Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-26
VETERAN FIREMEN.
Interesting Facts From Old Records
in Their Possession.
THE COLUMBIA COMPANY.
Incidents in Its History From Its Formation
In 1sO4-ReOrganized After the War of
1S12-somc Prominent Citizens Whose
Names Are Found ON Its Roll.

several nre companies organized In the fali Oh
1904. and during the war of 1912 they dis
banded, to he revived after the close Of the war
The Columbia Company on Capitol Hill wa
one OF these, and during the sixty years pre-
ceiling the organization Of the present system
with the exception of the hiatus during the
war Of 1917, it existed almost continuously under
that name. Prior to that war it is stated tina,
the apparatus was kept in small frame build
ing of one story about on the site OF the statue
of Washington, east Of the main portico of the
Capitol. and this was destroyed by fire when
the British burned the Capitol.
REoRoASIzEp IN 1915.
That 1t was reorganized in 1915 is certain,
but the books and papers of the company were
DESTROYED in the destruction Of the residence
of John T. Frost. the secretary. by fire in 1917.
Among the archives resurrected by the Veteran
Volunteer Firemen's Association are the books
of the Columbia. dating back to January, 1918.
The entry Of this date states AT meeting OF
the citizens Of che third ward at Queens Hotel
for the purpose of forming fire company Mr..
Daniel Rapine was called to the chair and John
2. Ingle appointed secretary, and they were
appointed committee to prepare articles for
the government of the association these ar
ticles were reported. considered, amended and
adopted They provided, besides president,
&c, for the election Of eight engineers,
four axmen, four laddermen, six SEN
tinels and four house or furniture
men, a total of twenty-six men. The engineer 8
duties we're to take charge of the engine and
apparatus, on every just alarm TO have the
engine brought to the place of fire and afterward,
at the expense of the company, safely return 1t
to the engine house" &c. The sentinels were
charged with the safe keeping Of property re-
moved from fires and keeping unknown and
suspicious characters from entering houses on
q gsvE
and treasurer we're the house or furniture men,
whose duty was to move property ana denver
it to the sentinels or place it in safe places In
case of fire in the third ward the property OF
members or contributors to the company we're
always 20 have decided preference and their
services were to be rendered In any part OF the
city.
THE OFFICERS IN 1873
At the meeting of January 81. 1918, the fol-
lowing were elected to the positions: James
Young, president; Daniel Rapine, vice presi-
dent; Vim. Ingle. secretary; Alixir Mccormick.
treasurer; Daniel Romans. John p. Insle. n.
L. Queen, VIM. Erby, Richmond johnson, VIM.
j. Mccormick. Henry V. Hill and John Dun
ming. engineers; James Middleton, lgnatius
Wheatley. John Wood and Thomas Hurdle, AK
men; George Dawson Henry Tins John earns
and Thomas Burch, laddermen: A. r.. Dowson,
II. y. Washington, Joseph InSie, Henry lnglc,
James Hickey and Benz. Burch. sentinels. Mr..
Young resigned the presidency and John u.
Mcdonald was elected in his place. Committees
were appointed to report suitable badges. 10
procure axes. ladders. fire hooks, &c. and no.
tice was given for claims against the late COM
pany to present them.
At the election on January 5, 1919. Mr.. Ra-
pine was chosen president and Andrew Hunter
vice president; James Young, Griffith Coomb
James Middleton and Charles l. hewitt. di-
rectors. At this meeting the ladder men were
directed to have the ladders and fire hooks
painted and secured In the market house on
Capitol Hill, and the directors to procure wards
or stats bearing the name Of the company. At
the meeting March 8. 1919. a resolution was
adopted looking to the adoption with other
companies OF plan of signaling At night the
location of fires. The president and vice presi-
dent were appointed committee to wait on
the President of the United States in the event
of Congress purchasing engines and inform him
that the company would take charge Of that de-
signed for the protection OF the Capitol.
DANIEL CARROLL MEMBER.
The April meeting was held at Pics Tavern.
Among those in attendance was the late Simeon
Ma.tocx. who had been a member of the COM
pany in 1904, and who lived to see the present
department organized in service. At the fol-
lowing meeting John Daniel Carroll Of Dud-
dington and John Duckworth were elected
members. In September the number of ladder
men was increased by the addition of
eight. Some of the meetings this
year were attended by less than
dozen, but the increased number
present at the beginning of the year showed
growing interest when officers were elected,
and among the new members was Robert
Brent, ladderman. At this meeting the
number of engineers was increased to twelve.
1t was reported by the committee that Col.
Lane, commissioner of public buildings, had
expressed his willingness to place the public
engine in their keeping and resolution of
| than kat tn md tipp 4 emo
to take possession of the same were adopted.
At the following meeting the president was
directed to tranfer to the Phoenix Fire Com
pany the engine of Lyons make on condition
that they pay the balance due for the said
engine by the fremen of Columbia Company.
This offer was declined. At the January meet
ing, 1871. John q. Mcdonald was elected presl-
dent and John L. Frost vice president, Mr..
Rapine being elected director. In january
ls56. n resolution was adopted authorizing the
president to wait the commissioner of
public buildings TO solicit through him addi-
t!onal apparatus and two hundred feet of hose
in addition to what they then had.
NEW ENGINE HOUSE AND BELL.
In November they asked for the erection of
an engine house with an alarm bell outside the
Capitol grounds. This request was successful.
for the annual meeting, January /, 1925 was
held III a new house On New Jersey avenue.
and through Mr.. Everett an appropriation OF
commissioner of public buildings. had pur-
chased suction and hydraulian, 100 feet of
hose, three pair of fire buckets, four axes four
hand lamps, shafts and harness for attaching
horses TO the apparatus, and all the old APP
paratus had been repaired and repainted. A
vote of thanks to Mr.. EIgar was adopted. The
number Of engineers was increased to twenty,
aud among the members were Vim. A. Bradley
treasurer; John Coylesr., BENZ Sprugg, David
Pancoast, john Coyle, jr., Harvey Cruttenden,
Col {. h. Gardner and Maj. 1hos. Law.
At meeting on January 4. 1928, John Purdy.
l. j. Middleton. James TowIes, Frederick May,
A. j. Stansbury and others were elected me III
| bers, and the following year Messrs John Tn
| derwood, Carroll &. h Gardner, John Mcleod
and IhOs- Law were among the laddermen. In
May following Col. VIM. Hickey became men,
Der. In compliance with resolutions of the
Franklin Company looking to a meeting OF
delegates Of the companies to form u fire asso-
| citation of the District Messrs. James McCor-
| mick. H. Cruttenden and c. IL. Dunn were ap-
pointed. At this meeting James Call, after
| ward Justice OF the peace, and Col. Elgar (com-
missioner OF public buildinSs) were elected
| members. Henry TImms was elected president
and W. j, Mccormick vice president
AN ATTEMPT TO DISSOLVE FOOLED.
At a meeting January IL, 1929, Mr.. John 2.
lngle offered resolutions directing the treas
| urer to turn over his accounts to the commits
| sioner of public buildings: that the secretary
| do likewise With his books and the company be
/ dissolved. The first and second were ntlauteI