, 1888-11-01
H HOOKS BALL.
A Grand Turnout of the Firmen
Last Night.
The Biennial Ball a Gratifying
Success.
A Brief History of the Famous
Pioneer Organization.

The eleventh biennial ball given by the
Pioneer Hook and Ladder company last
evening was a most gratifying success in
every particular. The attendance was
large, the music excellent, the floor in
prime condition and the dancers unusually
merry. The presence of members of
other companies was a noticeable feature.
and the cordiality with which the various
candidates were greeted was very pleasant
to the office seekers. The orchestra struck
up the grand march at 9 O'Clock, and it
was several ticks past what is ordinarily
considered a pretty late hour for parties
to adjourn when Home; Sweet Home"
was reached There were twenty-fcur
numbers on the well selected programme,
and during each dance the floor was occu-
pied by as many as could comfortably
move about on its smooth surface.
The hall was decorated very tasteIully,
profusion of ornaments having been
carefully avoided. Outside was the model
truck, with lamps lighted and everything
ready for use. Several banners hung
from the walls, and in che background of
the stage was the printed greeting:
WELCOME.
PIONEER HOOK N LADDER co. NO. l.
The committees having the affair in
charge were as subjoined:
Arrangement-L w. Warlaumont, P.
S. Cook, NJ. F. Brennan, P. H. Scriber,
A. D. Kelley, H. Blake.
Floor-E. Lawler, L. House, John j.
Lynch.
Door-John Nolan, Z. NJ, Tucker, S.
Finch.
Reception-Jos. Dillman, Nels Jansen,
L. E. Roe.
Much credit is due these gentlemen for
their valuable services. 1t is due to their
management, perhaps more than to any
thing else, that nothing was omitted
which would add to the comfort and en-
ioyment of the guests OF the company.
Appended is a list of the incumbent
officers of the pioneer organization:
Foreman-L w. Warlaumont.
First Assistant-John Nolan.
Second Assistant-M, f. Brennan.
Secretary Ed. Lawler.
Treasurer-Jos. Diliman.
Board OF Trustees-A. D. Kelley,
Thos. Rutledge. Ben Ekdall, NJ. F. Bren-
nan, P. HI. Scriber.
At present the rolls of the company
| contain ffty-four active and fifteen hon
orary members. To essay to praise the
Pioneers as working tiremen resembles an
attempt to polish a diamond. AS a gen
| eral thing their truck has left their splen-
did house before the sound of the first
tap of the alarm has died away. Better
still they act with rare good judgement in
their efforts to save property from de-
| struction by the flames. As stated yes
terday they have several times saved the
city from almost total destruction.
The Pioneer Hook and Ladder compa-
ny was the first flame fighting organiza-
ton that existed in the territory. having
elected officers in September, 1867. I'm
fortunately their early records have been
lost. They would prove interesting read
ing if obtainable.
In its early life the company had rather
crude appliances for contests with the
flames, but the members were jolly under
all circumstances. At first the organiza-
ton was an ordinary bucket brigade; sub,
sequently they bought ladders and hooks
and rugged up a truck from the remains
of a wagon that had outlived its useful
ness as a load bearing vehicle. OF late
years no volunteer company in the coun-
try has been better equipped with modern
appliances, and the boys know
how to manipulate them too. Their sta
ton, the handsome two story building on
Eddy street, near Seventeenth, is, in ad-
beauty, a model fire house in every par
ticular. None larger, better built, or
more complete in every detail is to be
found in either Omaha, Denver, Lead
vile or Salt Lake.
Among the pioneer members of the
Pioneer company may be named Judge
w. L. Kuykendall, John Murray, Morris
Appel, J.. Kabis, NJ. P. Hannlfn, Harry
Blake, Daniel Fallen, N. j. O'Brien,
Luke Murrin, P. H. Scriber, Thos. Rpt,
ledge, Jas. P. Julian.
Many of the boys have answered tie
alarm for the last time, many have can,
grated and others have retired from act se
service. The membership has always
included foremost citizens, and the com
pany furni he'd the popular chiet-M. ?.
Hannlfn, for several terms.
That the boys are appreciated was
demonstrated by the patronage accorded