New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-07-30

yielded up their lives at the post of honor,
whether it was on the battles plain, or in the dis
charge OF duty as iiremen. Truly noble pur-
pose wen betting Il glorious association Of
noble men, and well BETTING day looked upon,
and truly 50, ~ the greatest IN nations history.
ms day, ninety years ago announced to man
Kind, the great fact Of American independence
ms day witnessed The deathblow to tyranny on
our Western hemisphere, and infused likelihood
INTO me heart Of daring republic! And today we
see that republic, uG comparative recent origin,
the greatest and most powerful nation, spreading
over the continent from sea 10 sea.
me giorles OF Independence Day have often
been described. The stirring events that culmi
mated in the declaration Of independence are
familiar to every mind, and need DUreyiVjng touch
al my poor hands. 1t is not my purpose to enter
INTO an investigation of the causes that led to the
Independence Of the United States of North Amer
ica; IS foreign to my aim to dwell on the wrongs
and woes too patiently borne and too long endured
by the eolonists. II is bnh sad aud cheering to
revert to those thrilling bygone events, for they
lead to mingled sensations Of pain aud pleasure.
Ihey have been carefully preserved by the chrUni-
clers of the revolution, aud embia2oued in bright
letters Of gold on the pages Of American history.
faint alluson to them is ony necessary to make
oar hearts glow, and call up The grandest associa-
TONS OF that tondIv cherished and ever memura-
BILE act of independence.
Twas on the 4th OF July, ITS. when the repre-
sentatlye5 of the United States Of America, in
Congress assembled, declared that the United
Colonies are, and OF right ought to be, free ami
independent States. This declaration, made by
most patriotic, brave and resOuc men, trusting in
the business OF their cause aud the protection OF
Heaven has now stood for ninety years, still
stands and will stand Until Ehe end OF time.
Willie celebrating this g]Orinus day We must not
forget the noble men whose lives were sacrificed
Tor their country freedom. Let their memory be
eternaly embaimed in our busoms let the cLil-
dreA Of all times pralte the fame and drop tears
OF courage for Their ttle; they the rocks OF
our country on which she now stands, and to
which the beautiful stanzI Of Mrs. Hemans may
be applied:
Ther yoeeH in thy breeze, toelr steps toy
Their by old majestic trees whispered thy
Their WOOD hath mingled with Of thine eu.Ing sea
o be ttllL joysa p ide-to live and die for thee.
immortality then to the men who strangled the
tyrant, demolished the temple Of despot!-m, aal
forever annilhaed the hydra OF oppression
lAs mighty aud majestic theme, my friends. is
endowed with inherent charms, that must ever be
dear to the good aud the brave, and only despised
BY the recFeant and the vfle
No doubt many around me, during the few
year, just passed, sweved from their old
allegiance, and CALAMITY commended for
what they deemed the rights -fghng ike brave
men. long aud weli-yet they are now reunited
in feeling with their sometime adverzaries, and
honestly striving to forget the past in contempIat-
ing the future greatness aud welfare Of our com
mon country. Their acts ut present, and their
history during the past contain no insnuatlons
that they would not now. if need should be, bare
their breasts 10 common foe; that they would
''shrnll from the blaze Of the battle array and
not mperil their lives il tue holy cause of father
land. Their past has only increased their oblga-
ton to unite in brothery love, and cherish the
memory OF men who calamity hraved the fOemau,
and gave up their all 10 deliver their country from
foreign yohe. aud oequeath " posterity the
sacred legacy OF freedom.
And now, my friends, let US turn to the second
object which this assemblaga has in view, the cree
ton Of monument 10 the Confederate dead of the
fire department, aNd 10 thase WhD fell at tbeiI
posts as bremen. In thus connection II Will not be
deemed inappropriate in me to give brief sketch
OF the history and present condition Of the fire
department Of New Orleans.
! have been unable to trace back
the organization of the individual companies
which composed the department at the time Of its
birth. They were organized many years ago
when most Of us were still unborn, and New Or
leans was slumherhg in its cradle Of future great
ness but having once commenced its truly usetu
and benevolent career, the department rapidly
advanced, aud continued 10 extend Its sphere Q
action. until to-day see it unsurpassed in eff
cheney, discipline and good order by any simila
organization throughout the width and breadth Q
the land.
The source which gave the fire department
New @reans its strength collected together anC
retained all Gl its elements of greatness, was IN
doubtedly the Flremen's Charitable Association
This body Is composed of three delegates from
each company OF The department, who constitute
the board of directors. 1t this body that frs
planned the projects of great practical benevo
hence winch have since been SO successfully car
ried out, and which bear such manifold fruit
to-day. d.. s......
The history of this association is essentially tn
history Of the fire department, and therefore,
few facts connected herewith will not be deeme
out Of place.
The first meeting for the organiaatio
of the association was held in The hall
Mississippi No. 2, on the 18th OF October, 1884 an
the first regular meeting took place on the 18th
November of the same year in this meeting, 81
companies were duly represented, their number
ranging from one to six. Ibewhole department
that time numbered only one hundred and thirt,
eight men. IN 1870, the department had ajread
increased largely in strength, and the assOciatiO
had commenced its prosperous career of benevt
lenCe. We find on the rolls at that time but Tvs
widows and two orpbans, who were receiving ce
tain sums at stated periods.
From that time until now, traVerslng period
twentysiN years, the ass citation has advanced wit
giant strides, and to-day it sands a fitting mon
ment to those who reared it, and rejecting ii
highest honor upon the fire department of Ne
Orleans. ,=-=
From the tenth annual report of the worthy ar
distinguished president of the association, Isaac
Marks, ESQ, | have perceived that the depar
ment now has twentY-four engine and hook al
ladder companies, with all the necessary pari
phernalia. The association numbers twelve hu
dredactivc members,a and has upon its rolls hundred
of exempt members, who havg all honorably serve
out their time active tiremen. The associate
has also upon its rolls the names of two hundre
and five widows, two hundred and eighty half Q
phans, and thirty-fve orphans, all otwhom recei
liberal assistance from the widows and orphal
fund; in addition to relief thus disbursed, a lar!
amount of money is expended yearly for the ge
eral relief OF the members of the department
providing for the sick and buryng its dead.
To give a faint idea Of the practical Coz
accomplished by the association, and of Il
amount Of money expended for CHART
| quote from the report already alluded I
II is but necessary for me to refer VI
to the statistical tables (Ihayo prepared) of t
operations of the association, for the last t
years, to cali forth from you a full coufrmati
Of what have Just uttered. During that peri
+bCr1 aln1 1,pAt, t,nil ntit far CTN,, arGt. MALT