The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-04-11
The Firemen Pleasantly Entertain
Their Friends and Have
a Good Time.
THEIR NINTH ANNUAL
Feast OF Reason and Il Flow of
SOul-Wit. HumOr. PathOs
and ElOquence.

=
J Tie ninth annual banquet of Nav
epdck Hose company No. was held OH
Saturday evening at the fire hall. The
hall was appropriately decorated for the
occasion with the stars and stripes and
presented very brilliant appearance.
The tables occupied three sides Of the
room and were laden with the bounti-
full fare which it is the delight of the
Mavericks to serve to their guests.
The menu consisted Of Blue Point
oysters, turkey with cranberry sauce.
chicken, baked beans. salads, olives,
pickles, pies, cakes, etc.
The hospitality of the firemen is only
limited by the capacity Of their hall.
and the only invited guests outside of
the active and honorary membership
were the city officials and representa-
ives of the press. The following is a
list Of those participating in the ban
quet:
G. NJ. Hays. H. Cbapple, F. B. Con-
nelly, J. D. Matheson. M. G. Morris.
F. H. Foster, F. F. Damsel, H. M.
Allen, P. H. Smith, Chas. Spear, Lee
Eisenberg, G. W. Robbins, Lee Mains,
o. W. Mickey, John Powers. Robert
Leavens, W. E. Henry, G. F. Burton.
W. M. Johnston. T. B. Hill, W. j.
Youmans, W. Jeffrey, o. Whitney, W.
B. Calhoun, Gust. Eastman, W. Hamp-
ton, Fred Tews. W. H. Schreiber, H.
S. Evans, J. G. Bond, W. E. Baker, g.
l.. Sawyer, Frank Golish, N. G. Car
vile, F. L. Mann, A. B. Newman,
John Staffek. Frank Purcell, w. H.
Petbybridge, J. B. Herford, Geo. Soule,
G. R. Stoll, Frank Beeman, Will
Schneider, F. H. Hathhorn, U. E.
Frizelle, Chas. Retallick F. x. N.
Rademaker, H. F. McFarlin. j. E.
Hughes. M. B. Rademaker. W. B.
George, a. Airth, F. l.. Mann.
After all had partaken of the FEAST.
George M. Hays, deputy state treas
urer, who had come especially from
Helena to take his old position of toast
master, in a few appropriate remarks,
called Oh County Attorney Johnston to
make the address of welcome. It may
be remarked in passing that Mr.. Hays
has filled this position at every banquet
given by the Mavericks. and his
geniality and ready flow Of wit emil
nently qualify him to make such an oc-
casion pass off with vim.
Mr.. Johnston's speech was remark
ably felicitous one and for a man
whose occupation is to hold up the
darker side of affairs in his talks to
juries in the prosecution of criminals,
the brilliant and sparkling humorism
he indulged in were the more highly
appreciated. He referred to the pat1i
otic fervor with which the Mavericks
responded year ago to the presidents
call for men to defend the honor of the
flag. He asserted that no organization
in the United States had given so large
a percentage Of its membership to the
service Of its country as the Maverick
Hose company, certainly no better ma
terial was sent from any community.
He wound up with al allusion to the
fact that the boys had gone forth brave
ly with the expectation of fighting the
Spaniards. but never anticipated "go-
ing up against the commissariat de-
partment. and sprung the following re-
vised edition of "The Battle of Blen-
heinz
Tell my brothers and companions,
When they meet and crowd around
10 hear my mOurnful story
In that pleasant vineyard ground,
That we chewed the tough steak bravely,
And when the meal was DER,
Full many corpse lay CHASTITY
Upon the mess tent floor.
And mid the dead and dying
We're some with broken teeth;
The death rattle in their throats,
The marks of Alger's beef. -
At this stage of the proceedings the
of an appropriate emblem
was made to Sergeant Calhoun of the
Red Cross corps, for his distinguished
services at Chickamauga, which Little
acknowledged gracefully.
Letters were read from Judge Mil
burn of Miles City and M. G. Mains of
Spokane. WASH, regretting their ina
bility to accept their invitations.
The toasts mentioned below were
then honored and responded to by the
gentlemen mentioned The responses
We're witty and excited much merri-
ment. AS there were frequent allusions
to matters which concern only the
members of the company or Of Troop M
of the Rough Riders, which would not
be intelligible to the most Of the read
ers Of this paper. they are not repro
duced here. The following is list of