The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-16
VAMPS CHEER ROOSEVELT.
GOVERNOR SPEAKS TO VOLUNTEER
FIREMEN At YONKERG


Gov. Roosevelt went to Yonkers yesterday
afternoon a. q guest OF tho state oonven ton Of
Volunteer Firemen which began its sessions
there. The Governor was In Yonkers but little
moro than an hour. In that time he took part
in q street parade. made two speeches and
held at least four impromptu receptions that
were characterized BY great. II informal. cor
diality.
The Governor was accompanied by ex -Sena-
tor J. Irving Burns. and Secretary George R.
Manchester. Of the New York County Republic
can Committee. He was met at the railroad
station by reception committee made up OF
prominent citizens Of Yonkers. and headed BY
the mayor. Leslie Sutherland. and John NULL
gan the chairman OF the committee. They
had with them big brass band and the Fourth
Separate Company OF the National Guard
which was Company A. OF the First Regiment
New York Volunteers.
The Mayor and Mr.I MulllRan took the Gov
srnor and Senator Burns into their respective
carriages the rest OF the committee. likewise
in carriages. fell In behind and. with the band
and the soldiers in front, formed o procession
that marched up to Getty Square, through the
great triumphal arch with which Yonkers has
honored its guests. and around to stand
erected In front OF Manor Hall. On the stand
was the band OF the Lincoln Watts Orphan
Asylum. The oldest member OF the band was
apparently not moro than thirteen years Of age
All the way through the streets. which had
been decorated with flags and bunting until
the houses were scarcely visible. the Governor
was greeted with loud acclaim from sidewalks.
windows and even from the roofs Many Of
the salutations we're In terms OF great personal
affection that kept the Governor laughing
Goodnaturedly all the time. He was obliged
to stand mp In the carriage throughout the
procession. In order to respond to the shouting
and applause on every side, and notwithstnnd-
ing the best efforts OF the police. men and wo-
mon swarmed around his carriage. grabbing
at his hands and nearly pulling him from his
seat. time after time.
In walking from his carriage to the platform
In front OF Manor Hall. the people cornered the
Governor and he was the centre OF ably
GraspinR vortex OF hands He reached out and
gathered In as many as he could giving each
ono q shake. until a way was cleared to the
platform.
Mr.. Mulgan. Chairman OF the Reception
Committee. said to the great audience that its
members should be proud to have their
Governor learn that Yonkers was no mean
city and that like Rome OF old she stood
proudly on seven hills. The further pride OF
Yonkers was in her Mayor. Mr.. Sutherland.
who would have the honor Of introducing the
Governor.
The Mayor said that the Governor OF the
State OF New York needed no introduction to
the people OF Yonkers or to such devoted citi-
Gems OF the State as are tho volunteer fremen.
Tho Governors speech was very short. be-
cause, as he explained. he had come to talk to
the firemen inside the convention hall. and
had only time for a word OF greeting to
the Yonkers people who had asked him
to join with them in welcoming the
6remen He was grateful, he said, for their
greeting to him. and was particularly pleased
to be met by the Lincoln Watts band. He had
no doubt, he said. that every citizen OF Y onkers
was proud with him to look at that clean. bright
looking set OF boys with the knowledge that
there were institutions where homeless and
friendless boys could be made into decent men
ana citizens The Governor told the people OF
Yonkers that they could not treat too we'll
their fremen guests who endure perils In time
Of peace that are not one bit less than the per-
lis OF soldiers in times OF war.
Under cover OF the applause and cheering
that followed the Governors speech the COM
mittee tried to smuggle him through the stage
entrance OF the convention hall. The people
we're not to be cheated, however. and the walk
from the platform to tho hall was another re-
csption. One small newsboy created diver
sion by throwing himself on the ground and
kicking about like a cat in fit. shriekinR:
What do you think OF 1t! He shook hands
with mel Hullv gee! Hully gee!"
In order to decorate the lawn the committee
had caused many evergreen trees to be set up
In various places. The trees had no roots and
were held up by guy ropes. Some Of the trees
were not over strongly secured. They went
down with the rush after the Governor.
The convention hall was crowded with the
delegates to the convention. The passages
from the street to the hall we're jammed to
sufrocation.
The flremen made a great to-do when the
Governor appeared and again when Mayor
Sutherland introduced him.
Gov. Roosevelt said:
Il am very glad thatI broke through my de-
termination not to interrupt my vacation. and
that broke into my outing to be here to-day
felt drawn in peculiar manner to your or
ganizaton because l have been n volunteer
myself. ICheers | have also watched at close
range the work Of the Fire Department OF New
York. | know what 1t means to do the work
that you gentlemen do. and the nerve and tho
courage. and the physical endurance that are
required OF you.
When We are ant to feel melancholy because
In these days there is not enough strife and
strenuous effort in the ordinary affairs OF life
to stimulate men to emulate the deeds Of their
forefathers. think It does us good to think of
the three or four professions which. in times
OF peace. subject men following them to
as great dangers rs those the soldier
meets in war and which evoke as
manly qualities are ever required
OF the soldier. For example. the work OF the
fishermen on the banks OF Newfoundland.
calls for as much fearessness and resourceful-
ness as will ever be required OF any Admiral
In any navy. Again the qualities that must be
possessed by q first class railroad man are
those most needed in the makeup OF a good
soldier. And again this is true OF the firemen.
Any one OF you who enlisted in our army
last year found himself equal to any task a
soldier was called t perform. Some may al
ways rest assured that while we have
such men in every community as are
represented by the volunteer flremen
our citizen soldiers will always be equal
to any task imposed upon them. Your service
to tho State has high place as against the
service OF any other body OF mon. In your case
the danger ia incurred from the highest and
noblest motives. 1t has in 1t that highest disin-
terestedness which makes. with courage. on
the whole the noblest type OF citizen, not only
bocauBe OF what you do. but because OF the