The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-29
OGHG bbBGg ~ EAN Is
Exciting Ending of the Fire
mems Parade Today.
Fire Alarm Sounds and Fire
men Dash Away.
How Little Alice Stevenson
Rode to the Fire.
Making the Run Without Being
Frightened.
Sensational and Inspiring Scene
ON the Streets.

sat on the big hose wagon from fire de-
partment headquarters and rode to a
IRE as fast as the two strong horses
could take her.
The fire department in its place in
the parade had just turned west on
Tenth street when there was an alarm
of fire. George Goodrich who drives
the hose wagon whirled his team from
the line.
There is a fire Alice" said he. Let
me put you down.
oh no. please don't" begged the
child;.I don't know where to go. Please
take me with you
BY that time the horses were in a
dead run.
All right" said Goodrich. Hold to
her Miller" said he to Fireman Will
liam Miller who also occupied the seat
The big horses turned into Kansas
avenue and the people on the street
scattered in every direction. The flags
streamed back in the wind The hair
q the little g1rl waved out behind, but
she grIpped the arm of the driver tight
and her eyes blazed with excitement.
Make them go faster said she
The team was running as they never
ran before. The long line of firemen in
the parade melted away before them
Several times the child reassured the
driver with a request to let the horses
go faster. She feared that he was hold
ing back on her account
w hen the dre was reached. she sat in
-A-N scat W AAAAC the men worked. II was
IN the roof of the residence of August
Myers at POI North Klein street and
was soon ezztinguished
The little girl rode back to the station
where she was helped from the seat.
her mother was waiting for her and
she took her child in her arms and kiss
ed her
by mamma, I wasn't a bit afraid -
said she 1t was awfully nice
A Journal reporter saw Alice at the
stleIloh before her mother took her
nome She was somewhat excited but
with childish modesty wouldn't say
anything except: I was not afraid.
Alice Stephenson was on the hose
wagon by an accident Her father
John s. Stephenson works in the Santa
Ee SHOPS and is member of the Santa
re nre department. Long ago she re-
celVed a promise to ride in the parade
but a week or two ago she was taken
sick and her place was given to another
little girl
She was greatly disappointed and
Driver Goodrich gave her a place on
the hose wagon at headquarters
A great many people thought the fire
alarm was simply for the purpose of
giving an exhibition run but if was
not 1t was q genuine fire and the visi-
tors were treated to a glimpse of the
topeka fire department in action that
was better than the whole parade.
Inc scene on the street as the fire
wagons rushed along was sense tfOnaI !
and inspiring
The parade had moved north on Kan
n
ternarched- When the head of the |
procession had reached Ninth and lack
son streets and the Marshall Manifold |
oano 80 strong, was playing a stirring /
HLalch the big gong at fire headquar-
ters changed and the Topeka depart |
ment wagons hurriedly turned and |
started north on Kansas avenue at a /
terrific gait.
"One hundred and tventv-one >,
changed the big bell, and the firemen |
hl-SW Ihat tnat called them to Seward !
and Klein streets
Men yelled to the crowds +o sta,,7 |
back. the fremen rang their foot s-Onps |
vigorously and the procession rushed /
toward the sidewalks to give full syvav
% LOT Che WAGONS which were dashing |
uo"h the street The seven wagons |
went thundreing down the street bare /
~ missing the masses of people and /
there was general confusion
At Seventh street hose cOfnpanjes .
and 3. chemical 2 and hook and ladder / /
went to the fire and hose companies 1 /
and went to tire department. head
quarters and took a guard
The procession Termed again and the
line of march.
The parade was a brilliant affair
N othlng like it has been seen in To-
peha- Every piece of apparat11s was
polished until it looked like new end !
the hremen looked well in their 11nf-
1S,I-l toIllls- me boy IRE department fea-
tNreS OF the parade We're especially at
IractlVe, as We're also the Santa Fe fire |
department. hose reels, which were pro
ruseiy decorated with asparagus aud
roses and chrysanthemums. The dec
oratfOns were in the form of bowers in
which children sat The reels were
pulled by white and black teams re-
spectively.
The Topeka department made the |
biggest showing of men. EmDoria had /
regulation hose truck drawn bv two |
grey horses The boy volunteer fire
departments which headed the TODela
department display We're excellent The
first was the old fashioned volunteer
department with an 1916 fire hose DurnD /
This was drawn by "A boys in uniform |
ana Howell Jones, Jr., was the captain /
h following this was the modern hose
reel drawn by two Shetland ponies.
nree boys in uniform rode on the reel
The santa Fe volunteer boys made an
equally as good appearance. There
were 10 boys and captain in uniform
drawing a decorated hose reel of small
size
There was all kinds of music in the
parade, a most attractive feature
1he following was the order of the
parade:
Platoon Of police under Chief Gardi-
Chief Marshal Wilmarth in fire buggy
Aarshall's and ManifOld's bands con-
sOlidated-S2 men
Boy VOLUNTEER fremen with 1886 hose
pumps boys
Bcy nremen with modern hose reel pull
ed by Shetland ponies
topeka fire department apparatus
Hook and ladder No. 1.