Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-04-16
F|REMEN BANQUET
VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT TENDERS A
FEAST TO ITS NEW OFFICERS.
ELABORATE PROGRAM RENDERED
INVITE PROMINENT CITIZENS TO MAKE
MERRY WITH THEM.

For all round good fellows and roysi
entertainers the present membership OF
the Idaho Springs fre department takes
the bakery, and without fear of successful
contradiction we can say that the banquet
and smoker given by them last Tuesday
wss the most successful social affair ever
given in this city and the most enjoyable.
Ostensibly the affair was in honor of the
new chief and his assistant, but in gen.
eral way It was given for the purpose of
getting the boys together and more firm
ly cemeutiug the interests of the depart
ment in order that harmony should con-
troll the workings of the organization.
And that these objects were achieved
there can be no question. There were
forty-six active firernen present and one
invited guest. but invitations had been
sent 10 MANY others who for various rea-
Sons were unable to attend much to their
own loss.
Promptly at Q O'Clock, Toastmaster
Dick White. called the assenblage to
order and a qusrtette composed of Ed.
Rowse, Ed. King. Dick White and Tom
Evans rendered THE Old Oaken Bucket ;
in a most creditable manner, winning an
encore to which they declined to respond
owing to their extreme modesty. This
was followed by an address by John Ed
wards. foreman of No. /. who in well
chosen words told something about the
workings and condition of his depart
ment. Tom Evans rendered in a master
ly fashion up In Cocoanut Tree, and
was given an ovation. Assistant Chief
Potter recited at some length the record
of the department. and his statistics are
of great vaine to the department. Mr.
Potter is a close student and keen oh.
server, and details that would escape
others are closely retained by him. And
then came Jim Lindsay with his fund Of
cracking good dialect songs that never
fail to amuse and the boys were tempted
to cut other portions of the programme
in order to be entertained by the versatile
cashier. And in his list he has fund OF
seemingly inexhaus,able numbers, bu,
declined to encroach on the time of the
others Royal K Graham was there,
and at some length dwelt upon the duties
of fremen. and his remarks were timely
and to the point His many suggestions
could be adopted in their entirety with
profit to the department The Future OF
the Department" furnished a topic for
Chief Robinson which seemed to be ex.
actly to his liking, and he was listened to
with close attention. One of his strong
est points was the advantage to be be
gained by close relationship between
the business men and the fire depart
ment, but his entire address was full OF
good meat.
And then came the banquet. The
table arrangements were in the hands of
Z. Fluke, assisted by S. J. Narney and
Richard Pierce. and they Certainly show
ed rare skill in this line for better ar
ranged banquet board has never been
seen here. Carnations were used lavishly
and not an item was omitted from the
bill-of-fare that would have contributed
one iota to the general effect. There was
general luli in conversation during this
portion Of the program. as every man was
emphasizing his appreciation of the
spread by doing justice to it. and the ex.
pressions of content upon the faces of the
banqueters as the chairs were showed
back from the board and cigars were
passed was reward enough for those who
had the affair in charge.
Following the banquet the boys enjoyed
session of athletics, at which sport i,
was demonstrated that the department,
has within its ranks some very clever
athletes.
The arrangements of the evening were
in tte hands of Dick White and Clay
Puderbaugh. but they are willing to share
the houors with the rest of the member
ship.
less Brown of Hilton New York