Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-07-01

Tho Weccacoe and Washington Fire
\ Companies had full possession OF the
/ city Tuesday night, tha occasion being
the housing of the former oompapy's
handsome new chemical engine. which
arrived Tuesday morning from Balti-
more.
Soon after the arrival Of the machine
at the p, w. g. b. freight house at
Fourth asd Pine streets 1t was ub
loaded from the unr on which ii hnd
been shipped and was taken by Wecca-
zoe and Washington members to the
engine house of tho latter company,
N that company's chemical team being
used for the purpose.
The new apparatus ia triie more
elaborate, to all outward appearances
than the machine purchased by the
Washington Co. from the Holloway Co.
of Baltimore, which also built the
Weccacoe engine. hut the only material
difference is that the Weccacoe engine
has a water pump, which may he used
for replenishiug the tanks from wells or
streams where there are no plugs. The
two engines have the same capacity. two
G0-gallon tanks each, but they diifor
considerably in appearance. The tanks
CT the Weccacoe engine are upright,
whereas those Ut tho Washington en-
gine are horizontal: the Weccacoe en-.
4 gine has a hose basket and the Wash
n ingtnn engine has a reel. and one OF
Y the tanks is worked from the centre Of
the new apparatus, whereas both arv
N worked from the rear on the old one.
Otherwise the two machines are very
similar. Both are nickel plated. The
Wsccacoe engine cost 50, 900 and the
Wash hingtou engine 81. 500.
A day long the new apparatus wac
40 object of ipterest at the Washington
house, and the eager firemen could
scar ceiy wait until nightfall 10 begin
the operation.
At about 7. 80 o'clock the mombers of
the Weccacoe Co. marched in uniform
to the Washington house, where the
memhers OF the latter company wore
also ip uniform. The parade was i'm
madiatey formed and as soon as the
formation was complete the parade
startsd, the line being headed by two
mounted policemen. and Hyatt's Mill
tsry Band. The formation Of tho line
was the same as has already been given
and tho route followed was the same as
a published, except that West Tonth
M street was used instead of Ninth. Ths
N citizens along the route illuminated
N their residences and Mt several places
NJ the marchers were greeted with pyro.
teohnic displays. Everywhere the fire.
mon were accorded hearty welcome.
The members Of City Council viewed
q tho parade at the City Hall, and they,
v together with Mayor Jetferis, Clerk Of
N Council MORRISON and Bailiif Ryan,
y afterward proceeded to the WeccacOe
r houss, where they were made welcome
A by members OF the company.
III The parauers reached tho Weccacoe
" house about 10 O'Clock, and after 1t had
been backed in by Driver Frank Hyatt
OF the Washington engine, and in
\ spected, tho members Of the two com
panies and their guests repaired to the
reception hall on the third floor, where
4 they partook of tempting supper,
! which bau been prepared by Henry
N Zimmerman.
III At the conclusion of tho supper,
n President Edward Mcguire of the
Wecraooe Co. made brief speech and
"a introduced William Abele OF tho olt
Weccacoe Fire Association OF Camden
n N. j. lie lived in this city when d
boy and aptly remarked in opening hit
~ speech that he felt "perfectly ut home
10 this climate" He now lives neal
f Asbury Park, N j.. ard is one Of thu
II most prominent firemen in the country
MIR. Abele is most interesting
talker. lie spoke of his early appren
ticeship-to John and John A. Harris
ship carpenters, of this city aud sait
THAT had he not cut his foot very badl,
n while at work on one occasion he nigh
ihave heen here stll, but his mothe
Thought best to send him 10 philadel
.H phiH. However, he had warm paG
l in his heart for the firemen of vii
& inington, and especially tho Weccaco
s men, as be had been Weccacue maj
DO New Jersey since away back in tn
1O's. He recalled some old fire Incl
'tlents, which we're thoroughly appre
Mated as "reminiscences by City Treas
nrer Joseph X. Adams, William Nc
Madden and several other firenen VIII
femember what happened among th
epmpanies years ago. He referred t
w ri,me of the prominent men OF the city
Whom he had known years ago.
The Wccaooee Fire Go. of Philadel
I phia, he said, was the mother of al
Weccacoe fire companies. He told hoy
various new organizations in dilforen
parts OF the country had purchase
portions of the Philadelphia company
npparatus, and invariably the nam
Necuacoe was adopted, in honor of th
mother Weccauoe Co. After the phila
Slelphia Weccacoe Co., company bear
Ing that name was organized in Cam
den, N j., then one was started i
ghicago, ILL.,, then hose Gompan
hcaring the same name was given III
ih Camden. N. j., and shortly after
ward tho Weccaooe Fire Go. of Wi
mington. which purchased its first hos
marriage from the Weccacoe Go. I
Camden, came into existence. Th
f epeaker was then member OF tb
Camden company, and later he WI
made chief engineer of the paid depar
~ ment of that city. After the organizi
4 tiun OF the Wercauoe Co. Of this city
compapy OF the same name was starte
I'm BuTdentown, N. D., and, as far 1
Nc bad been able to learn, the Wi
1ington and Bnrdentown companil
were the only ones in the country
Active service which had preserved Ii
name, aud he remarked that he fe
aure the name Was in safe hands wit
stkN Nilmington's sturdy firemen.
&N Mr. Abele proclaimed his allegant
Ito the volunteer system, aud elaine
5tbat no city needed paid departmel
4.}f until it had population Of miiliol
W He commended that the volunteer d.
partments of Wilmington. Harrishul
and Reading we're doing as good servi,
K as any paid departments in the Hountr
and at much less expense than the pa
companiea. He referred alfectionate
TO firemen generally, and said that /
E had mover found any selfishness amor
III them.
Mr.. Abel informed his hearers tn
the 10 survivors OF the old Weccao,
III Fire Go. of Camden, N. j., were gnir
DO hpt "A uf 10 :,