Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-22

WYNN the Oldest Inhabitants asso-
A y citation is to the District gen.
ANB orally in preserving memory OF
the incidents happening in the
early days Of Washington the Vet
eran volunteer fremen association is to
the old volunteer fire organizations of the past
The association. though small in numbers,
beng yet in its infancy, is a uniformed organi-
cation and is one OF the chain of the veteran
associations which have been formed in all the
large cities and between the members of which
there is ever flowing fraternity of feeling quite
the opposite of the feeling which existed be-
tween the rival bands of Changers on" with
whom they ran when boys. The same old-time
friendship existing when the ''vets we're active
members. mellowed somewhat by years. throbs
IN the hearts of the old boys when they meet
each other. ard if one can show that he was "a
knight of the spanner" or a deck hand on a
gallery engine, or that he did any service in an
authorized company, he will find mach truth
in the old saying, "A fellow feeling
makes us wondrous kind" One object of
the organization other than to keep
alive the associations of the past is that the rs-
ing generation may not be kept in entire ig-
norance Of the old-time methods Since the
old-fashioned hand engine with gallery has
been superseded by the splendid steamers
and chemical engines and the two-wheel hose
carts by the fine hose carriages with web hose
there are hundreds who do not have the least
idea Of what now appear TO be the primitive
apparatus and simple methods of the old times.
The appearance on the streets today of one of
the Paddy Lion engines of three-fourths of a
century ago would attract about as much atten-
AS an n d-tIr asfa hat he
ISOLATION is anxious to do next is to obtain some
permanent place for the relics of the olden
time and. if possible, to form a museum At
present there are in the possession of members
some Of the old-time painted hats and caps, a
few old spanners. several of the massive silver
horns or truIapets and other paraphernalia.
SKETCH OF TIE ASSOCIATION.
The Washington association was organized
April 4. 1887, at a meeting held at Cosmopoli-
ran hall. The veterans of Baltimore paid
visit to this city on February % previously.
Having written to Mr.. J. ]. Peabody of their
projected visit meeting was called here and
about one hundred and fifty of the '.vets" met
the visitors. escorted them through the city,
and in the afternoon visited Alexandria with
them The first officers we're John j. Pc abody
of the Columbia, president; w. III. Hines of the
Union, vice president; L. Ii. Fisher. Franklin.
secretary; +. W. Kahlert, American hook and
ladder company, financial secretary. and L. H.
Neumyer, Northern Liberties. treasurer. The
association met at Cosmopolitan hall for fe W
months and then moved to ST. Georges hall.
1lth street. but since November. 1885. the meet
ing place has been Myers hall, 9TH and
streets northwest.
Not to be behind their fellows in other cities
It was not long before the project OF uniform
ing was taken up and on the roll there are now
about forty uniformed members and about the
same number nOn-uniformed. The project of
unlto-ming was one which led to much discus
sion. but the old boys finally came to an under
standing. adopting the uniform a draD coat
biack pants. fire nat with black frontispiece
(whlte for Offcers). shirt ANY color so il was
red" black belt with the word Veteran in
white letters on blue panel. black silk neck tie
and white gloves They also looked about for
a machine TO draw. Owing to advancing years
Of members something light was given the
preference and the handsome hose carriage
formerly used by the sun fire company of Alex
andria WAS purchased by FIVE of the members
and presented to the association.