The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-07-23
HOUSE THE WITCH
CHEMICAL APPARATUS.
Firemen Have the Greatest Event
of Years.
THE PARADE A SUCCESS.
Over Eight Hundred Fire Ladies' Partici-
clpated. Fame Presents a Horn
to the Water Witch Boys.

Fire Department has there been fro
lighting apparatus housed with as much
display and public interest as that of the
Water Witch Company's. combination
chemical apparatus last night. Not only
did eight hundred brave fire laddies, city
officials and councilmen take part and
lend interest to tho affair, but twenty
thousand people looked on the parade on
every street along which tho limo moved.
1t was the largest parade the flremen have
had FOR long time and although tho
evening was warm the luddles marched
well for which they We're frequently ap.
! pauded.
| Pyrotechnics of all descriptions, colored
tires, bunting, flags, the footing of whistles
| and changing OF bolls, all mado the occasion
one ever 10 be remem bered by the people
Of Wilmington
| The overwhelming success of the affair
Is OF course due to tho manner in which
the Fame Hose Fire Company prepared
the arrangements, and whilo they outdid
themselves along this particular line, the
Water Witch iiremeu acquitted them,
! selves admirably when the procession
reached their spacious house at Gilpin ave.
| nue. and Scott street. The Company hos.
| pitahsy kuew no bounds and when the
guests left the place in this morning $ wee
hours they all voted the old Water Witch
the best entertainers the city has.
~ Wuo ~ NiooA DClOTc ll0 llne OIL murCn
moved This was an hour behind tho
scheduled time. The delay was caused
by Councils meeting, but the wait did
not lessen tho enthusiasm of those who
waited. The line formed on Second street
and moved to Orange to Front, to Tatnall
to Second, to King, to Fourth, to Pine aud
countermarched to Walnut, to Sixth to
French, to Front, TO Market to Tenth, to
Delaware avenue to Lincoln, to Lowering
avenue to Union. to Gilpin avenue, to tho
engine house. The line was made up as
follows:
Platoon of Police.
Chief Marshal Jacob j. Kopp, of the Fame
Company No. 8: Thomas L. Reynolds,
of the Water Witch Company. No. ..
Assistant -Marshals, E. Hare, W. Lutz.
George Crockett, George Neiderynaier
Officers Of Fire Departmcnt-Ch En-
glneer Wclde, Assistants Skelly and
First Regiment Fife and Drum Corps.
Fame Housing Committee.
Famo Company's Ununiform,d Men, 80.
Hyatts Military Band.
Fame Company's Uniformed Men, IS.
Wagon.
Fame Company's Apparatus.
City Officials in Cabs
Water Witch Steamer.
Drum Corps.
Water Witch Committee-A. J. Dough.
erty, James McGlinchey, Alfred D. Ed.
wards, r J. Black, George Maxwell, j. X.
Adams, f. F, Kane, John Hartman.
Is Water Witch Ununiformed Men.
First Regiment Band.
140 Uniformed Water Witch Men, George
L. Shuster, Marshal. Assistants P. j.
Black, George Hall. Hiram kimbcll, John
Long, John McGoldrick
When the line reached the Wator Witch |
Hous, lhoro was q big reception. The bell |
In the towor rang continually and tho fire
laddics shouted as If their throats would |
burst. Tho engine house presented q
beautiful appearance. Bunting In red, J
white and blue almost covered the front |
of tho building, and in the tower was hung |
lanterns of all colors. Stretched across tho |
street was number of colored Chinese
lanterns arranged in q striking figure, |
Pyrotechnics added to their beauty.
The flremen In their red shirts and hel.
NETS and Others in brown and fatigue caps
below all, made the scene pretty ono and
between two rows OF the men tho guests
and now apparatus passed on their way
into the house. When the now combina.
tion apparatus reached its home shout
went up from the eight hundred firemen
for good. luck, and when order had been IL
stored, President Frank Il. Brandt of tho
Fame Hose, then mounted the engine and
made brief speech. He said that he was
glad to DO present at such happy occasion
and hoped it would often be repeated. In
closing he said that he felt sure that the
new engine would render valuable service
to the people
President McGlinchey of tho Water
Witch Company replied. He said that he
could not express the joy he felt on the oc.
casion He said that there had been days
as dark as midnight for the company, but
now it seemed as though the light was
dawning.
He spoke Of the great rivalry existing
between the Fame Hose and the Water
Witch Company, and dwelt on tho fact
that one company was now 60 n , the other
q good turn. Tho que It's were then in
yitcd to the yard, where tent had been
erected. Here refreshments were served
There was surprise awaiting the Water
Witch boys and it was not made known
to them until late in the evening.
While the festivities were at their height
Peter B. Ayars jumped on chair and
calling the meeting to order, presented
tie Water Witch Company with a nne
silver horn in behalf of the Fame Hose
Company. 1t was handsomely engraved
with the time and place of the presenta
tion. President Mct4linchey received it
with % fow we'll chosen words.
Many compliments were heard on tho |
street about the fine appearance made by
the men Of both companies. Jeff Butler
dressed as yellow kid, made hit for tho
Fame Company.
All along tho parade route the march.
ng flrcmen wore greeted with oyations
md pyroteChnics. The Delaware, Roi-
'nce, Washington and Friendship Com.
)any contributed much of the latter and
.hc citizens of Wilmington all cf the
ormcr. twas indeed a great affair.
The Famo Hose Company's house like
he Water Witch house, was abazo with
'olorcd lights Tho building was almost
covered with bunting and stretch.
ID across the street were chinese lanterns
arranged in V. These and large qaunti.
y of the bunting We're destroyed by "a fire,
which was caused by shooting rocket,
,ut the flames were cYtinEushed before
my damage was done the building. But
he excitement in no way cooledthe fire.
mems enthusiasm.