Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-02
VOLUNTEER FIREMEN.
Incidents Found in the Records of the
Old Union Company.
THE FIRST WARD ENGINE.
Some Names That Arc Prominent In the His
tory of Washington Found Upon the Roll Of
Membership and the List OF Omcers-
Changes That Took Place.
A HAS BEEN STATED IN PRECEDING

A s HAS BEEN STATED IN PRECEDING
"A articles, some Of the fire apparatus in the
early days was purchased by the corporation
for the protection of the markets There we r.
three markets, the Center Cor Marsh). the West
ernand the Eastern branch. The actof January
10, 1903, authorized the mayor to purchase fire
engines to be located near the markets, that for
the Center Market by May 1, 1904 and the
Others as soon practicable thereafter, and
the sum of $500 was appropriated for the three
Appropriation was also made for the purchase
OF ladders and fire hooks. a- nd.
| The files of the InteHigencer show that q meet
ing was held in the Western Market August II
1904. to form fire company at which Joseph
Stretch presided. Thomas Gillis acted as secre-
tary, and they, with Capt John Woodside. who
superintendent the public buildings, were ap-
pointed to make rules and regulations.
THE FIRST WARD COMPANY
| That q company existed with headquarters al
| the Western Market is known fact. but what
| name other than the Union is not known, save
that in the thirties it was known as the First
Ward Company. and that it numbered on its
active list numbers Of the leading citizens OF
the West End as well as some of the leading
men OF the day. whose names shone bright In
the annals Of the army, navy and IN the depart
ments.
The record books Of the Union. now In the
hands OF the secretary of the Veteran Nolun-
| teer Firemen's Association. starts out with the
constitution adopted April ID. 1887. This pro-
vided for first and second divisions-cngineers
| In charge of engine and buckets, and hosemeu
OF suction and hose.
SOME OF THE MEMBERS.
The name of Rev. French S. Evans, . we'll
known Methodist minister and government
clerk and subsequently an alderman. heads the
list as president and follows the signatures Of
Edmund Hanley, Dr. Flodorardo Howard, Sam
uel Stott. Dr. VIM. b. Magruder, John ID. Bar
clay. +. Coolidge. Ed Owen. r. w. Bates, G. W.
Hardness. VIM. Knowles, i. H. Warren, I. f.
Hardness, X. w. Harrison. Charles Sioussa, H.
L. Cross. VIM. Ford, 5. DrTry. James Kelley,
Fred Schneider, August Schneider. j. o. r.
Degges and George Kraft. This constitution
was signed by forty-eight on the night it was
adopted and at the following meeting Charles
Calvert. DIS. Hardness Peter Carrico and Rob-
ert Earl signed it.
Among others who subsequently Joined the
company were VIM. Wilson. john Il. Hagner,
1. Nivans John ID. Wilson. John b. Harrison.
Elijah Dyer, A. Favier, John COburn, Samuel
Redfern, Samuel Williams, john Nourse, n A.
Randall, Thomas =. Morgan. James W. Barker,
Capt. John McClelland. Thomas l.. Potter l..
Schneider, Capt. W. II. Degges, George L. Alb
bott. A. L. Cavis, Rev. Charles A. Davis. j. Y.
L.
Among the honorary members were John
Gadsby, Thomas Munroe. Andrew Balmain,
Francis Markoe. jr.. Gen. Macomb, Commodore
Warrington Col. Bomford and Col. Gratiot.
SOME INTERESTING INCIDENTS.
In the minutes of April % the company was
presented with $50 for extinguishng fire at
Capt. Ramseys residence. Note is made of the
reference Of differences between certain men,
bers to the standing committee and subsequent
reports OF amicable adjustment are recorded.
DIR. VIM. Il. Magrnder, aitarward mayor, APP
pears to have been an active captain of engine,
by his reports as to the condition of apparatus,
absentees. DC. Geo. ". Hardness, a. captain
OF the hose division, appears equally active.
On July 10 DR.. Magruder. L. Coolidge and G.
W. darkness were 1ppointeda committee toect
with delegates from other companies on ar
ranging for hremens procession on October
following and at the October meeting they re-
ported the order OF the procession as follows:
Columbia. Anacostia, Franklin, Perseverance
Western, Star Nigilant and Union.
AT the November meeting a committee was
appointed to ascertain the number and posi-
ton Of pumps. hydrants and ponds in the first
ward which may be available In Gaze of fire and
what measures are necessary for an increased
supply of water. In what section can the canal
water be used? CaE the War Department reser-
voir be used Tor the seven buildings? Is the
run north Of the six buildings available? It's
distance from the six and seven buildings, and
can the brick kiln ponds at the termination of
ID street afford good supply? &c.
FIRE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED.
On December Is, 1887, Messrs. C. N Hacne-.
W. Z. Magruder, +. Howard Z. Hanley and ].
d. Barclay were elected delegates to n conven-
ton to be held at the hall of Franklin Fire
Company to form fire department. On Jan
uary 4. 1888, the following officers were elected:
French s. Evans president; +. Hanley, vice
n n
Degges, assistant secretary; S. Stott, treas
urer; 5. Drury, captain of engineers; f. how-
ard, captain of hose; A. Hoover, Thos. Smith
and VIM: Wilson, Nos !. . and 3. engine divis-
ion; l.. Williams, John Wilson and James Kelly
Nos. /. 2 and 3. hose division.
The arrival of new apparatus (placed at their
disposal by the War and Navy Departmental ia
noted at this meeting. and arrangements were
made for receiving a banner to be presented
by the ladies on the 9th instant made On
February Is Rev. +. s. Evans resigned the
presidency, and resolution of thanks for his
services and declaring HIM an honorary men,
Der adopted. Mr.. Hanley was elected presi-
dent and DR.. Magruder vice president On
April 10 revised constitution was adopted
providing for axmen and ladder men, the
engine division, &c.
THE OLD UNIFORM
At the meeting in June, 1885, appears an
entry Of resolution appropriating sl25 to
pay Tor snOVel lOst AT u ure, which Is explain
able by the desire of the company to act
honestly. In October following the use of the
old engine was offered the Perseverance Com.
pany, and arrangements were made for O trip
to Baltimore as guests of the Mechanical Fire
Company in October and uniform coats, hats
and belts were ordered. The hat had red front
and back, with blue at the sides, the name over
clasped hands with division beneath; on back,
"In Union There is Strength in semicircle,
ana at the bottom 1886" The cape was of
vermllion red, gilt border, shaded with black,
spread eagle i'll gilt. with the word Union
over it and the name Of division below it.
At the January meeting, 1889, Capt Hanley
was elected president DIR. VIM. b. Magruder
vice president, Mcssrs Calvert, Degges and
Stott secretary, assistant secretary and treas
urer respectively. and votes of thanks to them
were adopted. Resolutions were adopted look.
ing to fremen's procession in the spring A
resolution was adopted that the fines and one
fourth Of the dues Of honorary members be set
apart for the relief Of disabled, members. DC.
A resolution was adopted requesting the Sec
rotary Of the Navy to contribute 500 toward
defraying the expenses Of keeping up the appu-
ratus as the War Department had DONE
AGAINST USING SPIRITS AT FIRES.
At the meeting of March u, 1889, a resolu-
ton was adopted deprecating the practice of
using ardent spirits at fires and declaring that
thereafter the company would not accept invita-
tons to partake Of such refreshments The
vote was by yeas and nays and all (seventy)
voted in the affirmative. At the next meeting
the resolution was ordered to be published in
the daily papers. committee was also an.