The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-24
OWNED THE TOWN.
Clinton Firemen Pa
rade, Make Tests
and Dine.
NO ALARM DISTURBS PLEASURE.
Department Works Well
and Members Have Elk
celIent Appetites.
NO ALARM DISTURBS PLEASURE.

| gallant showing this afternoon. They
turned out in uniforms, spick and span,
and marched, about so men in line, like
soldiers.
A platoon of police, under Chief Oren
B. Bates, headed the column. The
Turner band played lively march music.
The engineers turned out and gave the
people chance to see them all to-
gether.
The line of march, which was given
in The Spy this morning, was well
sprinkled with people to see the pro-
cession pass. A large crowd assembled
at Greeley and Lawrence streets to see
the trials. These consumed a large part
of the afternoon. The inspection of the
men in their houses began promptly
| after dinner. At 2.30 the line was un-
der way.
From O'Clock occasional blasts of
the fire alarm whistles denoted that the
trials We're being run off.
The hook and ladder company made
an excellent run from Woodlawn and
Sterling streets to Sterling and Law
renee streets, where they put three men
on the roof by three separate ladders,
The tests were arranged somewhat
differently than last year, and were not
IN competition, but to show the excel
lence of the work and the efficiency Of
the companies. The men marched to
town hall, headed by the ban0s leaving
central fire station. The band played
Marching through Georgia" and sang
the song as they walked. The honors
We're done by Chief Engineer Frank E.
Babcoek and George S. Gibson, Will
nam e. MoGlinchey, Fred E. Wilder
and Walter E. Page.
Covers were laid for 200 persons.
Pierson had provided a substantial re-
PAST.
Chief Babcock off1ciated as toast
master. He introduced David l. Walsh
as the first speaker of the evening.
Mr.. Walsh had better hearing than
he did at the banquet Of 1898, when lust
as he was about to begin his speech a
fire alarm blew in and emptied the
town hall of firemen in a minute. Mr..
Walsh made apt sllusion to the circum-
stance tonight when he said: IT desire
to express the hope my appearance
Will not be the cause of another alarm,
though it is a satisfaction for me to re-
member that at least once in nv life 7
had the unique distinction of lifting nv
audience literally to it's feet, even
though I was left with nothing but
empty benches. Tn view of my former
| experience suppose l should congrat-
ulate you more particularly upon your
| promptness in answering your call to
| duty"
Mr. Walsh's speech was Of particular
| interest, because it was largely by his
| efforts that the handsome new fire sta
| ton, into which the department has
moved since last year, became a posi-
| bility. He said in part
| don't know of any act in my short
| experience in public life that I can LOOK
back upon with more pride, than the
| part took in bringing about the cree
| ton of the new fire station that adorns
our town, that bespeaks to strangers
within our midst our appreciation fol
the men who serve us in the hours OF
| danger.
The roll of membership is honoree
with the names of our most industrious
! and respected citizens The Office Of
fire engineer is always one sought after
! by the best type of citizenship, and in.
variably the appointing board has
deemed it Of the greatest Importance
that the best and only the best SHOULD
lead the firemen OF Clinton.
And here let me express wish thai
many Of us have cherished fol
some time-if we must have oul
political fights, if good demo
Gratis and good republicans mus
each year be arrayed against each
other. and sometimes good democrats
against good democrats, and good re-
publicans against good republicans, il
that condition must go on, it seems t.
me we ought to arise above party
affiliations and party loyalty and de
i votion, and say that there shall be nj
| politics in the management of that de.
| rartment into whose keeping and pro.
lection over five million or more dol.
lars of property is entrusted, and otter
| also the lives Of more than twelve
| thousand of our people.
| The speaker closed with a comparison
! between the fireman and the soldier, to
which his mind was attracted as fire
engine, to which firemen were clinging,
| dashed at breakneck speed through the
| streets of Boston, a few days ago, as
| the Twenty-sixth regiment was march
| ing out Of Boston.
Representative S. Ives Wallace was
next introduced. He said 1t was well
understood it was impossible to have a
! big fire here.
! G. l.. S. Hammond was introduced as
the Oldest chief engineer in Clinton. He
spoke briefly in terms of congratulation,
c. Frank Fairbanks said that it was
unfair of the chief to call him to his
feet, inasmuch as he had declined to
speak earlier in the day Mr.. Fairbanks
knew how to tell a good story, how
ever, and made an excellent speech
| just the same.
Meyor Plunkett of Marlboro. who
| looked very young to be a mayor, re-
! ceived a hearty greeting when he took
4 the floor Mayor Plunkett said he had
enjoyed every moment of his stay in
/ Clinton. He admired the efficiency OF
| the department, and thought 1t capable
/ of tackling any fires that might chance
| its way. Firemen were guardians OF
life Snd property Their responsibilities
| were great. Fifty dollars a year was
a paltry sum to pay a fireman of Clin-
! ton. No reasonable request that the
firemen make should be refused by any
town or city. In Marlboro the depart
4 merit was identical with the Clinton de-
| partment, though that was because
they had more work to do possibly.
Prof. w. r. Chandler, Hudson, sang
a sweet love song, that brought a
! thunderous encore.
Chief Babcock said he would like d
speech or a story from Attorney r r.
LarlSin. Mr.. Larkin said that Mr.. Chan
| dler'a song reminded him Of Shak-
spefefs saying, that He who had not
music in his soul was fit for treason !
| stratagems and spoils." He could not
but feel a pride as he looked over tho
mon here present. The fire department
was a source of pride to all who had
knowledge Of what such department
should be. The firemen volunteere5
their service, not for the $50 or s75. or
4 whatever they might get. but as pa
triots in the fullest sense Of the word
Chief Garside Of Hudson said thar MI
| the snecch king rinernhnrc 81 n.