Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-02
LABOR DAY PARADE
. Of F|REF|GHTERS
ST|RS THOUSANDS
Pageantry Spirit Marks Cap
itaI's Observance, Attend.
ed by Horde of Visitors.
MARDl GRAS WILL END
CELEBRATION TONIGHT
100000 Spectators Line Pennsyl.
vania Avenue for Procession
of Men and Apparatus. .


Host to a great influx of visitors from
nearby States, the National Capital to-
day was celebrating another Labor holi-
day in a spirit of pageantry.
From the start of the annual fire.
mems parade at 1890 o'clock, colorful
with 125 gaily decorated floats and
shining fire apparatus, the program
proceeded through variety of events
that will culminate tonight with thou
sands of citizens participating in a
Mardi Gras at the Sylvan Theater, in
the Monument grounds, and a contest
between score of bands.
Upward of 100000 spectators lined
Pennsylvania avenue, from the Peace
Monument to the Treasury, as the
parade of Washington and visiting fire.
fighters got under way this morning
amid the shrieks of sirens and blasts
from 26 bands and 10 drum corps,
headed by the famous aggregation from
the United States Marine Corps. Fire
companies from at least six States, with
the Maryland forces, headed by Gov.
Albert e. Ritchie, competed for cheers
and honors with Washington's best.
Parade Features Day.
1t was gala day for the local fire.
men in their role as host and partici-
pants. The parade in itself, several
miles in length, was the biggest single
event of the day. Its completion marked
the beginning of general invasion of
Griffith Stadium for the decorated baby
carriage parade and the annual fire.
mems and policemen's base ball game
at o'clock. for which enough benefit
tickets had been sold to pack the huge
grandstands from top to bottom.
While the official reviewing grand
stand at Fourteenth street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue was being filled by repre-
sentatives of the District Government.
civic and commercial organizations and
the judges of the various entries. the
six divisions of the firemen's parade
were formed in the vicinity of the Peace
Monument.
Hundreds of pieces of apparatus.
decorated floats and several thousands
of Ynarchers filled the streets awaiting
the signal to start. The main column
of the parade formed on B street with
its head at First street and extended
to Second street. Other portions were
Jersey avenue from B street to F street;
on First street from G to F street; on
G street from New Jersey avenue to
Third street: on D street from Delaware
avenue to New Jersey avenue and on
Second street from c to F street.
Due to the diligence and the care
full preparations made by Sergt. A. j.
Bargagni of the District Fire Depart
ment and members of his committee
xr1,<, at oil (afo ~ he
rade, the event started without con-
fusion or mishap.
Six Grand Divisions in Parade.
Shouts arising from lower Pennsyl-
vania avenue signaled the advance Of
the parade, headed by a police escort,
Sergt. Bargagni, the marshal, and the
United States Marine Corps Band in
full dress regalia. There were six grand
divisions in the line of march. The first,
headed by Gov. Ritchie of Maryland
and his official committee, embodied
the officers of the Maryland State Vol
unteer Firemen's Associations and the
gracious young hostess of the Volunteer
Fire Departments, Miss Mildred Bar
gagni, who waved and smiled at cheer
ing admirers.
Washington has witnessed hundreds
OF military parades in its historic past,
wars. but it has only one such parade
as the flremen's, with its touch Of
mardi gras seen in the picturesque
floats, bedecked with flowers and
StrearlerS and its shining fire apparatus
and helmeted firemen. Through such
scenes, the most famous members of
the District Fire Department, the re-
tired f1re horses, Barney, Gene and Tom,
have strutted in the hey-day of their
NofnFnrN IL =
flre horses shifted at glory through di-
lated nostrils and shared in the at
tention focused on the first hand-drawn
engine and the first horse-drawn en-
glne that formed one of the features
OF the day.
All of Washingtons available fire ap-
paratus, except those pieces retained
for emergency, were dressed in their best.
While there appeared to be favorites,
the viewpoint of the judges, who had
to pass upon 81 different classes for
which prizes we're awarded. Visiting
scopnanieS from Alexandria, Hyattsville,
Rockville, Chevy Chase and score Of
other towns, We'd for honors, and found
no lack of loyal supporters.
The second division of the parade
comprised the District of Columbia Fire
Department Drum Corps and the Mary
land volunteer fire companies. Gov.
Rttchie, who left the parade to jofn
other officials in the reviewing stand.
waved encouragement to them as they
passed.
The third division, headed by As
slstant Marshal E. j. BroSnan and the
United States Navy Band, found the
various Virginia volunteer companies
In line.
The fourth division, comprising the
West Virginia departments, was headed
by Assistant Marshal H. F. Harding,
and the fifth division, with visiting
Delaware companies. was headed by AS
sistant Marshal j. J. Tracy.
Bringing up the rear Of the parade
were the Pennsylvania and New Jersey
volunteer departments. At their head
rode Assistant Marshal w. D. Cantor.
List Of Visiting Companies.
The out-of-town fire companies, the
largest number to participate in any
lprevious Labor day parade here, in
cluded contingents from Sunbury, Pa;
Lonaconing, Md; Piedmont, w. Va;
Coatesville, Pa; Rehoboth, Dela.;
Trainer, Pa; Palmyra, Pa; Chester,
Pa; Charles Town, w. Va; Har-
risonburg, Va; Manchester, Md; |;
Waynesboro, Pa; Wayne, Pa; Holla-
way Terrace, Della: West Anna
! polls, Md; Chevy Chase, Md; Spar
rows Point, Md: Harrisburg, Pa;
Hereford. Md; Marcus Hook, Pa;
Alexandra, Va; Annapolis. Md; Lin
tficum Heights, Md: Glyndon, Md; !;
Takoma Park, Md; Bladensburg, Md. !:
Union Bridge, Md: Frederick. Md;
(Continued on Page IT, Column 81