Connecticut western news., 1915-07-08
TOURNAMENT WAS " A GREAT SUCCESS
NEARLY 4,o00 FIREMEN AND VISITORS ON STREETS
Record Breaking Crowds in Spite of Heavy Morning Ran---Fne Parade Through Principal Streets--In- terestng Athletic Events--Inspiring Music--Gor- geous Decorations Elicit General Admiration.

Hose CO. NO. l, ulSclOSeu petty jealous streak, Monday morning, and played scurvy prank upon rival az gregation of mortal nozzle-men and other fire extinguishers, by turning on the water i'll drenching flood, with the self-evident purpose of interfering with the success of the annual tOurna- ment of the Harlem Valley Firemen's Association, for which long and elabor- ate preparation had been made. Prac- tically all the forenoon Chief Pluvius kept the hose turned on and while his squirting doubtless discouraged many people from coming long distances to witness the big event, it failed to dis hearten the firemen of the organization, who came from far and near, regardless of the wetting that was their portion; and to the credit of old Pluve, it must be recorded that when he became con- vinced that he couldn't break up the show, even with a wet blanket, he shut off the stream, at about. noon, and let the exercises proceed beneath a clear sky and in the genial warmth of an unclouded sun.
 It was dismal outlook that the eager firemen looked upon when they arose that morning. The heavy, low-hanging clonds gave plaIn warming of what they might expect, and followed up the warning by promptly delivering the goods It rained cats and dogs atjnter- vals, with pitchforks punctuating the intervals. But ill the face of the m promising conditions the boys of Can- aan Hose Company, whose turn it was to entertain the Association, went about the work of getting ready, with the same grim determination they show when they attack a fire, and with an ardor that could not be dampened by the rains.
 At an early hour the streets had already taken on unwonted activity and were being thronged with strangers, and as the morning passed the throngs grew into crowds and multitudes, en- livened by the gay colors of visiting firemen's and musicians uniforms. The morning trains and trolleys brought loads of visitors, and hundreds came by automobile touring cars and busses, and by wagon teams.
 The glorious and gaudy decorations that literally covered the fronts of the buildings about town attracted universal attention and elicited general admira- tion-and surely the old town never looked to gay before. Practically every resident had responded cordially to the suggestion that they decorate in honor of the event. Many arranged their own decoration of flags and bunting and a large number. employed the ex- pert representative of a Poughkeepsie decoration firm, who was busily engaged here for several days, and the result was a riot of red, white and blue, from curb to skyline, in graceful folds, drapings and festoonery. Amateur and professional photographers were here, there and everywhere, focusing and ,snap-shotting the gorgeous flag scape from every point and angle.
 The Winsted Military Band, the first musical organization te arrive, went out upon the upper balcony of the Hotel Canfeld and gave an enjoy able concert to enliven the time while the fire companies from abroad were arriving. Chief Marshal o. T. Vos- burgh and is aides, Cornish and Sam Hitchcock and Martin Buckbee, mount ed on their fiery steeds, pranced up and down the street as the companies arrived, directing their movements to the para:ie ground and arranging the lineup of the parade column.
 AS the hour for starting the parade drew near the people came into town thicker and faster. The crowds seemed to simply grow, like Topsy, and it was difficult to see where the people were coming from. Main street was lined, on both sides, with a surging, jostling multitude that grew denser every minute, and by 10:30, the time for forming the parade column, the village was filled with bigger throng than it had ever seen before. And still it rained and showed no sign of stopping, although the weather cheerfully predicted 8 sudden clearing-up that seemed as long way off as Tipperary But it came a little later, and the after noon was as clear and delightful as could be wished.
 While the visitors were arriving the local firemen circulated themselves among the crowds selling souvenir badges admitting to "all the privileges, " and official programs" and many hundreds of these were disposed of.
 The Norfolk automobile Chemical engine and auto supply wagon attracted considerable admiring attention as they