Evening star., 1934-09-02
pageant BEGINS
FIRE CONVENTION
Business Session of Nation
al Body Opens Today in
Alexandria.
BY stan Correspondent of The Star.

BY staff Correspondent Of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, September /.
"A section of New York's lower
East Side" went up in flames tonight
just outside of Alexandria-as the
three-day annual convention of the
National Firemen's Association got
under way.
The fire. fighting show was to be
staged for the benefit of the associa-
ton.
When the firemen were ready to
start their show, however, the sew
eral hundred persons in the stands
were requested to leave and then re-
turn through the turnstiles, paying
so cents each as they re-entered.
Quietly, the crowd filed out and the
f1remen waited for their return.
Few in Attendance.
A few minutes passed and five per-
sons came in together. Another five
minutes elapsed and it began to look
as if the quintet was going to be the
entire audience. Then came five more
and another wait for more audience.
Several minutes later two couples
sauntered through the gates and the
fire fighters, figuring that was all,
began the show.
Smoke pots and lights were set of
behind the scenery which was sup
posed to depict an East Side street.
The Bethesda and Clarendon Vol
unteer Fire Departments drove onto
the field with sirens going full blast.
Hose was unreeled and the firemen
began spraying water through the
dummy windows. Then T. w. Scott,
secretary of the national association,
sounded the general alarm, and ap-
paratus belonging to the BaIlston,
Falls Church, Arlington, Jefferson
District and Cabin John Departments
answered the call.
There was demonstration of first
aid to man hit by an automobile. a
little comedy, and that was all.
Convention Begins Tonight.
The convention proper will begin
tomorrow night, with general ses-
sion of the association At that time
Sergt. A. j. Bargagni, president, plans
to initiate movement which he
hopes will culminate in a proclama-
ton by President Roosevelt declaring
the Saturday before each Labor day
national firemen's day. Routine busi-
ness will be handled, officers elected
and addresses by Mayor E. c. Davi-
son of Alexandria and Sherwood
Brockwell, North Carolina State fire
marshal, will be heard.
The gala event of the convention.
the Labor day parade, Is to get under
way promptly at IL am. Monday
with approximately 5000 persons and
81 floats in the line of march. There
will be II bands and IL drum and
bugle corps.
The column will be made up Of two
divisions, the first comprised of mill
tary units, and the second of fire.
men. At the head of the parade will
come Col. Harry N. Cootes, grand
marshal. Behind him will march
soldiers, sailors and Marine.
Sergt. Bargagni and his daughter.
Mrs. Mildred Bargagni Orrison, the Of
f1cial convention hostess, will head
the second division. Most of the
marchers in the second section are to
be volunteer firemen, with the paid
f1remen of the District forming the
largest unit, however.
Monday night there will be a re-
enactment of tonight's firefghting
demonstration, considerably elabo-
rated.
A memorial service for the firemen
throughout the country who have
died during the past year will be
held tomorrow afternoon at the
George Washington Masonic National
Memorial. Rev. Charles L. Monroe
will deliver the invocation and Nor
man Roberts, Alexandria fireman,
Will speak. The days activities will
be completed with concert by the
Army Band on the lawn of the
Masonic Memorial at pm.
Officers of the association and
visiting chiefs attended the cere-
monies incident to the induction into
Office of Mayor E. c. Dawson and
members of the council at noon, and
then spent most of the afternoon
inspecting the two destroyers and one
Coast Guard cutter anchored here.
Later they, together with the new
mayor and other city officials, were
entertained at dinner at the Belle
Haven Country Club.