Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-05-19
Celebration of the Seventh Ami
versary Last Night.
a SPLENDID BANQUET SET
The company With Its Listed Guests
Enjoy nm Evening OF Rnrc Pleas
ure--Ihe Banquet BOARD Around
WhichThcy SntPrcscnting IL scene
Dear TO the Heart OF Volunteer
Fircmen.

Last night at its cosy headquarters
on South street extended the Annex
Hose Company of Western Branch
Magisterial District of Norfolk county.
celebrated the seventh anniversary of
its organization by an inspection of the
company in full uniform and Il splendid
banquet.
The whole strength of the company
was present, the members in their neat
uniforms presenting splendid appear
ance. About OILS o'clock Captain Geo.
Owens and his assistants. Messrs.
Meiggs and Taylor formed the COM
pany in line. and Captain Owens. ac
companied by First Assistant Chief En-
gineer r. l.. Herbert of the city fire
department, then made the inspection.
Chief Herbert being present by invita-
ton. The latter gentleman paid n very
high compliment to the company for
the neat, tidy and we'll equipped APP
pesrance it presented. after which the
invitation to be seated at the banquet
board followed.
elaborate affair. the table presenting n
most inviting and appetizing picture,
and 10 say that full justice was paid
it would but simply be speaking the
plain, unvarnished truth. The ladies
who assisted the committee in. getting
up such fine banquet certainly un-
derstand how to please in that direc-
ton
After cigars were lighted. Captain
Owens. acting as toastmasIer, called
upon the following gentlemen, all of
whom responded to toasts:
First Assistant Chief Herbert. Cap
tain Geo l.. Cumming. Emmett Deans.
Chas. T. Bland. Thomas Hume and
Messrs. John \. Codd, John w. Rutter.
a u
Meiggs. Thomas p. Cooke and a. S.
Hodges.
Captain Owens was called on and
made neat speech.
MIR. RUTTER'S ADDRESS.
The address of Mr.. John w. Rutter.
the treasurer of the company. was as
follows:
Captain and Brother Firemea:
There are many classes of people. or
CARNATIONS. soldiers and sailors. who
in the past history of the world have
been honored by men and revered by
women of every age and of every cline
for deeds Of heroism and valor. both
as organizations and individually. 1t is
not my purpose to speak of these chiv-
alrous acts on this occasion, but to the
fearless and brave fremen of our land
and homes.
In the silent hour of midnight. when
drawn over the earth and all nature
wrapped in the embrace of Morpheus
the warning chime of the fire-bell, or
the voice of some one. is heard TO cry
out, Fire" by the eager and attentive
ear of Il fireman. which is synonymous
with the long roll. or shrll bugle blast
at the front before two contending
armies. Then all is hustle and commo-
ton; the fircman's bosom swells with
emotion; some ones life and property
is in danger; he ruShes from his warm
midnight couch, perhaps from an af-
fectionate wife and loving children, for
gets them as it were for the time be-
ing. unless it is his own domicile that
is doomed by the devourng element of
destruction. ON. on. lie goes. not TAX
ing time to properly adjust his apparel,
so eager is he TO Beach the scene where
the cleaning tongues of flame are lick
ing through the windows and crevices
of some structure in which some one
dWels. that he falls to console his Wrfc,
or 10 press n tender kiss upon the SUM
boring babe. forgetting her great So
liritude for his welfare. Neither does
he stop 10 inquire whose property or
whose life 1t is in danger, enters in the
heroic struggle to save life and pro-
perry Almost suffocated with smoke
and scored with fire in the dwelling
he goes. with battle-aXc or hose, or up
the ladder he goes as though he had
wings to rescue n helpless woman or
child at some window emitting smoke
forgetting his own danger. No time to
inspect the firmness of the ladder be-
low. or considering the danger of ex-
plosions within, and it may be against
totterng wall in the midst OF the
applause OF spectators and IFS bro ther
firemcn below, reaches out with a
strong arm. grapples the sinking help
less form, and dcscends safely To the
ground-one life saved. A cry is heard
within the doomed building and back
he goes in seach of this doomed crea-
ture until he is scorched and overcome
by the smoke. until he is carried or
pulled out of his periiOus position by
another brave fireman. The gathering
crowds of citizens line the open spaces
around the burning building. watching
the energies Of the fire fighters; some
one shouts with u warning voice ad-
monishng them of danger. but danger
IS not seen by them; the fireman's eve
is riveted upon his single object. VIZ
To hight the flames that is destroying
the homes and property of the people.
Such heroic deeds as these are of
general occurrence, and yet there seems
10 be lack OF that high and proper
regard for honors justly due the brave
iiremcn OF our land and country.
come tonight u class them upon par-
allcl lines-with the achievements. for
titude and courage with the brave and
courageous soldiers and sailors of our
land. and lay scroll of honor upon
the thousands Of brave acts of the fire
laddies of our land
CALLED FROM EARTH.
AT o'clock 1.etardoN, oftornoo,, Ny;,>