Columbia gazette., 1853-11-12
DINNER TO COL. THOMAS A,
FALCONER.


Of the Gazette accepted an invitation to
a public dinner from the Columbia Hook
and Ladder Company. The tes imon-
ial came off at the Firemen's Hall, in
the Exchange on Saturday evening last,
and was one of the finest reunions it has
ever been our good fortune to attend.
The room was elegantly decorated,
thanks to the artistic skill and energy Of
Col. Cazneau, and presented scene
that would have done justice to town
of larger pretensions than our own. At
one end of the room the American flags
hanging in beautiful festoons, with the
company's banners, and it's miniature
hooks and ladders. Various notices
and devices filed up the sides, and up
on the en.r nee the eye was struck with
''the Hook & Ladder Co. welcomes
Col. Falconer', -"Semper Paratus"-
eve destroy to save" sc &c. &C.
The table was bountifully supplied with
good things, and the liberal number of
filled punch bowls, showed thai the
company we're not all Maine -acs.
About O'Clock the boys turned out
with Martial music, and after marching
through the streets, escorted Col. Fall
coner to the Exchange. Major Van
arsdall, foreman Of the company took
the head of the table-on h S right the
Col. aud the left, Rev. Mr.. Pendcrgrast.
The boys then went into the eating
with hearty good will, and many COM
pliment was paid Col. Cazncau's cuisine
requirements. The cloth was then re-
moved, and then began ''feast of reason
and the flow of soul" Maj. Vanars-
dali gave
"The Health of Col. Falconer.'
This was received with loud and enthu-
siastic cheering, when Col. FALcoNER
spoke as follows:
Did I but possess the eloquence and
oratorical powers of a Henry Preston
or of Tuolumne's young and distinguish
ed Senator, who now occupies prom
inent seat at this festive board, I could,
gentlemen, of the Hook & Ladder Com
pany express, in proper and becoming
language, my heartfelt and grateful
thanks, for the very fattering manner
in which you have received the senti-
ment just proposed; but language is too
| feeble to give Inference to the emotions
and feelings of the heart, not only for
your present kindness, but for the many
friendly favors l have received a. your
hands, since l became al citizen of
Columbia. To your friendship feel,
in measure, indebted for the present
success and prosperity of the Columbia
Gazette.
In September 1852, I first visited
your town for the purpose of establishing
a newspaper, and through the assistance
of friends procured press and mater
ial. On the 22nd of October $50, the
first number of the Gazette made its ap-
pearance in Columbia My enterprise
was at frs. received with coldness and
distrust by many of the citizens, for |
had, with all due candor, made known
to them my pecuniary circumstances,
assuring them that brought nothing
with me, but an indomitable and determ-
ined will to succeed, recognizing in my
vocabulary, no such word as "tail." L
say my enterprise did not at the COM
mencement, meet with so fattering a
reception as 1 anticipated, but this dis
trust l attributed to failure Of SINH
Ter undertaking about twelve months
previous after the editor had raised sew
eral hundred dollars, as l am informed,
from the citizens as bonus for starting
the Columbia Star. That failure oper-
ated to my serious detrimen'. [ however
asked /ffom the citizens no bonus for
pu fishing a paper in Columbia, but
simply for their liberal support and pat
.ronage, in legitematc way, for all Of
which l promised, and hope, that l have
returned, an equivalent.
During the ever memorable months
of December and January last, when
famine threatened to overwhelm us all,
and when the Gazette was struggling for
its very existence, then it was gentle
lncn, that clouds of gloom and doubt, as
respected the success of my enterprise
hung thickly over and around my path;
but even during those darkest hours,
your oft-repeated cheers for the editor
and the Gazette. as your noble company
marched along Main street, by my Office,
would dispel the clouds and storms that
seemed about to overwhelm my little
bark, and would re-invigorate me to re
newed efforts in behalf of Columbia and
its liberal citizens.
Cannot it then be said that, to the
Columbia Hook & Ladder Company am
|, in some measure, indebted for the
safe anchorage of my little bark in the
harbor Of prosperity and success:
How then can repay you, and the
noble citizens Of Columbia for SO signal