The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-08-05
LITTLE RACKET"
But the Firemen's Celebra-
ton of a Victory Has
Caused Quite a Row.

There is an unusual state of affairs in
Morristown. A happening during the
early hours Of July II in the town has
caused considerable excitement and talk,
the men taking the denunciatory side of
the question. while the ladies are as
vehement in defending some of the fire
laddies who happened to be participants
in the racket"
The Fire Department of Morrlstown is
a volunteer organization, and consists of
Washington Engine Company, with
about forty members; Humane Engine
Company. about forty members: Inde-
pendent Hose Company. thirty members;
Board of Fire Wardens, thirty six mem
bers, and Resolute Truck Company, with
sixty members. Each organization is
provided with quarters and allowed 500
a year by the town towards its expenses;
the members are exempt from Jury
duty and from taxes to the amount
OF IS. aud the town pay IS q team for the
use OF horses at every fire. Independen:
Hose Company was the crack ~organiza-
tion of the town, until the Resolutes be-
gan to shake things up some time ago.
They first got the Council to give them
the use Of a building lot and then put up
u building at their own expense. Then
49, wv - NV ASA AS&t AOob auO a
bathroom. and at considerable expense to
themselves they put In a telephone fire
alarm. Then they told the town that
they would buy a team of horses IL the
Council would give them S25 a month to-
wards the expense of keeping them, with
the full knowledge that it would cost
about twice as much more. including the
services of a driver. The very propo-
sition started a fight, but as five of the
nine votes In the Council belonged TO
members who are also members Of the
Resolute company. they got what they
wanted by a vote OF fl We to four.
There is intense rivalry between the
several companies as to being the first to
get to work at a fire. out since the truck
boys have been spending money i'll i'm
provements and hustlinR for a record,
the other companies find it hard to beat
them. Tn men in all the companies be-
long to a good class of citizens.
The night the Resolutes won their VIC
tory in the council, July 10, they de.
termined to celebrate. A party of jolly
spirits, politicians aud business men and
members of Resolute Truck Company.
met after the Council meeting, and as
time wore on and some of the crowd be-
came rather hilarious, a proposition was
made to Take q portion OF an Italian
string band which was In town and
serenade soma of the members of Reso-
lutte Truck Company and several persons
who were not members. No sooner had
1t been proposed than it was acted upou.
and the party was soon on the march.
Lending sound to the gentle strains of
mondolin and guitar by loud and sweet
(2) vocal accompaniment. How many
were in the party7 Well, some say five
and some say twenty-five, but one-halt of
the latter lumber Is PROBABLY a fair esti-
mate, and to the fact that it was a "big
half" or thirteen. some of those who
nave since come in for harsh criticism at
tribute their troubles.
sERENADING.
Up on the ''hill.D in the northern part
of the town. they marchcd, and then
through Early and Harrison streets, At
new avenue and other highways. While
in front OF the homes Of those who had
been selected for the compliment of a
serenade. the singers. tired out from
marching, etc, sat down on the curb
line. the players of the stringed instru-
ments. stood on the sidewalk, II
whether the victim responded gracefully
or not to the loud and ~oft-repeated calls
10 show himself. he WAS cheerec to the
echo and treated 10 a choice rendition OF
some OF the airs which are relegated to
the back seat by the appearance
of AFTER the Ball." The only
complaint about the music was
that what it lacked In harmony it made
up In volume, and in quiet Morristown In
the lead of night, or in the early moru-
ing hours, this volume of sound was ex-
lrem ely penetrating. Not ouiy the sere-
naded person, bat his neighbors near and
far, were awakened. Some maintained a
discreet silence. but others were angry
an heaped imprecations upon the un-
b eeding serenaders, while others sought
t o end the disturbance Of the nights
quietude by reading a quiet but strong
lecture from behind PAR ly opened win
dow shutters. But the boisterous crowd
cared nought for what was said In re-
monstrance, and not until everyone on
Its frequently changed list had been COM
PEELED TO take his share or the ~serenading
and there were i~ntimat1ons Of fast ap-
preaching u~avlight, were ranks broken
and the annoyed oues permitted to re-
sumo their peaceful SAUNDERS.
just who WAS the party nc one seems