The Portland daily press., 1898-09-06
TO THE FIREMEN.
Dedication Of the Statue On the
Western Promenade.
INTERESTING EXERCISES IN THE
PRESENCE OF A LARGE CROWD.

The Monument Unveiled With Addresses
bv Mr.. Henry Fox, Councilman Dris-
coll and Mayor C. FL. Randall.
The dedication of the Firemen's monu
ment on the Western Promenade yester-
day afternoon was an event that natural
ly attracted crowd of people. In spite
of the intense heat Of the afternoon a
crowd had gathered when the process
sion reached the scene. The American
Cadet band led it. The firemen followed
and the veterans of the department came
after them escorting the Mayor and
speakers of the occasion and few other
guests.
When they arranged themselves around
the fag-covered statue the band played.
Then the Rev. S. +. Pearson delivered
a prayer and the band played cheerful
selection afterwards. The little platform
which had been erected in. front OF the
monument was in the rays of the fiercest
summer heat. There had been fires which
the veterans had attended which were not
half as hot.
After Mr.. Pearson was all done, Mr..
Henry Fox, as the presiding officer of the
occasion, came forward and delivered the
following address which was listened TO
with the keenest interest by every body:
Comrades-Truly hath your own poet
said: 1.-the thoughts of youth are long
long thoughts. - 1t Is hard for me TO
realize that once iran with the ma
ohine," and stroves at the brakes to brake
down with my comrades as they Kept
time to the good old chorus singing:
Then brake her down my heartieS,
oh give 1t to her strong,
Let all hands join the chorus
And cheer our work with song.
Today were the old fellows to brake
down, their chorister would do well TO
select the music from the Dead Marcn
in Saul" But the alarm has been sound
ed and must respond be the consequen-
6 55ces what they may.
Surrounded with SO much that reminds
me Of the past it is hard to keep back the
Hood of recollections that threaten to
engulf me. "They come as the winds
come when forests are rended; they come
as waves come when n8vles are strand
ed.,' (This is supposed to refer to the
Spanish fleet What more shall say!
Why talk to u Portland audience about
the Portland fire department.? You know
all about their skill, all about the alaor ty
with whicn they respond to alar1ns-the'
being on the way to u fire almoss as
Quick as the alarm comes in. And the
chiefs white horse follows close on the
feet of the still alarm, reminding one of
Sheridan's ride as he came to Winchester,
20 miles above.
I. But must not forget to tell of the Re-
lief association of the Fire Department,
which was formed in lSis. and ushered
into being with the following preamble:
whereas, the members of the Portland
fire department of the city OF Portland
are liable in the discharge of their duty
to many casualties, are frequently very
injurious and sometimes ruinous to the
health, comfort and pecuniary circum. :.
stances OF those on whom they fall, 1t is
therefore, Resolved, by the undersigned,
being all members of the Portland fire
department OF life memb bers thereof that
we form ourselves into a society for the
purpose of mutual aid and assistance in
The casualties to which our duties may
expose Us. 2"
DO you wonder that child with such
a bapt!snal birth right as that has in
creased in health and strength and in
favor with God and man? do you won
der that our citizens have cheerfully and
willingly contributed to its funds in the
past? God grant they may as generously
Contribute in the future, thus cheering
those who minister to the sick and
disabled ones who are obliged to ask for
relief.
Surely the good Samaritans are worthy
of remembrance and in 1896 society was
founded called the Firemen's Monument
Association, to erect monument in
memory of the firemen of Portland, and
our citizens gladly aided in carrying
forward the good work. This associ-
alton has attended to its duty; have pro-
CURED monument and selected this
beautiful spot for its erection. What
spot could be more beautiful? What OBJ
iect more worthy? The setting sun as its
sinks in the west shall gid with its part
ing rays the monument whose erection
you commemorate today. 80 may each
successive generation Of tremen keep ever
bright the memory of those whose deeds
we also commemorate today.
But as l have said, the fremen's asso-
citation have attended to the duty with
which they were charged; have erected
this beautiful monument. May 1t be
thing of beauty and a joy forever. They
bid me present it in their behalf to the
custody of the Relief Association OF the
Portland Fire Department.. l beg you,
sir, as its president, as its official head,
to accept it. Give TO it perpetual care;
keep ever in perpetual remembrance the
name and the fame Of those who in sea-
son and out OF season, both early and late,
went forth to battle for the lives and
property of their fellow citizens. May
1t inaugufate a new era, kindle brighter
and brighter the nreS OF good will and
friendship in Your ranks and be the
emily fire your department cannot ex-
tinguish.
"AId it paper, aid 1t type,
Aid for tho hour is ripe,
And our earnestness must not slacken
Into play.
Men of thought and men of action
Clear the way
Then the flags which had covered the
monument were stripped from it and it
stood revealed to the admiring throng
Chief Engineer Eldridge modestly ac-
oepted the trust which Mr.. Fox had placed
in his keeping and called upon Couacil-
man Driscoll to respond more at length,
For washing