Morning journal and courier., 1892-09-17
HENDRICKS HoNoRED.
Prominent Citizens Meet in the Aide

manic Chamber and Present a Testi- monial to the Ex-Ch1ef of the Fire Department-Speech by J. ID. Dew. ell, General 8. E. merwin and Kx- Chief A. c. Hendricks. The aldermanic chamber of the city hall was well filled last evening with represent ative citizens, all of whom we present to honor ex Chief Hendricks and incidentally to present him with 8 testimonial of the respect and esteem in which the late chief was held by the people of this city. The reception committee consisted of J. D. Dewell, J. H. Leeds, F. J. Hart, B. R. Eng ish, F. B. Farnsworth, E. 0. Coolidge and Major T. Attwater Barnes. The meeting l last evening was presided over by James l D. Dewen and E. 0. Coolidge acted as sec- 1 retary.
 Shortly after o'clock the meeting was called to order by MT. Dewell, who spoke ] briefly as follows:
 con March 26th last committee of cit izens to cooperate with committee from the chamber of commerce met to consider the question of presenting to ex-Chief Hendricks suitable testimonial on account of his long service in the fire department of this city. The first plan that suggested itself to nearly every one of the committee was to have a dinner, but those who know ex- Chief Hendricks best, know that that would not be to his liking. He is too modest, too unassuming in every way. The committee decided on 8 testimonial from the leading citizens of the city, and this we are to present to him tonight through General Merwin."
 The chairman then appointed Major Barnes a committee to escort ex-Chief Hendrick, who had up to this time been in the rooms of the fire department, to the aldermanic chamber: Soon Major Barnes dricks, General s. E. Merwin, Chief Ken nedy, Fire Marshall Hubbard, Superin- | tendent Smith and several of the members | of the board of fire commissioners. Ex-Chief Hendricks appearance was | greeted with loud applause. After the sp- | plause had subsided and order had been restored General Merwin made the presen- tationin the following language:
 "More than quarter of a century ago the New Haven fire department found itself | without a chief. The commissioners set | to work to find @ suitable man to fill that position. They found young man who had just returned from the war. who had been good soldier, and who would fill the position well, and that young man is with us tonight. For twenty-five years and more, yea, for twenty-six years, he has served the city faithfully and we'll. It was 8 hard time to begin when he took the position, for the old system had gone out and the new had but just been adopted. Horses end steam had taken the places of men, and there was more or less jeal- ousy both in and out of the department
 The commissioners found in this young man, however, good disoiplinarian, who
 was at the same time not only strict, but
 kind to the men under him, and he soon
 built up one of the best departments in
 the country. If it had not been one of the
 best hs would not occupy the position he does to. day. The national board of under
 writers wanted the best fireman in the country, and they came to New Haven af-
 ter him. As an evidence of his ability the | present board of commissioners did not
 have to go outside of the ranks of the local
 fire department to fill his place. [Ap- plause.
 , "The people do not appreciate the fremen as they should. They leave their work al
 the stroke of the bell to rush into danger
 and protect our lives and property" Then
 turning to the ex-chief he said: "Chiet
 Hendricks, I have had assigned to me s , very pleasant duty. I have to present tc
 you testimonial from 400 citizens to show
 that they appreciate all you have done fol l the city. They have asked me to present to you this object of their esteem" [Ap 3 plaus.
 l When the applause had subsided ex
 Chief Hendricks replied briefly as follows
 "I hardly know how to express myself 1 ! on such an occasion. I have many times 3 in my career been honored in various ways < but to be honored in this manner by the
 representative citizens of New Haven ii r something that certainly overwhelms me
 To see sitting in this chamber 30 many pas
 and present officials and other fellow citi 8 zens I can say is something beyond any :, thing have ever expected. Never did l. ! expect to live to witness scene like this
 Never during the days I was at the head O the New Haven fire department, doing m, duty in a manner that I considered to b for the interests of the city at large, work ing for the interests of all, ricl
 and poor alike, never did I expect
 scene like this. Citizens little know o
 the anxiety which chief experiences. H T. never goes to bed without expecting to b n called before morning. The chief of m fire department occupies position simi p lar to that of 8 general in the army, onl le ! the general can lay his plans the day be
 fore and can give his orders early bscaus
 he has the maps and knows the ground
 on which the battle is to be fought. Th D. chief of 8 fire department is battlin ,r with an enemy at all times. The fight j
 full of surprises and he has to meet tn ss n situation as he finds it. Many times h se errs, but he cannot be blamed for tha ie Immediate judgment is the rule. He nut
 form his opinions and give his orde,
 without moments hesitation.
 Mir. President and Fellow Citizens. 'n shall prize this testimonial very highly Id coming as 1t does from my fellow citizen ,p and think each and every one, both thof ,e who are present and those wh -o are absent who have given their sign. lures as tokens of their esteem.
 D; : The testimonial was prepared by Tiffany Id l Co of New York It is bound in heavy blae r, Russia leather and handsomely mounted Id gold.
 lu The center of the front cover is occupie 90 by a full-szed, regulation badge of tl Ut chief of the New Haven fire departmen h l surrounded by a laurel wreath, both in heav :, l solid gold. Over the badge are the seals of u u. state of Connecticut and of the city of Ne
 Haven, and between the seals is the emblem
 the department-three crossed trunpets. The!
 three emblems surmounted by the wort Id | loyalty" fidelity and "zeal'' representa-
 loyalty to the state, fidelity to the city. and ze " in the interests of the department. Beneath u
 badge is the following inscription:
 1p Testimonial
 to
 ot Albert O. Hendrick,
 Ia Chief Engineer
 Ao of the New Haven Fire Department D. From July 24th, 1865, to January 81st 1892.
 FallOw GitiyanS