The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-06-24
TRIED IN THE FIRE.
The Militia's Service in Guard
ing Ruins Of Seattle.
sPsEcH BY col nsL NAMES
Nest Valuable Werk KenAersA ~ che
Citisea ssadtsry since Ne war
Rssnisa ~ ths Firs ssatries

1sanisa ~ ths Firs ssatries.
AT American lake Sunday night Com
panies G and H held social gathering in
ccmmemoratiou Of their return from duty
q The Seattle fire, IL being the anniversary
o. that event. Speeches were made by
Colonel Haines and Captain Fife. and =
general good time WAS had. Colonel
Haines said:
Thus meeting tonight, occurring. IS
Captaan f1fe has suggested. one year since
the time these companies marched out Of
Camp Moore at Seattle after fourteen days
In the fire and smoke and dust Of that
snlitten city. recalls most wildly the
stirring scenes Of those trying times. We
parted amid smoke, ashes and ruins We
meet By the Sparkling campfire. amid
white tents and under the clear stars. But
changed g arc the surroundings. those
scenes, - case into your faces, rise up
before me - plainly as though they were
OF yours II written on the tablets of my
msmory in letters that can never grow
dim, and ! remember that when the pillows
OF name were sweeping down the streets,
when buildings were melting like snow BE-
fore the breath Of the IRE spirit, when all
hope Of saving anything seemed gone.
when people abandoned everything they
it: when the thief. the robber ana footpad,
emboidened by the general panic. wefs
fearlessly and openly plying their trade,
when fncendiaries not content with the
desolation and opportunities for plumber
the con6agraiion necessarily afforded were
putting the torch 70 buildings yet un-
touched; when the police totally made
quate IN numbers TO cope with the army Of
professional criminals who had crawied
from their hiding place to take advantage
OF The general misfortune. were democrat
led aud almost useless and people began
to say to themselves: IF life and property
are now so cheap what will happen when
darkness comes?'
The mayor came to me and asked me
II could call this regiment into service.
The telegraph poles were burning, could
ders from him. but knew he would recOg-
nixe the supreme necessity OF the occasion
and ratlfy my actions. and accordingly
ordered the three Seattle companies into
service at once. The others / would have
called could | have communicated with
them. but II was impossible. consequently
those companies we're obliged to all go on
duty 1t once without any opportunity for
relief, and scattered over 10 acres Of Terri
nameless people. good and bad. During
the night l manages to get an opportunity
to Telegraph Tacoma, and Immediately
flashed an order to the command
ing officer of G company TO march ~
once TO Seattle. Captain Fife knew was
ct Tacoma As rode down the street
saw him. not equipped, as he is nov, in the
but in the uniform Of fireman, his facs
grim and block with smoke. battling with
the flames at the head OF Tacomas ire
company. winch had dashed from that city
by special train at the rate OF smile min
ute, but / knew that when G company re-
ported for duty he would b at the head
also, and be was. The night wore on. The
weary sentries faithfully and patiently
stood ct their posts watching for the dawn.
The day wore on, suitry and close. The
cir filed with flying ashes. ones very
breath seemed filed With fire. All ct once
. cheer rang along the street. We listened
and heard the tramp Of marching feet
the quick. swinging tread Of the trained
soldier. We looked out, and in steady col
umn. fully equipped in heavy marching
out . minutes delay. obeyed the summons.
and the weary sentries found in their COM
ing the long needed relief. A few days
later it became apparent that the duty re-
quired OF the five companies then Ut Seattle
was too severe for that number Of men, and
the experiment of Withdrawing the guard
Was attempted.
I'm less than one hour the ruins were
filed with mob plundering and stealing
ing the police. A call was made by the
mayor 70 clear the ruins and restore order.
1t was instantly obeyed, and in twenty
minutes thirty-five national guardsmen, In
which number G company bore Its fair pro-
portion, restored peace and order to the
disputed grounds. Then meeting Of Cit
liens Was held TO discuss the question a. TO
prominent OF all callings and professions
were in that meeting and with one accord.
They said, Retain the soldiers" Then II
became apparent that the full regiment
must be on duty, and Company II was
ordered at once 10 Seattle. On the
next train thsy came. marching through
the streets with that unassumed, easy step
which marks the veteran and a. the people
saw them in their regulation uniform the
and then the days that followed were served
together. II was no holiday service. Your
belts were flied with ball cartridges- You
were guarding millions OF treasures and
thousands of precious lives. Many times
In the mist and darkness OF the gloomy
ruins We heard the rifle OF the sentry ring
out ~ some skuiking marAuder.
ut Was . weary. dangerous, trying,
but most gallant and . brilliant service
II was the most valuable and splendid rem
dered by the national guard OF the Union
since the war. II has passed into history
as such and has become one Of the bright
est pages Of the annals Of the National
Guard. Those days live now but in MEM
0rv. bat those memories are ~ radiant
with eternal brightness as the stars above
us. You who were bound by no ties Of
blood or interest 70 our stricken city have
rendered a service to as which will never
be forgotten. You were soldiers, ron read
your orders. and you marched without 2
thought Of sught save duty. All glory. all
honor 70 you for IL. You have shown the
world that the blue we wear 70 the badge
OF the true soldier, the unseifish, devoted
citizen, the sincere and Ill sacrificing
friend thank you for the attention you
have given me. have spoken 81 greater
length than intended. but my heart Is 80
full OF this theme that could not be brief.
I bid you goodnight. one and all, my
tried and true comrades. my cvsr-to-be-
cherished friends.
THE POPULATION or AFRICA.