Morning journal and courier., 1882-08-17
Veteran Firemen's Excursion.

A Trip on the Elm City to Osprey Beach ! Music by the American Band-Im- 1 promptu Speeches on the Return.
 The fourth annual excursion of the Veter- | an Firemens association took place yester- day, the members with the1r wives going to Osprey Beach on the steamer Elm City. Long before the hour appointed for starting women and children gathered at Belle Dock and boarded the steamer and then waited patiently for the coming of the 'sold vets'' About o'clock the rain commenced to fall and many lady and gentlemen, not to be deferred by so trifing matter as rain, went on board. The veterans, who are also s'used to water," did not finch when the welcome shower came, but marched away gallantly from the City Hall about 8:3O o'clock, pre- ceded by the American band. Down Chapel street they marched direct and on reaching the boat many of the "vets" who had provided themselves with their clothing in anticipation Of wet day were drenched to the skin. Once on board the boat this was all forgot ten, and families reunited" availed them- aslves of all the space on the steamers outer decks. There was great demand for state rooms but they had all been previously sold and premium of from $5 to BIO was offered for these comfortable apartments. The steamer left her dock at 9:2O or immediately after the arrival of the veterans and steamed away for Osprey Beach. The trip to the beach was very pleasant one. Thesun was obscured by clouds, the waters of the Sound were quiet and while the rain continued to fall for some time after the boat started yet all Of eight hundred passengers were com. 4 fortably sheltered. On the lower deck were ! music and dancing, while on the saloon deck the American band discovered some of their ' choicest iobf 1 hundred and twenty-five persons on the ! steamer and they were all comfortably dis posed of by the committee in charge, which ! was most efficient one. On reaching the ! Thames river trip was made up nearly to ! New London, passing Fort Trumbull; the United States school ship and other points ot ! interest. On returning to Osprey Beach | landing the veterans headed by the band ! and Standard Bearer" Willis Bunnell
 marched to the large dining hall accompanied | by their wives and children. The seashore ! dinner was not the most elegant one ever en | joyed by the veterans and far from being ! equal to those enjoyed at Buell's on the Eas ! Haven shore in previous years. The great ! est complaint was about the boiled Holsters
 which certainly were not fit to be placed be
 fore hungry men. The Holsters were dis I carded, however, and a meal was made from
 other sea food we'll cooked and well served l although the variety was limited.
 \ On the return trip there was an imprompt,
 meeting on the saloon deck, at which Hon
 Charles Atwater presided. A. R. Goodnow
 the secretary, read the report. The repor
 showed the present membership to be 5I7
 1O2 having been added to the roll during tn
 year, while five have died, namely, Deaco1
 George Smith of No. 1, Frank Wo1cott o
 No. 2, Jacob G. Philo of No. 4, Michae
 Wrinn of No. , and Warren Koeber of Mo- 7
 Ex-Mayor Lewis was toastmaster, and toast
 were responded to as follows "vetera1
 Firemen,' John H. Leeds; "City of Nev
 Haven," John P. Studley; ''Fire Commis
 sioners and Fire Department, A. J. Ken
 nedy; Estate of Connecticut" 7" w. H. H
 Blackman; "The Ladies'" Thomas Canton
 "Press,' E. M. Graves.
 poem was read by Franklin w. Fish, en
 titled "The Boys Who Wore the Red, whicl
 was well received. Another poem dedicate,
 to the Veteran Firemen of New Haven, b
 George l.. Ives, a member of the association
 was also well received.
 ! After the speeches the dancing on the low
 CT deck was resumed, and continued until tn
 steamer reached this city, at S:3O p. m. Tn
 trip was pleasant one, and the committe
 having it in charge are entitled to muc]
 praise for the successful manner in whicl
 they have carried forward this notable fire
 men's 8 reunion.