The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-18
THE MAYOR WAS THERE
Veteran Firemen's Association En-
tertains Officials.
A Chowder Followed by Speeches Made
the Hours Pass Pleasantly.

For number OF years the Providence
Veteran Firemen's Association has had a
strong desire TO entertain the city off,
GERS, but for some reason or other has
never been able to bring-the matter to a
head until this year. When the affair
gained little headway the members of
the association felt as though they would
like to add the State officials to the list
OF guests. But some of the older heads
took the matter In charge and confined
IT to the city officials Last evening was
the time fixed for the affair, and prompt
y at O'Clock His Honor Mayor Il. ID.
McGui1ness, accompanied by Alderman
X. B. Little Myron III. Fuller, Ira Win
sor and Edward ii. Darcy, City Solicitor
Francis Colwell. Assistant City Solicitor
Albert Baker, Councilmen samuel White
ley, Francis NJ. Miner, Jr.. Sam II. Bull
lock, James Burdick and George B. Cris-
sey, Fire Commissioner William III.
Luther, Secretary John w. Morrow, Dis
trict Chief Horace p. GriswoId, Superin-
tendent of Public Buildings Phillip b.
Durfee, Deputy Chief Hill and number
or other city officials walked into the hall
ut 9S Weybosset street, and were escorted
to the stage and hid behind a portiere of
potted plants and flowers, while George
hunt was putting the finishing touches
on an immense kettle OF chowdef in the
Kitchen. The chowder was of course the
attraction, and II was admitted by every
body to be the best chowder ever tasted.
The committee had a few extras, one of
which was ice cream, but this was hardly
a good second compared with the chow
der. In the way of drink there was coffee,
delicious lemonade and plain, every-d day
water, and the whole was topped off with
cigars, which were far above the average
passed" on such occasions. After the
zoo or more veterans and guests had eaten
all that was possible the president, Ed
mund +. Prentiss, called upon His Honor,
the Mayor, for a short speech. The
Mayor said the citizens look with great
pride on their fire department, both old and
young. In day gone by the firemen did
their duty and they do it today. The
citizens owed much to the fire depart
ment.
AT this point Mr.. Prentiss called upon
the Hon. James Burdick to act as toast
master, and after that gentleman got his
second wind he called City Solicitor Col.
well, who made the speech OF the even
ing. During his remarks Mr.. Colwell
said that you could take man with little
brains, and by sending him to school and
college he would learn to be something
OF lawyer, doctor or a minister, but a
man to be a fireman must have sand. a
large amount of common gumption and
human nature. The next speaker was AL
derman X. Is. Little, who gave vivid
history of the fire department of which
he was chief on some little island down
the bay. Alderman Fuller was called
upon TO make speech, but he escaped
by saying that alderman Darcy had
promised to talk for him. The old
"vet," Ira Winsor, had word or two 10
say, so did Assistant Citv Solicitor Baker
and others. Each guest was presented
with buttonhole bouquet, and His Honor
fared better than the rest for he was the
recipient OF handsome bouquet OF flow
ers, which ornamented the table occupi-
ed by the dignitaries.
The affair, which was the most import
ant in the history of the assoc iation from
social standpoint, was In the hands of
Thomns Little, George Hunt, George S.
Bamiord, Thomas Il. Ross and r. s. Ed
dy. The exercises were opened and closed
with prayer by the Rev. Hopkins Il.
Cady.