The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1893-03-22
OLD TIMES REVIVED.
Presentation of Silver Trumpet to
g. E. Williams by Hook g. Lad
der Company.

nature was rendered TO Mr.. y, h.
Williams, the oldest veteran of the
volunteer Fire Department. Mr..
Williams joined Protection Hook a.
Ladder Company in 1857, soon after
the first reorganization of the Homo
lulu Fire Department. He was soon
after elected delegate from that
company to the Board of Represent
atives. After serving faithfully in
that capacity for several years, in
which he was one of the most iptlu-
entail members of the Board, Mr..
Williams was elected Second Assist
ant Engineer Of the Department. At
the next annual election he was pro-
NOTED to be First Assistant En-
gineer. His next promotion was to
the top of the ladder, he being elect
ed Chief Engineer three years in
succession. Two years his nomina-
ton was unanimous, and another
year there were only three members
to dissent from his nomination. His
election for fourth term was only
prevented by his declining of the of
fee. Mr.. Williams remained an &C
tive fireman until his departure for
San Francisco some years ago, when
he was placed on the honorary roll
of his company. Since then he has
always while living here kept up his
keen interest in the welfare of the
Department.
In the early days of Mr.. Williams
connection with the Department.,
hand engines were in use and muscle
had to dc the work done by steam
to-day. For many years Mr.. Will
liams ran with the machine at every
fire that occurred while he was in
town. One time he was badly in
! jured and had narrow escape from
being killed. There was collision
between the engine and his COM
pany's truck as both rushed out to-
gether from the Bell Tower. Mr..
Williams was caught between the
vehicles and pinned there for several
minutes until score of men had
pulled the trucks apart. He received
a severe blow in the hip from a
shaft, which laid him up for some
time.
When he was Chief Engineer Mr..
Williams gave a banquet to the
whole brigade at his house on the
plains. DR.. Hutchinson, Minister
of the Interior, other officials, and
prominent residents were among the
guests. The band of the Austrian
warship Donau was in attendance
MIR. John A. Hassinger, the present
Chief Clerk of the Interior Depart
ment, who is also veteran fireman
and ex-Chief Engineer, acted as
caterer and master of ceremonies.
When all were seated around the
festive board, and before the feast
ing began Mr.. Hassinger called on
DR.. Hutchinson to perform little
ceremony. The Minister addressed
Chief Engineer Williams in terms
complimentary of his services as
head of the Department, on whose
behalf he then presented him with a
massive gold medal set with dia-
monds. The medal was suitably in
scribed on both the diverse and re-
verse. 1t was studded with 36 dia-
monds, and was worth hundreds of
dollars. This beautiful memento
Mr.. Williams now has carefully pre-
served, as one of his most precious
household treasures, at his residence
in California.
Among the adornments of Hook
~ Ladder Co.'s hall was heavy sill
yer trumpet, enclosed in an upright
glass and koa wood case. When the
volunteer Fire Department was dis
banded few weeks ago, to give
place to paid department, each
company had to dispose of its pri-
vate effects. Hook Il Ladder Co., on
the recommendation of committee
on the disposal of the property, de-
cided to present their gallant vote
ran member with the trumpet above
described as a souvenir of his most
honorable career as member of the
Department. Last night, after the
sale of other effects, was fixed for
the time of presentation.
By the kindness of the Board of
Fire Commissioners, Fire Police hall
was placed at the disposal of the
committee. Mr.. Geo. Houghtailing,
successor in the company of his
father--an old-time comrade of Mr..
Williams-as caterer had fine tur-
key collation. spread in the hall. Mr..
Williams was invited to the seat of
honor at the table, supported on the
right by D. Logan, delegate of the
company, and on the left by G. G.
Kenyon, chairman of committee,
while Henry Kaia, foreman, occu-
pied the vice chair. Other officers
and members of the committee
formed the rest of the party. Be-
fore falling to with knives and forks,
the health of the guest of the even
ing was drunk. At the close of the
feast Delegate Logan with a few re-
marks presented the silver trumpet
to Mr.. Williams. In accepting the
gift the veteran fire chief gave some
highly interesting "reminiscences of
the early life of the volunteer Fire
Department. He remarked with
feeling on the fact that he was the
sole survivor in the company of the
pioneers of the volunteer Fire De-
partment. Later he said that if ever
volunteers were again wanted fol-
fire protection, and that company
re-entered active service, it would
give him great pleasure to present
them with the trumpet again.
The history of the trumpet makes
its presentation to Mr. Williams pc
culiarly appropriate. He was one OF
the contributors to the fund fol