The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-11
First Public Appearance of
the Recently Formed
Choir.
Their Singing Exceeded the Most
Sanguine EXpe Citations of
Their Friends.
OF Officers of the Widows
and Orphans Aid Assoc alton ef
the Departmen

The fact was demonstrated yesterday
afternoon that in the Police Department
there are not only crack shots but crack
vocalists. The choir made their first pub
lie appearance and acquitted themselves
most creditably.
The occasion was the installation OF OFF,
GERS of the Widows'and Orphans Aid Asso-
citation, which was held in Judge Joach-
imsen's courtroom. The room was
crowded with mem bers of the association,
and several ladies and children were also
present.
Captain Whitman. the retiring presi-
dent, in calling the meeting to order, said
the organization was one of the grandest
that mankind could take an interest in.
1t was organized for relief of the needy
and the widow and orphan, something
that must always be provided for. 1t had
now been seventeen years in existence,
and during that period had paid out $l19,-
800 to widows and orphans OF deceased
members. In the past year alone it had
paid out thirteen death benefits, amount
ing to over $4,000. The income for the
year had been $500, and the association
was still in good standing, having 1000
in the treasury, with $40 members in good
standing on the roll.
The dues were almost nominal, being
only 81 month, and on death of men,
Der his widow receives $1100. The captain
was pleased to retire from Office with the
association in such splendid condition.
Now, that the choir had been formed, he
hoped that during the present year
benefit would be got up for the associa-
ton, so as to increase the funds in the
treasury.
Captain Whitman then installed the fol-
lowing officers: President, Captain John
SpilIane; viceHpresident, Lieutenant w.
+. Burke; recording secretary, Charles
James, financial secretary, s. II. Rankin;
treasurer, Sergeant John Duncan; trus-
tees-Sergeants John W. Motif. Albert a.
Perrin and Abraham Houghtaling, Cor
poral Henry Gleeson and Policeman o. G.
Phillips. Each was greeted with applause
and made his little speech of thanks.
Now" said Captain Whitman, "let me
say that there has been an innovation dur
ing the past year in the formation of
choir. The members have been practicing
little under the direction OF Professor
Ziliani' and L believe they are now ready
10 show what they can do"
Impresario w. J. ]. Shaw announced
that the choir was ready. Professor ZIliani
seated himself at the piano which had
been provided for the occasion and the
choir stood up ready for business. Their
names are: Sergeant NJ. 0. Anderson, P.
H. MCGEE, J. L. Murphy, W. w. Wilson,
o. c. Phillips, P. G. Peters, G. Peters, j.
Redmond, s. H. Rankin, ]. l. Nelson, J.
P. Hightower, William Samuels, T. P.
Walsh, Corporal Henry Gleason, Sergeant
R. a. Marshall, L. Livingston, w. ]. ].
Shaw. NJ. Anderson, G. 3. Baldwin and J.
J. Coughlin.
The piece selected for the opening
chorus was "a Dream of Peace" 1t was
rendered in excellent time and the voices
blended most tremendously. A wild
burst of applause greeted the conclusion
of the piece.
Then followed solos of different mem
bers OF the choir. Nj. Anderson sang The
Heart Bowed Down" most artisticaliy.
He is possessed OF full, mellow voice and
uses it with rare judgment. He vas fol-
lowed by NJ. Samuels, who sang Say au
revoir but not goodbye in fine style,
the choir joining in the chorus. Captain
Whitman recited The Conductors Story
with fine effect and then came the great
est surprise of all. S. n. Rankin, the
popular financial secretary, sang a seIec-
ton from "Lucrezia Borgia" in Italian
and literally brought down the house.
When he finished there was general yell
of delight and loud calls for an encore, but
he modestly declined. His singing was a
revelation. The other solos were: Rocked
in the Cradle of the Deep" by Sergeant
Marshall; MY Home, My Hearts First
Home" by ]. Redmond; Answer" by
T. P. Walsh, and Our Jacks Come Home
To-day" by Corporal Gleason, all being
rendered in splendid style. S. ii. Rankin
also gave a humorous recitation, MY
Long Lost Brooches"
President SpiIane then called upon
Justice of the Peace Barry and the follow
ing mem bers for brief speeches: Ex-Cap-
tain Short, ex-Sergeant Coles, Sergeant
Bethel, Detective cambridge, Captain
Gilien, Sergeant Con boy, Sergeant Hough-
falling and r. r. Judson, who presented
the president with a magnificent gavel
made from manZanita wood, and the
president briefly responded with thanks.
Most of the speakers said complimentary
things of the choir which were well de-
served.
The proceedings terminated with
chorus. "Leonore," by the choir, which
was gwen with vim and precision.