The morning call., 1891-09-13
OLD-TIMERS'
CELEBRATION.
Annual Banquet of the MOnu.
mental Aid Society.
The Boys Who Ran With the Masheen u
Long Years Ago Meet and Discuss
the Past Around the Board.
old-time firemen celebrated the anniver-

| SarleS oil the monumental Ala Soclety and
! the battle of North Point last night with a
banquet in the hall of the Exehipts, and a
most enjoyable evening was had. The large
hall was crowded with guests, and many
! hours were spent around the festal board in
feasting, toasting and singing.
Ex-Judge Robert Ferral WAS asked to re-
spond 10 the toast: Our country, Califor-
na the home of our ad option. Her pro-
auctions are the wonder Of world, her eli
mate the finest upon the Continent her
population renowned for their liberality, in
dustry and public spirit"
The speaker said it was embarrassing for
him to be called first. He had often aspired
TO be first, but more frequently turned out
last. For some moments he kept his audi
tors in a roar OF laughter and told many
amusing stories of local interest. Coming
down to the toast. and inquiriBg what it
was, he said he felt like victim recently
before his friend Judge Rix-he hadn't much
| to offer. The young fellow in answer to the
| Judges ques ton, "Wbat have you to offer
| why you should not be punished?" replied,
''Your Honor, hadn't only 81 30 and my
| lawyer took that" On the spur of the mo-
ment he felt that he had nothing to offer.
and was sorry that Sam Shortridge was pot
present 10 take his place in responding.
The Judge was in his bappiest vein, how
ever and at once launched out in a beauti-
ful tribute to the State. He thought it was
glory enough for any man TO have 1t said
that lie lived now or had ever lived in Cali
fornia. Turning TO President Durkee and the
Monumentals around him, he referred touch
ingy to their hardships and heroisms in
saving life and property, and what an
eternal debt of gratitude would always be
due them! They were brave lot. What
they did was for the good Of humanity,
without the thought of reward.
A TOAST BY THE MAYOR.
Mayor Sanderson was assigned the task Of
replying 10 the sentiment: San Francisco
the Queen of the Pacific. Her industries
compares favoraby with the older cities of
the Union, her institutions take rank among
the finest in the land and her people are
enterprising, liberal and public-sprited."
The Mayor addressed those around him
as brothers" and was proud of the oppor-
tunity. He felt as he imagined, as the old
Roman did who exclaimed proudly when he
looked upon his c0untrymeD. II am Ro-
mani In 1851 he had been fireman; he
could feel with these old, gray haired vet
Grams all their enthusiasm, and it was
always with pride and satisfaction that he
thought of them.
His picture of San Francisco was rather
pres ectlYe than retrospective, and truly
glowing one. The time will come. and it is
not far in the future, when the city, as
President Harrison said, during his recent
visit here. will be one Of the three greatest
in the nation. There is no estimating the
possibilities of the city. Nature has done
everything for it. 1t won't be long till the
world behOldS IN amdZemrnt the wonderful
achievements of this beautiful, proud city of
the sunset-the pride of the Golden State.
Mr. Meyer Cohen sang the "Old Ma
chine" in the chorus of which the old vol
unteers joined with enthusiasm.
VOLUNTEER FIREMEN.
The President announced as the next
toast, The old Volunteer Fire Depart
meut-Among all the public institutions of
San Francisco none in their time has rem
dered more substantial service to its citizens.
and the aged and disabled members of tile
old organization should be generously pro-
vided for"
81. d. Hudson, President Of the Exempt
tiremen, was called upon to respond. He
said it was his proud boast that he had at
tended the first fire in San Francisco, on
Christmas eve fOrty-orfe years ago. lie re-
called the memory Of many old brave men,
now gone TO their last reward, who did SO
much for the then struggling young city.
"Who was braveT," he exclaimed, and
more beloved than David C. Broderlcki
Another name he never recalled without an
enthusiastic bOuad of the heart was him
whose name is now inscribed on the bell
that sounds every alarm of fire, the name OF
George H0sStfrass."
EXEMPT FIREMEN.
J. j. GuilfoyIe responded to the toast:
The Exempt Firemen-a band of noble
men, who sacrificed health, life and fortune
for the benefit Of their fellow-citiZens, and
who since their organization, in 1860. have
expended over S250,0G0 for the benefit of
widows and orphans and IN sick benefits"
The speaker gave comprehensive review
OF the good financial work OF the EXempts.
Briefly summarized is the following splen-
did financial array of figures: Paid to
widows, Sl40.26o %; sick benefits, Ss5,99O;
funerals, SO, S35. He looked upon this as
ISOLATION as one OF the grandest and nOblest
on the face Of the earth, and he was proud
10 know that he was member OF il.
George Bahrs spoke to the sentiment:
"The Sons Of the Exempts-worthy sons of
worthy sires-may they live long to en-
joy the fruits OF their fathers sowing"
SECOND TO NONE.
Joseph Figel arose to reply to the toast:
1.-The MOnu mrntals-sec0nd TO none of the
companies forming the old Volunteer Fire
Department in efficiency and promptnesS in
saving and protecting the lives OF their fel-
low citizens. The surviving members will
needs their services"
Lew Rather the well known old "nigger
minstrel and pioneer, responded to call
with jolly speech, mingled with pathos.
The grand tribute he paid TO ''motber" was
received with greater applause than almost
ANYTHING else said during the evening
George Bromley spoke in his welI-known
and injmitable manner. For fifteen MN
| utes he kept his auditors in perfect up
roar OF merriment, alter which ''The En-
| CINE That Stands on the Hip was sung.
INVITED GUESTS.
Following is the list of the invited guests,
| most of whom were present:
| Hon. George II. Sanderson, Hon. Frank NJ
| Pixley, Hon. Robert Ferial, Hon. William VIII
| ku.o Hon George 7. Bromley Hon P j.
| Coffee, Judge Hale Rix; J.. Crowley, Chief of
| Police; /. W. j. es Captain of Detectives; David
| Seanne.l, Chief Engineer; Fire Commissioners
! Fisher Ames, A j. Martin. Samuel Newman
| Maurice Schmtti and I. j. Parsons :
| the following named officers OF the Exempt Fire
COmpany-Wliam Iarkln, j. j. Guilfoyle
George I. Bohen, John J. MshoBey, Jam =
| KentzeI. S. Stryker, J. Z. Connolly, ID. A. Finn,
| X. II. BOckmaB, Henry A. Chase, Godfrey
| Fisher, a. J. Jessup and G. B. McFar-
Land; Thomas VBrien, Tax Collector;
Thomas }. l: Smiley. Auditor; Charles
| i. Hail. Ernest q. Stock, George Fl. Bahrs, W.
| G. Wallace Leon A. Auradou. Captain john
| Short. David Il. Van Orden. Atkins Massey.
| Robert Halght. j. X. Cook john Fay, President
| Veteran Fhemen; w. b. Harvey j. j. Pierce
| L. RaIller John Riley, Frank c. Siebe Thomas
| Hlegs, Thomas BOland, A. p. Rotating Jr, M.
| ID. Borock, Mter Cohen, John Pullman ana Ciar-
| enee Gray.
This pleasant affair was under the man.
| agement OF the foll0wng-named COMMITTEES:
| John l.. Durkee, w. ID. H. Hail. G. s. Cram.
| Joseph Figel aud l.. V. Merle.