The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-07
NEwBERN, N. c.,
Special to the News and Observer.

COmpany--Many Firemen Present.
Special to the News and Observer.
NEwBERN, N. c., Aug. 6.
The firemen of North Carolina gather
ed here to-day in annual convention
Newbern has opened wide her doors and
donned her holiday garb. Bunting
faunts in every breeze, and most of the
business houses and private residences
are decorated. II never saw Newberr
so alive before, remarked Newbernian
Yesterday. "We have been welcomed
before" said a fireman, ''but never IKE
this"
The keys of the town have been turned
over to the fire laddies and they have
'the freedom of the city,"
Newbern has turned on the hose OF
hospitality and a steady stream OF
courtesy plays upon the visitors.
And with this Newbern celebrates an
anniversary of her own, the semi centen-
NAL of the Atlantic Fire Engine Com
pany.
The officers of the State Firemen's As
ISOLATION are:
President, James D. Mcneil, of Fay
etteville.
First Vice President, E. G.. Parmalee,
of Wilmington.
Second Vice President, F. FL. Vogler,
of Salem.
Treasurer, T. A. Green, of Newbern.
Statistician, Ben 7. Anderson, of Will
son.
Secretary, DR.. J. W. Griffith, of
Greensboro.
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE G. Parma
lee, Wilmington; E. B. Engelhard, Raj
eigh; J. W. Lamb, Goldsboro; J. W.
Fink, Concord; F. G. Meinung, Salem;
W. @. Bradsher, Durham; VIM. Ellis,
Newbern; G. D. Benbow, Greensboro;
J. W. Haynes, Winston; a. W. Jetton,
Charlotte; Ben. T. Anderson, Wilson.
FINANCE COMMITTEE w. D. Barring
ton, Newbern; E. G. Parmalee, Whining
ton; John Roddick, Fayetteville; F. 81.
Vogler, Salem; NJ. V. B. Capps, Sails
bury.
The Association met in annual con-
vention at 10 O'Clock this morning in
Stanly Hall. President McNeill holds the
gavel. Rev. @. G.. Vardell opened the
convention with prayer.
The visitors were welcomed on behalf
of Newbern's citizens, by Mr.. W. E
CLARK.
Mr.. CLARK said
"Mr. President and gentlemen of the
North Carolina State Firemen's Asso-
citation
SIT is my pleasant task on behalf of
the fremen and citizens of the city of
Newbern to extend to you, the repre-
sentatives of the Volunteer Firemen of
this State, a cordial greeting and most
hearty welcome upon this, the first occa-
sion of your assembling in this city. A
volunteer fireman exemplifes many of
those virtues which excite our admira-
ton and cause us to consider and ap-
plaud the higher and nobler traits of
human nature, traits which elevate us
above the sordid and the selfish and in
cite us to deeds of valor and self-sacri-
fee for the protection of our fellow
creatures, and the advancement of their
interest.
"The statesman burns the midnight
lamp and labors and tolls in his efforts
to excel in statecraft, but his aim may
be to reach the top of the ladder OF fame
. .....s le may rejoice in the knowledge of
his greatness and renown. The politician
spends many hours in his efforts to edu-
cate, enlighten and convince the people,
bat the goal for which he strives, the
Mecca of his hopes, may be his personal
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, his political preferment
and promotion. The military commander
may submit to the hardships of camp
life, lead his troops into the thick of the
fight, expose himself to danger and carry
his life in his hands, that he may hear
the resounding plaudits of his country
men, contemplate the fame of his achieve
ments and satisfy that ambition which
has inspired and sustained him in the
hour of defeat and in the times of his
privation and suffering. But the volun-
teer fireman responds TO the alarm,
leaves his warm and comfortable couch,
exposes himself to the binding snow and
chilling blasts of winter, the burning
heat of summer and the fury of the
flames, surrounded by crashing walls and
death dealing missiles, that life may
be saved and the property of his
fellow man preserved. His path leads
not to fortune and to fame; his labor
6uuS hot III INC SIdClhCdlIOA VI q NCSAAO
for personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT or prefer
ment, and his brow is not to be crowned
with the emblems CT victory, nor his
ears delighted with the shouts of the
multitude; but bis aim, his end and his
ambition are the proud consciousness
that he hes done something to preserve
his fellow creatures from danger or to
tighten their burdens, and that approve!
of the conscience which every unselfish
act merits and receives. His lot may be
cast among The humble, but his spirit Of
self sacrifice and devotion to duty, to
the just and contemplative, exalt ha tc
position high above the glittering ? my
and splord II Of royalty and the val'5I!.
ing and ephemeral glory of military ana
political renown His name my moi
adorn the page of history; his deeis may
not be commemorated by the genius 81
the poet or tho eloquence of the orator,
but his life and work will emphasize the
the truth contained in that most beauti
full of all the conceptions of the poet;
-''Full many "a gem of purest ray serene
The dark, unfathomed caves OF oceaI
bear,