Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-02-07
ExEMPrs' BANQUET.

The Exempt Firemen always manage to
have q right royal time at their annual re-
unions. The "Osd Boys" realize that they
have not very long time to stay in this vale
of tears and propose at least once year to
make that vale just as pleasant as the law al
lows. For this purpose they get out their
Sunday garments in February Of each year,
go through preparatory season of fasting,
and set them down to sumptuous feast,
where they call to mind the days of the long
| ago, when they used to run wild der mer-
sheen" and tell old stories, and recount
scrapes and escapes, and pat one another on
the back, and cry "Ah, what lily fellows
were we, in the good old days before these in
| fernal old cookirg-stoves on wheels were
brought out to take the place of the gallant
| fire tubs of the past" There is much of the
romantic in the recollecsions of this little
band of men, now so rapidly lessening IN
mum ber as they tell of the feats of daring their
comrades took part in in those days when
the cit zen relied wholly upon the volunteer
| force for protection of his property from FIRE.
They never speak, save in the most modest
manner, and then only when compelled to do
so to keep the connection of narrative, of their
own achievements. A better evidence of the
tdct tUdb Ju6t were Dfdtc auu StuSIOub Ii
those days, as now, could not be cited. The
Exempts got together again last night for
their annual banquet, and as they looked
down the line before being seated in Fishers
ample banquet-room, they noted here and
there vacant places-places that were last
year, or the year before at least filled by men
then as strong and vigorous as any last night
present. But beyond a sigh for the memory
of those gone before, the old volunteers
did not allow the ghosts Of the past to disturb
the pleasures of the present. They could not,
would not, for any considerations, forget their
dead and gone comrades but they knew the
shadowy boys well enough to know that if
they were at that moment shaking their i'm
material wings over the spread of good things,
and if they were in reality speaking to them
in the unheard language of the sweet by-and-
by, they were shouting with all the vigor of
spiritual lungs, Go in. old fellows, and have
good time, and don't you mind US for
minute" So they sat down. fifty-four in
number, aud began the discussion of BAN
quet which did honor to their own hberality,
their gastropomic tastes and Fishers ability
to cater, for it was banquet that was ample,
varied as to dishes, and choice as to the food
and the manner of its service and preparation.
1t was noted that at this banquet no wines or
liquors we're served.
When the viands had been sufficiently dis
cussed, the Chairman, President Grove l..
johnson, arose and in succinct manner
sketcbed the history of the association and
its charitable work. 1t began with over 300
members it has buried SO Of them In the
nine years of its existence it has expended
over Si3 600 in charity. The society has
cared for the orphan, relieved the widow and
buried the dead. He referred feslingly to the
vacant places in the society's ranks. He
| trusted it would be many, many years before
the association would cease to exist. He
urged the cultivation of fraternal feeling, and
that spirit which one brother should enter.
tain toward another. He referred to the
records of heroism which illumine the pages
of the society's history. In feeling
peroration he glanced at the probable
future of the association and the
record the Exempts would leave to the
criticism of the community. He gave as the
first toast 1.-THE City of Sacramento; where
we wen our exempt certificates and dispensed
our charity" Responded to by Judge W. A.
Henry, who paid high tribute to this city of
homes.
Mr.. johnson then gave the toast, :" The
Old Boys" Responded to by Daniel Brown
in very pleasant manner.
The next toast was 1.-THE County of Sacra-
mento." Responded to by District Attorney
Buckley. He referred to the trials the county
had been subjected to in the past, and dweft
feelingly upon the generous character of the
people, their pluck and perseverance,, and the
attract 3ns Of the city and its vicinity TO
those who have their homes here.
The next toast was "The Old Volunteer
Fire Department of Sacramento, the parent
of the Exempt Firemen's Association. Re.
sponded to by First Vice President James
Lansing. He recalled recollections Of the
old Department, its early character, the high
position it held in the community and the
distinguished and eminent citizens whose
names had been on its rolls.
The next toast was The Free Schools OF
Sacramento City" Responded toshy Super
intendent of Schools DR.. j. r. Lai2e. He
returned warm thanks for the compliment
and expressed his satisfaction humorously
with the condition of the school department,
and concluded with witty allegory of the
condition of iremen in the hereafter.
The next toast was 1.-The Paid Fire De-
partment of Sacramento" and Mr.. johnson
bore warm testimony TO its efficiency. No
where had he seen 6 department that got out
sooner, or that did better work. He paid
personal compliment TO Chief Engineer Salli-
van as thoroughly competent officer, who
responded with thanks and asked ex-Commis.
sioner Putnam to respond to the toast, which
he did, paying tribute to tie worth and
efficiency of the Paid Department, and out
lined the history of the change from the vol
unteer to the paid system. He said the Ex-
empts had expended not only $4,000 in
charity, but $50 coo more tor the purposes of
the Exempt Association. He thanked the
Society for electing him the eleventh time as
its Treasurer.
The Chairman here announced that none of
the speakers had had any intimation of the
fact that they were to be called on. He gave
as the next toast, "Our Honored Dead"
responded to by b Kozminsky. Hereferred
in fitting terms to the deceased members. He
referred especially to ex Chief Engineer Lee
as a representative fireman.
This completed the regular toasts The
first volunteer toast was THE City Police
Department" responded to by Chief OF
Police Matt Karcher. Mr.. Lansing gave
"The Press" responded to BY
representative of the RECORD UNION
Judge Henry proposed the health and
prosperity of Grove l.. johnson, the Presi-
dent of the Association, and the long life of
the Exempt's Society, which brought out
warm applause and fitting response from
Mr. johnson. He gave, in closing. the toast.
"The Ladies--God Bless En-" Responded
to by II. NJ. Bernard. who, in turn, called
on E. I. Robinson, who responded humor.
ouslv. Mr.. Kozminsky gave 1.-THE Retir-
ing President )" responded to by P. S. Law
son, who replied appropriately. compliment
ing the society warmly. VIM. Avery proposed
the health of Andrew Black, and the latter
responded to the compliment, and referred to
the history of the volunteer department. as
an important and very interesting part of the
history of the State. By request, Wm
Avery sang "Have Faith in One Another"
| The Chairman then declared the banquet
closed, and the company dismissed for one
year.
AN ITALIAN TRAGEDY.