The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-03-07
B. +. B. no. /.
A HOST Delightful Bal.
4 Badge OF Montana Gold Presented
by Butte Fire Brigade No. l.
speech Of +. ]. Taylor and the
Response.

speech Of +. ]. Taylor and thu
Response.
Thursday night the annual ball o.
B. +. B. NJ. l took place at the
Amphitheatre where the music
furnished by the entire brass and
string band of that institution was
highly appreciated by those present
The ladies We're elegantly cosiuned,
the fire laddies in tneir uniforms
bright and courteous, the party q
perfect success 20 far rs the manage
ment, the hall, the music and the
CONN., any were concerned. A more
Pleasant or enjoyable affair has never
been seen in Butte although large
xssembiages have gathered to enjoy
the pleasures of terpsichore.
At 1890 p. m. the floor managers,
by q signal, checked the music. MI.
Fred Taylor stepped into the center
of the floor. The assemblage gathered
around HIM, two committee men took
MI. Henry McMurphy, chief eDgi-
neer, by either arm and led him up
20 Mr.. Taylor az 1t to have him ex-
plain why the dance was stepped.
Az this juncture Mr.. Taylor began q
neat presentation 81 eech, which we
reproduce:
THE SPEECH.
Hon. HENRY McMURPHY: The
motive which prompts me to make
this move may be miscOnstrued by
the chief engineer of Butte Fire
Brigade.
It Is the fret time in the history OF
the silver City fire department q
transaction # this nature has oc-
Cured. It is but q precedent, and
having emanated in the minds OF
those members aud associates whom
you have the honor to command and
control may be repeated.
Since the first inception of this or
ganization, there has been none so
apt in bis realization of duty, none
more prompt to respond to an alarm,
and not one more tirm in that execu-
ton which has resulted in forming a
fire brigade which stands second to
none In u peerless Territory, than
yourself.
/ am deputized by the brave meu
over whom you exercise the pre:0ga-
alive of q true commander to present
you with this golden badge, as a
slight testimonial of Our esteem and
respect for you as q fireman, and gen.
tleman. 1t is but q trivial mementO
so far as its intrinsic value goes, but
when considered us a gift from notle
and true men, to &c worthy, 1T
will be considered in a light which
Will make its worth incalcula bic.
7, / might mention your &C ion
"When the red sheet whirls and winds,
In the coil Of fiightful d cath
When the hammered smoke unturls,
And the hot walls driak our breath"
But suffice it to say, Henry Nc
Murphy, thrice u chief, that your
associates who dare brave danger
under the red and lnrid fire fiend,
present to yoo tn . fa'gso Of . rvitude,
sincerely trusting IL wal I've accepted
IN the same kin lily spirit which
prompts its p~resentotion.
MR.. McMURPHY's RESPONSE.
This sudden action on the part Of
the brigade so completely surprised
the recipient that he, for once in bis
life, was at a loss for words to ex-
press, either his feelings or thanks in
that elegant manner. for which he is
noted when lO,ted on q subject.
Ais heart nearly refused its perform
ance for the n0nce, bat as the gen.
tleman rallied his mental forces the
company were addressed in such
language, and with such feeling that
none present but realized his igoor-
ance of the surprise and his apprecia-
ton of the beautiful gitt;and when he
said, so long rs I shall live this
badge Of distinction. elegant in de-
sign, and suggestive of so many
memories, with which you have
honored me, shall be worn till death
closes these lids, and then, I trust,
will be laid In the silent grave with
the body which has worn it.
THE BADGE
Is composed Of eleven kinds of Mon
tana gold and cost ftty-seven
dollars. It was made by Ley
son & Turck, aud the design
ls the. same as that of the badges
now worn by the Brigade, With the
exception that outside the oval mon
ogram of fire emblems is an oval cir
Gle in plain gold on which is sunk in
black enamel the legend III Mem.
G. E and underneath Palnaam qui
Meriut ferat." The true translation
means: "Let him who has won it
bear the PALM" 1t IS suggestive and
merited. Mr.. Mem urphy is the first
fireman of Butte and o, ganized the
first Brigade in 1876. He purchased
the first and only steamer and be-
came personally responsible for the
amounting to $500. His
a.tivity in fire mat ers have never
ceased. But a few years previous to bis
here he lot his all, amount
ing to nearly $50, 600, in the great Hell
ena fire. Swamped entirly by the
fiend, be breads the aw-
full monster and continually seeks to
prevent his presence, or check his
ravages after. q fOothold has been
gained. He Is now chief for the
third time and more active than ever
in the performance of his duties.
AuOkC WcA0 very uduy pItSSuI Ill
fancy costumes, which added great
~ to the attractiveness of the occa-
sion. One of the finest ever seen in
Butte ball room was that worn by
B. L. Brown. His costume repre- !
senting the character Of Louis 10Th,
Of France, was elegant beyond
aud the character was
presented with that elegance and |
grace for which Louis 10th was
noted.
Sam Mast did bis "Clam Chowder
SAM in both dress and action so &C.
ceptably as to keep the merry dancers
and many spectators IN roars of
laughter. His dancing and songs,
with his clam-horn business, were
good, and Sam scored one.
Space fol bids our mentioning cany
others less slriking.
The ball was one to be long re-
membered, and those who attended
retired to their homes In the early
morning we'll satisfipd with The