Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-10-02
"REMINISCENCES OF FlREMeN
Concluded from First PAGE.

It's half-past twelve o'clock an daylisht's a
dawning.
hoova-hava, hoovahava; hoova-hava, hoo-va,
Johnny am lingo-lay'
Then indeed would the best efforts
be given, until labor ceased from word
OF command "Avast," or from sheer
exhaustion.
Although Barnes Hook and Ladder
Company may boast of an earlier orr
gin, it was not till years after that it
became a rival, in a mild way, of the
company with the big engine. 1t was
composed largely of members Of the
Merry Bachelors Club" the smart
set who wore blue uniforms, as sugges-
tive of their claim to blue blood, and
rule Of the social realm, as was the red
Of their CO loborers of the strenuous
lis SO essential at times in surmount-
ing life's difficulties. They were jolly
good fellows, however, but of the class
who would probably rather fight fire
from the house top.
Columbia Engine Company took its
name from the beautiful lettering OF
that Of the original company, in
an arch over the dome OF the pump.
The letters we're thick brass on black
ground, and their appropriateness to
local nomenclature at once suggested
adaptation that saved it from vandal
hands. The name afterwards by vote
of the City Council became the name
of the hall so largely built through the
efforts of the firemen. The circum.
stances connected there with were as
follows: The engine was housed on
the ground floor of the building now
occupied by Cunningham's saloon,
and the attic was the company meet.
ing room, quarters that were cramped
and inconvenient. The company had
petitioned the Council in vain for bet
ter accommodations. One day, at
Woods brewery, some of the firemen
were bemoaning this neglect, when
the suggestion was made, "Why not
elect Council that will do US justice?
This is the day of annual election.
Let us nominate ticket mow."
It was done, although half the day
had already passed and quite q mum.
Der of votes been polled. The ticket
named consisted of G. A. Barnes, S. w.
Percival. Francis Henry, John Miller
Murphy and Robt. Frost, and the issue
was openly made Of building town
hall. and providing adequate quarters
for the 6remen. The whole ticket was
elected. Then the only reason for
hesitation was the cost on a depleted
Treasury. So the fremen circulated .
subscription paper, and about 81, 800
were raised to be used in part deiray-
ment of the expense, estimated at
81 500. The finishing of the building
ran up TO considerably more before it
was finished, but it was worth to the
community all it cost, for it was at
that time really the finest hall in the
Territory, and enabled the Western
Washington Fair people to hold one
Of the most successful exhibits, in the
early 70s, ever held in the Northwest
and the yield Of fruit was especially
good, which enabled the association to
make an excellent use of the product.
The whole exhibit of fruit and vege-
tables was sent 10 Jay Cooke & Co.,
the New York bankers, who were en-
gagged in financing the Northern Pa
cific Railroad bonds, and its display in
the windows OF their building on Wall
street commanded universal attention
and aided materially in establishing
confidence in the transcontinental en-
terprise. 1t was labeled Some Pro.
duets of Washington Territory" leav-
ing the observers in ignorance of the
fact that it was the eliminating effort
of q specially good season and that it
was about al We had to show in the
lines represented. It is safe to say
that had we not had our valiant fire.
men there would have been no Co.
lumbia Hall, and had there been no
hall, there would have been no con.
centration of effort for grand display,
and had there not been an exhibit
that fairly astonished our own people,
there would have been nothing to send
East as an indication of our resources
and an assurance of the intent of our
people to build up q community of
wonderful power.
Then again the hall served the pur-
pose OF securing an occasional dra-
matte entertainment, the visits of ia
nous speakers, statesmen and orators,
like Schuyler Colfax, Editor Bowles,
]. Starr King. Robt. G. Ingersoll, and
others OF national note. As an illus
tration OF the Ingratitude OF Repub-
lics", however, (Which means, OF
course, the people,) it may be noted
that the City Council elected on the
sole issue of building the hall,
was afterwards "turned down" with
equal unanimity for having enacted
the popular will, when . very small
increase of taxation had to be paid for
what was palpably shown to have re-.
suited in so much benefit.
It was several years after Columbia
Engine Co. was installed that Seattle,
which then occupied the second place
OF embryo cities on the Sound, in pop.
ulation, enterprise and wealth, re.
solved upon celebration OF the once,
IL -