Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-04-05
A VARIED CAREER.
"Old Sport" Campana Loved to Pose
 in the Lime Light.


 in the Lime Light.
 The announcement of the death of "Old Sport" as he was best known, will be of more than general interest to Waterbury and Bridgeport people, as for years Campana made his home in those cities, and earned much of his reputation there. The news will be of especial interest to the old members of the volunteer fire depart ment, for "Old Sport" was an ideal fireman of the old time type.
 Napoleon Campana was born in Virginia 70 years ago, and was one of three brothers. One of the broth CTS is the father of Patrolmen Peter and Charles Campana of Bridgeport.
 Napoleon Campana had made his way in the world since he was , years old, and his relatives did not see much of him after that. He cut good sized swath as he went along. His life would fill a good sized book. In fact, 1t was compiled many years ago by himself, and made mighty in- teresting reading.
 Campana went to Bridgeport just previous to the civil war. He had been member of the New York vol unteer fire department and he joined the old Guardian Hose company, which was located where the Franh Miller lumber yards are now. Later the company moved to. the site of the armory, and 1t changed it's name with it's location, and was known as Fountain Hose company, No 3, and its second moving was nearer to Bulls Head. "Old Sport" became it's foreman. He lived in Bridgeport un- til about twenty-one years ago.
 In those days "Old Sport" filled considerable space in the public press. He was a famous athlete. As runner he was the envy of his fel- low men, or rather of his brother firemen. With his agility he was a9 strong as a bull. He made his iiv- ing as fruit yender, and made more money than any of the store keepers. He was prime favorite and his breezy manner attracted trade. 1t used to be said that people bought of him not because they wanted his goods, but for the sake of buying from him. His money came easy, and it left him in the same way. It was impossible for him to save a cent.
 "Old Sport" loved to be In the center of the lime light. He was the atric to a high degree. and was fond of the sensational. At all fires he was always doing the greatest sort of daring stunts. At the big Wheeler & Wilcox fire he covered himself with glory, and got his name in the papers. At another fire In Water street he rushed in where angels dare not tread and emerged from the blazing house with his coat all on fire. Again he got his name in the papers. In fact at every fire he always doing something for the love of the thing. but he did dearly love to be the most conspicuous man of all present.
 Perhaps "old Sport" earned as much of a reputation for stopping runaways as he did as fireman. He was always stopping runaways. One conspicuous case brought out such favorable comment in the press where he had stopped runaway team and saved the life of woman and child, that testimonial ball was given in his honor at Franklin hall, and a handsome turnout was given him. The ball was patronized by the best people in the city and was a grand financial success.
 With all his love for the sensa- tional. he had the pluck to back Il up. If a man was abusing horse or A dog and "Old Sport" saw 1t, the man would have to be better man than Campana or take licking, and generally he took the latter. And when the affair was told in public print '.old Sport" was there to tell his version. He was a good friend to the newspaper men. :.
 campana's record as a runner and a walker is an old story. He some times afforded as much fun as sport for sll concerned. Al the time or the Centennial exposition at Philadelphia the citizens of the city presented hiil a turnout, which he called the "Ciu- zens' Own" and with this turnout he vent to Philadelphia and added to hts life story. Before he left Phila- deInhIa he was as much Of a person age there as the editor of the Ledger He made a pile of money as vender there, and spent U all.
 After the exposition he returned sa Brsdeeport. Later he came to Waterbury. but went back to Bridge uort. Then he went to Chicago to i've. He did not cut 90 conspicuous a figure there as he did around here He rss getting . bit old. and the xport ta his blood vas ebbiRg rapid .fv. Occasionally he revisited his friends ia the east
 He vas an intense admirer of the big men prominent ia sports. and his body uas tzttooed vith Hkeresses Of Iohn l.. Sullivan Nike Kelly. the bau player. and others
 sOld Sport did not sssocists vita ris relatives He uss a rather wild felioN. free and easy. a great spen6- CT s.d a great money maker He uzs fhe odd oee of the fsmiIy-
 John Csmrzns. ess of his broth |ers. played ball ca the old Water bary professional team .0f Sport