The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-06-14

had 10 run to catch the train to be in
time for the parade.
They did all right, for before train
time they were called on to e~xtinguish
a fire which came within an ace of
burning a bakery in their native town
to the ground. They wore a cream-col-
ored blouse and white duck trousers.
They were headed by the famous Lam
craft Band, which was dressed in con-
tinental uniforms, which recalled the
days of the Revolution.
Everybody noticed Edward A. Major
with his gray locks seated on the lit
tie white truck with the year 1888 on
it. on the first division. 1t was the
property of the Exempt Association of
Volunteer Firemen, of Hackettstown,
n. J..
w used it until 1885, said the vet
eran, then they gave us a double
decker. Mr.. Major was the foreman
Of the first fire department ever or
ganized in Hackettstown.
Great credit is due the little town of
Railway, for it's turnout was one of the
finest in the procession. They headed
the third division. Following the band
came the forty-eight ~ex-chiefs, with
A1cS5 uhfLOTtIlS VI Dtut anu fltlIlleLSs anu
they were followed by the old Wash
ington Engine Engine No. u. which
was used in Railway back in 1S4S. II
was drawn BY 100 stalwart firemen
with blue trousers and red blouses.
Seated in an open barouche were Harry
Simmons, so years old. and eBnjamin
Hughes, II years old, two of Railways
oldest exempts.
The Veteran Volunteer Firemen's
Association of Jersey City, with sixty
old-timers in line, were the feature Of
the fifth division. With their khaki
trousers and long coats and helmets
and evidence of age, they marched like
recruits. They boosted of having the
Oldest truck in the country. tt was
dated 1749. Said Patrick O'Neil, who
just passed his SEVENTEEN birthday.
I'VE have no kindergarten men in our
ranks, as you see; they are all ancient
relics" Edward O'Donnell was at the
head of the ranks of the delegation.
Their truck took the flag at the cele-
bration in Elizabeth some time ago.
Everything was in readiness for the
mammoth parade at 1870 p. m, but
there was delay at the start, due to the
late arrival of some visiting companies.
During the morning the streets were
filled with the arriving delegations of
exempts from New England, Pennsyl-
vania, New York and most of the cities
and towns in New Jersey which boast
fire departments, These delegations.
some Of them 500 strong, were led by
bands and fife and drum corps and
martial music was in the air most of
the time. They were met by members
of the reception committee of the local
association and piloted to the various
headquarters in the city. Many oi the
visiting exempts brought pieces of the
quaint apparatus of a half-century
ago.
1t was early apparent that the pro-
phecy of Charles Z. McCraith, presi-
dent of the local association, that IF
the weather is favorable we will have
the largest parade bremen have held
since the days when the old volunteer
hremen dragged their hand engines,
trucks and hose carts to fires would
be fulfilled. In almost every instance
larger delegations than were promised
reached Newark from other cities
Lin of March Decorated.
Owing to the fortunate fact that this
Is Flag Day the line of march at dawn
was gay and festive with red, white
and blue clouds of bunting and innu-
merable flags covering the facades of
buildings in the business and residen-
tial sections.
lad the weather been made to order
for the occasion n delivered on APP
prevail il could not have been more
ideally suited for its purpose. The
SUMS rays were tempered by a COO
and gentle breeze and there was no
threat in the feecy clouds which
patched the azure of the sky.
Members OF the committee of the
Newark Exempt Firemen's Association
in charge of the arrangements for the
parade had their hands full since
late Saturday night receiving the Wis
iting companies and associations and
experimenting their entertainment al
the various headquarters.
Phoenix Engine No. l of New Bruins,
wick drawn by three horses reached
Newark yesterday morning. The Ions
Branch automobile wagon arrived yes
terday after a trip which was made in
two hours and was put up in the house
of Engine Company No. 2 in Centre
street.
Visiting Companies.
Among the other companies which ar