Naturally the appliances for fighting fire in the early days were rather crude and quite a contrast to the splendid machines of the present time. The greatest improvement began in 1887, when the completion of the water works gave Cornwall an excellent system of water mains and hydrants. Cornwall to-day has a very efficient volunteer brigade of 20 men under the direction of Chief J. G. Hunter. Besides the Central Station at the Town Hall, there are three branch stations — on Water street near the Swing bridge, at the East End, and at the North End. A large up-to-date fire engine is kept ready for service besides the hose reels and hook and ladder waggons.
      In the athletic world the men of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry are famous for their skill and prowess. In every line of sport where strength, speed and dexterity are required they have always been in the front rank and several of them have in their particular line led the world. As for instance, Col. R. R. McLennan, whose hammerthrowing has never been equalled, and Harry Bethune, who was for years the fastest 100 yards runner in America. Caledonian sports have been ever popular in these Counties, but for the best half of the century the national game of lacrosse has taken first place, particularly in the Counties of Stormont and Glengarry. Cornwall has for the past 25 or 30 years been the greatest lacrosse centre in the Dominion. The Cornwall boys learned the art of handling the gutted stick from the dusky aborigines of St. Regis and Cornwall Island, and in 1885 they won the intermediate championship of Canada. Twenty years ago they were admitted to the Senior Lacrosse Series of the old N. A. L. A., and in the following year won the championship of the world, repeating this performance in 1888 and 1889, although in the latter year they were robbed of the title by the action of the league. Again in 1891 they not only won the championship but played through the whole season without experiencing a defeat.