The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1899-05-04
Fire Laddies Banqueted.


Choking in the demon glnre
And some helpless form appears
n that furnace of despair:--
"Save oh, ~ the people cry.
But who pIucks the human brandt
Who will do the deed or die?
IT'S the Fireman OF the land!
Then give them honor. give them fame,
health TO hands that fight the flannel
On the 10th day of February 1899,
with the thermometer registering
30 degrees below zero, the alarm of
fire was sounded in Logan, Ohio,
and the Logan Mingo Volunteer
Fire Company promptly respond
ed. The conflagration was in the
residence of l.. ID. Vickers on Hun
ter Street, and 1t was readily seen
as tho flames leaped from the up
per windows, that there was a
battle royal on hands for the fire.
laddies, and battle sure it proved
For two long hours the struggle
continued, the licking flames at in
tervals seemed subdued, then
bursting forth again, in seeming
defiance of the awful fl )od of water
that was poured into its daring
realm. The fire laddies were NOV
ing pillars of ice, but thawing their
hands In the chilling spray from
the nozzles, and breaking the icicles
from their hats that obscured the
vision, they toiled on until every
spark of the unwelcome monster
had succumed to their heroic op-
position.
The beautiful residence of Mr..
Vickers was indeed pitiable
structure when the battle of the
elements had ceased, but by the
heroic efforts of the fire company
the homo Instead of being a heap
Of ashes, stood intact with the ex-
ception of a fallen roof in the rear,
and few upstairs rooms destroy
ed. The spacious home still stood,
now needing much repairs, instead
of being but smoldering ashes that
could but be replaced by new
building. The residence was in
sured and ere long when contrac-
tors began to size up the situation
and figure on expense ofrepair, the
contract was awarded to j. w.
Strentz for the sum of 500 90; small
indeed when compared with the
amount it would require to rebuild
such residence. In the course of
a few weeks the contractor had the
building better than it was before
the Are, and.by The artistic touch
of George Holl with paint and paper
brushes the residence was soon
complete, and more elegant by far
than before. In short time Mr..
Vick+rs and his good wife had got
ten their household belongings in
as good condition rs before, and
moved back into their home, thank
ful tor the return and grateful to
the Logan Fire Company that il
was heir old home that they were
re-occupying.
On Monday evening of this week
Mr.. Vickers attended the regular
meeting of the Fire Company, and
bearing to them the kind wishes of
his good wife and the gratitude Of
his own heart, he invited the COM
to again come t" his home, on Wed
nesday evening, but not so hastily
as before; that himself and wife
wished the Fire Company to see
how their home looks now, COM
pared with the awful 10th day of
February, and they wished to ex-
tend to the company the deep
gratitude they felt toward them
for making it possible for them to
now occupy their pleasant home.
The invitation was UNANIMOUSLY ac-
cepted.
On last evening the Fire Com.
pany met at their hall, and pre-
ceded by the hose wagon, marched
to the residence of Mr.. Vickers.
They were cordially greeted at the
door by the host and hostess, and
bid to make the house theirs during
their stay. When the Company
were comfortably seated i'm the
handsome parlors, Mr.. Vickers
made an address of welcome that
was toned with the feeling of the
deep gratitude of his heart toward
the Fire laddies he was addressing
He said the first thoughts of him
self and good wife when they again
sat down in their comfortable home
to enjoy the blessings that sur
rounded them, was that 1t Was by
the voluntary efforts of those he
was now addressing, that made
these comforts possible in the same
old house; and that the Company
was every and often as welcome tc
his home as they were on the day
when their services were lAosl
needed.
Fire Chief Waner responded tt