Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-28
A PIE M AN EMIT FUND
Suggestion for the Belief Of Firemen and
The . iss.
Mr.. DrOOp's Idea An.r.,. Chief
Parris-Inve.tins NJ
Brsve Men. -.
Chief

Inc uedtn r1remen FentOn, AfaStln
and O'Donoghue in the Knox fire wednes-
day morning has resulted in a great wave
of popular sympathy, not only for the fami-
lies OF the dead heroes. but for the brave
men who risk their lives at each stroke Of
the alarm. The rapid growth of the sub
scrption inaugurated by The Star is suf-
ficient evidence Of the feelings Of the citi-
zefls upon This IMPORTANT subject, but now
comes a suggestion pertaining especially to
the fire insurance companies: which. as its
author says, is not new at this time, but
which is now, made more than. timely, by
the terrible disaster of Pew days ago.
The idea is well outlined in the following
letter to The StarJfrnm one of Washing
tons most charitable business men, Mr.
Edward +. Drop: a..
After sending my small con eribution to
The Star yesterday for the benefit OF rthe
Knox fire sufferers, / was reminded of a
proposition whiehaI have frequently laid
before the local hoard of fire underwriters
at their senIf-afl n tsi- mee3fngs "a 80 at their
banq1ets, but which; A. am sorry 10 gay, has
not met with the spontaneous and hearty
support l. had hofeh for. kksEhs5 .of Your
interest in the welfare of our brave fire
fakiies"f ask that you kiadty .iasers this
letter IN .yoUE valuable paper in order that
the attention Of ali charitable .citiZeus may
be called TO that which, II estab lished
= v
boon to the firethe,r ct the Disttfct or'C6-
in many inSsaHsss; hSp to lighter a-1 the eg burr
den which weiehs down many "a brave
mans heart as jumping to his place on the
engine: he PUSHES to the fire, not knowing
whether he VIII" retGrh alive or be brought
back. MANNED. ard bruised probably for
life. Reflect. on the aSonizing thoughts
crowdlng his brain thick and fast, IL he be
killed what support will his dear ones at
home have, they who are so dependent upon
him for their dsiiy bread should he lose
the use Of his arms or legs. even be ce-
prived of eyesight. now, in future, could he
ever support them?
Our local fire department. which is one
of the grandest and most Efficient in the
world. is composed OF brave and worthy
men: some o. Them haye grown grizzed and
gray i'm the honorable and faithful dis
cl arge Of their duties Should such an in
stitution as ti,fs go by unnoticed? Should
the efforts OF such men, who almost daily
| risk their lives in order to save ours. or
cur property, not be met with proper and
substantial recognition?
"Inclosed L hand you my check for s106.
with which to start permanent fund for
the relief of the widows and orphans of
our disabled fremen.' feeling confident
that now. definite move having been
made in this direction, many local as well
as foreign fire insurance companies viii
cheerfully assist I'm creating and gradually
building up such fund. When a sufficient
sum has been realized to serve as nest
egg let il be turned over to the proper
parties and safely invested deposited al
a good rate of interest. II properly man.
aged il will soon increase ami prove an
everlasting blessing TO the fireman, the
widow and the orphan What greater or
nobler tribute can we, as citizens, pay TO
a brave mans memory than to assist in the
support of a family. left helpless and pos
sibly penniless by his sudden but heroic
death. met in our behalf 1 trust that
every one after having read this will be
ynrnr tsAA ny. ha h.,t. Of Aa tory
disaster Wednesday morning. still SO fresh
in. our memory. to contribute to this fund.
| each according to his means. in order that
a sum may be realized which will hereafter
help to alleviate the sufferngs of our brave
boys and their loving families"
| Chief Paris Approves.
Chief Paris Of the fire department, when
spoken to by a reporter of The Star This
afternoon regarding a permanent fremen's
| relief fund. expressed himself as heartily
| in favor of 1t. THE 'firemen are The poor
est paid set of employees in the government
and 1 think Il only right that something
should be done toward providing for them
| in case of permanent disability or death.
AT the present time our pension roll
amounts to 1855 per month. There are only
lis members of the department. who con-
tribute 81 each toward the support of this
fund. This makes a shortage each month
of So11. Our only recourse is to beg. and
every now and then some plan is devised to
replenish the fund. Our last excursion Is
responsible for the present condition Of the
treasury, but by the end Of the year this
viii be exhausted and then We do not know
what vii! be done. For SIX years / have
recommended in every one of nv annual
reports that Congress make some pro-
vision for this fund But nothing has ever
| been done. L am truly glad to know that
some of our generous citizens have taken
the matter in hand. and sincerely hope il
VIII he productive good