The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-07-04

sENTIMESrs-A REVIEW OF TIE CAREER oF
THE COMPANY IN The PAST.
Last evening was a memorable OCCASION for
the members of the Phoenix Fire Company,
marking, as it did, their first occupancy of the
new and handsome hall just built for their ac-
commodation, on Cumberland-strea The oc-
currence of such an event afford a favorable
opportunity to take brief retrospect Of the
HISTORY OF TEE PHGNIx FIRE COMPANY.
On the 18th January, 1925, q meeting OF
gentlemen desirous of forming fire company
was held at the Carolina Coffee House IN
Tradd-street, Colonel Thomas D. Condy being
in the chair. A committee. consisting OF
Colonel Condy. Jeremiah D. Yates, D. Gail
lard, T. Gadsoen, and E. Smith, was appointed
for the purpose o. soliciting aid from the city au-
thorities. Other committees were also appoint
ed to frame constitution and rules, to obtain
members, and to solicit aid from the insur'
ance companies. An engine vas temporarily
procured from the city, and the first parade
was made on the 2sth January, 1926. The fol-
lowing are some Of the first members and
founders Of the company: Mess,s. T. D. Condy,
J. D. Yates, D. Gaillard, 7. Gadsden, E.
Smith, DR.. Finley, c. R. Holmes, T. Tupper,
T. W. Bacot, J: Heriot, T. Martin, W. G.
Hichborn, F. Wesner, O. A. Desaussure, DR..
W. Ramsay, W. P. Finley, W. Tew, Edward
McCrsdy, R. Allan, G.. B. Reid, D. Graves, A.
Miller, John A. Wragg, a. n. Brown, H. Muck
enfuss, D. E. Huger, Jr., A. F. Holmes, L. c.
Trezevant, DR.. Lebby, William NJ. LAwton, f.
L. Strobel, W. Ravenel, R. Gayer, B. B. Stro-
bel, E. Lowndes, Barker, Cobia. Porcher,
Black, Curtis, Ulmo, Patterson, Lanneau, Mani
gault, Ketchum, J. Huger, and George d. In
graham. Most of these gentlemen have passed
away, but they were all identified with the
company until it rose to the full tide Of pros
perity.
The company, when organized, elected Mr..
Frederick Wesner their first President. Mr.
Tristan Tupper, the father Of the present e1-
ecutive officer, was elected in the ensuing year
and served until 1880. Daniel E. Huger, Jr.,
served in 1880 and 1881; ID. Graves in 81;
Charles Parkerin 80; Thos. W. Bacot in SS and
.S4; John G. Pillans from '35 to 'S9; R. Vain
wright Bacot from 'S9 to '49; F. j. Po-cher
from 40 to sc; R. Dewar Bacot from 81 TO 81;
". c. Ferguson in 81 and go; W. E. Holmes
during portion Of 80; F. D. Pnckney from
80 to '65, when he left at the evacuation OF the
city, and B. N. Alexander was elected in his
stead. At the close Of the war Mr.. W. E..
Holmes was elected President and served until
the present year, when Mr.. Geo. Upper was
chosen to that position.
From the memoranda .nd record of the past,
carefully preserved by the company, it appears
that the Phoenix Fire Company was instituted
on the 18th January, 1926, Incorporated De-
cember Il, 1926. and reincorporated December
1S, 1910. On November 80, 1926, the company
procured its first engine, made by Sellers &
Pennock, of Philadelphia. September 2, 1880,
they procured new engine from E. Force,
New York. In January, 1881, they moved into
their house on the guardhouse lot in Meeting
street, which was granted by the Governor Of
the State. They subsequently received six
hundred feet Of hose and reel, and, at the
great fire Of 1888, were on duty sixteen hours.
In September, 1889, the company received their
third engine, with new reel and hose, from
Philadelphia, and, at the trial, water was
thrown to the ring on st. Miohael's stseple
just below the pigeon holes. In 1872 the city
purchased o lot in Cumberland-street for $500,
the company contributing 5000 or 500, and
the city 500 toward the erection of o building.
This was completed and occupied by the COM
pany on the 18th October, 1919. From 1912 to
1s49 nothing worthy OF note occurred. The
Phoenix paid visits to Augusta and Savannah
in that time. On June 18th, 1s49, R. W.
Bacot, who had been President OF the Phoenix
for nearly ten years, re resianed, and F. J. Por-
cher was elected in his stead. Mr.. Bacot was
presented with pair Of silver goblets as TO-
ken Of the appreciation of the company Of his
services.
On the 25th Of November, tSS.s the Phoenix
company presented silver cups to MessSs; Jno.
R. Mott, T. B. Merritt and G. Il. Rivers, the
survivors of FIVE members of the company
who had served through the Mexican war, and
tablet was erected to the memory Of S. NJ.
Alexander and T. NJ. Leitch, who we're killed
in action. October 1s. 1858, q fine silver trum-
psG WIS pIeSeuttu w 1iooiuouu l. os l oASnoA'
In 1858, the Company procured their fourth
engine from Jefers & Co. This was named
Little Frank, and the parade OF that year was
characterized by the last appearance of Old
Betsy, the first engine owned by the COM
pany. 1t was drawn by four grey horses, and
escorted by the surviving ex-oficers and homo
rary members Of the company The tocsin of
war in 1860 and 1861 drew manyof the fremen
to the field. military company was organic
ed, known as the Phoenix Rifles, and the roll
OF honor of the company shows a long list Of
names of those who fell in the field. During
the war the company still performed its usual
routine of duties, rendered more hazardous
from the constant shelling.
While at work on fire at the corner of
Elliott-street and Gadsden's alley, shell
from the Federal batteries struck the Little
Frank" and completely demolished it, several
of the fremen were injured and the engine
rendered useless. The company though de-
prived of their old friend, temporarily procured
another engine, and at the close Of the war
obtained the fine steamer now in use. The
Great Fire of 81 destroyed the Phoenix Hall in
Cumberland-street, and the members were
compelled to trespass on the hospitality of
the more fortunate companies. Latterly they
hove occun;ad q stable in WantWorth- -street