Evening journal., 1910-10-07
ExceTed Anything fhe City
Ever Has Had As a
Spectacular Production
City Had Noteworthy
Day and Night

Wilmington undoubtedly had one of
the greatest days, If not the great
est. in its history yesterday. Through
out the day and night the city was
hlled by the thousands of visitors, at
tracted by the firemen's parade the
most spectacular pageant the city
ever has had, and by an opportunity 20
visit the battleship Delaware, the
greatest warship in Uncle Sans Navy
to-day With the parade features and
the army Of visitors, everybody was
merry and had a good time. At night
Market street was brilliantly illumi-
mated, the flood Of lights so complete
ly Transforming the thoroughfare into
great white way that many persons
could be heard expressing a wish
that the street could be Illuminated
that way all the time as a municipal
feature. Altogether it was a most
noteworthy day. one that will not
soon be forgotten by those who saw
the parade or swarmed out to the bat
tleship Delaware or participated in
the gayety and merriment about the
city last night
The flag-draped reviewing stand in
front of City Hall was filled by 2
o'clock, and Market street in the vi
cinity was a solid mass of people.
When Governor Pennewill, accompan-
led by his staff in gorgeous gold
braided uniforms, and Captain Cove
and his escort of Delaware officers in
white duck suits and caps from the
battleship Delaware, together with
the women in the party, took up po-
sitions in the front of the reviewing
stand. the crowd cheered and cheer
ed again.
The crowd ITSELF a moving kaleido-
scope Of color, was sufficiently inter
esting to hold attention until the pa
rade came along. People hung out
OF windows and climbed telephone
poles. Everybody was wondering how
the parade would get through with
Market street solidly filled with peo-
pie, but Chief Black, with a detail
of police and volunteer helpers solv-
ed the problem by stretching a rope
across the street and gently hauling
people along In the improvised drag
net. Many mothers carried babies in
their arms for two OF three hours in
order to see the parade, and all the
youngsters had curbstone seats.
Chief Black was about the bust
est man in Wilmington, and one OF
the most admired no one present
wore a. uniform with better effect thar
the stalyart chief.
A great cheering and the sound of
band announced the arrival Of the
parade. There was a rush of pranc.
ing horses as marshsls, policemen
and fire department wagons passed
Chief Moran's magnificent horse rear.
ing I'm the air with excitement. The
parade was on. Playing bands
gorgeously uniformed and helmetet
companies, in red, blue, green, gre!
or white; veterans in carriages
splendid great fire-hOrses drawing
cleaning fire-apparatus, decorated
with flowers and ribbons; the Sta
Spangled Banner side by side viii
brightly-colored company flags: ant
the whole repeated by still other com
panies for the soul-satisfying time o
one hour and five minutes Il was
picture to engage the brush of grea
artist
Music a Feature.
It is doubtful if a parade ever hat
a greater abundance Of music, AM
this pleasant feature was a source o
pure bliss to the spectators, who hail
ed the appearance of each of the forty
three bands in line with great Joy
Sometimes 1t was possible TO hea
two bands at once, and there was
whole music-storeful of tunes played
everything from Onward Christia
Soldiers" or Boston Commander
March" to the latest popular two-steI
decorative flre-bells also furnishe
music.
Captain Cove and the battleship OF
fcers were 50 deeply interested in tn
marching men, that their interest wa
yisibly evident to the guests benin
them in the grandstand who coul
only see the back of their necks. A
each American flag was carried pas
the stand the hats of the governor an
his staff promptly came on, and th
white-gloved hands of the Delaware
officers went up TO their caps
salute. The governors hat was I'm hi
hand much of the time, returning tn
salutes of the companies. and b
mover failed TO thus pay honor to III
veteran iiremen.
The majority of the companies file
past the reviewing stand with hand
raised in salute, or with helmet
hand, in respect to the chief executiN
ID the state. An admirable featui
wn8 the evolution of several con
panies to bring them facing the granI
stand for a moment. when all hanC
were raised I'm salute. and then u
men went back 70 the usual forma1c
to continue the march.
Comparisons are impossible, whel
all marched with such soldierly pr
cision, and all uniforms were so stri
ingly effective. Among the companil
which called forth the greatest prail
from those watching. in regard
their fine marching we're the compaI
from Poughkeepsie. New York, in dal
blue uniforms with gray helmets, al
the Fame Company of West Cheste
in gray overcoats with gray caps.
number of younger members OF Il
Water Witch Company, who are forr
er West End Reading Room boy
= clad in the fireman's bright red shir
and carrying axes. passed the stand
the form of a maltese cross. The re
of the Water Witch Company Ike
their blue coats over the red. III
Minquas Company, of Newport. forI
ed a bright spot In the parade wi
their red shirts. The Good VIII Cor
pany of New Castle also stuck TO q
red and looked fine.
Old-FashiOned Apparatus.
The old-fashioned apparatus di
played was one of the most interes
ing features of the procession. It
Oldest Wilmington Company,
Friendship Fire Company, had vete
fha odd rod chof1Ie