The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-11-06
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Reception to Chief O'Connor.

The Fire Department last night gave gen.
erous reception and hearty welcome home
to their Chief Thos, O'Connor, ESD on his
return home from a trip which he had made
in the interest and as the representative OF the
department.
A procession, composed Of representatives
from every company in the city, formed at
Lafayette Square, and marched to the depot,
where Mr.. OConnor was met.
He was escorted to a carriage and the pro-
cession again moved and paraded through the
principal streets, and finally stopped at St.
Patricks Hail, where the formal reception
took place.
| Speeches of welcome we're made by Mr.. l.
N Marks, President of the Fremen's Chair
table Association, representing the Depart
ment, Mayor Leeds, representing HE city, Il.
N. Ogden, Esq, representing the citizens, and
James I. Day, Esq, representing the Board
of Underwriters.
To them all, Mr.. O'Connor responded as
follows:
| Gentlemen and Brother Firemen-The lam
guage used by the gentlemen who have just
spoken, in extending to me welcome to my
home again, have created emotions within me
not soon to be forgotten.
When left this city to attend the National
Convention of Chief Engineers in New York
city, l did not anticipate meeting with such
an ovation upon my return to you. and re-
| gard il as an evidence of the continued cont-
dence so long reposed in me by the hremen
and generous people of this city.
When l presented myself in that conven-
ton was met by fremen from the far off, in.
genious East, the prosperous West, the
wealthy North, and the humble, but hospita-
BILE, South; and all alike extended that hear y
good will and generous compliment for which
the American fremen, the bold warriors OF the
fame, have from time immemorial rendered
themselves conspicuous.
| Gentlemen and Brother Ftrernen-i see assem-
bled here representatives from every COM
pany composing the Fire Department of this
lcity-reprssentatives underwriters and citi-
zens generally; to welcome home again Its
Chief 1t is useless for me to say that am
ljustly proud of this grand exhibition OF en-
lthusiastic goodwill and friendship toward
me by my brother fremen; and while my
very Utmost soul pands under generousinfia-
ences which surround us, permit me to thank
you sincerely for the compliment you have
seen fit to pay me upon my return to you.
L u
stewardship. For the honor done me for your
sakes, and IS your representative, wherever l
have been, am here to thank you. trust
have never failed to recognize the tokens oil
kind feeling and generous compliment have
received, as bestowed only to be transmitted
to you In cities of the West, North and East,
I found alike not hospitality merely, but an
eager emulation to Guido each other in max
T ing my reception and entertainment all that
you could desire. Everywhere New Orleans
bremen are known and there is no man in
America who would not BE- proud to represent
them-to stand as I have stood in parliament
of firemen second to no represen tative body Of
! men under the sun. / have listened to eloquent
tributes of praise to firemen, and althoug h
was proud enough before of my position as
your chief, / shall be prouder OF it hereafter.
/. II shall feel my station as horse feels his
oats, and like the horse. shall be fitted for
work more than ever, and grander work than
ever, by the proud scenes through which ]
have passed, and the hgh-toned greetings
everywhere received because | was New
Orleans fireman In New York, Philadelphia
Chicago Boston, Baltimore, Washington,
{ Cambridge, and other cities, l have found
splendid departments, and have taken notes
, of their leading merits, for l do not intend
that any fire department in this country shall
|surpass our own either as to efficiency OF
, show. What transpired in the Convention
I will inform you hereafter.
1t was congress of the finest men 10 the
} world, and by its dignity and statesmanship
it has exhalted the public character OF fire.
r men. II our political friends could borrow
some of the men of that body it would
help them. But there was not a whisper OF
politics, not breath Of sectional prejudice,
no sign of enmity or jealousy, but that perfect
harmony of brotherhood, and al all-compre.
| bensive desire TO promote the whole good Of
6remen, to exalt them by every means, and
by federal traditions to unite them into one
all pervading body of gentlemen who snail
cover the land with their protective eyes.
We would make firemen known and honored
by each other; and meeting annually by their
representatives in some one Of our great cities
! taking all in turn) would promote the gene
raj good, by interchange Of ideas and theil
! practical uses, as we'll rs congratulations We
would promote the spread OF friendship anl
kindle a stronger sympathy among frsmen,
so that one Of Us in any part Of the United
States will always be a. home in every o:hel
and in our remotest cities.
Again I thank you Tor this grand demonstra
ton. ,..
After he hai concluded the procession agair
f formed and escorted Mr.. OConnor to BIZ