The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-06-15
MARYLAND STATE FIREMEN'S ASS0cIA-
TON.
Ninth Annual Convention Held in West
minister imposing Parade-Reel Races,
&c.-ElectiOn OF Officers.

ideal June weather prevailed during tn,
Ninth Annual Convention of the Maryland
State Firemen's Association, in this city, Oh
Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday wa.
clear in the morning, hazy in the afternoon
Thursday was cloudy, with fine breeze sir
ring. An hour after the contests were owe
on Thursday, rain set in. The attendance
OF fremen and spectators was not as large as
when the Association met here two years ago
but the weather was not as hot as III 1899, and
the parade was far more imposing and heauti
full. Two years ago, it will be remembered
the procession became divided and absolutely
disbanded before going over the route.
Westminster was gay with bunting anC
flags. The decorating began on Monday anC
was completed on Wednesday morning, wher
the city presented gala appearance. The
most elaborate decorations were in the centre
of the city, from Odd Fellows Hall to Johr
street.
The great parade took place on Wednesday
afternoon, the route being about four miles
Only one fireman had to drop out of line dur
ing the long and hot march, except one o
the Junior Fire Companies of Westminster
who went about half the distance. The bands
and drum corps were liberal in playing, and
the parade was the prettiest Westminster ha:
had for some years. During the parade the
Homecoming, Pottsiown, Alexandra, Union
Bridge and McSherrystown companies fire.
quently gave exhibitions Of drilling, which
were greatly admired by the throngs thai
lined the streets.
The parade was in four divisions, with Jno
Milton Reifsnider as chief marshal. Frank
K. Cunningham was chief of staff, and the
aids numbered more than twenty The mar
shall and aids were all splendidly mounted
and were very pretty feature OF the parade.
In the first division were mounted police
men, the chief marshal and aides, presidents,
ex presidents and other officers of the Asso
citation; the Mayor and Common Council o.
Westminster and invited guests, in carriages
Company Fl, First Regiment. NJ. N. g., Capt
John F. Auer in command; Westminster Fire
Department, No. /; Junior Fire Company
No. 1, and Junior Fire Company. No. 2,
Westminster, marshaled by Noah Schaeffer
on pony.
Second Divsion-Eph. Haines, assistant
marshal and aides. Union Bridge Fire Com
pany, Union Bridge; Veteran Volunteer Com
pany, Baltimore; Sons of Veteran Volunteer
Company, Baltimore; Waterwitch Hook anC
Ladder Company. Annapolis; Independer
Hose Company, No. 1, Frederick.
Third Divsion-Percy 81. Shriver. assistant
marshal, and aides Taneytown Fire Com
pany, Taneytown; United Steam Engine Com
pany No. Frederick; Rescue Hose Company
No. 8, Annapolis; Good Will Fire Company
Homecoming, and Hose Company No. IL, Nc
Sherrystown, Pa; McSherrystown Steam Fire
Engine and Hose Company No. II, McSher-
rystown, Pa.
Fourth Division-Lee G. Leister, assistant
marshal, and aides. Hampstead Fire Com
pany, Ham pstead Cumberland HoseCompany
Cumberland; Junior Hose Company No. 2
Frederick; Columbia Steam Fire Engine Com
pany No. 4, Alexandria, Va; Philadelphia
Fire Company No. l, Pottstown.
About 800 men were in line. In the pro-
cession were bands from McSherrystown, Pa.
Frederick, Alexandria, Va, Westminster
Double Pipe Creek, Mt. Pleasant, Taneytowr
and Hampstead, In addition, there were drum
corps from Poltstown, Pa, Westminster, ant
several others. Most of the bands had more
than twenty pieces, and several of the drum
corps were large. The Mt. Pleasant Banc
was with Cumberland company and tht
Double Pipe Creek Band with the Union
Bridge company.
The procession started at the Fire Depart
ment Building, moved west to Union street
to Pennsylvania avenue, thence east to Man
street, to Washington avenue, to Green, then
west on Green to Belle Grove Square, where
the procession QlSDanueu.
On Thursday morning the Hook and Lad
der contests took place, on Main street, be
tween Court and Church streets, which were
viewed by large crowd. There were bu
three entries, all from Frederick These
companies do not dwell together i'll pertec
UNITY, and they ran for blood as well as iht
purses. Dr. George Z. Baughman was thu
starter and JOS w. Smith, DR.. Luther Stitel.
and VIM. o. Oursler the judges The rul
was 800 yards, and the United won, time 81 q
seconds; the Juniors were second, time b
seconds; the Independents third, time 551
seconds. The companies were quite event.
matched There was only three hfths OF ;
second between the United and the Juniors
and the Independents were less than three
seconds behind the winners. The prizes were
$50 and $25.
Reel races and drilling contests were helt
on Thursday afternoon, on Pennsylvania
avenue. Only the three Frederick companie
entered the reel races. The Juniors were
disqualified for picking up nozzle after drop
ping it. The run was 200 yards. The indie
pendents took first prize $50, time 48b sec
time 81 As seconds. The judges were thu
same as in the hook and ladder contests.
Ia the drill contests were three entries, lhi
United of Frederick, McSherrystown anC
Taneytown companies. The prizes were So
and $25 and the judges were Capt. John +
Auer and Lieut.. A. S. Babylon of Compan.
II, LIST Regiment, NJ. N. G., and W. R. Straw
of Union Bridge. The drilling was excellent
The first prize was awarded to the United an'
the second to McSherrystown. The latte
company was awarded prize of S25 for hav
ing the largest number of men, includin;
band, in the parade. and for general neat ap
pearance
The Firemen's convention was held at tn
High School Building. The first session wa
held Wednesday night and was opened witt
prayer by Rev. DIR. j. A. Price, OF Gentleman.
Methodist Episcopal Church. An address o
welcome was made by B. +. Grouse, to whlcl
the president, Augustus j. Albert, OF Balti
more, responded. Addresses were made b.
Michael E. Walsh and DR.. Joshua w. Herring
of Westminster and State Fire Marsha
Price. Reports on various matters were rea'
and adopted. The second session was helC
Thursday morning, when it was decided II
hold the next convention at Homecoming
John II. Cunningham. of Westminster, wa
elected President; John Stuckert, of Balli
more, Senior Vice President; Fl. K. Heck, o
Frederick, Treasurer, and William Nj. Grim
MINIS, of Frederick, Secretary.
Notes.
The best of order prevailed during the meet
ing, and the conduct of the firemen especial
was above criticism They were out for
good time, as many of them never go ava
from home except to attend the annual re
unions of the 6remen, and they had lot o
fun to their own satisfaction in footing horns
singing, &C., and to the amusement of tn
people.
Among the firemen in the parade on Wed
nesday was c. E. Dudley, veteran of tn
Potomac Hose Company, of Georgetown, d
C. He was with the Alexandra, Va. com
pany and attracted attention by his venerable
appearance, but he held his place in line "A
well as the youngsters.
Two Baltimore sports, giving their names
as John Gibhon and William Wilson, were ar
rested Wednesday, upon charge of swind
ling Arthur Kreiling, of Froslburg, with som'
gambling device. They were given hearing
before Justice Moore Wilson was discharged
and Gibbon was required to give bail in th'
sum of $50. 90 for the action of the grand jury
Thos Maher, of Baltimore, Gibbons brother
in-law, went his bail.
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