Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-02-23
FGREMEN's BANoUET.-Tbe Hvdrau.

D-NANfO6i. ~ - 10
lion Fire Company celebrated Wash
ington's birthday by a banquet last
night. At $50 o'clock the members OF
the company, headed by their presi-
dent, MIR. M. B. Harlow, proceeded in
q body from their halt to the Hotel
Fleischmann where they fled to either
side of a sumptuously spread table, the
very sight OF which served to whet anew
the proverbially good appetites with
which firemen are blessed. The tables
which we've laid in the spacious dining
room of the hotel were handsomely
decorated with varieties Of cut flowers,
while ferns, palms and tropical plants
occupied every available space about
the room. The walls were festooned
with the national emblem and State
flags and the banners Of the company
and at the head of the room was a large
engraving of Washington. Seats
were provided for fifty and every
chair was occupied. Chairman
Harlow, as soon as the company was
seated, delivered a short but stirring
address, reciting the virtues Of him
whose natal day vas being celebrated,
dwelling on his services to his country
and his labors as a fireman, and exert
ed his assembled friends to initiate the
example Washington had set, though
all could scarcely hope to attain the
Presidency. The fire ladies then pro-
ceeded to discharge the duties for
which they had been assembled and
manfully did they do battle against the
prodigal display of every thing which
epicurta an taste or fancy could suggest
and which ''mine host" had laid before
them. The tables fairly groaned under
the menu and the boys set to work as
industriously as if they had been en-
gagged in battling with the fiery ele-
ment, but not with like success, for
conflagrations they can and do quell
and subdue, but F%leischmann was too
powerful to be overcome, and for once
the boys gave up in despair,
as, after fully satisfying the inner man.
there was enough left to have fed a
confederate regiment about the close
of the war, Toastmaster Harlow
finding his men vanquished, rose
and requested the secretary, Mr.. c. f.
Ncale 10 read the responses from alb
sent invited guests. Letters were read
from Rev. Father Carne, cx-president
of the company; Edgar Warfeld,
Chief Engineer: George r. Hill, Fire
Warden; Park Agnew, esq, president
of Relief Hook and Ladder Company.
and others. The first toast was to
"The Columbia Fire Company" which
was responded to by President VIM. A.
Smoot next was 1.-THE Relief Hook
and Ladder Company" by Mr.. r. NJ
Latham ''The Friendship Fire Com
pany,n by proxy, President Downham
being unavoidably absent "rhe Fire
Wardcns,n by Messrs. Louis Brill and
John Harlow; "The Press" by Mr..
VIM. f. Carne; "The Oldest Fireman."
by Mr.. Levi Hurdle. Then followed
numerous bright and humorous speech
es, in response to calls from Messrs. j..
c. Barley, Vice President; I. Cockerill,
Il. +. Gronau, eX-president H. A.
D~ownham, George Ward, c. +. Neale,
secretary David Tennesson, Christie
pher Gill John D. Normyle VIM. Eats
apaugh, VIM. Cogan, Geo. w. Petty,
foreman, and others. Resolutions or
thanks were voted to the "Sons Of the
Revolution for the loan Of flags to
Mr.. Geo. Appich forthe use of portraits;
to Rev. Father Carne for his beautiful
and touching letter of regret to the
committee of arrangements for the sue
cessful result of their labors, and to Mr..
Chas. Fleischman for the magnificent
repast with which he had RECALLED his
guests. President Harlow then adj
dressed the banqueters in his usual
happy and effective style, congratulating
the company upon its personnel and eff
liciency and promising his untiring eff
forts to lead them to the front as the
banner fire company of the city, and
thus closed one the most enjoyable oc-
casions in which the volunteer firemen
of Alexandria are wont TO indulge.