The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-07-08
OUR GLORIOUS FIFTH.
A Town Full of Jolly, Good
natured People,
4 Synopsis of the Days Pro-
Ceedings.


brought in the Clay Center Fire Depart
ment and large delegations from the
neighboring towns and cities. At l.
o'clock Sunday evening the general
alarm sounded and the fire laddies were
soon on the grounds, decorating the diff
ferent headquarters and arches, and
the hose companies worked faithful
until morning, wetting the streets, and
when the morning sun shOne DER our
CITY. the fruits Of their labor was most
satisfactory. Two magnificent arches
on Cedar street artiStically decorated,
the stars and stripes were waving, bus
mess and private houses beautifully
decorated and the deep dust of the day
before had succumbed to the Gqlto i'm
mersion. The 5:35 morning train, with
several extra cars attached were crowd
ed to their utmost capacity, bringing
in the Manhattan Flambeau Club,
Junction City Fire Departments and
hundreds of people from the eastern
towns. BY 8 o'clock in tie morning all
the streets running into the city from
the surrounding country were full of
teams, bringing people in to participate
in the festivities Of the day. The Beloit
train came in at II NJ. heavily loaded
with Solomon Valley people and the
Solomon City Fire Department. The
regular noon train from the west was
packed with humanity. Salina sent a
large delegation of her people, includ-
ing the Fire Department and uniformed
rank K. Of p.
The reception committee was prompt
" on hand at the arrival of all trains
and performed their duty nObly.
At 1:15 the line of parade was form
edand the order forward march given.
1t was the finest parade ever seen in
Abilene, the different fire companies
presenting a bright appearance in their
SNOWY suits, the militia company, fam
beau club, Salina uniformed rank K. OF
p, Grand Army of the Republic, Solo
mon band. Abilene band, ETC., made
all imposing and pleasing appearance.
The line of march was carried out as
published, and the procession broke
ranks at the band stand, after which
w. S. Stambaugh, Esq, in behalf of
the city of Abilene and especially the
fire departments, welcomed our visitors
in a neat and happy manner.
Thirty minutes after the parade
ceased the Salina hose company were
at the starting point ready for the sig
nal to 90. This was the beginning of
the first contest, to-wit: Run 120 yards,
connect with hydrant, run off two sec
tions of hose, uncOuple and fasten Oh
nozzle. Salina made quick run but
lost time making connection with hy-
drant, time 80! seconds. Solomon came
next and would have won easily, but
the water was turned on before the
nozzle was properly attached and the
water forced the nozzle from the hose;
no time taken. Junction City came
tearing down the track and threw water
in Al seconds. Clay Center followed
-, cooOn1c junction (IfU firSt
prize, Clay Center second.
The next contest was a run of 120
yards with hook and ladder truck, erect
ladder in street and fremen scale lad
der. In this contest Junction City and
Salina were the only contestants. The
Junction City boys were not to be out
done by their hose team, who had won
the prize in the first contest, and they
downed their Salina opponents; time,
Junction City 27i seconds, Salina 32ii
seconds.
The next contest was the free-fOr-all
sweepstakes, straight run of 12O yards.
The following is the time made by the
different companies that entered: juno
ton City hose No. 2, 19I seconds; juno
ton City hook and ladder, 173 seconds;
Abilene hose No. /, 10 seconds; Abilene
hook and ladder 19I seconds; Solomon
hose company, III seconds. Clay Center
started at the crack of a fire-cracker,
installing it for pistol and owing to
the heat they didn't run the race over.
Junction City hook and ladder and Sol
ONION hose company being tie, they
tossed up for choice and Solomon won.
junction City ought to be proud of
the prizes captured by her fire laddies.
Never did such a large number of
people stand as patient in the hot sun
for hours as did the crowd that wit
messed the spirited contests last Mon
day.
In the evening the Manhattan Flam-
beau club gave magnificent display of
fireworks, dressed in their white duck
suits, with the neck protectors falling
from the back of their caps to their
shoulders, counter-marching and per-
forming difficult evolutions at the time
of setting off their different fireworks,
which was carried in white duck sacks
suspended from their shoulders. The
fireworks were composed of every de-
scription, color and variety, and pre-