MACHINE MEN.
Annual Parade of the City
Fire Department.
Exhibition of q New Patent
Coupling and its w FORK.

Coupling ana It's w OK.
Yesterday was a red letter. or more
properly speaking red shirt day for the
Fire laddies" of this city, as on that day
occurred the annual parade and inspection
of the Rock Island Fire department.
The event, by common custom, has come
to be regarded as one of the most impor
tant affairs rs concerns the department
and as a consequence the various compa
MES and individual members turn out il
full force.
1t is the one day of the whole year wher
the firemen have chance to display theil
gaudy uniforms, and parade before an ad
miring audience. The work of the depart
ment is effected without such attractive
concomitants, and generally at night when
even their features and faces are not visi
to the crowd who gather about a burning
building out of curiosity.
THE ROCK ISLAND DEPARTMENT
is composed of volunaeer members, whose
sole motive in running with the ma
chine is philantropic desire to be of some
assistance TO their neighbors and to the
city generally. There is little or no pay
attached to it. and the bubble reputation
which is sometimes achieved, is won by
hard and dangerous work, and is often
blurred by adverse criticisms and fault,
u oh
the difficulties of subduing fire, and ex-
pect firemen to be on the spot the mo-
ment the alarm is turned in
Taken as a whole the Rock Island de-
partment has accomplished some honest
AMI effective work during the past year
without any great sounding of trumpets.
The few fires that have occurred
during the past twelf month have
great damage, either from the original
agent of destruction, or its subsequent an
tidote, water.
THE PARADE.
The different companies forming the pro
cession yesterday met at the cor
ner of Fourteenth street and Sec
ond avenue, and at 3 o'clock started up
Second avenue to market square, where
the inspection by the mayor and members
of the city council was conducted. The
was satisfactory in every par
ticular. as the apparatus was found to be
in perfect order, and the firemen We're up
to all the requirements.
At the conclusion of the inspection the
procession reformed and marched through
the principal streets. and after an exhibi-
ton of a new patent nozzle at the Harper
house corner, proceeded to Turner hall,
where lunch was served, after which the
different companies and their visitors took
THE PROCESSION
was headed by Bleuer's band, after which
came the Moline department, fine body
IF men, who attracted general praise as
hey marched along the streets. The com
1anies in line from Moline included l / men
rom the hook and ladder, II men from the
~
lehaha hose. The latter were dressed in
rery becoming suit of gray.
The Rock Island department was also
ully and creditably represented, and their
appearance elected favorable comment.
The Saw Mill company turned out %
men. The Phoenix No 1 had in line g
nen. The Wide Awakes came to the front
With 10 members.
The Resue No. was represented by
6 men, and the fourth ward hose com
,any turned out 16 men in line.
THE EXHIBITION
On arriving at the corner of Twentieth
treet and Second avenue on the line of
march, the procession halted and an exhi-
'ition of the new nozzle II inch and the
Ionble patent coupling was given. The
oupling is so arranged that double line
f hose is discharged through single l.
nch nozzle. The coupling is of metal, |
nd is used when large amount Of water
5 needed on any given spot The men
Who manipulated the nozzle were E. Coons, |
:. johnson, II. Nolt, II. Perry, J. Stanton
nd G. Haymaker, all of the Wide a wake
company No. 2.
The exhibition was not a perfect success,
8 the stream of water was not carried |
yer the Harper house as was the intention
nut fell short several feet A second noz-
lie of smaller capacity was substituted
nd worked with better success.