Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-04
THE VETERAN F'IREMEN
THEY DECLINE TO ATTEND FIRE
MEMS CONVENTION IN A BODY.
Mr.. ]. J. Peabody's Narrative OF Old
Time Companies-Record
Of Early Days.

monthly meeting at the old Union engine
house. 10th and H streets, Tuesday evening
was we'll attended President James H.
Richards called the meeting to order ana
Mr. J. j. Peabody served as secretary.
Mr. Peabody related that a short time
ago a gentleman called to look over the
building. stating that in his boyhood he at
tended school here and 1t was treat to
him to return to the place where he learned
the first rudiments of an education. He re-
called many who resided in the neighbour
hood in those days and the names of num-
bers of his schoolmates. He gave his name
as Otto Atrato de la Camp Of San Fran
cisco He left donation.
The secretary read correspondence relat-
ing to the fare to and from Frederick DUR
ing the firemens convention next week, IN
which the passenger department or the b.
and o. railroad gave a reduced rate TO uni
formed members. The previous action
abandoning the trip was RECONSTRUCTED, put
SO few announced their intention to attend
that the idea of going as an association was
abandoned. 2.
condition of the exterior of the house. the
want of painting and the trustees were
directed to consider the matter.
Mr.. Peabody continued his sketch of old
time fire matters by reading his contrlpu-
tees in the National Intelligencer for
meetings of Columbia on January 8; for
the election of officers May o, September
and October 2; of engineer division or
the Washington post office Company, jan
uary 8; for distribution of badges. March
5. April 2 May and October s; Franklin,
January 8, March 10, April Z. April IA, May
5, June and June .; for exercise, July Z.
Franklin Company's Officers.
A notice Of the meeting Of the Franklin
Company, held February g. which appeared
on the 18th, gives the officers as follows:
Charles L. Coltman, president; ]. A M
Duncanson, vice president; Nicholas Cal
Ian. secretary, and w. w. Billing, treas
urer The minutes Of the Franklin's meet
ing of April show that w. W. McCauley
was elected captain of engine and wallace
Kirkwood captain of hose, and the presi-
dent was authorized to contract for
number of badges.
In the Intelligencer of April 13 appeared
an appeal to citizens of the second ward
as follows:
'It has become necessary for the men,
bers of the Franklin Engine Company TO
call upon their fellow-citiZens of the second
ward to sustain them in their efforts to
keep In existence one effective hre COM
pany. Their apparatus Is In excellent or
der and all the assistance they require
Is physical force. 1t Is unnecessary to
expatiate upon the necessity and benefits
of fire companies to the property OF clti-
zens, for that point is established beyond
doubt The company, hoping that their
fellow-citizens will come forward and join
them In their efforts, would give notice
that meeting will be held on April IA
The minutes of a meeting-April 23-show
that the following were elected members
John Siousa, Hiram Richey. William Hope.
Charles woodbury., James Colgate. O.
Hammond. William A. Reader and A: p
Young. On motion of Dr. Kirkwood,
badge bearing a profile of the head OF
FRANKLIN was adopted, and the president
was directed to call the company for drill
April 30.
At the meeting of the Franklin June
John Sloan John Vernon and John Early
were elected members, and a resolution
was submitted favoring the appointment
of general officer-engineer or superin-
tendent-for the government of companies
but was lost.
But One Record Of Fire.
There was but one notice of fire during
the wear that he could find. and that Is
recorded in the Intelligencer of April 2, as
follows: about / o'clock yesterday a fire
broke out in one of, the row of two-story
brick houses, generally known as Mechan-
ics' row lust east of the city hall. The in
terror and roofs of two of the houses were
DESTROYED before the; fire was subdued. The
buildings, we beheVes are owned by MI.
Law. One of them was. as we understand,
tenanted by family by the name of Vena-
HE This row is on the north side of D
street between I'd and Sd and down to the
DAYS of the civh war bore the name given
in the notice.
Mr.. Peabody mentioned incidentally that
this was the year when the sentiment of.
the masses was IN opposition to the enforce
ment of the militia law. which eliminated
in great fantasticaI parade. The firemen
had many times sought exemption from
militia duty especially in time of peace,
and there is little doubt that in the great
parade on the fourth Saturday of June Of
that year they took part as individuals.
Mr. John T. Suter stated that when he
looking at the fire mentioned. South of the
row was a marsh along the branch which
ran down Indiana avenue. and the row Of
houses stood alone on a hill. 1t was the
first fire he had ever witnessed.