Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-06-08
RAIN GREATLY INTERFERES
Bot 1t Does Not Dampen Enthus-
iasm of The Firemen at
The Annual State
Meeting.
DOUW ELECTED PRESIDENT.


Rain visited Hagerstown at the open.
ing of the Firemen Convention. ami
dampened everything but the enthu.
siasm of the fire laddieS. Firemen
do not mind water on the side, but
this water was TO right of them, left
of them, in front of them and above
them. They are used TO water in fight
ing fires. but this was an over dose.
The Hagerstown Mail saws the rain
toyed with the bunting, tangled the
tiags.it slipped the splendor OF the red
white and blue and when the furious
sun came out and drove the detestable
clouds away. much of the labor of the
days gone by was named Ichahod,
their glory is departed Bunting
dropped in all phases of agony from
utter despair TO colorless fiacidity. Ii
stopped. rained tears and visahly loafed
and lounged, was depressed. looked
like the ghost of last night.
The rain was one of those wheat
beating fervors that sinks the farmers
hearts aud makes fishermenswear :about
two yesterday a. IN. it simply pound
ed the earth, and the lightning PLAYED
about as il il had an engagement to
blow the whole circus TO flinders. But
the worst was done when it mussed up
some of the flags, hung the fire com.
pany remnants across the lines and
washed down some of the fimsy placed
up stuff in various places. Otherwise
the rain was good; it cleaned the
streets and cooled off the airfor it was
hot Tuesday night. phew, hot as a fire
mans dream after big FIRE
Everything III Hagerstown is wear
ing Maryland colors and the Annapo-
lis firemen are covered with them.
The local fire fighters say they are
having the time OF their lives and OK
pect TO bring home the president. Mr..
j. dePeyster DOW The Waterw Itch
boys marched in the fourth division.
The parade was in five divisions, Ha-
gerstown company being with each di-
vision. The chief marshal was Col
William Il. Lane. At the head of the
line were the officers of the Maryland
Firemen's Association, city officials,
general committee of arrangements.
twelve aged members, some of them
SO years old, of the First Hose Fire
Company, of Hagerstown; invited
guests, Chief Fire Marshal Charles A.
Spangler and assistant fire marshals,
all in carriages.
Annapolis sent seventy-five firemen
from the independent No. 2, Water
witch and Rescue Hose companies, re.
spectively. Among the former presi.
dents of the State Firemen Asso
citation entertained at dinner at the
Baldwin last night by President w.
u. Kerbin, of Snow Hill, was ex.
President =. e. Porter, of Annapolis.
The address of welcome last night was
delivered by Col Buchanan Schley.
President Kerbin, IN his annual re-
port, stated that more accidents had
befallen members of the association
the past year than the previous year.
The sum of $3.50 was paid out for &C
cident benefits, against $500 the year
previous. He said the scheduled
amount paid was far too small and
should be doubled. The association il
now composed of 43 companies. The
Midland. Skyesville and Goodwill
Company, Centreville, joined during
the year. Mr.. Kerbin Will recommend
to the Legislature an appropriation
of 81 600 every year, and will vote fOI
it if he is a member of the Legisla
ture, to be paid into the hands of the
treasurer regardless of contingencies.
-
Harry L. Levely, of Annapolis, was
acc opted. Westminster was selected
as the next place for holding the an.
nual convention.
MR. JOHN DE p. DoUw PRESIDENT
John de r. Douw,i of Annapolis,
was this morning unanimously elected
president of the State Firemen's As
ISOLATION. A special telergam to this
effect was received from the Annapo.
lis companies by the Evening Capital
at noon today. Last night Mr.. DOW
was nominated for president as was
Palmer Tenant, of Hagerstown. Mr..
Tenant later Withdrew and Mr..
Douw was unanimously elected. The
local firemen were all pledged to their
fellow townsman and are highly pleas
ed 10 have won the victory.
Mr.. Douw is an earnest worker in
the fire department, and is prominently
identified with all that interests An
napolis. He is the Democratic candi
date for Mayor and it is expected hC
will be nominated at the primaries
Saturday.