The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-01-14

izing Croton Fire Engine company on temperance basis. The undertaking was one Of an arduous character and one necessarily attended with much op- position on the part of those opposed to the principles of total abstinence.
 Having organized the meeting they proceeded to the election of company officers. Every eye was now directed to the gentlemen occupying the chair 8 man who afterwards proved himself one of the most efficient and faithful officers in the New Haven fire depart ment I allude to Henry c. Farnam, who was unanimously elected the first standard bearer of Tee-Total Croton No. 1.
 The officer chosen for first assistant was @ man noted for sterling integri- ty and unswerving fidelity to the right. Upright in stature as in purpose, Edwin Bodwell enjoyed the confidence and good will of all who knew him. As successful minister of the gospel in the far west, he has since indicated the principles which actuated him in the days of his young manhood.
 The secretary made choice of was philanthropic son of Yale, ever ready with pen as with arm to wield sledge- hammer blows in the cause which he espCused; more of us who remember James Cruikshanks did not doubt the DC tency Of his blows, whether from an intellectual or physical standpoint. James was a son of old Scotia, stood 6 feet in his stocking feet, well pro- portioned and with a heart as large as his body.
 The treasurer's office was filled by a quiet, unassuming gentleman, one whom we have all since learned to love and respect, and to whom many of us are l indebted for our first knowledge of mill itary science; Brother Jno. M D. Hen- drick was the man.
 The chairman Of the vigilance com- l mittee was the lynX-eyed Willets, whose active support in the formation of the company, and his readiness to respond at all time either with money or muscle, gave him just prominence in the coun- sels of Croton.
 | With such officers and in pursuit of such an object, it needed no prophetic | eye to foresee that success must ulti | mately crown their efforts. And now ! having called your attention to this child of promise, I will proceed to give | a few Living Pictures of Crotonian Days.'
 The first noteworthy occasion was the assembly of the Croton boys to take | possession of their engine house and fire apparatus Not the least amusing feature of the occasion was the simu- lated machine talk" of these verdant | fro laddies; this verdure in affairs of the Pipe and Nozzle" was most ap- parent however, at some of the first calls for active duty.
 Picture No. shall represent ''Croton Responding to a Fire Alarm" Mid the confused jargon of ringing bells, | rushing crowds, yelling firemen and | clattering engines, Croton is seen mad l ly propelling down Chapel street head ed by the infant Cruikshanks, aided and abetted by score Of other shanks. These are sorely pressed as they cling to the drag ropes to keep pace with the giant strides of their gallant leader. On they rush, goaded by the never ceas- ing cries of head with her boys" I ''don't let her lag" etc, etc, etc. Ar irving at the corner of State and Chapel streets their progress was suddenly l Relief No g." which comes rushing l up State, and crosses Croton's path at 1 right angles; in an instant the men of both companies are shouting and strug- i gling to release themselves from this unceremonious tangle; the tangle, how ever, is soon unravelled, and order is 1 once more restored; but now a wall is l heard from Croton; the Infant" is missing; Croton's wonderful specimen of anatomy is nowhere, to be found l Cruikshanks, Cruikshanks, where is IC1uikshanks? After diligent search the object'o of our solicitude is discovered in a recumbent position at the opposite end of the cross walk. When the shock l of collision came Crook found him. self travelling at gait which nothing short of a Westinghouse air brake could arrest, and so with single bound he cleared the drag ropes of Relief en- zine and landed on the other side. 1 Having repaired all temporary dam ages Croton proceeded on her way.
 For awhile we lose sight of our gallant
 1ant boys, but as the smoke clears away we are enable to present you with
 sketch No. ?, "Croton at the Fire" I
 hearts and strong arms, ready to de- fend her to the last extremity; several
 of the members are trying to back her head foremost to the reservior and
 having done this, they suddenly dis covered that the suction hole is on the
 wrong end of the machine. And now Captain Farnam with pantaloons stow
 ed away in huge brogans, makes him self conspicuous on the scene. Those Luminous eyes of the captain are ever
 on the alert, and he is not long in sighting two members of the Jumper wrench and both vainly endeavoring
 to screw together a couple of rutts of the same gender.
 Having remedied this slight mistake.
 all is now ready; every muscle is now
 braoed for the work; every hand is on tho brakes, and every ear stands open wide, ready to catch the first syllable
 of the welcome order, play away one.'' Suddenly it comes, and with one sim
 ultaneous shout of ''break her down." Croton's long pent up energies find vent
 at last. With terrific ardor they leap
 to their work, while relays of strong arms keep the machine trembling to the
 oscillations of Captain Farnam's
 trumpet, as he times the motion of the
 brakes standing on the deck of the en- zine. At last is heard the hoarse vet
 welcome command of the chief, "No. l