The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-08-18

auu lIIuStrlOuS, deserving or distinction, full of courage, and of such magnan- imity and endurance, seldom falls to the lot of any person. A body of men of a composite unexcelled, whose duty to the municipalities they represent is plainly the protection of life and prop erty,
 An organization of such a character whether is be national or international local or otherwise, paid or volunteer, which has for its purpose one single great and noble object, and that to save, should not such an organization be maintained by all towns, cities, states and countries, and be made to prosper and continue successfully for all time, throughout the whole broad universe?
 'To bid such an association a fitting welcome, words fail me to properly ex- press my feelings at this time, for much could be said and much more written in language more expressive regarding your brave and dangerous calling that each one of you are daily exposed, and those serving in your re- spective departments.
 Tt has been my pleasure, and l trust with profit, to attend all the conyen- tions except the Baltimore, Providence and Salt Lake City meetings. While was one of the few who were instru- mental in favoring, and which finally effected the first call for the Baltimore meeting, circumstances prevented my attendance at the same, much to my regret. This occasion is a fitting one, and I consider it my duty to refer to the magnanimous generosity exhibited to this association upon all occasions, and in all sections of the United States and the Dominion of Canada, whenever our conventions have been held, the unbounded hospitality received by us in each city. You and I can bear tes- timony to the many welcomes received. All are now pleasant memories of the past, and will always remain among the brightest remembrance of our lives
 Gentlemen of the convention, it now affords us great pleasure to extend a welcome to the city, my beloved City of Films, and I, and our chief, the board of fire commissioners, of which l now (to round up all my official ca reers) have the distinguished honor to be member, also the fire department, including the rank and file, each one and all extend to you cordial well come. I desire and trust that ex-Chief Damrell of Boston (who was in compa- ny with tic gentlemen in New York when, incidentally, the organization of this association was first considered and made it's first president that year in Baltimore) will be called upon to in form us of it's first reception, and the circumstances which brought the same to such success in it's development. He is more familiar with it's beginning and can outlneits broad field of import ance and usefulness, and is ever ready to work and advise In our many inter- ests. He can point out the few sur vivors present and absent of the orig inal membership.
 Ladies and gentlemen: Our fellow citizens and the committee of arrange ments, who, by their endeavors to car fy out their programme in making your visit agreeable feel honored by youl presence, and it will be a source oi
 great pleasure if they are assured oi
 
 gentlemen, our honered visitors. Trust ing your coming will prove pleasant and profitable, and when the time shal arrive for your departure you will each carry with you our best wishes ant | only pleasant recollections of the good people of the City of Films, again ex- tend a hearty, yes, thrice hearty wei, come to our city.
 Chief Kennedy made neat little speech in the same vein as those that proceeded, and also took occasion tt request the visiting chiefs to inspect New Ravens engine houses and tt | make such suggestions as occurred tt | them.
 Chief Matt Taylor of Richmond, Va. 1 is very popular with the delegates. Ht made witty speech to the convention | that called forth repeated applause ant | laughter. He responded to the wei come accorded the delegates and as
 sured the committee of arrangements
 that everything was all right" | Chief Humphreys of Pittsburg, Chic
 Hale of Kansas City and Chief Gamer
 of Kent, England, also addressed tht
 convention. The latter spoke entertain
 ingly and received quite an ovation. Colonel E. A. Stevenson, first com | missioner of Montreal, was listened tt
 with respect His speech was feli
 citous one, delivered in true Tan Mac laren'' style, the Scotch dialect, giving ] charm to it.
 | Chief Hale of Kansas City spoke 0 !, his celebrated trip to London in 1892 when he took a team of picked firemel 2 to compete with the British fire brig 1 ade. He said that the apparatus uset | in England was smaller than that o l this country owing to the marrow l streets. In the competition which hi | men entered, Chief Hale said that tn l Englishmen prepared their apparatu | for fire quickest until his own tean
 team performed. The Englishmen go
 out of bed, dressed themselves, har | messed their teams and were ready fo
 a fire in seventeen seconds. This sam feat was performed by the Kansas Cit
 team in just eight seconds. Chief Hal l of 41,a ,ola mt