The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-12
GATHERING Of THE
FIGHTERS OF FIRE
| he Great Tournament Begins
at Durham Today.
ASSOCIATION IN SESSION
From FIfy-fiye to Sky Companies Represented
---EIsc ion Of Office ars---The Water Works
Association, Also Chiefs ofPolice
TO Meet.
(Special to News and Observer

Especial to News and Observer)
Durham, N. c., Aug. 1.-THE sixteenth
annual session of the North Carolina Fire
mems Association convened here today
and tomorrow the annual tournament will
be on. The tournament will last for two
days.
The convention was called to order this
morning at 1870 o'clock by President
James ID. Mcneil. of Fayetteville, who
called upon Rev r. c. Beaman, pastor of
Trinity Methodist church, Durham to lead
III prayer On the rostrum at the time
were quite a number, among whom We're
the following: Mayor j. F. Freeland, AL
derman T. b. Fuller, Q. Z. Rawls, L. G..
Cole, W. H. Proctor, j. d. Pridgen and
S. r. Perry, Rev. r. G. Beaman, Mr.. j.
S. Manning, and Col. Julian S. Carr, all
of this city; Mr.. T. A. Green, treasurer
of the association, of New Bern; Mayor
A. H. Boyden, of Salisbury; Mayor
George E. Hood, of Goldsboro; Assistant
Chief Louis Behrens, of Charleston, S. c.,
and number of others.
President Mcneil introduced to the
large audience of men and ladies Mayor
j. F. Freeland, who in turn introduce I
Mr.. James S. Manning, who delivered the
address of welcome. His welcome was
hearty and TO the point He spoke very
highly of the firemen of the State, say
ing that he felt like taking his hat off
when he saw them rushing to a fire, and
referred to the great growth of Durham.
The address was responded to by Mayor
A. II. Boyden, of Salisbury; Mayor
George E Hood, of Goldsboro; Rev Mr..
Williams, of Elizabeth City, and President
Mcneil himself. All of the responses
were enthusiastically applauded, and they
spoke OF the royal welcome that the people
of Durham had extended and the great
style in which the visiting fire fighters
were being entertained.
After these talks the convention organ
ized by the appointment of a committee
of credentials. This committee was com
posed the following: Mr. C. c. Copper,
OF Rocky Mount; Mr. j. M. Julian, of
Salisbury; Mr. j. Frank Maddry of Dur
ham; Mr.. w. F. Richardson of New
Bern; Mr.. F c. Manning of Salem; Mr..
w. w. Woollcott, of Raleigh; Mr.. Charles
Schnibbens, of Wilmington
No business was transacted at the morn
ing session with the exception of the ap-
polntment of this committee and then ad-
journment was taken until this afternoon
at 2 o'clock.
The first business this afternoon was the
report of the committee on credentials.
The report showed that there were forty
nine companies represented at that time.
' hn,s
but the credentials were not presented
this morning. There will be total of
from fifty five to sixty companies repre-
sented. In the list so far presented are
four new companies, as follows: Lyon
company, of Sanford Independent No. g
of Salisbury Chapel Hill company, of
Chapel Hill; and North Side company No
1, of Salisbury
During the afternoon the time of the
convention was devoted to the regular
business of the firemen and tonight the
officers were elected.
1t is impossible to tell just how many
firemen or how many pieces of apparatus
are in the city. Every train is bringing
IN new delegations and by tomorrow the
city will be crowded. 1t looks now as if
Tue HuuiDeF OF cOnIeStlng teams Will be
the largest in the history of the State.
The Water Works Association convened
this morning Immediately after the fire
convention went into session. This was
presided over by President j. C. Niche
of this city. There is large attendance
and the meeting is all that was expected
OF IT. This was also in session this af.
ternoon and night and officers for the en-
SUNG term were elected
There are a number of chiefs of nol;ca
IN the city and they will hold a meetino
tomorrow morning. at which time officers
VIII be elected and an organization effect. |
ed. This movement is being pushed nv
Chef Woodall, of this city, and this is his
tnfd effort to organize the police of the
State.
All three OF these organizations will ioin
tomorrow IN the parade and It will he
very long and pretty. 1t will move off a.
O'Clock and it is thought now that two
hours VIII be reuired to make the parade