New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-26
FIRE COMPANIES, AND MORE
COUNTRY VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS
AS SOCIAL CENTRES


into high top boots. is known to the present gen
eratiCI Of NEWCOMERS only through tho stories
which told about him. the old fashioned
pictures and the occasional parades of all that
Is left Of his organizations. With the advent of
paid fire departments the picturesque volunteer
fire departments vanished. The volunteer com
pancs recruited from nearly all classes OF
society. although the majority in New York were
wOrkingmen who were employed in shops or
stores near the company's headquarters.
'Thc average fireman was not a polished man"
said veteran. but any one who remembers the
parades Of the old red-shirt department will tell
You that better-looking lot Of men never
turned out the streets Of Ncw-York. They
were tough ana hard to handle. but they were
made Of the right stuff, and We old people are
proud t. this day Of the show that the Fire
Zouavcs made when thoy marched away To the
front carly in the Every man in the
ranks was a fireman. ard most OF them were
buried in Virginia"
Tho same class Of fire apparatus is still used
in country Places. and the style OF Uniform which
was worn Gfty yelis ago 10y the volunteer fire.
men e N,@:-IJrk City is worn to-day in most
of the littl- places where they have company.
Tho country engine and ho,c company Is made
up largely OF the best people in the town. and in
many Instances tho engine house lakes the place
of cluhh0usc where rot only The business
meetings and indoor drills are held. but where
the mcmrer; play billiards ard hoAl and where
hops and entertainments ar held in the winter
months. IN" rivalry between companies in the
old volunteer department Id to fights and
hrawls. Lut the desire the part Of the rural
hos" ard engine companies to excel their neigh
bors has led To- much audabl' competition. has
r,.st,I ifpp MS IL, mn.
and has stimulated activity in athletics among
the members.
Some # the organizations near Network City
have been used OF going 50 far in their efforts
to secure prizes as to employ professional ath-
lcteS In the hose run contests There are small
places where the FIRE company membership rolls
ore made uD with the same care and circum-
spection those Of the exclusive clubs in larger
places, and in such towns ii * not unusual to
see professional men in the old fashioned fire
mans uniform
FHem"ns meets" tournaments and convcn-
NOns. which take place IN various parts OF the
country every year. never fail To attract large
numbers Of people. and in some districts they
are more popular than military functions The
various companies and the teams Of hose run
ncrs all have their friends and champions and
there is as much enthusiasm over a record
breaking run or when the contest between two
teams is close as At racetrack during an cx-
citing contest.
People who never visit "A ball field who could
not he induced 10 witness a football game and
who think horso- racing a sin. become enthusiast
tic over hose races because they think that pro-
Gciency and dispatch in coupling and stretching
hose and getting water on quickly may bear
good results in case OF emergency and that com
ID should l tn