Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-22
IOWA FlREMEN ON PARADE
Annual Convention and Tournament Held at
Missouri Valley.
COUNCIL BLUFFS VETERANS A FEATURE
Elicit Cheers as They March Along
the streets in the ProcesSion--
Rain storm Intcrfcrcs with
the Program.

MISSOURI VALLEY, Ia, June 2l.-(spe-
cial Telegram six hundred uniformed fire
men, accompanied by eight brass bands.
marched and countermarched before 5000
people here today. 1t was fireman's day and
they owned the town. The parade formed
at 10 a. m. and was one of the largest ever
held at a state tournament. Fourteen Iowa
towns were represented in the parade, which
was one blaze OF shining colors. The young
and the old of the different departments
marched side by side to the spirited strains
of music. The streets and homes were all
profusely decorated and every niche and
corner was occupied.
One OF the most striking features OF the
parade was the Veterans Fire Association
of Council Bluffs. Clad in natty uniforms,
the gray bearded and SCARED veterans
marched as proudly as they did twenty
years ago. Twenty eight of them were in
uniform and they were accompanied by
eighty more veterans and citizens from the
Blufs. AS they passed along the line of
march heads were uncovered and they re-
oetved deep and continuous applause. The
SCARED faces and shaky gait of the old vet
Grams awakened old memories and as the
younger generation gazed on the old timers
the thoughts OF the Grand Central fire in
Omaha, the Pacific in Council Bluffs and the
state races they read about when they were
boys came back to them and on every side
the veterans got the glad hand.
Rain at 4:15 caused a postpOnement Of a
part of the racing program, which will be
finished tomorrow The F. G. Pierce team
of Marshalltown was touted as winner in
the races, but was forced to lower its
banner to two Missouri river teams, Mis-
souri, Valley and Onawa Order OF march:
in rrin ;1b+
of Pythias band; Marshalltown fire depart
ment, sixty men; Marshalltown track team,
forty men; Lemars fire department, thirty
two men; Sheldon track team, twenty men;
S. f. Metzer's hose team, Marion, thirty
four men, mounted and escort; Marion
kinley hook and ladder team, champions
of Iowa, twenty-eight men, Logan band
Logan fire department, thirty-two men;
Council Bluffs Veteran Firemen's assoc. a
tion, 100 men; jefferson hook and ladder.
twenty men; Onawa band; Onawa fire de-
partmen!, forty men; Onawa track team.
twenty men; Audubon hook and ladder COM
pany, sixty men; Ida Grove fire department.
twenty-eigss men; association officers in
carriages; Noble band; Sioux City G. Pacific
Railroad hose company, sixty men; Mis-
souri, Valley truck team, twenty men; Mis-
souri, Valley hook and ladder company
No. 1.
Prizes were awarded as follows:
The largest department from any one city.
local department barred, prize $3.50, Mar
shalltoNn.
Best appearing company $25, Marion.
Straightaway hose race, one prize $3.50.
run ESQ yards, Audubon, 80 3-5; Onawa,
20 1-5; Missouri Valley, 30 Is; Marshall
town, 81; Sheldon, 29k. Onawa and Mis-
souri, Valley tied and divided the money.
The state record was beaten by three fifths
OF a second by these two teams. f.
Novelty hose race, teams to run 800
ieet 10 hydrant, lay 200 feet of hose, un-
couple tourth section, drop back and take
out second section attach pine to end ~
third section: Marshaltown, "A.
Just as the Sheldon team appeared on the
track the clouds let loose the rain and the
races were carried over. Tomorrow will
have double program.