Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-09-06
ON PARADE AT
ASBURY PARK
Over 70 Companies in Line
at Big Pageant.

Asbury Park, Sept. 6:-Seventy
New Jersey fire companies arrived
yesterday with apparatus ranging
from automobile trucks with ladders
raised by gasoline power to tubs that
had to be handled lmost tenderly.
They paraded the streets all day
with twenty-five bands. About 5000
fremen were here, to remain until
Saturday. Today Edward F. Croker,
former fire chief of New York City,
will be chief judge of the tourna-
ment on the ocean front.
The truck of the Goodwill Fire
Company, of this city, was draped in
mourning in the procession, as a
member, James van B~enscoten, lost
his life while running to his engine
house In answer to a false alarm.
He stumbled and his head struck a
telegraph pole. His neck was broken.
Members of the company are assist
Ing the police in an endeavor to find
out who turned in the false alarm.
The parade was more than two
miles long and 1T took just al hour
to pass. In the place of honor was
the Association Of Exempt Firemen
of Newark, with fifteen men in line.
Matawan, which headed the second
division, had the most men in line
outside Of Asbury Park. They made
a fine appearance in their new uni
forms. Keyport was next with the
number of men. South Amboy,
Woodbridge and Jamesburg also
made fine showings.
Mantell Company Wins.
When the last company fell into
line at Asbury avenu and Main
street, where 1t formed, the head Of
the column was in Main avenue,
Ocean Grove, having passed down
Main street, Acbury Park, to Broad
way, Ocean Grove, along that thor
oughfare its full length, and south
again to Main emit
Thousands of persons Eel massed
along the entire line of march. The
weather had cleared up and was
fine. There was brilliant September
sunshine and a land breeze that car
ried with 1T the first dry atmosphere
Asbury Park residents have had In
days. The change put the thousands
Of sightseers In the best of spirits.
Yesterday afternoon and evening
the iremen we're all around town,
closing the streets from curb to curb,
and following the lead of their bands
in making a general din.
Several pieces Of apparatus In the
parade were decorated handsomely.
BY common consent the palm was
given to the engine of the Robert b.
Mantell Company, of Atlantic High
lands. 1t was almost completely
crusted with red paper roses of a
deep shade, and the flremen wore
brilliant red uniforms Of the same
color.
Giant Among the Paraders.
Vought Burke, the Englishtown
GIANT probably attracted more at
tention than any other person IN the
parade. Burke, who is well known
here because James A. Bradley con-
tributed his services to he board
walk police force a few years ago. IS
six feet, ten inches tall. He used
this extreme height yesterday to
carry off an 'Uncle Sam" costume.
He paraded with the Wesley Engine
and Hose Company of this city.
In the lille of march were ten au-
tomobiie fret ghtdng machines. Three
were from the Ocean Grove FIRE
Company. The parade was led by
Chief of Police William H. Smith, OF
Asbury Park, and a squad OF officers.
Behind them came Milan Ross, the
grand marshal, mounted. Harry A.
Borden, president of the Firemen's
Parade Association, and Colonel
John w. Aymar, general director OF
the parade, who sat in an automo-
bile. Other mounted aides we're
Michael E. Sexton, DR.. A. M. Apple
gate, Benjamin L. Smock, T. Herman
3sgringer, Assemblyman Leon Tay-
Tor, j. Otto Rhome, Erwin Sexton and
James d. Carton.