Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-03-10
LOCAL NEWS.

Fire Company was held last night in the room
of Jefferson Circle, Brotherhood Of the Union
corner of King and St. Asaph streets: Dr. )
B. johnson iu the chair. and james Dugan
Secretary,
Upon taking the chair DIR. johnson said
This is the fourth meeting Of the effort tc
affect reorganization OF the Friendship Fire
Company. At the first meeting the company
was reorganized by the election of all the per,
manent officers, who at its second meeting, vir-
tually accepted the Offices by their presence,
and by their participation III its proceedings.
At the first meeting it was decided not to
change the name OF the company, and certainly,
nothing was done looking to such catastrophe.
At the second meeting it was resolved that a
committee be APPOINTED to have conference
with the Fire Wardens in regard to the dis
posal of the new steam engine. That Commit
tee was DESTROYS of obtaining at all hazards,
hap-hazards, as will the steamer, and in order
to attain that object was willing and without
authority from the company, and against its
expressed wishes, to surrender the ancient and
time honored name, the fire apparatus, house,
and above all else, the charter with all its fran
chises including all the rights and privileges of
the company, tor the sake simply Of having
charge OF the new engine. These terms were
too humlllatin5, o.t,~I.e cad L-'ti uetire Tor
the company to entertain for one moment, and
it very decidedly rejected them. The company
urides itself upon its antiquity, and i'll that
resides its great boast of its immense utility.
1t claimed among its members the name OF
George Washington and its company was
prominently the actors i'll all the important
scenes through which the history of the United
States has passed. In looking over the old
minutes of the company, | find it noted mo
meeting held the officers of the company hay
ing gone in pursuit Of the eneulys boats
No agreement which committee of this
company could make with the Fire Wardens,
would be worth anything. They are simply
agents Of the City Council and hold their place
for the short period of Il year A new Council
usually does, or can elect how Fire Wardens,
and those new Fire Wardcns can revoke, alter
or abolish any arrangements their predecessors
may have made If this Council is not friend
ly toward this company, the next Council may
be, and all we have to do is to be true to our
selves, our ancient fame, and regard our COM
pany as an heirloom, to be transmitted to our
children even as it was handed down to us
They say there is nothing i'll name There
never was crater mistake. 1t is by name
that things in this world are appreciated The
Creator OF the Universe gave unto all his works
their appointed name, and by them are they
known and appreciated. An honorable man is
always proud of his name, and none will make
haste to change his name unless his own con-
duct has rendered that name u synonym for
baseness, or by the change he is pecuniarily
benefited How would the recommendation
Of a few newly hedged members of Christ
Church to tear away the pew once occupied by
George Washington be received by the old
members? under the plea that the pew was
old and antiquated and that there was nothing
in the name of its being ''Washington's Pew"
They would receive such Recommendation as
impairment, and resent it us an outrage upon
the dignity of the Church. Sp it is with the
Friendship Fire Company. They receive the
suggestion with the contempt it deserves.
Their birthright is too dear to them, and if
there were, or are Esaus among them let
them 60 and join the clamor of their greed
Nominations being then in order, the follow
ing officers were elected:
President, j. b. johnson first vice do, Z.
+. Stuart; second vice do, b. +. Penn Re
tording Secretary, James Dugan; Correspond
iug Secretary, H 5. Martin, jr.
Commanders of Engine-John Powell, Will
liam Dobie and Joseph MILAN.
Commanders of Hoses Field, }. Trayers
and A. Cole.
Axemeu-(ieorge browns, Ed Cole, }. Fl.
kidwell and r. Tomlinsou.
Pipemen-J. r. Cross, A. W. Richardson
and William Vernon.
Executive COmmittee-William Domain, II.
w Nandegriit and B. I. Wheatlcy.
Property Men--C. Z. Bradley, e. Nugent
and Charles Mankins.
Pending the election of the Executive Com
mttee, Co.. Stuart suggested the mpropnety
vi having 20 many undertakers upon it, but his
suggestion was not accepted He was also in
favor Of the acceptance by Superintendent OF
Police Clifford, who was present, off, nomina
ton for property man, and when that gentle
nan declined the honor upon the ground of his
entire want of knowledge of the duties Of such
an office, told him that he knew the difference
between bed and Il bedstead, about all the
knowledge required.
The election having been concluded
Col Stuart said he had joined the Friend
shin Fire Company in 1889, when the company
occupied the house adjoining Wheatley un-
lertaking establishment, long before the dlscl-
pie Of ST. Crispin, (ponting to Ar. Clifford
had emgrated here from Prince William, and
was consequently now one eft the oldest mem
bers of the company. The last time he attend
ed meeting of the company WAS when Capt.
Wilmington vacated the chair and he, the
speaker, took it for the purpose Of organizing
kemper's battery Of artillery, which was COM
posed of members of the Friendship, who, dur
Ing the war, covered themselves all over with
glory, and by their gallantry promoted and ex-
allied their officers In the Confederate army
there were no Drawer men than those who had
been members of the Friendship Fire Company
of this city; men like Dorsey and Williams
poor fellow! whose remains should not be al
lowed to remain where they now repose. He
saw by the newspaper that Col. Ball had advis
ed the company not to adhere to its name, and
had said he would change his own for $lO0, 900.
Tie was not surprised at such an assertion, con-
sidering all circumstances, for the Col. was ola
rowing disposition, and rolling ball gathers no
moss, though he believed that once Ball did
marry Moss 1.-The had that name he would
swap it for $40 Well Messrs. Ball and Xii
gour, come here and interfere with the affairs
Il H. aa,,,.Aa.,.. al Boil n,i1rrn tor1r RnIl