Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-07
FIREMEN OF LONG AGO
OF VETERANS ASSoCIA-
TON TUESDAY EVENING.
Celebration of Washingt0n's Birthday
Observation-Disclosures Of the Dead
Mr. Peabody's Sketch.


At the meeting of the Veteran Firemens
Association on Tuesday evening the presl-
dent, Mr.. James A. Richards. being absent
because Of the death Of a son, Mr. F. w.
Kahlert took the chair, and Mr.. j. ]. Pea
body was in his place as secretary. The
matter of celebrating Washington s birth
day anniversary, February r. and the an
nfversary Of the first parade of the asso-
citation was considered, and a committee
was appointed to make arrangements for
the observance of the day.
Reference was made to the recent deaths
of Matthias Houck, who Joined the Northern
Liberties Fire Company February 1, 1S43;
VIM. Boron. the Franklin, May z, 1887. and
John Harrison the Union, May 9, 1887, and
they were the subjects of eulogy and remi-
niscence.
Mr. Peabody continued his narrative of
the old-time companies this contribution
covering the first half of the year 1S4O The
report of the annual meeting of the Column
bia Fire Company, he said, held January Z,
gives the officers as James Adams, presl-
dent; John T. Ball. vice president; W. W.
Stewart, secretary; Smion Bassett, treas
urer; James A. TAFT, captain of engineers,
and S. s. Briggs, captain OF the hose.
The Union Fire Company, at It's annual
meeting, January II, elected Edmund Han
ley president; w. B. Magruder, vice presi-
dent; Charles Calvert, secretary; William
H. Perkins, assistant secretary; Samuel
Stott, J. O.. P. Degges, captain Of engine
division, with William R. TAFT, Thomas
Smith and James Mitchell, assistants; Will
lam H. Digges. captain of hose division,
with James Kelly, Archibald thompson ana
George T. McGlue, assistants.
The Perseverance company at the annual
meeting, February 8, elected John H. God
dard president; John G. Hardness, vice
president; L. ]. Middleton, secretary, ana
An1 9th froa GytrQ
Columbia received communication from
the Franklin company, looking to the Or
ganizatiOn of a permanent fire department,
and Messrs. James A. TAFT, Joseph Follans-
bee and ]. Cuttings were appointed COM
mittee to meet the delegates.
The Intelligencer of January ~ noticed
that the Franklin company had arranged
to give it's first annual ball at the American
Theater, February 3. Along notice of the
library of the Union company, Tor which
contributions of books and money were
solicited, appeared January 20. The action
of the councils in passing a bill for the re-
lief of the Navy Yard (Anacostia) Fire
Company for material and work on the en-
CINE house on January 81 was also noted
meeting Of the delegates to firemen,s
convention at the hall of the Franklin on
Z February 10 appears also.
Firemen on Parade.
The Intelligencer of April 10 devotes much
space to the firemens procession on the
SIn, commencing us ditlcie dSl4olio"S.
"At sunrise, the morning of the firemen's
procession, the ringing of the bells at the
different engine houses gave notice to our
citizens that the ceremony had commenced.
On going into the streets It, was discovered
that all the engine houses were decorated
with flags, banners and steamers, and
that the National Hotel and some other
public buildings exhibited similar Demon
STATIONS of joy. About O'Clock am the
Union Fire Company, sixty members, pre-
coded by the Marine Band, went TO the rail-
road depot, Pennsylvania avenpe northwest,
TO receive the Mechanical Fire Company
of Baltimore About O'Clock the huzzas
of the assembled mutitudes hetokened the
approach of the cars. In brlef space OF
time the Union Fire Company, being pre-
viously arranged in admirable order IN
open column along streets the Baltimore
firemen passed along the line the members
of the Union uncovering as they maIcneu
toward Sd street near which stood ms
honor the mayor of Washington, ana the
president of the Union to bid welcome ana
pay their respect to the Baltimore VISITORS.
AFTER short and appropriate address py
the mayor and the president OF tne Union
to the president of the Mechanical FIRE
Company, which was responded to IN very
affable and appropriate terms by the latter.
the mayor. accompanied by FS >. Evans Oh
the Union ard the president OF the Mechah-
cal entered a barouche and were drawn
in front of the fire companies, music playing
and banners flying along PENNSYLVANIA ave
nue to the hospitable quarters in the man
sion lately occupied by Mr.. Forsyth at the
western extremity of the city. where the
Baltimoreans partook of an elegant break
fast AS the members of the Mechanical!
passed the Perseverance, Franklin ana
Union engine houses, they We're saiuted by
the ringing of bells and by the turnout or
several members of those companies, VINO
appeared to embrace the earliest opportuni-
ty of doing honor to- their Baltimore
brethren"
Formation of the Line
The paper goes on to state that the grand
procession formed in II street. north of La
fayette square, at IL o'clock, under the
marsh alshp of Joseph H. Bradley, in the
uniform of the Perseverance, and moved to
Georgetown. Two barouches, each drawn by
four horses, containing the president and
vice president of the Mechanical and the
president of the Union in zone and the
mayors of Washington and Georgetown ana
commissioner of public build ngs IN the
other headed the line, followed by grand
pavilion by u feet. on which We're the
president and directors of the F1remen
Insurance Company seated about table.
This was Handsomely decorated with piue
tapestry, trimmed with pink, and on 1t was
the banner of the company, of maroon-cof-
ored silk, on which was painted hre en-
CINE and clasped hands suitably inscribed.
Then came the Mechanical Company,
eighty members, in drab froci coats, blue
pants capes and hats, headed by band
with suction engine and banner with paint
ing of blacksmith at work: Western Star of
Georgetown, fifty equipped men headed by
five axmen dressed as sailors and banner
presented by the sisters of the Visitation.
Their apparatus was drawn by six black
horses loaned by NJ. de Bodisco, the Rus
sian minister.
Navy Yard (Anacostia) Company, fifty
men, in drab coats, blue capes, pants and
hats headed by member arrayed as an
Indian; banner of blue with painting of an
xyiayU nf fho IN n q
The apparatus was drawn by horses, the
engine by six boys, the suction by four
grays and the hose reel by two bays.
Columbia, fifty men, in brown frock coats,
4olo -lafn han