Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-04-10
GREAT FIREMEN'S PARADE
or LAScAsrxTs vOLUSrxER DfrARI-
wENr IN MAY. fsJS


Tho first great parade oil the volunteer ire
department Of the city OF Lancaster, was on
Thursday, May 3, 1888 The only organ,a-
tions psrtici patlng were tho home companies
1t was considered n great parade and the In
TsLLIoEScEa OF May s OF that year devotes
five columns TO a description OF tho parade
The same sized parade now would DO dis
posed OF In that many dozen lines. This Is
tho way the report OF tho parade begins
"rhe hum-tho bustle--the glitter and the
eorgeousness- silent and hidden, and
tho history OF tho pageant has only TO be
written. IL needs not, however, to be chroni-
cled TO preserve 1t from oblivion Tor not one
of the vast crowd that came from all parts to
witness tho magnificent scene, can ever for
get It. We feel a rush OF glad feelings TO
heart oven now aud the pulsation OF high
and honest pride has not yet sulled, a. we
reflect upon that scene, its unequalled ac-
conpaniments and It's still greater termina-
nation. Lancaster will grow older, she may
grow richer, fuller Of enterprise, OF spirit,
aud of generosity, but she can never excel
tho inimitable and the indescribable splendor
of Thursday last 1t was witnessed by us
with a kind OF Wild and dream like astonish-
ment-a bewildering amaxement Where
we expected beauty, we discovered surpass-
ing lovelines where loveliness, matchless
aud inconco.va )ie grandeur. This may seem
"
fortunate enough not to see the parade, but
to those " no saw It We will say that We have
wide latitude still unvisited aud that we
have said but imperfect praise"
He next described the weather Tor
several days prior to that designated for
the parade told how the sky was fair on
Tuesday, but on "Wednesday tine heavens
were shrouded In one unbroken robe OF
ciouus-'he raIr MISREPRESENTATION 49,, bnns
began to totter on her before unshakep and
expectirg seat All was cheerless--all was
vInom Every eve WAS upturned and every
heat yearned for .goodiy day Tomorrow
We remember how droopingly, how mutter-
iugIy and how despondently, we crept to
bed, a. the rain came rattling sgsinst the
window aud the hollow gust mourned In the
street And well II might Tor now beauti-
n the spirit that dsny ssened hnn to
hour alter this, We peeped out To see II we
couiu .ace s.a, vi ~ ousv' W ,o .fl ~. .,'1,
~ was usoiesS anu "o sum" w ''o0P ~ N''""J
q" ,ue shy ,,,,, ,.,. -, ,,o ,.r.,a q,
, ne " neA. Mio'o M ~, 'no uay u, ~ ns ulb,nasS.n
tpeso WHusi ino ihoi h,hs -,
tue gay ior the sreaI Prauo, s~o, anu w
soeuis 'he ~, lntoi poe''on w ,,n W, 49,,
with u came glorious SKY, peanns sun Wa
Huu p,anu, au ' ,'atnsu,a NO. ,na
never can lorget now paialo r'ts "'
.nNneo 't|tn ~. W " -, w., ,I,.,i,, 10 ,ha hnIa
M Miio''i y iia,' M ~ ''i"", su Io ,.a,, hon, 10
consciousness OF suPeriofny iope -, W
get with how much rapture the first little
streak in the north was greeted. The mari
ner never hailed the coast of his native land
with more heartfelt 10Y, than did our citizens
that scarce perceptiple sign OF a clear day.
How many hearts beat happily-how many
budded hopes burst out In the fnli iruition
w "'""'''
he morn was up again ,ns uswS @ mSsnti nhsnti sIi
bloom.
Laying the clouds a, away WITH piayin%, M % sGorn'
And yIowtnn in,o aav
.r,r,, :, ,n. ,,orni M, ,hs ,bu.v hmm of
,,.,.'.y,nn, ,piaht havs hesp heard, A.,
rna ita,' aJ.a,caS h,ndraas ,sonred In from
,ho u"s ,',ntrv ana the towns AMI viiiaves for
80, ,,'IIs.' aronnS uore nnmernusIv re
s,a,. ''
poo" =, ,,
v Inc ora; I'M tns y"mnS, ams ,'a'ion A"u 'H' '"'"'
"oi'e" !" '''' ''e "'D"s'
THE UNION.
The reporter next described the presenta-
tion Ola banner 10 the Union hre comIai.J,
and then began description oi the parade
The line was formed at III o'clock, on Orange
street. This street was filled with denseiy
packed crowd, extending from Prince to
Plum--over half mile.
The cbiet marshal OF the parade was John
Matbio,, then mayor OF the city, ana his aus
were Major Charles Nsuman, and captain
John Findlay. The line was moved IN inc
following order