Evening journal., 1889-05-09
LAST EDITION
RAINBOW
GRAND RECEPTION TO THE READ
ING FlREMEN TODAY.

grift and Others-A Round OF Ap-
plause.
The Rainbow Fire Company, No. !, of
Reading is the guest OF the Friendship
Fire Company, No. /, of this city, ana
royal good reception is being gwen the
visitors.
Thev arrived at 1910 o'clock this
morning ON the p. w. & B. railroad and
were received at the station by the cons
mittee. comprising all the members of
Friendship Company, and headed by
Chief McCracken. The visitors numbered |
about forty in full uniform with fatigue |
caps accompanied by the Ringgold Band |
Of twenty pieces. The hosts mum. !
bered fifty attired in dark |
clothes and carrying canes. James |
r. Kenny, mayor of Reading and |
Daniel Parkerof the Veteran Volunteer
Association of Philadelphia, accompanied
the guests Mayor Harrington with
Mayor Kenny on his arm was escorted to
barouche which brought up the rear
of the procession. j. d. Sweet, Fire
Marshall of Atlantic City and Daniel
Parker, were also seated in the carriage
The procession was in charge of Chair
man U. S. Pierson. The Friendship
Company led, followed by the Ringgold
Band the Rainbow Company with two
handsome flags, and the prominent
guests. 1t moved up French street to
Second to Market, to the City Hail. ar
irving at the latter place at 10. 30 o'clock.
The City Hall bell was tolled in honor of
the visitors. and the fremen formed i'm
mediately in front Of the building.
Mayors Kenny and Harrington took po-
sitions on the steps, and Mayor Harring-
ton said:
"Mr. Mayor and gentlemen Of the visit
ing company, bid you greeting. You
will be taken care of and treated well,
and hope when you leave us you will
carry away with you pleasant memories
and make staunch friendship / can say
for the volunteer system of this city that
for its discipline and operation it cannot
be excelled by any in the country. The
people are proud Of their fremen and
were to make choice between the paid
and the volunteer system, l would take
the volunteer.
''On behalf of the citizens of Whining
ton bid you good welcome, the freedom
of the city. the liberty of the city and
hope this visit may unite more closely
both cities in common bond Of friend
ship"
After the applause had -subsided,
Mayor FLAMES r. Kenny of Reading
made the response. He said: "Your
honor, gentlemen of Wilmington and
members of the fire department, this
hearty reception has somewhat embar
rassed me. | am astounded that you
have seen fit to show by your attendance
your interest in us, and we hope to con-
duct ourselves that our actions as well
as our words, may show our appreciation
of this welcome.
81 also have word to say in favor of
the volunteer fire department in this
country, and / tell you that when men
are bound together for the protection Of
life and property, they show the greatest
and noblest of deeds. Our fremen are
the very bone and sinew Of trade, and
they know the common bond Of sympathy
so that when they hear the tones Of the
alarm bell at night they know that some
ones home is in danger and they go at
the call of duty. Theirs is the highest
motive l am glad to congratulate your
mayor that You have such department
as this. We thank you thousand times
for the welcome you have given US and
we hope you will come to us sometime
and you will receive that warm welcome
which you so richly deserve
After the speech making the line Of
march was taken up and the fremen pro
eeeded TO the Friendship engine house at
Tenth and Shipley streets. The building
was gaily decorated with bunting, flags
and Chinese lanterns. Three streamers
of red, white and blue stretched from the
first floor to the cupola; large and small
flags adorned the windows, and above the
large door large canvas had on it the
words Welcome Rainbow" On the
arrival of the visitors the engine bel
was rung and the procession went to the
large meeting room on the second floor
The principal guests occupied seats il
the front of the room the fremen re
mained standing during the speech max
ing. Chairman Pierson introduced Lewis
c. Vandegrift, Esq, who said:
II have been asked by the Friendship
Company to extend to you a welcome /
is very proper that men engaged in
duty that comes from the highest motive
to fraternize, and it gives me great pleas
ure to welcome you to day Both com
panies are well named; Friendship, tina
gives forth helping hand in brotherl
love; Rainbow means that whel
your company throws forth it
streams that the sun assists in tn
great work of saving life and property
Right it is that you stand shoulder t
shoulder. Both companies are older thar
this country. Since 1878 the RainboV
Fire Company and since 1875 the Friend
ship Fire company have been doing thi
noble work. You have kept pace wit
the increased responsibilities.
1T therefore goes without sayin
that you are welcome. l also dc
sire to say on behalf OF the Friendshi
Company that we are glad you hav
brought your mayor with you. ANY
thing you may desire take it and th
Friendship Company will stand sponso
for it, and when you leaV
us we hope you may hay
enjoyed yourself in the best manne
possible" Mayor Kenny responde
briefly and wittily stating that when tn
Friendship Company stands sponsor fC
the Rainbow Company, it takes grea
responsibility. 80 l will have
keep my eye on our men tha
their wants may not be so great 9
to swamp our friends pocketbooks. w
thank YOU for this kind welcome. Tn
is our day off, we are here to have fun
we are capable and willing to do so al
we know you are also willing" May
Harrington, Daniel Parker and j.
Sweet made brief remarks and the NEE
ing adjourned for refreshments.
The visitors from Reading were as fo
lows; James r. Kenney, Mayor; GeorG
w. Miller, chief Of the Fire Department
George r. Roland, assistant; A. \
Moser, chief marshall; William Nipple