The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-22

A firemen's muster is perhaps a good
thing in it's way.
1t affords quick market for mori-
bund fruit passe pies. crust-encased
doughnuts and musty peanuts. and 1t
provides an opportunity for the red
shirted brigade TO display itself to the
best possible advantage for the ad-
miration of bucolic crowds; but 1t has
its bad features and some OF these
have been pretty forcibly shown up
during the last two weeks.
Memorial day was an eventful one In
the history OF the town Of Cranston.
which affords resting place for three
hand engines. the property OF as
many volunteer companies~-and on that
day the red -shirted brigade, sans few
from the Arlington district. who got
huffy and wouldn't parade with the
gang packed up the entire outfit and
took II to Natick, where muster was
scheduled TO be held.
When the sun was setting In the west
its last fiickering rays shone upon three
very proud companies. for Cranston
had captured every prize.
But while the volunteers were away
from home fire had broken out, which
destroyed one house and almost an
other. and Providence had sent over
the line a steam fire engine, which had
saved the day and incidentally much
property.
NEEDED AT HOME.
After the steamer had been sent to
Cranston an alarm was rung In FOR
slight fire near that engine house and
another company, Hook and Ladder,
No. 5, had TO answer IL.
At the moment of departure from the
house. Hook and Ladder No. met with
a mishap the truck bucbed into the
door-frame. and Capt. Johnson re-
ceived injuries from which he died.
Had the steamer been in its proper
place still alarm would have ans
wered all purposes. and there would
have been no occasion to call out the
ladder truck.
Cant Johnson's funeral was held
Wednesday of this week. and yesterday
the Cranston volunteers visited BriStoi
on another squirt" expedition.
Again there was a fire in the town
and once more there was no home ap-
paratus available,
The handsome residence erected by
Amos w. Palmer. and which had been
refurnished and was occupied Tor the
first day, caught fire from some un-
known cause and. but for the prompt
telephone call made by neighbor. tina
house would have been destroyed: the
damage. done was OF tne eNttnl vi GOWN
Chief Steere and the fire comm ssion-
ers supposed that the call came from
the Pawtuxet fire company. the MEM
bers OF which had found themselves ur-
able to cope with the flames. and acting
upon that theory they sent Engine Co.
M. IS over the line and excellent re-
suits attended the work of the city's
detail. r.....'
Edgewood district in Cranston. IS.
Theoretically guarded by the Pawtuxet
hand-enGne company. which at that
time was valiantiy pumping water at
Bristol. ard for record.
ALMOST UNPROTECTED.
THIS was the situation in Providence
at that hour: the cfty's only protection
for the extensive residential district
designated as Washington park, was En-
gine Co. No. Is. for the maintenance OF
which the taxpayers chip In total or
$4,000 a year.
An alarm came In from box 433. slit
uated at Willard avenue and Gay
street. and this called out Engine Co.
TO-. the 1873 from Central street and the
lis from Oakland street. in Elmwood.
In fine had there two minutes later
been an alarm from a box at Washing
ton Park. or in Eimwood district. both
districts would have been in pretty