Evening journal., 1904-03-05
.FIREMEN HOLD
Anniversary
Reliance CelebratesIIts IoSth
Birthday in Elaborate
Manner
SEVERAL PROMINENT SPEAKERS
Entertainment Consists Of Banquet
Vaudeville, Dancing and Speeches
Was Attended by More Than Three
Hundred Guests.

The Reliance Fire Company was los
years old yesterday and the birthday was
celebrated last night In German Hall. II
will remain long IN the memory OF those
who attended Il. From $50 until o'clock
a program which embraced speeches.
vaudeville entertainment, "a banquet and
dance was carried out
In the auditorium the exercises began.
Mayor Bird was chairman. He intro
duced John Biggs as the first speaker. He
complimented the organization upon its
long service and said even though VIII
mington should have paid department in
the future he did not believe It would be
more efficient than the present ones.
The response was to have been made by
Colonel William b. Norton. but in his
absence John G. Gray responded. In his
address he held that the volunteer fire.
man was on a par with the volunteer sol
der.
After the address of Mr.. Gray there
were songs by James w. Gillespie, Hamn-
ton Lloyd, John J. Giibride. Master Joseph
Farrell, Daniel O'Meara. John McIlvaney
and dancing by Rozell and Doyle and
Thomas Zebiey. Gilbert and O'Meara
scored big hits with their singing as did
MeIlvaney in his singing Of "Bedfia."
After the entertainments, dancing was
INDUCED In until nearly midnight. music
being furnished by Albert's Orchestra.
when the party proceeded downstairs {,
the dining room where dinner was served
-Four long rows Of tables had been spread
across the room and all were appropriate.
" decorated.
When the long menu had been disposed
OF John G. Gray. who was toastmaster
introduced Mayor Bird as the first speak
er. He responded to the toast Of 'sWil
mington." His remarks differed from tn,
ordinary after-dinner speech. The Mavol
expressed hope that Wilmington woul.
at some future time own its own trolievl
and said he would be glad TO see a muni
cipal lighting plant before the expiratio,
Of his Office. He was thankful the wate
department was owned by the city an,
told the taxpayers how much they ha,
saved by its being under municipal con
troll.
The State Of Delaware" was respond
ed to by Judge David T. Marvel. Jude
Sylvester ID. Townsend ana others SPOKE
Following the speechmalxing there wa
more dancing, and It was an early hou
TINS morning when the AFFAIR broke up
The committee OF arrangements fol
lows: john E. Kane, J. p. Cross and A
j. Blank.
These members were on the receptlo
committee: J. T. Lally. George Hipr
Hugh Duffy, George Murphy. p. ]. Nc
Conneil c. L. OBrien. T. r. Stewart
James Meachem, NJ. wIngate, John +
, Kane.
> Included among the guests who par
ticipated in the celebration were Mayo
Charles d. Bird, City Judge Edwin r
Cochran, Jr., City Treasurer Frederic
c. Mammele, City Auditor John Boueh
man, members Of City Council. Chief Er
giner Michael T. Conway. of the fin
department and Assistants Starr an
Porter, Sylvester d. Townsend, David 7
Marvel, John G. Gray. John Biggs. o
Inspector Andrew ]. O'Nen. Denn
. Shields, DIT. Henry G. Buckmaster, Fran
! Hyland. William p. Gray. In additio
the presidents Of all the fire eompani,
!, in the city were present.
: Harry Hicks, George Heisler, Willial
q Robertson and Edward Harry. prominer
4 Philadelphia firemen were also present.