The New York herald., 1869-10-19
TIE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Reunion Dinner at ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS by
Mayor Hall and Others.

Iseunton Dinner at NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. by
Mayor Hall and Others.
lhe citizens OF the metropolis remember with
uhdyng gratitude the selisacrlnce and devotion OF
the men who, without promise or hope OF reward
rushed to scenes OF danger and rsked their lives In
defence OF the lives and property or others
In days gone by. The veteran volunteer fre
men. whose deeds OF generosity and daring
are emblazoned on no pages OF general history
but live solely In local records and find warm
places In the hearts OF those who knew them
determined to have a reunion, and such q one as
would renew the pleasant memories OF the days
and nights spent in their labor OF love. When
IL was noised abroad that such thing was IN
contemplation there were not wanting men to take
part In the proposed festivities or furnish means
to make II IN every respect grand success. The
reunion came of last evening at Dcmonico's Four
teenth street, and 1t Is but simple justice say that
the most sanguine expectations OF the veteran
vamps" were fully realized. The assembiage was
large ID numbers and embematlc in detail OF the
advancement and prosperity OF the metropolis The
joylal and jocose ex-Alderman McGnnis oiilciated
az president At his right Sat Mayor HAIL. General
Shaler, David Miliken and owen W. Brennan and
at his lett Philip w. Engs-the veteran OF the vee-
rans-A. Ockershausen, ex-Mayor Gunther ]. q.
Westray and others while around the tables through
the room sat as jolly as manly and as truly repre-
sentative 'crowd" as the most ardent admirer OF
the volunteer Department or the city OF New York
The tables, OF course, were loaded with goodies
hre sin,{s nena{s covered with spray like dripping
WotoAS oubOhi,neu one taDle d immature engine
house OF the oden style with clothes OF the bunsers
drying on the rool, stood on another; a temple OF
Of "old Rap-her- down." ~. stood At the ' END
OF the centre table. immediately in front OF the
venerable ,h osr snd 9 1ocIndh ~ th Sames ,oh Miller while
working model OF the old 'goose neck, piano box,i
hand engine the hose reel covered with aleathern
guard. on which was emblaZ0ned the title 'Tsiward
D. Bassiord-EXempt."
On taking their seats the company were treated 70
few very brief remarks by Mr.. McGinnis, compll-
U
that the city OF New York had reason to this day to
be proud OF the "volunteers"
they knew how TO stake up" their knives and forks
and fall M TO the good things spread before tnem
viands were made to 's5lnH While a constant .fre"
OF joke and repartee enllvened the scene. Although
there vsy was nohug per'eG.
and the only sensations that were made
were entirely Of pleasuraple enjoyment, When the
"vamps" and their guests had managed to get The
bill of fare "well under,n the president called for
order and then briefly stated the origin and gradual
growth Of the department for the extngqlshing OF
fires. At the conclusion or his address he
announced as the first regular toast OF the evening
'The City Of New York" and called on Mayor Hall
Mayor HALL on rising, was received with round
after round Of applause and good hearty ''od New
York fremen's three cheers ana tiger" The Mayor
said they would do him great favor by forgetting
that he was to speak as Mayor and by letting him
speak 70 them as New York boy. APPLAUSE HIS
Honor then went on to deliver one or his character
istic, cheerful and cheering speeches, wittiy
alluding to the chairman, Tor undoubtea
ana assuring the company, on behalf of the city
OF New York. that he could tlnd no words tC
express his ideas in regard to the city of New York
better than those applied by Byron. in his "Childe
Harold" to Venlce-
I!oved her from my boyhood she, to ne,
Was as fairy city OF the heart.
or JOY the sojouru and OF wealth the mart.
Mayor Hall then facstiously described the acci
dent OF his birth and his early though limited Dire
experience. He said while they had met to talk ovel
New York OF the past, 70 enjoy the New York Of
the present, he loved to think Of the New York the
future and he hoped TO live to New York city the
metropolis OF the whole world. He showed forciblJ
why such should be the case from the natural
position Of the city and the enterprise Of hel
citiZens .s .A.~s- IA. -. , e y.
At the conclusion OF his address he was saluted
with loud and long continued applause. Toasts
were then given and responded to as follows:-''The
exempt Flremen," Mr.. P. W. Engs; sour success
sors Major General shaler; "0dr Old o6lcersJ''
David I. Miken; "The Trustees Of the Fund.- Mr..
A. ockershausen; absent Members" Mr.. J. c. wes.
tray; NOISY Members" Mr.. J. Bates; "Melouious
Members Mr.. ]. T.. Miller. A number OF volunteer
toasts lnterspersed with music by the band, songs
By ]. L. Miller, w. @. O'Brien and Others, kept up
the merriment to late hour, when, with sounding
chorus Of "Aud Lang Syne," the company sepa.
rotp