Evening star., 1898-11-07
Annual Celebration by Police and
Fire Departments.
REVIEWED BY PRESIDENT and CABINET
The Eighth Precinct Winner of the
Prize Banner.
ROUTE OF PROCESSION

blue-coated, brass-buttoned, helmeted pro-
tectors of the peace of the community, and
the more modest and retiring, self-sacrffc-
ing flre ladies, were this afternoon
viewed by the President of the United
Stats, their eX-ofticio hef,
and The Commissioners of the District of
Columbia, afterward marching down Penn
sylvania avenue from the White House to
the Peace monument at the foot of the
Capitol terrace receiving an ovation all
along the line of march from patriotic citi-
Zens anxious to pay homage to the mem
bers of the metropolitan police and fire de-
partments
Headed by the United States Marine
Band, the march down the famous national
highway of the capital city was one of real
triumph plaudits expressive of admiration
bursting forth from the crowds lining the
sidewalks along the route of the parade the
p1 ecliict bearing Commissioner Wight's
prize fiag receiving demonstrations of ep-
proVal and congratulation from friends and
aGmlrerS, and from all who witnessed their
military bearing and general excellence in
appearance. While the men of the lucky
police precinct walked with more elastic
sprlngy step than their comrades in the
service perhaps, the members of the other
eight precincts of the department bore
themselves as proudly as though all were
VictorS. And, in fact, all were vctors, in
that they won unstinted praise and COM
mendation from a whole city Each pre-
clnct made such a magnificent showing, it
was difficult for the unframed eye of the
lay scrutinizer to define the points of merit
in the winning command. The race for the
flag was close indeed, and credit is due
each individual member of Maj. Sylvester's
battalion for the Fart taken in the annual
inspection and parade.
The City's Finest.
Brightly glinting in the afternoon sun the
ornaments of the policemen's uniforms
gave color and brilliance to the otherwise
somber lines of blue-clad stalwart, manly
men. The members of the force were today
in reality the 'city's finest and there was
no mistaking the favorable impression
created in all who witnessed their march
down the avenue. The only feature of the
parade bringing forth criticism was the in
adequate proportions of the Districts
armed force This criticism, however, fell
upon the legislators in the domed building
on the hill for not providing ways and
means for an increase in the force, and not
upon the department officials. The efficien-
cy Of the police force is not questioned, but
its inadeuuacy in point of numbers is a
serious matter of universal knowledge and
regret.
Second in the line of parade came the
ladies OF the fire department with their
machines for fighting the fierce flame
demon, the handsome appearance of their
paraphernaiia, their horses and their own
manly, determined bearing. winning ap-
piauSe as hearty or more so than that ac-
corded their brothers of the baton. The
fire division of the parade was perhaps
more interesting than that of the blue
coats, a certain attractiveness, akin to awe,
attaching to the giant engines and their
intricate mighty polished machinery, which
felt alike by the small boy and grown
up folks The nre apparatus, always kept
in prime condition, was this afternoon pol
isned just trihe more highly than usual,
the bright nickellng on the great engines
flashing and rejecting the autumn sun in
scintilating rays almost binding at times.
Horses, sleek and viVacious, prancinS
and straining at their bits, tugging and
anxious to be off at a break-neck gallop
with the first clang of the gong, behaved
admirably during the long march and
seemed as proud of the reception given
their department the men. The mem
bers of the department were mounted on
their apparatus, their unassuming uni
forms brushed clean and pressed especially
for the occasion.
Rejecting Credit.
The parade was a pageant rejecting
the highest credit on the two most impor
tant departments of city's life and wei
fare. The police and tiremen made dis
play of which they, as well the capital
city of the greater United States, may well
be proud The greeting to the fire depart
ment was especially appropriate, in view
of the heroic work of its members last
night in the fire which threatened for
time the seat of national Legislation.
The procession moved at 3 CLOCK TINS
afternoon from the rendezvous at 18th
street and Pennsylvania avenue, passing
the Presidents reviewing stand few mo-
ments later, and proceeding down Pennsyl-
vania avenue to 18th street, where the
line turned southwark and again moved
into Pennsylvania avenue for the march
to the Capitol. At a point near the Peace
monument Major Sylvester and his staff
and Chief Paris and his assistants left
the line and formed into reviewing party,
their respective departments marching be-
fore them amid almost as much enthu-
siasm as when President Mckinley bowed
his acknowledgements TO the salutes of the
commanding officers of the two divisions.
The combined forces of the two munich
pal departments gathered on Pennsylvania
avenue between 18th and 10Th streets
shortly after > o clock. The thoroughfare
had been cleared for their occupancy, for
here the award of the flag presented by
Commissioner Wight to the police depart
ment, and contested for each year, was
made. The 31J policemen forming the pa
rade detail were drawn up in double ranks
along the south curb of the street, the pa
troll wagons and police ambuiances resting
the left flank. The fire department rem
deZvoused in the vicinity, preparatory to
falling in directly behind the bicycle po-
licemen, who brought up the rear of the
police division, together with the patrol
wagons.
The Eighth Wins.
Commissioner Wight, standing on the
north side of the avenue, reviewed the men.
There was a moment of intense excitement
and then it was announced that the eighth
precin It had won the flag, according to
the system of marking adopted by Major
Sylvester and Major Burton Ross and Lieu
tenant Smith, the latter of the regular
army. wh1 assisted at the ensemble inspcc-
tion of the policemen last Saturday week
at the Ma ational Base Ball Park The viii
ming precinct company was marched ten
PAGES TO the front, and a color detail re-
ceiVed the Siken ensign.
In making the presentation, Commission
er Wight said
I'm presenting this flag to you I take
lssam.