The times., 1897-07-06
A FLAG FOR FIRES FOES.
The Formal Opening OF the Eel
ington Engine House.

| The new lexington fire engine-hCuse,
| and Quincy streets northeast, was for
| rnaIly and very auspiciously opened yes
! terday. About 1000 enthusiastic citi-
| zens assembled In honor Of the event
| A Temporary platform was erected for
| the occasion ON the large vacant lot
/ adjoining tie new engine-hOGse. Here
| the crowd was gathered to listen to the
| oratory, to enjoy the music, 10 witness
/ the flag presenta tion, and to view tile
/ test of the apparatus
! Arranged on the platform were Presi-
/ dent Henderson, OF the North Capitol
| and lexington Citizens Association
| Chief Paris, OF the local tire department.
| Rev Or. Duncan, pastor Of the North
| Capitol Street Presbyterian Church, and
| number of invited guests and prominent
| citizens
| Mr.. williams, chairman of the fire and
| police committee OF the North Capitol
| and lexington Citizens Association,
| upeaed the celebration with few brief
| but appropriate remarks, stating the pH-
| pose of the meeting, namely. the pIeSenta-
| tion OF stand of coloIs to the engine
company by that association 1t was
! thIougI. the activity of the citizens assO-
| ciation that the question OF the need Of
an engine-house in that section was asi-
tated and steps taken toward the securing
| OF the same. That association was uownJt
content To lie idly by, but having before
! them a visible result OF their Ia boTs, would
! work vet even harder In the future Tor
thi. accom- pliShment OF the good OF tse
/ community He said that through the
same association q handsome new public
school building viii soon be erected at
the coIner Of First and Quincy streets
northeast, at q cost Of about $50 600.
The honor of presenting the colors de-
volved upon Mr.. Henderson, president or
the association, who ia a neat and we'll
worried address made tie presentation 10
| Chief Paris. He responded with few
words suitable to the occasion. The staEd
or ooIors consisted OF a large American
nag. stonn flag and a pongee inscribed
! with the name OF the company.
! The next event, and one Which was 3n-
thuias ticalIy received was the hosting
of the hammer to the top OF the flagstaff.
| As soon as this had been done Rev. Dr.
| Duncan the orator of the evening, pai5
| an eloquent tribute to Old Glory, dwell
| ing at length upon the significance OF the
Stars and the Stripes TO the populace.
II was altogether an appropriate thing
| to do-this hosting of the nations emblem
| over the home of the fire Iaddies, the men
who go out and fight for the preservation
| Of homes and municipalities in the time OF
peace
/ Chief Paris then had the firemen draw
the new engine out OF its new home and
give it a public test For nearly half al
hour the crowd were given an exhibition
Jf fancy as well as effective throwing or
water.
The first event was what is technically
known to local ''neversw eats as ''siaIni-
sng of two lines into one" The second
was the using of the single line with a
one and cne-eighth-inch nozzle, and this
was followed by two single lines from the
same engine
During the twin stream" throwing act
the hose was turned up North Capitol
street by order of Chief Paris. 1t seems
that the purpose of the chief was su give
the assemblage lesson in hydrastatics
as Well as patriotism, but IN the execution
of that command it seems that the people
were gwen drenehing. OF course, It
was all a mistake on the part of the
chief, who was on Quincy street when
he gave the order, and unaware that
he was ordering the hose to be turned
Upon the crowd.
Turn the hose up North Capitol street
and show the people how far you can
squirt" said the chief to the men at the
nozzle. The crowd did not hear tEe
exact words OF his order, but when the
water came their way they soon under
stood the full import of the same How
ever, the fireworks were not soaked OF
damaged in the least, and this was all
that saved the chief from ineurring the
displeasure of the unfortunate ones
At dusk, following the water display,
the crowd was treated to an assortment
OF all kinds of pyrotech nieal displa IS
given by Messrs. t. B. Kane, Humphreys
and Waters, the committee Ia charge of
fireworks
After this the new engine-house was
thrown open for public inspection. 1t
was well worthy of more than casual
glance, being one of the largest and most
thoroughly equipped in the city. lt is
three stories high. constructed OF Venetian
trick and stone. and is the most rcOny
structure of its kind in the District. It
has hose tower, hot water apparatus,
dressers, foreman's room, library, sleeping
! apartments and other rooms especially
adapted for the comfort and convenience
of the men during their leisure hours
The rnster OF the men at the new en-
, gine-hpusc, all of whom have had thor
ough experience in battling with fires,
having seen long service with the Other
local companies, is as follows: Howard
w, Wright, foreman; Timothy Brown, as
| sistant foreman; F. @. Dodge, engineer
E. L. Hunter, fireman; c. T. O'Brien,
hostier, and privates j. v. Lewis, p
McGarry, p r. Davis. W. e. Boyle, Il
F. Shugru, and Harry Thomas. watchnlan
The Committee of arrangements Is was com
, posed of the following members OF the
North Capitol and lexington Citizens As
sociation: T. B. Kane, Bernard Waters
M Tingiey and t. F. Moore.