The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-10
. .A N 6 N N .a .s .eNNNxX !
Advertiser Bureau.

Tonight in German Relief Hall the Vol unteer Firemen's Veteran Association sat down with their Invited guests at the sixth annual banquet of the survivors of the old-time volunteer nre department
 Back in the earliest sos the first volun- teer fire brigade was organized in Mobile to protect property from the flames. One members comprising the best element of the citizenship of Mobile. Not few of these fire companies. until they could be equipped with hand engines. organized as bucket brigades. As the march of inn provement continued and when the steam engine and Babcock came into service these were purchased and Mobile had ann pie equipment. in time. to cope with any sized fire. It was with pleasant rivalry that the volunteers responded when the big bell rang out the alarm, even though it were midwinter, and in the dead of night. To get first water" was the am bition of every company and on the 9th of April, the date of the annual parades, the fortunate brigade wore the blue rib bon, holding it until the honor was wrest- ed by some more alert and fortunate bri- gade.
 Today, however, the city has it's paid firemen, this system being established nearly twenty years ago, with the lament ed Sloan as chief. he being chief of the volunteers at the time of dissolution. But two of the fire engines are now in service by the city and these are only called upon in the hour of absolute necessity, thanks to fine system of water works.
 The brigades comprising the volunteers. the surviving members of which today form the Veteran Association, were known as follows. the notices accompanying:
 Mobile Hook and Ladder. No. 1-"When Duty Calls We Win Attend
 Neptune. No. 2-"Prompt to Assist"
 Franklin, No. 3--IAlways Ready"
 Merchants, No. Ave Are Willing to
 Torrent, No. 5-"we Lend Our Aid in Time of Need"
 Phoenix, No. s-"we Rise to Shine Brighter
 Mechanics. No. -"Independence Our
 Washington. No. s-"Here We Are"
 Lafayette. No s-"Ready and Willing"
 There was and is today in active serv- ice; being psid Sno brigade eraa,I at prsMsenf Me an offshot of the Volunteer Hook and Ladder Company. No. 1. As the name i'm plieS this company was organized by Gre was an aggressive fire fighting company. This company has no place in the vete- rans' organization. however.
 Tonight's banquet was a repetition of the former ones, the veterans and guests enjoying the recounting of the olden days and the many fierce and destructive blazes. The flow of wit and oratory prior to and during the feast was much enjoy ed by all and especially those fortunate guests who were not acquainted with the old style method of fighting fires.
 At 8 o'clock the supper was served. Ills veterans being at the tables. President Turner presided and after an enjoyable repast speeches were made by firemen as follows:
 No. l-Jake J. Meyer.
 No 2--George Matzenger.
 Mo- 3-Jere Rowland, William Stevens and W. 6. Copley.
 No 4-Price Williams, Jr.. H. c. Pilli- chody.
 No. 5-Henry Rutherford aged S5, a vet eran of No. 5 from 1888 and chief for five years before and during the war.
 No. e6-Ramie Goubil,. Daniel Stirling.
 No. 7-S. A. Leonard. Joe Cady, ST. l# No. sc. Walter Soost, C. H. Bostwick.
 Press-Phil Cosminskey of The Mont gomery Advertiser.
 A silent toast was drunk to the memory of Chiefs Mosely F. Tucker and Matt Sloan.
 At suggestion of Hon. Price Williams, Jr., through recommendation of $. A. Leonard, a movement was inaugurated looking to the erection of a monument to the dead of the volunteer finemen to be placed in Magnolia Cemetery.