Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-03-07
LOCAI..NEWS.


kilgour in the Char, and A. }. Marshall Sec
Rotary. ..yG
The President having stated that the object
of the meeting was to hear the report of the
committee appointed at the last meeting tocon-
fer with the Fire Wardens, . 'IHA|GG
David A Windsor, Chairman ,of that COM
mittee, presented the following report with the
accompanying resolution: p: ii. ..aA
.i..nALEXASDRIA, March 6, 1911
Mr.. President-Sir: Your committee most re-
spcctully beg leave to report to you the result of
their interview with the Fire Wardens Of this
city. ;r..:L .......... .. 49,. ...--.: so
After u full explanation regarding onr desire
10 retain our old and time honurcd name, Friend
ship, and our willingness to surrender our char
ter, engine house and engine upon the stipulated
conditions contained within tho resolution APP
pointing this cQmmttee---that is, that they. the
Fire W ardens, shall cause u thorough repair of
the said engine house and ALLOW this company to
take and assume Charge of and work the steamer
Columbus a.,..i -..E -......... ..f s..
Our explanations and requirements wereivery
kindly .receiVed by the Fire WardenS, and free
Interchange of opinions expressed resulting in
and regarding the embarrassing condition they,
the Fire Wardens, We're placed by another claim
ant under their style and name equally qualified
md entitled as We of the Friendship are to have
the steamer Columbia, and to relieve themselves
from such All embarrassing position, they most
respectfully declined our conditions, and main
tain that to do equal justice to either and all
claimants that the organization receiving the
Columbia from their hands must hayesomc other
name, not knowlf as fire company in this city
ut this time; apd, further, granting this coni-
pany the preference to accept under the condi-
tons named before referring accepting any
terms from any other organization.
Very respectfully, ...........
49, DAVID A WINDSOR, Chm
Resolved, That We, the members Of tho Friend
ship Fire Company, in order To maintain n hre
organization in the city of AleXandra, and to
meet the wishes and views Of the Fro Wnrdens
u' this city, rs expressed in the report this day
made by committee Of tiremcn appointed at Il
previous meeting, we hereby surrender to the
corporate authorities of Alexandria the property
and engine now held by this company, and shall
hereafter be known by the name and style Of the
Columbia Fire Company of Alexandria, Va.
George H. Wilmington moved that the re-
port be laid on the table, the motion being sec
Onded by various persons in different parts OF
the room, but the President stating that such
Il motion would cut off Ill debate, it was with
drawn by the mover, who moved that the report
be received, and his motion was carried.
W. H. Underwood moved that the resolution
be adopted
George I. Wilmington opposed the adoption
of this resolution From his boyhood up he
had been i member Of the old Friendship.
Often at the sound of her bell had he stole out
of the window of his bed room to run with her
to fire and been whipped for doing SO when
he came back home The name of General
George Washington was enrolled among the
members of the old Company; cherished mem
cries hung around the old association, and he
was opposed to changing the name merely to
suit the whim Of, he was going to say, the car
pet-bag Fire Wardcns. When he was Presl-
dent of the Company he had never recognized
- I'll Er, W,r1anc nor huH hia
Company; they We're always lighting the Fire
Wardens, and if he had remained President he
would have been fighting them yet He was
surprised to see his friend Underwood, who had
in by-gone years and upon other fields stuck by
him. now branching off and going to the sup
port of the Fire Wardens. Let the Fire Ward
ems take the engine and put 1t were they want
Cd to- He was not now an active member OF
the Company, being compelled by stress OF cir,
cumstances to live i'll that God torsaken city OF
Washington, but he still had and would ever have
an interest in all that concerned it. and he knew
that the old members would not desert him IN
the position he now occupied. DO as the Sun
uid-retuse to entertain the suggestion. Up
town was the place for the new engine, but
don't let us change our maine to get 1t there
W. II. Underwood would endeavor not to be
70 personal in his remarks as the gentleman
who had preceded him. 1t was true he had
been running with the old engine tor long
time, and was deeply interested III the welfare
ofthe old Company and it was from this In
terest, that much as he might desire to retain
the old name, he was willing to give it up tol
the sake of keeping the members OF the old
Company together. What would the old Com
pany be with name and no house or appara
tus, and with the strong probability that tho
Fire Wardens would take away the little hose
they had?
NJ. D. Ball inquired what the old COMPANY
proposed to do ii the resolution was defeated
GEORGE IT, Wilmington could not speak Ger
tainly the sentiments of the whole OF the OLD
COMPANY, as he was now only a high private
in the ranks but he had come down from Wash
inpton to attend this meeting and make IN
protest against this s,lrcnderto the Fire Ward
ems, and he thought he knew well enough tht
feelings of the old members to enable HIM t.
say that they would stand by him. He had
been one of them; had led them at fires and II
brick bat fights; had drank with them and palc
their bills. He congratulated the Company
upon the selection of the present worthy Pres
dent, but he took this opportunity to warn the
President that upon one occasion when he, the
speaker, was the President Of the Company, Mt
hud to pay L bill of So for ale furnished from
Marten brewery After fires the boys woult
be THIRSTY, and would send for ale and the Presl
dent would have to pay for it.
NJ. D. Ball, as new member OF the organ
cation had no right to address this meeting, and
asa new member urged no such claim but as
citizen of Alexandra, DESTROYS Of her prosperity
and consequently of all the necessary adjunctst
that prosperity he did claim the right toexprees
his views upon the resolution. No man entertain
ed a higher veneration for the glorious AM
cherished memories Of the past than himself.
was nice thing for the nlembersof the Friend
ship Fire Company to recollect that the nam
of General Washington was inscribed upo
their ancient archives. But if dcscendent G
General Washington had the alternative force
upon him of retaining his name and dying 9
changing it to John Smith and living, he wo9l
not be long in making his choice Better, ia
better change the name and live and be tn
crack and leading fire company Of the city tina
to pursue the plan Of the old Virginia iarme