The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-08-26
BRAKE HER DOWN.
Fire Fighters Of Years Ago Man the
Machine Again.
THE VETERAN ASSOCIATION AT
THE ISLANDS YESTERDAY.

to Put Out Many Fires-The Brakes
Manned at Peaks which Sharpened Ap-
petites for Dinner-The Post Prandial
Exercises-Those Who Were Present.
Naturally when firemen are in harcess
and at work they need water, but when
they desire to have holiday and enjoy
an outing down the bay, it seems that
Dame Nature ought to be more kind
than to deluge them and send them home
with clothes soaking. The young and
the old were at the reunion of the Vet
eran Firemen's Association yesterday.
The young, of course, didn't mind the
rain aside from the fact that it spoiled
the ball game and the other outdoor
sports that had been arranged. On the
other hand, the old veterans who ran
with the machine perhaps years before
you or 1 were born, didn't relish the
ducking they got on their return trip.
Their limbs are not SO SUPPLE as of yore
and rheumatism is bad thing to have
about you.
But all had good time. If they didn't
it was their own fault.
The veterans formed on Myrtle street
yesterday morning and had street pa
rade. First came Chandlers band, and
it played finely and fittingly, interspers-
ing their marches with some of the good
old tunes heard at musters years ago
when firemen wore red shirts and swore
by their own tub.
A detail of call men acted as escort and
a smart appearing company it was. They
were commanded by Capt. John E. Cady
of Bramhall truck. Then came the vet
Grams, and last, but not least, was the tub
drawn by a fine pair of white horses,
driven by Driver J. Frank Libby, who
wore
The Traditional Red Shirt.
Charles Plummer, J. w. Plaisted and
Robert Murphy carried trumpets. The
one that Mr.. Piaisted carried was pre-
sented to old Dirigo, No. 8, on October
81, 1857. The one carried by Capt Muir
ply was won by Casco 5, October II, 1867
at Bath. Then came some of the older
veterans in carriages, as follows:
FIRST CARRIAGE.
Henry Fox, Henry Dyer, Ezra Russell.
SECOND CARRIAGE,
Daniel Glazier, Prof. Crouch, Alexander Bell.
THIRD CARRIAGE.
L. G. Eldridge, John Brooks, James s. Brooks.
FOURTH CARRIAGE.
James 7. Mitchell Benjamin L. Trickey, II. G..
Thompson.
FIFTH CARRIAGE.
W. S. Merrill, Joseph T. Skillings, M. c. Don
nell, Maj. j. S. Buck.
SIXTH CARRIAGE.
Elisha Wheeler, w. H. Roberts, Daniel Good
hue, Mi. Halves.
SEVENTH CARRIAGE.
G. E. Warwick, w. G. Hart
The line of march was Myrtle street to
Congress, to Pearl, to Middle, to Free, to
High, to Spring, to Brackett, to Carleton,
to Congress, to Exchange, to CONNER
cial, to the boat When the procession
reached the residence of Gen, Neal Dow,
they gave him rousing salute.
Upon reaching Peaks Island the vete-
rams were met by the officers of Peaks
Island Engine Company, No. 1, Elias T.
Holbrook, foreman; S. B. Adams, assist
ant, and A. v. Ackley, clerk. This COM
pany was organized January LIST, 1884,
and has 20 members. Their hand tub
stood in the street and an old time fire.
mans collation. was served that tasted as
good as spread at Delmonico's. Itcon-
sisted of plain crackers, cheese, salt fish
and first rate coffee.
The Sight of the Hand Tub
standing in the street was too much for
the old boys. They rushed for her,
seized the long rope and she never trav-
elled faster in her life. She fairly flew
over the ground, and she weighs 45OC
pounds, or whereabouts. Another crowd
seized the reel and there was a pretty
race along the avenue. The reel men
won.
| They hauled the tub to the wharf and
quickly had the suction pipe and brakes
| in place. Chief Leighton was on the
top of the ''masheen'' and gave the or
der to ''brake her down." Fifty men in
stantly jumped for the brakes. Two
hundred feet of hose had been reeled of
and laid up the steep hill. Despite this
handicap the old firemen pumped a
stream $50 feet.
| The tub was then hauled back and the
| line reformed. The Forest City was
boarded and the party went to Great
Diamond, and were photographed by
Capt. Brown. Dinner was then served Al
the club house, and it was dinner thai
did Steward Ruby proud. During the
dinner Chandler's band discoursed excel
lent music; After which President Fox
addressed the gathering as follows:
| Gentlemen of the Portland Veteran Fire
mems association:
| / congratulate you upon the success
that has attended the celebration of this
the first field day of our association. Vet
Grams though we are, | trust we shall al
| live to attend many similar celebrations
You will pardon me if on this occasion
| 1 revert to the past, for this is not the
| first island excursion that have attend
| ed as fireman. and it seems good tt