Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-05
HALF CEN TURY AGO
RECORD OF FIRE DEPARTMENT IN
EARLY DAYS.
Narrative Read by Mr.. Peabody Before
Veteran Organization-Propo
Celebration Debated.

A meeting of the Veteran Volunteer Fire
mems Association was held at the old
Union engine house, on 10Th and H streets,
Tuesday evening, with the president James
H. Richards in the chair. There was but
little business transacted. The suggestion
of Mr. Peabody to celebrate the 18th of
August next the centennial of the first call
for meeting to organize fire company
in the city was Informally discussed.
Mr. j. J. Peabody read his sketch of the
old time fire companies, the chapter for the
year 1889. He quoted from the minutes OF
the Columbia Fire Company of January 1.
showing that the election Of officers re-
suited in the choice of James Adams. presi-
dent; John c. Fitzpatrick, vice president;
w. w. Stewart. secretary; Simeon Bassett,
treasurer; W. R TAFT, Thos. Marcke and
George Phillips, captains of engineers, nose
men and property men, respectively. A
committee was appointed to procure new
apparatus from Congress.
The Union Company at its annual meet
ing, January s. elected Edmund Haniey'
PRESIDENT; DR.. W. B. Magruder, vice presi-
dent; Chas. Calvert, secretary; J. y. T.
Degges, assistant secretary; Samuel Stott.
treasurer; J. d. Barclay. John Bancroft, j.
o. P. Desges and s. Redfern, stanains com.
mittee; Samuel Drury, captain of engine;
G. w Hardness, captain of hose. A uni
form hat and cape were adopted. both reo'
the former with clasped hands and name
on the front; the MOTTO In Union There
is Strength" and date 1886 on the back,
the latter with spread eagle In center, the
word Union" below it and gilt stars on
the corners.
The Franklin that year had as officers:
MeClintock Young. president: Wallace
Kirkwood, vice president; w. 8. Bailey,
secretary. and John c. Rives. treasurer.
The Perseverance. February Z. elected
ness, vice president; L. ]. Middleton. sec
rotary. and e Ingle. treasurer
The first mention of firemen's ball MI;
Peabody had found was that advertised
in the Intelligencer on February ID. This
was by the Perseverance Fire Company. at
Masonic Hall, opposite the city hall or
court house, Tuesday. February 10. for
which the tickets were 81. The managers
were Peter Force, w. A. Bradley, William
Gunton, Joseph H. Bradley. DR.. J. c. Hall,
Henry Ingle DIR. Joseph Borrows. A.
Tucker, Joseph Etter, L. j. Middleton. A.
H. Clements, Joseph Gales, jr.; John W.
Maury Cobb buckingham. John W. God
dard, Samuel Bacon, G. w Phillips, Peter
F. Bacon, NJ, L. Cuttings, V. Harbaugh,
John Stallings and John T. Towers. An
account of this ball which appeared Feb
ruary p states that it was attended by "a
numerous and genteel company
Record of Fires in 1889.
Mr. Peabody gave accounts of number
Of fires taken from the 1ntelligencer, one
Wednesday, 9th of January, at o'clock
pm, in frame building adjoining residence
Of Mr. McGunigle. opposite dwell ng of
Peter Force, mayor of the city; another, the
same night, about II o'clock. in Hughes
slaughter house near the city limits; one
Sunday night, January 81. in a frame build
Ing on Jefferson street. Georgetown; Mon
day night, February IS, about 10 o'clock, a
fire in a frame building in the tan yard OF
Mr.. Laurence on list street near George
town College; Monday, March %. fire in
single roof of dwelling of e. P. Maxwell
on Indiana avenue east of Az street;
Wednesday, April 10. 8 o'clock am, a
blaze in an old frame building known as the
Trades Union Tavern on 7th street oppo-
site the Center market, occupied by John
H Clarvoe; Monday, April 3D. old boat IN
the canal at 18th street destroyed: Satur-
day, June ., between and o'clock p. m,
damage to house on corner of Pennsylvania
avenue and 10th street, first story occupied
by Ezekiel Young. merchant tailor; second
floor by the printing office of the Christian
Statesman; Thursday, August l, noon.
blaze in the roof of Dowlng's Tavern on F
street between 18th and 18th streets, slight.
The Intelligencer of October notices an at
tack ON the Washington fire companies. stat
ing that while the Perseverance, Franklin
and Union fire companies were at George
town for the purpose of kindly assisting with
their apparatus 1.-THE alarm of fire in George
town being previously raised). they were
attacked by NUMBER OF TOWOleS, VINO
pelted them with bricks. paving stones and
other missiles, as to jeopardiZe their per-
sons and apparatus. The fire companies,
aided by some respectable citizens. succeed
ed in arresting some of the leaders of the
gang, and they were taken before the mayor
of Georgetown and committed to the watch
house for the night. Others received what
they richly deserved. a personal chastise-
ment at the hands of the assaulted fire.
men,.
On December IL the Intelligencer notices
fire at the arsenal on the night of the 9th
in frame building used for storing coal.
Permit to Erect Engine House.
On March 20 the same paper notices the
application of the Navy Yard (Anacostia)
fire company to the city councils for per-
mission to erect an engine house on the
square bounded by Virginia avenue, X and
9th streets southeast. On May permis-
sion was granted and the resolution was
approved by President Van Buren,.
painting emblematic of Perseverance.
donated by Mr.. II. N. Bowen. the artist.
was hung over the presidents chair in the
Perseverance engine house in April 1890
November III the Inteiiigencer publishes
resolutions Of respect to the memory of
VIM. NJ. Inch, late a member Of the Frank
lin company.
you seem to be sorry you ever married
me-"