The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-05-16

to your beautiful, useful, and tastefully dec
GRATED fire engine.
Words are to feeble to express to you the
pleasure | experience in being now fully
| convinced of the perfect organization, in our
| small town, of an association of firemen. But
the word . tiremen suggests to us all that
| is truly good and noble in the mission of
man on earth, Charity Justice Lowell and
| let these virtues, protectors ofmy God-child,
| be engraven in your hearts to buoy you on
ward to the fulfillment of the duties you
may be called upon to perform.
And now my cherished God-ehild, after a
name much endeared to me by pleasant as
soeiations, do name you Katie, and as long
as my ability permits, | shall always do my
utmost to advance you IN the appreciation
of the noble and gallant boys
| With as much confidence as q newly
christened babe is restored to the arms of
| the mother for her future love and pfotee-
| ton, so do now restore you my charge, for
| your care and affection, and may providence
sanction this heartfelt ceremony, by shower
| ing its blessings upon the noble protectors
of my beautiful God-child.
The namesake of the engine,
Katie" is the wife of Jos. Billeisen,
Esq, the foreman. After three rous-
ing cheers for the God-motller and
the newly christened babe, Mr.. John
A. Cheeyers stepped forward, and re-
piled to Miss Terrier in the following
felicitous manner:
Respected God-mother and fellow MEM
bers-1 have the distinguished honor of adj
dressing you to-day upon the occasion of
the christening of our fire engine, and also
on the occasion of the first parade of the
Phoenix Fire Company No | of
, the town of Donaldsonville. MY heartfelt
thanks are rendered to the gentlemen of the
committee OF arrangements TOR the honor
they conferred in selecting me as their
spokesman. With difhdence in my ability
| have accepted the honor. Had the elo-
quence of Demosthenes or the classic ora
tory OF Cicero might do Justice to the oc-
casion, but as possess neither eloquenee or
oratory, your kind indulgence is craved
while attempt few remarks. For some
time the town of Donaldsonville has been
without a fire company or an association of
any kind for the extinguishing of fires, al
though, our little town is seldom visited
with fires, nor has the red hand OF the in
eendiary been known in our midst. Still
there existed a certain state of insecurity
and anxiety among our citizens from the
want of Il fire company. Acting upon these
anxieties and fears few energetic and en-
terprising citizens met together and resolved
to organize fire company, and they, to-
gether with the liberal assistance OF the
merchants and property holders of the
town, the Phoenix Fire Company of to-day
was born into existence, fully equipp ed with
an engine and ready for active duty at the
first stroke of the bell Yea! Fellow menl-
bers, we are ready to do our duty as firemen
whenever the occasion presents itself.
We are here to-day to celebrate the christ
ening of our fire engine, the hearts delight
of every true fireman. Although our engine
been christened several times before this,
it seems to me the oftner she is christened
the better she becomes. L remember seeing
her with Mechanics Company No. 6 and was
then called the Democrat" since that she
was sold to Independent No. IS OF the Third
District, a company now disbanded, from
whom We purchased her. She is an ola vet
eran and has seen some of the severest SER
vice that was ever the lot of a fire engine to
see. Time and the schorehing fires that she
has gone through seem to have NO effect
upon her, look at her to-day, proud and
beautiful as the day she came from the
Workshop She has been thoroughly re-
paired and renovated, and is good for an
other quarter of a century. How pleasing
it is to behold the march OF human progress
and enterprise i'll our midst, when men of
energy get together and by union and con-
fidence accomplish great things out OF little.
Large streams from little fountains flow,
Tall oaks from little acOrnS grow" The adj
yitntages OF this will be peace and security
TO the citizen, who can sleep secure without
having his dreams haunted by the demon
tire. Another advantage will be the re-
ductlon OF premium OH Insurance by nearly
| one-half, which some OF the companies have
| already pledged themselves To do. The
engine that to-day We ehristen, although IN
Old veteran, has seen service Ill many % hot
contest with the tire demon III the city of
New Orleans She has been thoroughly re-
paired and renovated, SO that now she is
better than ever she was, and like the abled
bird, the Phoenix, after which our company
is called, rises once more from her ashes
bright and beautiful IT'S she now stands be-
lore lis. Yes, fellow members, there she
stands ready to do her duty with renewed
energy with the members OF Phoenix Fire
Company ut her side with their willing
hearts and ready hands. The want of a fire
company was greatly felt, not ON account OF
tue frequency OF fires III our midst or the
imminent danger OF one, but for the security
that one would bring to the public mint.
Our company hats been named the Phoenix
that rises from her ashes, i'll allusion to the
fact that the town OF Donaldsonville was,
during the war, consumed by fire, and that
like the tabled bird OF yore rose from her
ashes.
What life of self sacrificing devotion is
that OF the brave fireman. See him at the
first tap of the bell leep from his bed, no
matter how inclenent the weather, and rush
with the impetuosity OF lightning to the
scene Ut colItiagration, ready to risk his life,
health, and ali, Tor the safety OF human lie
and property. See him as he mounts the
ladder and through fire and smoke rescue
from u terrible death some bed-stricken in
valid OF some child forgotten by its parents
III the excitement and confusion of the mo
ment See him issue from the burning ruins,
almost exhausted and restore to the frantic
mother her darling one, just rescued from a
terrible death Oh What "a noble self
sacrificing life is that of the fireman, all
honor and praise is due him. Fellow MEM
bers, We have made beginning, we have
inaugurated not only a lire company, but
also II charitable association wherein the
members meet as brothers, and charity,
love, and confidence are the principal vIr-
tues that animate them. In sickness or
poverty the members are always ready to
extend the nand of relief and fly to the as
sistance OF the needy member Let us then
go on with the good work that We have so
aaspieiously begun, and as each succeeding
year rolls by we can look back with pride