The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-28
THE DAILY NEWS.
IConcluded from Second Page. ]
HOOK AND LADDER COMPANIES.

Nos and 2................ 2. 2 %
STEAMERS.
I. Etna. ~. >aa-........ SI
4. Pioneer. 20
8. Palmetto ............... 90
4. Eagle ............... *
s. Washington ....'.. m m
6. Young America. ....... w
T. Marion ..........
8. Georgia, Of Augusta. ..1S 3S
Next in the programme OF the days duties
Tho Presentation OF Prizes.
The Board Of Firemasters and officers o
visiting guests having assembled in front o
the Charleston Hotel, Major Buist, the Presi
dent Of the Stonewsll, made the following
opening epcscA: . v.s, .a5t
&enttemen-It was but natural on an COCA
sion Of this character that spirited and hon
best OF their ability, all who participated have
nobly. done their duty. One question has
arisen, and one only, in the exercises OF the
the two hook and ladder companies Of the city.
Both have done so admirably and performed
80 well, that it has been impossible to deter
mine which is entitled to the award offered for
proficiency and skill. In rapidity Of movem snt
and excellence Of practice neither has excelled
the other. In their case, therefore, no de-
cision has been made, and both have won and
are entitled to wear the same laurels.
AS to the other companies, all have nobly
done their duty; and the representatives ol
those who have achieved the greatest success
stand ta before YOU; We have.sae ! honor nor Of pre-,
the V1gilant, and Mr.. President Edwin. Willis,
Of the Htna, OF our own city, likewise One who
sns e chief Of of
visiting companies from our sister City of Au-
gusta, the fne physique and noble bearing Of
whose members fifty typify their great State,
and recall the memories of a great historic
past
Mr.. George H.. Walter, one Of the judges,
then spoke as follows: -
Gen0enae'e-The pleasing duty has devolved
upon me Of presenting these testimonials Of
the promptness and skill. which have distin-
the % test o mer was sns
chiefly by the excellence Of your machinery; to-
day, the test has been made of men and mus
Gle, and the prizes awarded are to those who
have shown the greatest proficiency in running
given number of yards, preparing their appa-
ratus for use, and throwing water certnin
distance In the shortest time.
After q generous rivalry in which you have
displayed an ability and energy which have
never been excelled in Charleston, you, gentle
mon OF the Vigllant and Etna, have been pro.
nounced the vlctors in your respective depart
mo2ts: and IT becomes me not only to congrat-
ulate you Upon your success, nu5 &c transfer
TO your keeping these memeatoes Of the occa-
sion I know That you will preserve them with
honor untarnished and ...iiau they will stimu.
late you still further to reflect credit upon the
organization Of which you are justly pride
for what you have achieved, but because, in
common with your brethren, you have thrown
lustre around the Fire Department Of Charles
tor which m is by single stain
sion as this would have been signal for disor-
der, here you have exhibited decorum, and an
obedience to the requirements of the day,
creditabe to your manhood both as fremen
and as citizens. Your wives and sisters have
welcomed you with their presence, and amid
ali the earnest rivalries Of the day, they have
toned to- ns !, courtesy and gallant bearing which
"apr Preserve thl this sths hsb boast Of our community
her that While % YOU remsa rsscord, and remem:
W orks, whether it be upon holidayn paIg ppaa Igood
like the present one, or in conquering the des-
troyina element, you are none the less the JOY
full hope Of those whose dependence is upon
your strong arms and stout hearts for their
defence.
Accapt, then, these trophies of victory. Let
them be an additional incentive to you to excel
ia well dong, and ever to preserve the good
name which for SO many years you have honor
ably borne. With them take also my own
congratulations upon your splendid achieve
ments to-day, and the earnest wish that each
returning anniversary may bring it's reward
Tor equal efficiency and success.
With his usual impromptu noatness, Mr..
President Tupper responded as follows:
GenAenae,a-In behalf of the Vigilant Fire
Company, tender to you their grateful ac-
acknowledgements, not alone for the prize itself,
valuable as it is. but for the generous and
handsome sentiments which accompanied it's
presentation. We receive it in the same spirit,
and shall endeavor to perpetuate record, in
which this has become, as it were, another
tribute to endoavors to do our duty as firemen
and as citizens.
Much as we prize this memento, we esteem
it still more from the fact that it is presented
by one who in years gone by was identified
with and aided us in our honorable rivalry for
the posts Of honor in the Fire Department. 1t
comes, therefore, from one who, by reason Of
old associations, well knows how peculiarly
welcome is this token from his hands. We
shall treasure it; treasure it not only as an
evidence OF what has been accomplished by
the vigilants in contest whore the attrition
has been sharp and almost fierce, but because
IL is an assurance to our fathers who founded
the company, that their sons inherit the vir-
tues Of the ola stock, with sinews that are
run high. And pledge lot too much when
say that Afty years hence they will still stand
faithful in duty and honest in it's discharge to
The people of our home -yOur native City OF
Charleston EThree eheers.]
President E. Willis responded for the Etna:
Gentlemen My friend has said ali that need
be said to express the pride and qualification
which We experience in common with himself
in receiving This emblem Of success. We have
ability, we have won it. We are workingmen-
earn their daily bread By the sweat Of their
Nevertheless we can feel and appreciate such
An occasion and euch u moment, and know
hss expsessssr ssrSa Sn%tterabse s gratitude when
We pledge ourselves to this community to do
hll that becomes men, in fulfilling our obliga-
tiens as citizens and as members Of the
charleston Fire Department. [Cheers.1
Mr.. Walter, then turning to the representa-.
Myes Of the Columbia and Augusta companies,
each OF which had won q prize, spoke as fol-
1oWs:
AZ Gentlemen behalf OF the citizens Of