The Washington times., 1902-05-04
Also Listen to a Few Facts
From Superinten-
dent Drake.
SEVERAL HUNDRED TAKE PART
Hall Was in Form of Policy-Many
Prominent washingtonians Were Pres
ent-Dr. w. P. Young Presiding Officer

The Superintendent OF Insurance Of the
found opportunity to express some OF his
intentions concerning insurance laws TO
the members OF the board Of fire under
writers. who journeyed down to Marshall
Hall yesterday afternoon to indulge IN
their fifteenth annual plank shad bake,
The things that Superintendent Drake
said were taken good -humorcdly by the
insurance men assembled. although Ic"
underwriters expressed skeptical opiaicas
in opposition.
Invitation Policy.
Over 200 insurance men made the trip
Each bore in his hand yellow ticket and
q policy insuring him a good time Tor
Eight hours.
The document fac-simile Of the real
policy. stated that it expired on May );
property was the fifteenth annual shad
bake. and the premium $3.50 Below the
picture Of big shad, on the paper were
a number of cautions" one regarding
fire water" Considerable humor was
expended in making the invitations read
in accordance with established rules IN
policy writing All the regulations. re-
quirements. and restrictions were in their
proper places. At first glance the invita-
tions appeared TO be as they purported-
The participants in the all-around good
time made up in enthusiasm what they
lacked in shad, and only the most raven
Gus ones lacked OF that.
The insurance men were quiet until the
hall was reached. When the odor of the
baked fish greeted them the entire 200
gathered about on the green lawn by the
waters edge, and awaited the word TO
feast. They speculated upon the manner
of cooking shad on half-burned boards.
and recited stories of famous poker
games often played in the old days at
Marshall Hail. between JOHN Marshall
and George Washington.
Dr.. Young Presided.
Dinner was SERVED in the dining room
Every yestigc OF floor space was utii-
ized by tables, and every place at the
tables was occupied. DR.. William T.
Young, secretary of the Franklin Fire
Insurance Company, presided as toast
master, after an Introductory speech by
Henry Wells, president of the Board OF
Fire Underwriters.
Superintendent of Insurance Drake was
introduced as the man who had been
playing the devil with the local ducks,
the pun upon his name being greeted with
much applause. He touched upon the
question of a solicitor, now paramount
in local insurance affairs, and said that
he had ALREADY investigated and licensed |
124 foreign companies. but that he has /
not so far. touched upon the lceal ones. |
There are many distinguished wildcat
companies here. but they will not operate
after I get the work well in hand" said 1
Mr.. Drake. We'll do the work first and |
let Congress appropriate afterward."
This solution seemed to please every
sody.
Noble ID. Larner. the first president of
She board. made speech. Singing by sew !
eral of the members and guests COM
pleted the program.
The start from Marshall Hall for home |
was made early. Music op the lower |
deck afforded amusement for all.
Those Present.
Among those who attended the affair
were:
Assistant Chief Belt. D. c. F. D.; Sid
ney Bieber, fire marshal of the District /
of Columbia; W. C. Duvall, A. NJ. Nc /
Lachlen, James +. Hood. J. C. Howell,
John f. Mitchell. Charles W. Simpson,
William T. Merritt. E. Lodge Hill,
George r. Repetti. Frank p. Leetch. C.
NJ Brand. Albert +. Fox. Theodore Tro-
bins. Ralph W. Lee, Representative II. c.
Loudenslager, ID. g. Porter. Charles +.
Nesbitt. E. Q. Smith. John b. SIeman, jr..
S. W. Curriden, Henry X. Simpson. Henry
Wells, Noble ID. Larner, Thomas Z.
Drake. Arthur Z. Gasch. Louis X. Peak, +.
II. Ridgway, Emmons S. Smith. John l..
Weaver. Samuel Cross; Edward H. Droop |
p. v. DeGraw. j. II. Gordon. Capt. James
r. Oyster, BENJAMIN w. Guy. W. p.
Young Theodore ]. Mayer, ]. W. Schaef-
or. W. S. Hoge. S. R. Waters. Jefferson
Pearce, W. Riley Decide, George Spransy,
Francis Miller. II. II. Burgman. G. NJ.
Enrich. Lem Towers. jr., A. p. Far
don. Z. McC. Jones. f. G. Davis, Frank
Hume and G, w. Howard.