Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-08-07
Eiren,en.s Celebration.

The Friendship Fire Company last night
celebrated the Hath anniversary OF its or
eanization By torchlignt procession in
which it was joined by the other fire compa.
MES of the city. The Friendship ia one of
the Oldest organizations in the country and
on its rolls of membership can he found the
names of many distinguished men, that of
General George Washington being the most
p,ominent. The feature of the celebration
last night was the taking back of the old ap-
paratus 10 the engine house from the old
Sun" house where it bad been stored for
some moDths past pending the improve
ments which were being made to the Friend.
ship house. The anniversary of the organ
iZalion of the company recurring about the
same time the improvements to the engine
house were completed, the members thought
it q suitable occasion for celebration,so the
torchleht procession of last night was the
result. At o'clock last night the members
of the company, in uniform, assembled at
their engine house and, after half hour de.
Law in waiting for the Washington drum
CORPS. proceeded down King street
to the old Sun house to take charge
of their apparatus. In the meantime
the Columbia company had also march.
ed to the Friendship house to escort
tho members down the street. These two
companies were joined at the corner of King
MI Royal streets by the Hydraulion and the
Relief companies, aud all proceeded to the
Sun house. on Fairfax street. between King
and Cameron, when the line of march was
formed. Here the old Friendship engine,
which had been rejuvenated and gaily
decorated with flags, was taken IN
charge By the members, and the procession
marched over the route as published in the
GAZETTE of yesterday. The procession
moved in the following order: Drum corps
from Washington escorted By number OF
bows dressed as 6remen and bearing torches;
! then cane the members of the Friendship
company dressed in red shirts, black psnta.
| Icons, white gloves and black slouch mats,
drawing the engine. which, as before stated,
was prettily decorated.
| Then came the Hydrauiion company, the
members dressed in their new Uniforms OF
blue shirts, black paptalooDs, white hremen
helmets and white gloves, drawing their
hose carriage, which was decorated for the
| occasion.
Following came the Relief Hook and
Ladder company. their truck being drawn
by the Hydraulion company's horses, and
the members riding on their truck. The
members wore their uniforms of white
shirts, black paptaloons, black hremen hats
and white gloves.
Last came the Columbia company, head
ed by the Alexandria Drum Corps. The
members wore their uniforms OF red shirts,
black pantaloons, green firemen hats and
white gloves, and drew their hose carriage,
on which were mounted two large locomo-
tive head lights, and from the rear OF which
during the march, was burned different COL
ored fires.
The Alexandria Drum Corps-seventeen
drums and ffes-paraded for the first time
in their new uniforms OF dark blue, relieved
with white, and presented neat appear
ance,
All of the companies presented fine ap.
pearance. and the celebration will long be
remembered by them. Along the route OF
the procession the streets were prettily IL
Illuminated and at times King street was one
blaze of light. Fire works, too, were set OF
at intervals, which, with the torches in The
procession, added brillancy to the affair.
After marching over the route the members
of the Friendship Company took their old
engine back to ito old quarters, which, as
heretofore stated in the GAZETTE, has been
renovated and improved, where it will re-
main o reiict of former times. when the
"boys" and not horses ran the machines"
to fires and when Drawn and not steam
worked them when there.
When the Friendship company reached
their house after the parade, Mayor Down
ham was called on for speech, and made
short but appropriate address, which was
loudly applsuded.