Omaha daily bee., 1884-07-24
THE TOURNAMENT.
Five Hundred FlrGmNn With Snowy
Uniforms and Flying Banners,
The Grandest Display Ever Seen
in the City EOf Omaha.
From all Over the State They
Come to Participate in the
Parade,
Fremont Walks Off with the First
State Championship Prize.
Webb and Steele Win the Coup
ling Contest in l 7-8 Seconds.
Corps Gives a Fine Ex-
hibition Of Life Saving Prowess
rheltteception to the Visiting Firemen
Attended by 1000 People.
Webb and Steele Win the Coup
ling Contest in | 7-8 Seconds.
Pompier Corps Gives a Fine Ex-
hibition of Life Saving Prowess
ThelReception to the Visiting Firemen
Attended by 1000 People.

The grand event of the firemen's tou,
nament took place yesterday forenoon. !
wasin the shape OF sprocession, a finer on
than which was never witnessed in tn
city of Omaha or in the state of Nebras
ka. Long before the time appointed 70
the procession to form, the streets alon,
which it was to pass, as announced il
The BEE, were thronged with crowds o
men, women and childen. Anxious nam
mas, with their young hopefuls, were OF
hand in large numbers and it wBs . con
tinued struggle between them. The
young hopeful insisted upon being in the
very front of the crowd that he might
better see the great elephant as he pass
ed in all of his majestic greatness, while
the fond mother, anxious for the safety
of the young hopeful, insisted on keeping
him by her side. 1t is needless to say
that the boy came off victorious and stood
upon the curbstone. The shady side Of
the street was sought but there was not
shade enough for
Il ENORMOUS CROWD,
And thousands of them stood out in the
glare of the burning sun, many of them
being unprotected even by an umbrella.
All morning long bands were playing
and columns of uniformed iremen were
marching and countermarching through
the streets, while the perspiration flowed
down their faces and dropped in great
quantities upon the ground. Everybody
was good-natured and not a single word
was heard that could in any way mar the
pleasure and happiness CT all. Truly it
was, in every re ,pect,
GALA DAY FOR OMAHA.
Since the foundation walls of the city
were built a larger, %jollier, and in every
way Shower crowd, has not invaded her
boundaries.
Some little delay in forming the pro-
was occasioned by the trains
bringing visiting fremen to the city be-
ing belated, but all took the delay good
n naturally and the time thus spent did
not drag heavily ON their hands. In Fall
coners hall, the headquarters, the firemen
spent the time in making each others ac-
quaintance, and relating instances where
their nerve had been put to the test and
where they had successfully
BATTLED WITH THE FIERY DEMON
As they talked their faces became radi-
ant with excitement, as they fought again,
words, the many hot battles of the
past.
At ten o'clock the order was given to
fall into line, and such another line was
never formed upon the streets of Omaha.
Chief Butler had command, ably assisted
by Assistant Chief Galligan, d. S.
Mitchell. and several others, and the
work of forming the procession was soon
accomplished. 1t was formed on Doug
las, the right resting onFourteenth street.
At last the order was given
FORWARD MARCH,
and at this time the procession was fully
mile in length, and as far as the eye
could see, gaily dressed firemen, gor-
arrayed musicians, flying flags,
md banners, and glittering fire appara'
us met the gaze.
1t was a surprise party even to those
Who had put the brightest face upon the
and all stood in wonder and amaze.
as the gorgeous pageant passed be-
ore them in glittering panoramic review.
II PROCESSION.
The procession was headed by a dozen
II more carriages containing the members
If the city council, honorary members of
he fire department, and members of the
Following this came a body of
policemen, followed by the Union Pacific
,and. After this came the tiremen, APP
etc.
In the procession were five bands, all
# which in turn discoursed sweet music.
The procession moved down Farnam
treet to Tenth, and down Tenth toJack-
As they were marching down
they were met by the Seward and
fremont fire companies, headed by the
'o"aiu SoiIoI pnLuj ahu Iio IsebC 40 anu
Vaughan hose companies from Council
headed by the Bavarian band.
The visiting boys countermarched and
in line, a place being made for them
md this addition greatly increased the
'ize of the already enormou body of
marching men.
The line of march was then taken up
ackson to Thirteenth, north on Thir-
.eenth to Dodge, west on Dodge to Six
zenith, north on Sixteenth to Webster, |
where they ccuntermarched and went
pack to Falconer's hall, where they broke
anks.
Never were men moro glad to rest than
we're those who had marched through the
Whole journey from the start to the
inish. Under the heavy dress parade
hirts were bodies
DRIPPING WITH WATER,
While from under the heavy hats the
gater run in streams. 1t is wonderful
nd very fortunate that someone In the
ong column was not overcome with the
leat, but no such sad misfortune befel
of the party.
II DECORATIONS.
The decorations of the fire apparatus
n the line were very fine. The finest, |
doubtless, was that of hose company No. |
J. Upon their cart was a magnificent
horseshoe, about eighteen inches in
and made Of natural flowers. 1t
vas composed of large quantities of tube
oses and other fragrant blossoms and