Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-03
|BELLS RING, SIRENS
WHINE AS F|REMEN
HOLD GALA PARADE
Smoke-Eaters of City and
Four Nearby States in
CoIorfuI Procession.
MANY BANDS IN LINE;
FLOATS ARE JUDGED
Other Events of City's Labor Day
Celebration to Follow
on Ellipse.

The changing of fire gongs and the
whine of sirens today furnished rous-
ing send-of to the National Capitals
spectacular celebration of Labor day.
Strikingly focusing public attention to
the workingmen who stand ready day
or night TO risk their lives in defense
, Of their feIlowmen, the doughty fire.
fighters Of Washington and four nearby
states went on parade this afternoon
down historic Pennsylvania avenue.
Defiant always of the weather, the
fremen ignored the early threats of
rain from overhanging clouds and
shortly after noon, sent their colorful
sageant of decorated apparatus and
marching men on its way along the
| flag -draped, spectator lined avenue
Evening Program Followa
I The lively music of bands Of the
F., Army. Navy, Marine Corps and private
| organizations joined with the cadence
/ of drum and bugle corps IN concerted
! attempt to drown the din created By
| ing bells and vociferous volunteers. The
/ effort was voted huge success by the
/ thousands of men, women and children
who came to view the city's sixth an
nual firemen's jubilee.
! Five-score fire companies from the
| District of Columbia, Maryland, VIr-
einia, Pennsylvania and West Virginia
/ were scheduled TO take part In the days
/ festivities, the program of which called
| for a drum corps contest on the El-
| lipse Immediately after the parade,
/ baby carriage procession on the south
| driveway of the EllipSe at 4:30 O'Clock
/ for gold prizes donated by The Evening
/ Star "firefghting and comedy show"
at 6:45 O'Clock and a Mardi Gras cele-
/ bration on the EllipSe at O'Clock this
| evening. All of the later events de-
pended on favorable weather conditions.
I however
/ All of the Fire Department floats and
about Sc decorated business floats were
! 70 be Judged by a special board OF
! awards" which reviewed the parade
from q stand at Fifteenth street and
! PENNSYLVANIA avenue Heading this
| Jury was DR.. Frank Z. Gibson, chairman.
and assisting him were more than half
hundred prominent citizens. The
prizes ranged from gold pieces to mer-
/ ehandise, donated by scores Of citizens,
/ organizations and business firms.
An Traffic Halted.
All street car and vehicuiar traffic OF
Pennsylvania avenue was halted at noon
by order of Mai Edwin B. HeSSe. Su-
perintendent of police. A few minutes
later the first unit of the parade circled
the Peace Monument. at the foot OF
Capitol Hill. and began the march 70
Fifteenth street.
AT the front rode an impressive
mounted police escort. Directly in the
rear came Sergt. A. J. Bargagni. marshal
and chief organizer Of the parade. ac-
conpanied by Odell s. Smith, chairman
Of the Citizens Committee.
The Army Band. in reSplendeIlt dress.
vas the first Of nearly score Of mill
tary and civilian bands to pass along
the line of march. It vas the advance
guard of the color squad. bearing the
Star Stangled Banner and the oficial
flag of the District Fire Department.
The first official FIRE engine OF the
ioc.st COMMUNICATIONS OF the days
whsa motorized bumpers and iire tow
erS we're yet 10 be born--led the long
line OF modern apparatus to come, rs
did also Barney. Gene and Tom. the
venerable FIRE horses now retired 70 a
x
the old fire engine were members Of
the Association of Oldest Inhabitants
OF the District of Columbia. some of
whom, as bows. may have run with the
city's volunteer companies to early con-
fiagrations.
Baltimore Boys Get Cheer.
Miss Mildred 5argagni. hostess Of the
parade, completed the vanguard.
The Navy Band heralded the approach
of the 40-odd units comprising the
Maryland contingent. The boys from
Gov. Ritchie'S State elected continuous
applause as they made their way noisily
toward the Treasury. The citizenry
paid an extra tribute 10 the firemen
from Baltimore, who rode on the SELF
same engines which dashed 20 Wash
ington last January TO render brotherly
assistance during the wave Of incendiary
fires.
washirgtonS second line of de-
tense" made up of volunteer companies
from nearby Maryland and Virginia,
turned out IN full force. The up-to-
date type of apparatus owned by these
suburban organizations created marked
surprise among the spectators.
Maryland companies represented III
the parade included those from HagerS-
town. Brentwood. Aberdeen. Sandy
spring. Seat Pleasant, Annapolis, Line
horo, Greater Capitol Heights. Mount
Rainier. Rockville, OwingS Mills Giyn-
don, Eranchvilie Elktou, RiyerdalF
Mount Airy. HyattSville, West AM
napoliS. BladenShurg, Westminster.
Frederick, Union Bridge, Silver Sprins
kenSington, Glenournie, GaitherSourg
Bowie. College Park. Herald Harbor.
Ocean City and other points.
Seven bands and three drum corps
furnished spirited marching music fer
the MarylanderS OfacerS Of the MAry-
land State Volunteer F1remen'S ASSo~
citation supervised the group,
The Marine Band was Sandwiched be-,
tween the Maryland and Virginia Are
men. The VirginianS were headed by
officials OF the Arlington and Fairfax
Volunteer Firemen's Association. There
were volunteer OUTFITS from the follow
ing communities; Friendship. Virginia
Highlands, Winchester. Falls Church,
HarriSonhurg. Jefferson district, Me-
Lean, LeeShurg. Cherrydale. Clarendon,
Potomac, Arlington, BallSton and Fair
fax
Civic Organizations Jein-
The visiting companies were followed
by the - engine companies and IL
truck companies of the District OF Co
lumbia department. The floats IN this
section bore testimony to weeks OF
preparation by eSthetic-minded IRE"
fighters.
Floats al fraternal. civic and business
organizations brought up the rear OF
the parade. Many Of these were cf tho
most elaborate character.
All the parade units formed In tina
Continued ON Pase z. Column -