Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-06
OLD-TIME FIREMEN.
Some Interesting "Reminiscences Given by
Veterans OF the Volunteer Department.

Some Interesting "Reminiscences Given by
Veterans OF the Volunteer Department.
THE CHARGE THAT THE RIOT AT THE NORTHERN
LIBERTIES MARKET WAS CAUSED By THE FIRE
MEN INDIGNANTLY DENIED-THAr CANNON AND
THE STORY OF HOW IT WAS OBTAINED.
A T THE MEETING OF THE VETERAN
IA Volunteer Firemen's Association held at
their hall. 18th and H streets, on Tuesday even
ing number of interesting relics were pre-
scented, which called up "reminiscences of the
olden time Mr.. J. j. Peabody, for Mr..
S. E. Culverwell. formerly secretary of the
Northern Liberties Fire Company, pre-
scented to the association the records
Of that company from its organization in
1910. Also the following were presented: Jack
son monument (subscriber's) picture from Mr..
Drummer; fire scene from W. C. Weeden and
framed ball ticket Of Franklin company, 1857,
from Frank Newhaus. Votes of thanks to the
donors we're adopted.
Mr. Peabody called the attention OF the asso-
citation to a recent publication noticing death
and said that there were number of errors in it.
When man is dead. he said, is not the time to
recur to any faults of the deceased, nor should
false statements be made.
NOT FIREMAN's RIOT.
He alluded particularly to that portion of the
article in which the Northern Liberty market
house riot is put down a fireman's riot and
the assertion made that the Northern
Liberties company could not meet the Ana-
costa, Franklin and some other companies
without having a fight. The statements, he
said, are without foundation, especially to
the riot named. Every unprejudiced man
knows that the tremen were not in it and that
1t was political riot. for which politicians
were alone to blame. 1t had been stated that
the cannon used on that occasion was brought
up from the navy yard by firemen. but 1T was
not SO, and had there been a dozen determined
officers the riot could have been easily put
down. He had seen men jerked from the ropes
OF ire apparatus on account of politics. and if
the act was resented the charge would be that
1t was a freman's riot.
UNJUST CHARGES AGAINST FIREMEN.
Every little disturbance no matter how it
originated was by some charged to firemen. He
had been active in running to fires from the
time he was able to run to the disbandment of
the volunteer department, aud he had never
mlssc. any that he could get to- and in all that
time the hremens riots could be counted on
his fingers. He denied that the old volunteers
were set OF rowdles, and said that many who
had SO charged never look on the good the
volunteers had done in the past or remember
the many disastrous fires averted with their
primitive apparatus. The present system is ex-
tolled and very justly, but it should be remem-
bered that 1t was through the efforts of the
volunteers that the steam fire engines were
Drought here and the present system was
evolved. The records will show that from the
very commencement efforts were made for a
general organization and for the adoption of
uniform rules, &c, and the records of the
councils show that the bills for the paid depart
ment-ln fact, every measure tending to the i'm
provement of the service-were urged by fire.
men. both IN and out of the councils.
THE STORY OF THE CANNON.
Mr.. John W. Thompson Endorsed the senti-
ments of Mr.. Peabody, especially as to the
market riot being properly chargeable to poll
ticians and not to fircmen. 1t was true that
the gun In question was taken from an engine
house, but 1T was there simply to use in firing
salutes, &C., and they had right to have it
there. He denied that the firemen had any,
thing to do with the riot and stated that he was
one OF the Judges of election ct the polls in the
Anacosta engine house on the day in question.
The gun was there with the fire apparatus and
no less than three times were those who tried
TO get the gun out repulsed.
1T WAS SPIKED.
Fearing that other attempts would be made
ard that they might get away with 1t it was
spiked and rendered useless This was. how
ever, not known to those who were endeavoring
to get it, and by springing question over the
legality OF vote they finally succeeded. While
the judges were examining the case and refer
ring to the law the windows were broken open.
the crowd rushed in and went off with the gun.
1t was true, as his friend said. that the DISPOSE
ton was to charge all disorders to firemen, but
such charges were unjust, and by reference to
the archives OF the corportion and the old
books 1t would be seen that among the fire.
men there was constant effort made to improve
the service.
MR.. JOHN T. OWENS EXPERIENCE.
Mr.. John T. Given, in speaking of his own
experience, related that the old Franklin com-
pany once had uniform of red coat, red cape.
red Shirt red hat and wore red boots and that
he had been SO uniformed. Some OF them,
perhaps, remembered the fire known as Browns
bakery in West Washington, the exact date of
which he could not remember. He was then n
second director of the hose a position which
took him into the thickest OF the FRAY. The
flames got into a mass OF timber intended for
the aqueduct. This had been treated with
corrosive sublimate as preservatlye. and as he
worked on 1t there arose nauseatng gas but
he was unaware at the time that those working
on 1t were being affected. McClintock Young,
then high officer of the Treasury Department
and a member of the Franklin. came to him
with an invitation to go to Woodward's for
coffee. 1t SO happened that when he
reached the saloon the coffee was out.
He had made it a rule never to drink LIQUOR at
a fire, but as it was known that the gas had
overcome many he was prevailed ON to take
hot scotch and went home. The next DAY lis
house was bestowed by callers to find out how
he was, many expecting to find him seriously
sick, but he suffered no ill effects from the gas
although many were Frustrated and DR.. Ma
gruder was attending twenty or more sick
Union men.
President Richards said that in future after