The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-20
FIREMEN'S ANNUAL BALL
1T WAS PRECEDED BY A UNIQUE
ENTERTAINMENT.
Several Thousand People in the
Crowd at TOmlinson HaIl-The
Programme.

Members of the Indianapolis fire depart
ment were gratified last night as they saw
the multitudes pushing their way into Tom
linson Hall to attend the twelfth annual
concert and ball for the benefit of the fire.
mems pension fund. When the doors
opened at o'clock there was long line
of people eager to get seats of vantage in
side. The ticket takers at the head of the
first stairs were kept busy grabbing past
boards as the hundreds rushed by. The
influx continued until $3.50 o'clock. BY that
time the immense hall was thronged with
men, women and boys, pushing their way
hither and thither as they espied their
friends in different parts of the hall. The
early arrivals made great haste to get into
the gallery and balcony and these places
were quickly filled. Later arrivals were
content to sit on the sides of the main
floor, while 2,O00 stood in the center of
the auditorium.
The hall committee exercised great taste
in the decorations and the arrangements
between the concert and beginning of the
dance. The hall was beautifully decorated.
Long steamers of bunting depended from
the balcony and at intervals were tied in
rosettes. The stage was also decorated.
Three large American flags were draped
from the top of the stage and made pretty
frame for the improvised engine house
built in the middle of the stage. This was
kept hidden during the first part of the
programme by large dark curtain that
covered the entire width of the stage. Extra
electric lights had been placed in the hall
and the interior was brilliant.
1t was announced that the concert pro-
gramme would begin at o'clock. On ac-
Of he
the opening of the concert was delayed.
When the Military Band of forty pieces
played the overture silence fell. Follow
ing the overture the first number by the
Firemens Glee Club was given. The club
is composed of Simeon c. Hoyl, William "A.
Rusie Herman Frey, William Grady, Sam
mel. Oscar Stehlin, Charles o. Whaley.
Thomas Doyle, William c. Stiegelmeyer
and A. Z. Vincent. j. Fremont Frey is
director The club sang ION, Gallant Com
pany" and its work was so fully appre-
ciated that the members were forced to
respond to several encores. Prof. George
Hebble, blind pianist, gave a piano solo,
and 20 Restless Sea" was sung by Mrs.
Ferdinand A. Hallerman. ]. Fremont Frey
and George E. Schmtt.
AN INTERESTING FEATURE.
The feature of the concert programme
was the reproduction Of fire crew get
ting ready to answer an alarm. When the
great curtain rolled aside showing the in
terror of the engine house it was a revela-
ton to many in the audience. The engine
house was a two-story structure showing
the interior of the sleeping rooms above
stairs, the hose wagon, fire bell and the
crowd of men sitting around playing domi-
noes on the lower floor. Suddenly the fire
gong was heard. This was followed by an
other. and as quiet was restored the beats
OF the gong told that Box 40 was being
rung in. When the first tap sounded the
four men above stairs rolled off their beds
and slid to the floor below. They were at
tired in blue trousers and white shirts.
When they reached the first floor they lost
no time in pulling on their rubber clothes,
while other members of the crew hitched a
fine sorrel horse to the hose wagon. The
gong kept ringing In the alarm, and when
all was ready for the start the captain, in
stentorian voice, said that the company
did not respond TO that box. While this
was in progress Tom the dog from head
quarters, was impatiently jumping about
ready to follow the wagon to the fire.
When the fremen had fully explained by
their alert actions how they get to a fire
the Glee Club rendered a song commemo-
rating the Bowen-Merrill fire of March IL.
1890. This was followed by a defamation
by Herman Frey, of No IL, telling the story
of the fire. The act was concluded by the
singing of other verses dedicated to that
fire. The concert closed with the singing
of another number by the Glee Club.
AT the conclusion of the concert it was
estimated that 1.5OO people left the hall
The floor was cleared of chairs, and ar,
rangements made for starting the grand
march. Mayor Charles A. Bookwalter
| with Mrs. Thomas Barrett, wife of Assist
ant Chief Barrett, led the march. They
were followed by Captain Simeon Hoyl and
| Mrs. Hoyl and Bert Swiggett and Miss
| Emma Baaze. The grand march continued
| uninterrupted until it had made one cir
cult of the hall. The great crowd on the
| lower floor was then augmented by many
| from the balcony In short time the
marchers were lost in the crowd, which
was of such dimensions that il was with
| the greatest difficulty that dancing could
be INDUCED in.
During the intermission, from 11:30 tC
| 1890 o'clock, luncheon was served In the
east corridor by the wives of the firemen.