The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-06-19
TEXAS FIREMEN.
ANNUAL CONVENTION AT FORT
WORTH, ADDRESS OF WELL
COME BY MAYORSMITH.
Reply by President COnnOr who
Touches up His Honor with
Nice Taffy.
Mysterious Story in which a
Galveston Company is Mixed
Up, ETC., Etc.
General Account of the Sayings
and DOings of the Gallant
Red-ShIrts.
Special Telegram to The statesman.

Special Telegram to The Statesman.
FIT. WORTH, June 1.-THE annua
convention of the State Firemen'
Association of Texas was called TO OF
der this morning, at ten o'clock, il
the opera house, President w. G. Con
nor presiding.
address of welcome on the part of tn,
citizens of Ft. Worth, and paid sever
al very handsome compliments to tn,
firemen.
Capt. w. G. Connor president, Oh
behalf of the association, responded
to Mayor Smiths address, in elo.
quent language and said: at
was a pleasure to every
delegate present to witness the
growth and prosperity of the
Chicago of Texas built and
protected by Peter Smith, the ninth
wonder of Texas"
Mr.. Austin, on behalf of the Gal
weston delegation, said that the queen
city by the sea sent greeting to her
sister city of North Texas, and with
the handsome cluster of oleanders,
brought from the Bay city, he strew-
ed them at the feet of Hon. Peter
Smith, as a slight token of their es-
TEEN; that they recognize in him the
embodyment Of all that IS required to
make a true, patriotic citizen, who
has an eye single to the interests of
his people.
Hon. Henry M. Freeman, of Fort
Worth, on behalf of the firemen here,
delivered a fine and eloquent
address, picturing the great
benefits bestowed on each
community by the iremen, regardless
of creeds, wealth or avocation.
He was warmly applauded.
Chief Hogan, Of Waco, also thanked
the citizens of the Fort for their hos
pitality.
The secretary read the constitution
and bylaws.
The president appointed the follow
ing committee on credentials: John
Cotter, of Galveston, chairman; Bart
Moor, of Waco, chief Cohn, of Gaines
vile.
The convention then adjourned till
1:30 p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The convention was called to order
by President W. G. Connor.
The committee on credentials re-
ported,
T. j. Courtright of Fort Worth
was appointed sergeant-at-arms, also
the following cora mittee on topics, to
serve during the present convention:
o. y. Conner; r. Brewster, w. ].
Austin, VIM. Moffett, s. Hogan, c.
Kahn, j. S. Moore, G. w. Littlepage,
and p. S. Tnrner.
President Conner then read his an
nual address able and exhaustive
document upon fires and fiiremen.
In the course of this address he said
eff it were not for the fire departments
of Texas the insurance companies
would own the state in five years."
and he was loudly cheered. He re-
ferred to the red shirts asnworn by
some of the fire organizations as an
article not becoming in these times of
dudism, and said he felt gratified that
many of the companies had thrown
them aside for the more becoming and
genteel state firemens uniform of
blue. His address was well received.
The secretary made his annual re-
port which was read and filed.
The following communication was
then read. (Mr. Connoa calling Mr..
Hogan to the chair.)
GALVESTON, June t. Secretery
Firemens State convention: Dear sir
herewith have the honor to notify
you that Mr.. w. G. Connor has been
expelled from Washington steam fire
engine company, May 6, 1884, for vio-
lating the constitution and bylaws.
(Signe0 Yours respectfully,
f. FREUNQ,
Secretary Washington S. F. E. Co.,
No. 1.
In conversation, with several of the
! delegates from Galveston, it appears
none of them knew anything about
the expulsion of Capt. Connor and even
that gentleman, himself, says he is
perfectly ignorant Of anything
he has done contrary to the rules
of the organization. Mr.. Connor is
the president of thestate firemenis as
sociation, and his home is in Dallas;
but lately he has been in Galveston
from the fact that he has the contract
to erect the water works in that city,
and upon his arrival there he was no.
titled that he had been elected MEM
ber of the fire company in question,
but that he had never been in the
hall, though a bill was presented him
and he promptly paid the same. The
communication was tabled with de.
gree of unanimity unsurpassed, as
not one voice was raised in its behalf.
| 1t is a matter of some surprise that
such a communication could come
into the convention without any
of the delegates from the
company from which it emanated
knowing anything about it.
The parade tonight was the grand
est ever witnessed in the history of
the Fireman's Association of Texas.
The streets were crowded and the re-
view showed up splendidly, rejecting
much credit upon the organizations.
Ft. Worth is crowded with firemen
and their friends and the gates of the
city are thrown wide open.
Tomorrow will be bright day in
the annals of the fireman and Thurs
day the citizens give them a grand
| ball and banquet,