The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-04-29
INDEPENDENTS Celebrate
Reception and Test Of the New
Chemical Engine.

Program and Features of the Parade and
celebration-All Hopes Realized in the
New Apparatus-Note of the Fire Test
Independents Entertain at Days'-EIab-
crate Menu. Music and Notes of the
Banquet-Description of the New Machine
and Praise for the Committee.
The new chemical engine of Independ-
ent Hose Company has been the center
of attraction during the present week.
The long looked for apparatus arrived in
town on Monday and was kept under
close surveillance by special police until
the parade and final reception on We'd
nesday. The program of exercises was
carried out about as outlined in the
CHRONICLE of last week, aided by bright
skies and cool breezes. The representa-
tives of companies in other towns and
the band, Nicoll's of Newark, having
arrived on the noon trains, the active
members of the company with the
Mayor and Board of Aldermen and fire.
men guests, followed by the old hose
carriage. left the company quarters on
Market street and proceeded to the depot
where, after brief halt, the new
machine was driven into line by the
company's driver, August Nitz, and the
march resumed up Elm street to South,
up South to DeHart, DeHart to Maple
avenue, Maple avenue to Market, Market
street tcSPark, up Washington street to
High, High to SpeedweIl avenue, to the
Park aud about the Park to the scene of
the fire test. Along the line of march
the new machine was greeted with cheers
and the hose boys, who marched with
neatness and precision, were generously
applauded.
Opposite the Becker block on the
north of the Park small building about
10x12 feet had been erected and filled
with boxes, barrels and other infammable
material All eyes were fastened to the
pretty, new engine as it was backed up,
short distance from the fire, and the
hose run out for the first time. Fore
man George Callaghan, of the manufac-
tory of Charles Holloway & Sons, super
intended the test. The building and
contests already in place were first thor
oughly saturated with kerosene oil and
then set on fire. Foreman Callaghan
waited carelessly until the building was
mass of flames and then, hose in hand,
rushed to the fire and, turning on the
stream, had the fierce fire under control
and practically extinguished in less than
a minute. Then the building was al
lowed to blaze again for several minutes,
and when every board of the structure
and the entire contents were again
ablaze he again turned on the stream
with equally quick and successful results.
All were at once pleased with the speedy
and effective work Of the new apparatus
mem bers of Independent Hose, visit
ing and local firemen and citizens alike
and Mr. Holloway, who was present,
representing the firm of manufacturers,
pronounced the machine in excellent
order.
Line Of march was again taken up, and
the company and guests marched to the
company quarters and their the machine
was housed for the first time. Ranks
were then broken and members and
guests spent season of social chat, the
center of all conversation being the
beauty and excellent working of the
new machine. Many of the fremen
then repaired to the elaborate and
spacious rooms of the Tapkaow Club,
which had been kindly offered for their
entertainment. In responce to announce
ment that the new engine would be on
inspection at the company house between
four and six, number of enthusiastic
Morristonians, Including not few
ladies, called and admired the new
arrival.
Banquet and Firemanic Speeches.
Among the fremen of the county and
state, Independent Hose has won a repu-
tation as The Prince of Entertainers, y
and this name was fully vindicated at
the banquet following the reception of
the company's engine Wednesday even
| lug. Shortly before six o'clock the ac-
tive and honorary members with their
guests, numbering in all about one hum
dred and fifty, gathered again at the COM
pany nome and led by the band marched
] to Days parlors on South street, where
the long tables had been beautifully
spread for the dinner. The dining hall
was tastefully decorated with the COM
pany yellow" FIRE emblems, pictures,
at tae head being suspended painting by
Thomas Mast, executed for the occasion,
representing the chemical engine at Key
West with the nozzle directed toward
the island of Cuba and inscribed ssReady
for the first test" AS the banqueters
gathered about the tables, Rev. DR.. Al
bert Erdman, an honorary member of
the company, invoked the blessing. The
menu dishes, which were of excellent or
der and well served, were as follows:
Little Neck CLANS.
Mock Turtle.
Salmon. Tartar Sauce.
Hollandaise Potatoes.
Sweetbread Patties
French Peas.
Roman Punch. Cigarettes.
Roast Turkey.
Currant Jelly. Bouche Potatoes
Lettuce Salad with Tomatoes.
Ice Cream. Strawberries.
Fancy Cake. Wine Jelly. Bon-Bons.
Coffee Cigars.
With the closing of the final course
came the call for speeches by Toast
master George G. Smith, an active