The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-28
They Make Splendid Ap-
pearanCe on Parade.
Reviewed by Mayor and Men,
berS of the Government.
Route of March Lined by Thousands
Of Interested People.

The citizens OF Providence are not slow
to show their appreciation of the gallane
fire fighters who labor so assIduously
under the direction Of Chief Steere and
when given such an excellent oppor-
tunity as they had this morning to ex-
press that appreciation by simply coming
out to review the fire department, 1t Ia
no wonder that Westminster street and
Exchange place were crowded. Added to
the attraction furnished by the men and
apparatus, was that OF the new steam fire
engine No. 4, named the "Dexter Cor
ton" in honor of the fire commissioner
who Is himself one of the eldest and most
gallant fire fighters in the city. 1t was an
occasion of which every person with
spark of human feeling was justly proud.
Long before half-past nine O'Clock the
hour the parade began, people left their
touses and places of business TO crowd
into Exchange place, where, in front OF
the city hall AID next TO the Soldiers'
Monument, the new engine, resplendent
as FURNISHED silver, had been. placed on
exhibition.
The city hall stsps were crowded, the
mayor, members of the City Council, the
fire commissioners, Captain Swan OF the
Protectives, and invited guests having
assem- bled there to do honor to the en-
tertainment so generously afforded by
the thoughtfulness OF those in charge.
There were also many ladies IN the city
hall windows. 1t was perfect morning,
and Providence was considerate enough
TO see that no alarm OF tire should be
rung in to mar the program. The entire
fire department, headed by Chief Steere,
passed In majestic review, each man
being in his best uniform dress, each
machine being as clean as new, and each
horse being groomed TO perfection. In
fact, the horses seemed to appreciate II as
much as the men, and pranced and Gu
vcrted in a good-humored, intelligent
fashion. As each man and company
passed the reviewing party hats and caps
came of in stately salute, Mayor Medium
ness and the comm issioners reciprocating.
The five divisions outlined in yester-
days NEWS, headed by Chief Steere,
Deputy Chief Hill, District Chiefs
Griswold and Battey and Superin-
tendent Cloudman of the IRE alarm
telegraph, paraded TO the Doyle statue
in Cathedral square, where they dis
persed. At the end of 1895 there we're in
the department 231 permanent and n call
men, exclusive of the commissioners,
three permanent and four call members
of the protectives and 62 pieces OF anpar-
atus. The new engine makes 63 pieces
ali told.
After the parade the water tower was
backed up in front OF the city ball steps,
10 make ready 10 throw a stream over the
flag staff after the new engine had been
tested at the corner of Cove and WASH
ington streets. Steam was soon gotten
up under direction of Vice President Her
man Ii. Wefel, Jr., of the American
Manufacturing Company of Seneca. r.
Y, the makers of the machine, and En-
gineers ehippee and O'Gara OF the fire de.
part ment. Clerk Morrow was on hand
| 10 lake records and Assistant Enigneer
OK OF Newport was also an interested
watcher.
Not hing but praise for the department
| and the new engine was heard on all
: sides, even those persons who wanted to
| catch trains and were prevented from
crossing the space roped of in front OF
| the city hall, feeling that after all they
were we'll paid for their involuntary de-
| tention. a
! The entire forenoon, practically, was
| spent In trying to force stream through
| the water tower over the flag pole on the
| city hall IL could not be done, because
! there vas too much wind. Tbe strean,
| reached the pole, however. Tests through
smaller hose proved very satisfactory. and
showed that although the new machine
Is not extraordinary, 1t IS good all
| round engine. This afternoon furthcf
| trials were made on the Promenade street
! bridge.
The cost OF the "Dexter Gorton" 10