The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-26
Take Place at the Capitol at 2o'CIock
and Ladies Invited.
TOATTEND DECATUR LAUNCHING
Complimentary Performance at the
Casino This Afternoon to Be Fol
lowed by Business Session 70
Night-The Parade and tho
Band Contest To-HIor-
rows Features.

The Virginia State F:remen's Association
will be convened in its fourteenth annual
session in the hall of the House of Dele
gates of the State this afternoon at
O'Clock sharp. It promises to be the
largest and most important meeting the
organization has ever held, The first
company to arrive was the Lexington
Fire Company. twenty-four strong. which
got in yesterday evening. There were also
several ladies in the party, Other organ
izations came in during the night, and it
is expected that BY noon to-day fully 2,5o0
strangers viii be here 10 participate in the
festivities incident to the convention.
The body will be called to order by
Captain John II. Redwood, president of The
Association and chairman of the Commit
tee of Arrangements. Prayer will then be
offered by Rev. Mr. Morgan, OF the Ses-
enth-Street Christian Church. Following
the invocation President Redwood VIII
present the Governor of Virginia, VINO VIII
make the address Of welcome on oehalf
of the State. Governor Tyler Will be re
sponded TO by Colonel r. {. Marshall, one
Of the most distinguished orators in the
Commonwealth. Mayor Richard NJ. Tay-
,or will then welcome the visitors on be-
half of the city. and appropriate responses
will he made to him. Other brief speeches
will follow.
ATTEND THE LAUNCHING.
Prior TO the exercises at the Capitol the
visiting fremen vii! attend the launching
If the torpedo-boat destroyer Decatur at
the yards of the Trigs Shpbuildins Com
pany by special invitation. This brilliant
function VIII take place at 1 o'clock this
afternoon, and the firemen will attend IN
lividually, and not in bodies.
AS soon as the formal exercises at the
Capitol are over the visitors viii go to the
Casino. where a complimentary perform
ance rendered by the local committee Of
arrangements will be given.
At I o'clock this evening Chambers
Steam Fire Engine Company, No. ., OF
Portsmouth. Va, accompanied by the
National Soldiers Home Band, will pro
ceed in a body to the Governors Man
sion, where Governor Tyler will be
serenaded, and, after this, a complimentary
concert will be rendered the people Of
Richmond by this band, under the auspices
of the Portsmouth company, in the Capt.
tol Square,
There will also be band concert at
Chimboraz0e Park Tonight, and possibly
concerts at other points throughout the
city.
The convention will assemble at $50
o'clock tonight at the hall of the House
Of Delegates for the transaction of bust
ness.
PARADE AND BAND CONTEST.
Tomorrow will be the big day of the
week. 1t will embrace the great parade.
lunch at the Auditorium for the firemen
and lunch at Lakeside Park for the ladies.
At night the band contest and ball will
take place Ten bands have already en-
tered the contest for the handsome prizes
offered, and a special invitation has
been extended to the superb Philadelphia
band to be here to be present also In ad
iition to these features the boys of the
Richmond Male Orphan Asylum will give
a cake-walk.
The bands to take part in the contest at
the Auditorium tomorrow are:
The Soldiers Home Band, of Hampton:
the Artillery Band, of Old Point: Iardellas
Band Of Richmond; the S. a. L. Band, of
Portsmouth: the Phoebus Band; bands
from Suffolk, Roanoke, Winchester and
Philadelphia, the last band numbering So
pieces.
The Philadelphia Veteran Association
VIII reach here at 1850 O'Clock this
morning. and the Portsmouth firemen, ac-
companied by the Soldiers Home Band,
the Old Point Band and the S. a. l..
Band will reach here at o'clock over the
s. a L. Road. This party will number
about AGO people.
The committee unanimously decided TO
hold thu great Band Contest at the Audi
torium on Thursday. mig hi, Immediately af
ter which a grand ball will be given and