The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-12-22
WHITE HOUSE FIRES.
Twice the Executive -Mans
on the Verge Of Destruction.
saved ~ the Herpio work Of Gallant
Firemen-Presidcnt Johnaon's
Generosity 20 the Brave
Boys.
Especial washington Letter.I

OOHRHERE are only two Of us
who draw the maximum
"a pension of $50 per month";"
says Calhoun Clark, one of the retired
veterans Of u city fire department.
"This pension roll is kept up by the
voluntary contributions Of the ire
men. For many years / gave up one
dollar every month for the pension
fund. The lowest pension paid is six
dollars per month and the highest is
$50, which amount 1 draw, and it gives
me a competence"
The old gentleman win not discuss
his career and his deeds of daring, but
he is known as one Of the bravest OF
the brave. a man whose career in the
fire department of the national cap
itaF would fill a volume. He likes to
talk about the fire department and it's
good work, but never about himself.
cit is not generally known nova
DAYS that on two occasions the white
house came near burning down." said
Mr., Clark. 'tBoth times the fires oc-
Cured during the administration OF
Andrew johnson. In 1867 the white
house stables took fire just before
daybreak. Those stables were lO-
Gated on the ground just east of the
white house and opposite the west
entrance of the treasury department.
They were brick stables. but the
woodwork and the inhammable con-
tents made a hot fire. We had a hard
time that morning, for it was one OF
the coolest mornings / have ever
known. 1 was driver of Hibernia en-
CINE company, which was located
three blocks west of the white house.
The alarm was brought to us by a cav
alryman, and we were very soon on
the scene. In those days we did not
have electric alarms, as they have
now. Well, very soon after us came
the Meigs and the Rucker engines
with their fremen. All three engines
worked hard that bitter cold morning
We prevented the confagration from
y extending to the white house, but we
could not save the stables.
I 'sWhen our work was over we were
g all taken down into the basement O.
y the white house and supplied liberally
with coffee and other things to drink
and everything eatab1e that there wa
on the market was spread out for "a
and served to us in elegant style, w
had an %impromptu state dinner Their
that morning, ard I never ate a mea
that I enjoyed so much, because I wa
hungry and cold and in good condition
to enjoy a meal. 1t was the creates
n breakfast the fremen here ever hal
y rendered to them, and, 7 guess, "
were the only iremen in the worl
who were ever entertained at breaI
'a fast by the executive head Of a na
! ton.
"Col. William Dickson was chief eI
gineer of the government fire depart
ment at that time. He is the ma
t. who was foreman Of the star rout
jury, and who was for many year
Of democratic national committeeman fc
the District of Columbia, and one {
the most popular of u citizens. q
II was a brave man and q successfl
. chief.
"The other time the white houl
was in danger was when the conse
vatory took fire. That, you know,
y adjoining the west wall of the viii
y house, and it was difficult to keep Il
y fire from taking hold of the mai
building. But by hard work and car
full attention to every detail of Il
. work in hand we kept the white hou'
" from taking fire, and we saved a pc
g ton of the conservatory, too. But