Evening star., 1897-06-05

service in times of necessity as any
volunteer fire department in the state The
members wade through fire, water and
mud. without considering their persons
Ihey, TOO have competent engineer, Mr.
William H. BontZ, who has long been a
i member of the ire department, and had
varied expel icnce in fire work. He gives
eminent satisfaction, both to the COM
pany and TO the fire wardens and is al
ways In place when needed, and responds
to every alarm promptly. Mr.. Thomas
DIX. the driver for the Hydraulion COM
pany. Is &C competent horseman, and so
far as can be learned, has never had an
accident of serious moment. although com
PEELED to drive ever the rough cobblestones
al rapi1 gait. There are several firemen
among the members of the company,
among whom are George Petit foreman:
Banner T. Young. and William Kell either
OF hom is in the front rank. SO far as
hr1nS a steam engine Is concerned
AT the great fire of Wednesday night
and Thursday morning, this company dis
tlngu1shed itself. 1t was the first engine
TO arrive. and 1t took but a short while
into the burning buildings. All night long
they Kept this up, and today the citizens
are extending TO the company their con-
ordinations 1t will be remembered that
II was the Hydrauiion engine that did such
ef1ective service at the patent office fire In
Washington several years ago. when the
Washington fire department found 1t ne
cessary 10 call on old Alexandria with its
volunteer fire department, for assistance
which. by the way, was most cheerfully
granted.
Friendship Fire Engine ComDany.
Among the prominent relics of by-gone
days, although still in excellent condition
and repair. will be found the veteran
Friendship fire engine. This engine was
built In the days Of George Washington.
and is worked by hand. With this machine
.he lliustrious George as foreman of the
company, chased over the streets of Alex
andria to some conflagration. The engine
Is never used nowadays, but Is kept fresh
ly painted and in good shape, and does
not show in the least the effect of age nor
OF usage that probably was rough In the
extreme, Judging by the number of huge
bouiders along the thoroughfares which
are by courtesy called streets.
The veteran Friendship Fire Company is
kept up today by a number Of its Oldest
members-those who revere and respect
the hallowed memories which cling to ey-
cry spoke in every wheel, and to every
other part Of this dearly beloved old en-
gine, and who are glad to revere the men,
ory OF Washington, who was one of the
organizers and first members of this COM
pany.
The Friendship Fire Company was or
ganized In Alexandria. Va. by General
Washington in 1774. and the engine was
purchased by him. at his own expense. In
1875.
Visitors Want to See 1t.
No visitors, from whatever section Of the
country. ever leave the city without having
first visited this historic relic Of colonial
days. which the company is glad to exhibit
The company is equipped fully with hand
some red shirts. white scarfs. and wear
black troadcloth trousers. with the regula-
tton hremen's hat and cap, and whenever
they appear on parade on public occasions,
as they occasici ally do. they always make
a snowy appearance. and receive round af-
| ter round Of applause. Theirs Is the only
veteran fire company in this section Of the
state.
This completes the list of fire engines in
the city used, now or at any other time in
public service. There Is another, the Will
lam A. smoot, the property OF Mr.. William