Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-08
THEY TOOK NO RISKS
The Fire Underwriters Were Bound
to Have a Good Time.
THEIR SUCC ESSFUL EXCURSION
PIanked Shad, Bright Speeches,
Music and Merriment.
A DIsTIN GUIsHED CROWD

to far-famed Marshall Hall as guests of
the Association of Fire Underwriters of
the District of Columbia. 1t. was repre-
sentative, too, Of all that is best in the
business community, as a glance at the
names of those in attendance will show.
The boat was to start at 30, but it was
o'clock when the last of the excurs:onists
arrived and the whistle footed a note of
farewell. Those who had eaten lunch in
the city We're sorry when they got aboard,
as there was a tempting array of sand
witches fanked by bowls of claret cup and
lemonade in the lower saloon. There were
a sufficient number of appetites In the
crowd, however, to do the collation. ample
justice, and this early evidence of hosp:-
tally made all hands feel all the more at
home. The emerald spring beauty of the
river banks and the hills behind them, the
fieecy clouded sky and the frequent fishing
boats under the shadows of the shore made
the trip down particularly picturesque and
lovely, and when Marshall Hall was
reached it was found to be more charming
and attractive than ever in its fresh green
garb. The eXcurSioniStS soon scattered to
enjoy the afternoon and achieve appetites
for the luscious planked .shad which ware
already steaming and sizzling before the
long log fire back of the dining hall.
How They Amused Themselves.
The bowling alleys We're quickly pre-
empted by the votaries Of the game, the
cool breeze that was blowing tempering
the atmosphere to the muscular contest
ants, while the pool and bagatelle tables,
the shooting ranges and the other amuse-
| ments We're steadily patronized. OF course,
there was game of base ball, and some
scientific QuartetS took their places at
tables under the shady trees and INDUCED
IN whist, and every one proceeded to en-
joy himself according to his tastes.
At 8 o'clock dinner was announced, and
the underwriters and their guests ass nm
bled in the dining room at the long tables
which were inviting in their white cloths
and cleaning ware and decorated at in
tervalS with large punches of wild flowers
and HlacS.
Men Who Are Representative.
Those who sat down to the planked shad
and accompanying solid and liquid delica-
cies were District Commissioners Trues-
dell and Powell. Marshal A. A. Wilson,
Postmaster James p. Willett. Fire Marshal
Drew, Mr.. Glen. Howard Mr.. Dorsey Cla-
gett, Mr. w. Riley Decide, Mr. John b.
Wight, DIR. w. p. Young, DR.. Daniel B.
Clarke, Capt. James F. Oyster, Mr.. Noble
D. Larner, Mr.. Samuel c. Cross, Mr.. Lem
uel c. Towers, Dr. A. P. Pardon. Pay
master Charles Wilson of the navy. Mr..
Henry E. Davis, Mr.. F. J. Heiberger, Mr..
Huntley Cragin, Mr.. Lee Latimer, Mr.. Will
liam c. Hill, Mr.. Brawner Nicholson, Mr..
P. v. De Graw, MIR. Walter Hensey. Mr..
Oscar Schmidt, Capt. William Turner, Mr..
Edward T. Droop, Mr.. Fred. Gieseking.
Mr.. E. F. Hubbell, Mr.. Charles Naylor,
Frank J. Lewis, Mr.. George Repetti, Mr..
Louis Behrens, Mr.. Paul F. Grove, Mr.. H.
n Bergman, Mr. John Mckee, Mr. G. H.
Allen. Mr.. Walter S. Pratt, Mr.. Allan
b: Rutherford, DR.. Barton S. Hill. Mr..
Samuel Lutz Of Leesburg, Mr.. Robert
Hough, Mr.. J. H. Hough, Mr.. H. Clay
Stewart, jr., Mr.. Ralph Calf, Mr. James NJ.
Green, Mr.. Andrew Miller, Mr.. H. E. Gasch.
Mr.. J. B. Kremer of Philadelphia, Mr.. H.
L. Pelouze. Mr.. Matthew Trimble, Mr..
Louis Clephane. Mr.. E. n. Waters. Mr..
Mr. VIM A. Gordon. Mr.. j. Holdsworth
Gordon Mr.. A. J. Whitaker, Mr.. William E.
Amin. Mr.. A. T. Coumbe, DR.. Edie, Mr..
VIM. K. Hillyer, Mr. Augustus Burgdorf
Mr.. /: Owen McCabe, Mr.. T; J. Brown.
Mr.. Walter B. Stevens. DR.. McCalla, Mr..
VIM. P. Boteler, Mr.. William K. Ellis, Mr..
Alexander Mackenzie, Mr.: B. Lewis Black
man, Mr.. Edward Thompson. Mr.. Fred.
Thompson. Mfr. Carl Graft. Mr.. Charles
Howard, Mr.. Max Cohen, Mr.. ]. P. Free
man, President Gillette of the Girard In
Anderson of the Firemen's, Baltimore, and
Mr.. Frank Reside, Mr.. Will Mcfarland,
Mr.. A. ]. Ryan and Mr.. Turpin, the IA
nous sweet-voiced Apollos, who for yes
terday caroled as the Underwriters Quar-
tet'' and added immensely to the enjoy
ment of the day.
The COmmis siOners Talk.
After numberless planked shad had been
devoured and the coffee and cigars were
brought on, President John B. Wight, as
POSTMASTER announced that the ensuing
feast of reason would be preceded, as The
preceding feast of substantials had been,
by a song from the Underwriters Quartet.
han, orYnla n a l.
lowed it Mr. Wight called upon District
Commissioner Truesdell. Mr.. Trlesdell
made a few pleasant remarks, stating that
each Commissioner had certain duties ap-
portioned to him and neither cared to in
terfere with the other, accordingly, as Mr..
Ross was the orator of the board, he him
sell was disinclined to talk. He declared
Maj. Powell had been delegated to do the
honors for Mr.. Ross and gave way to his
colleague, who spoke in a similar strain.
Mr.. r. w. Tyler was then called upon
an old underwater, and paid high compli-
ment to President Wight and the manner
in which he accomplished his difficult du-
ties.
Mr.. J. H. Kremer, representing the mid
die department of Philadelphia, spoke of the
advantages of social intercourse and good
fellowship such as were fostered by oc-
casions like the underwriters excursions
and banquet, and gave an interesting re-
sumo of the growth of such associations.
The quartet sang Dixie to uproarious
applause, and there were cries of Sam
Cross" This amiable gentleman responded
by singing THE Sword of Bunker Hilr to
the accompaniment of Mr.. Edward Drop.
Gen. Anderson of Baltimore made a few
well chosen remarks, ending with a poet
ical quotation apt that the entire gath
ering caught up the song $50 Say We All
Of U.s." that was started by some apprecia-
tive gentleman. Then DR.. w. Pope Young,
the secretary of the association, made a
witty speech and told laughable story of
the old negro who got religion and told
what he knew about the parallels of the
Bible.
Mr.. Davis Makes n Hit.
There were loud demands for Mr.. Harry
E. Davis, so he mounted chair and made
a characteristic speech, that was the hit
Of the occasion.
I'VE hear a great deal about the power of
the press" said Mr.. Davis, "but events
have transpired here today which prove
that it is as nothing when compared with
the power of the Underwriters Association.
For weeks past every paper in Washington
has been trying to get something out of
the District Commissioners without effect,
vat the nndarwrifarS ha ma Dad 70