Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-26
A MEDAL FOR CHIEF PARIS.


The Veteran nremens ASSOCIATION mad a null
attendance at a special meeting held at Myers
hall last evening. the object being the presenta-
ton of q testimonial to Joseph Paris. chief Of
the District fire department, in compliance
with resolutions adopted by the association
February f. Mr.. James H. Richards presided,
with Mr.. J. ]. Peabody as secretary. The
president stated briefly the object Of the meet
ing and in a few minutes the committee
Messrs Raglan, Cammack and Kelmartin-ac-
companied by Vice President Pierce escorted
Mr.. Paris to the hall President Richards
welcomed the chief, stating that a few days
after the calamity at Secretary Tracy's resi-
dence the association had decided to testify its
appreciation of his conduct by a testimonial
which the committee had prepared He intro
duced MIR. j. W. Thompson. who made
THE PRESENTATION SPEECH.
Mr.. Thompson said that it was one of the
most pleasing tasks Of his life to be called upon
to present this testimonial to commemorate
the heroic act of one of their number, one who
is hereby esteemed by his fellow citizens 1t
was not the gift alone that spoke their senti-
ments, but if the chief looked around him
he would see that il came from his old as
soclates, some of whom had known him from
boyhood and who felt proud that ne was an
honor to the position he filled. While it was
could but commend the action of the chief.
who, losing sight of self and knowing the
danger. did all he could to succor and save
those in peril. How ne had succeeded had
been heralded in the press and the associations
were proud OF him as having been one of the
old volunteer department.
THE MEDAL
After calling attention to the familiar faces
present and referring to the efforts of MIR. John
L. Given IN organizing a steam paid department
Mr.. Thompson handed the gift to Mr.. Paris
with the assurance that ii but feebly typiied
the sentiments of the membership.
The gift Is a heavy gold medal, on the front
OF which Is engraved ill basso relieve a fire
hat, ladder, trumpet, hook, pipe and torch, and
on the other side in raised letters the words:
Chief ID. CF.D. Presented to Joseph Paris
by the Veteran firemen's association, 1890" In
the center is a sunken star, in which diamond
is set
RESPONSE OF CHIEF PARRIs
Mr.. Paris warmly expressed his apprecia-
ton of their kindness, although unprepared.
as he said he was taken unawares. The gift
was peculiarly gratifying to him coming from
those with whom he had been associated in
some instances from childhood, and he would
accept 1t not because OF any merit of his own.
for he had only performed his duty, but as a
souvenir which would ever remind him Of his
old-time friends in the association. Each and
all had has best wishes.
CALLS FOR MR.. GIVEN
brought that gentleman out and he said he was
gratified at the privilege OF being present and
meeting so many of those he had met in former
times. He Endorsed what had been said of
Chief PARIS, whom he had known from boy
hood, and said it required no disastrous con-
fagration to convince the citizens of his quail
ficatlons for his position. The sound of the
had haH nm fhn OH he. AZ
feet as the sound of the huntsman's horn on the
hounds and he had had the experience of as
slstlnS III dragging an engine to Alexandria
over seven miles OF turnpike and working until
morning. Mr.. Given related some incidents of
his service as second director of hose and
closed by saying that he had ever been with
the association in spirit and hoped to be pres
ent in person in the future.
After remarks by Mr. Peabody and others the
association adjourned.