Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-10

Feature-Warships m the Haroor. Stonngton and its fremen never had day quite like Saturday. Some of in uniforms of white, and still others in the regulation blue. all of them very patriotic in colors and in spirit, , marched through the streets of the borough for two hours during the af ternoon, and they made a splendid showing. They had a thousand laddies 1 in the long line. close to mile in length, that wound along through Stonington's elm-lined avenues. A dozen bands and some fife and drum corps besides furnished music, martial and otherwise, for the marchers It was a hot day. but they looked fit and fine as they came up through shady 1 Main street. past the reviewing stand on Wadawanuck park where sat the members of the centennial committee | and their guests of honor. The white uniforms and the gold braid of the of 1 ficers from the dotilla of torpedo boat destroyers that lie at anchor off the Point lent a naval touch to the scene. So did the scattering of United States sailors, on shore leave from the same craft, through the holiday making crowd that seemed to number, as It stretched out all along the line of the | fremens march, conservatively seven | or eight thousand people.
 Ovation for Marchers.
 It was a gathering that entered into the spirit of the thing just as heartily as the hremen did themselves The | throngs of onlookers waved their cen l tennial banners and cheered spontane-
 ously whenever their favorite company I came along. And every one of the 16 1 companies had their enthusiastic sup porters on the side lines. And every
 one of them deserved all the clapping and the cheering and the congratula- | t1ons that the crowd bestowed upon
 them. For it was the best appearing 1 and about the largest turnout that has year: It was a record breaking fire
 mems day.
 Morning Exercises.
 In the morning heavy clouds and, in some places, little hutter of rain gave that dull, heavy feeling to the
 committees and the prospective march, CTS. But by midforenoon the clouds Were rolling away, the sun was out. and there was nice breeze blowing | Tn out of the southwest. quite like that before which the English fleet came 1 1n to Stonington hundred years ago The hremen rejoiced, and so did ev- erybody. It turned out to a perfect day. which in itself has cen somewhat or rarity this summer a1ongshore More Stir Than Since 1914.
 Before noon the borough had begun to i'll up with the fire companies and With those who came along to see them in dress parade. From New Lon I don and Noank and Mystic they came l'oVer on special celebration train and
 similarly and about the same time did the Rhode Island men arrive. With i the companies came the bands, and by ! noon there was no dearth of drum and l trumpet in Stonington. There was more hustle in the borough than there 1 had been. perhaps, since the historic
 battle. People. too were pouring in 1 all the time, and trolIeys were packed and trains. too, from Westerly and the
 shore villages. Automobiles by the
 scores were parked around the out
 skirts, for traffic was closed along the
 line of parade after 1 o'clock.
 l Improve Vantage Points.
 Many of the people selected Wada l wanuck park as the likeliest place to ! see the fremen go by. Others lined
 up all up and down Main street, while q lot wandered around to watch the
 visitors gradually fall into line after
 they had had a preliminary lunch and
 refreshments at the houses of the
 the march was such that the ambitious
 could. see the boys" go by at least
 three times without undue exertioa q
 Many did so. It was worth 1t.
 The Parade Starts.
 At 3 o'clock Chief Ed P Teed sound. | ed the signal to start on the automatic
 signal system which blows the whis-
 ties at the velvet mill and at Atwood 8
 Before the blasts died away the column I was in motion. On three stout charg. CTS Major Hadlai A. Hull, chief mar
 shal. and his aides, Major Arthur N l Nash and Major Bourdon A. Babcock ] led the way. They had on the flame colofed shirts typical of the fire fighter
 and their appearance was imposing Then cam9 the blue-coated fire polio, of St6nington, Paweatuck and Wester- ly. Chief Engineer Teed of the bor-
 eugh fire department was aecompaniet
 tuck and Charles Dcnath of Mystic. II lone stalwaIt line marched abreast As.