Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-05-20

able record. The small ANIMAL Ar.
losses in the city. one as compactlv
built as ours Is, furnish ample proof
that the department is well able TO pro-
tect the city against the raYages OF fire
There were only So alarms last wear
The two most notable fires in the citv
were in 1856 and 1871, in the nrst
named year on lower King street. when
falling walls Killed eight men, and in
the latter when the city hall was de-
stroyed. on the site OF which our pres
ent fine city building stands.
The Chief of the department IL
George w. Pettey, each ward having a
warden: LIST, s. A. Mankin: I'd. M
Price, Jr.; Sd. M. L. Risheill: lth
Courtney Acton. The officials Of the
various companies are as follows:
Reliance Steam Fire Engine Co.:
President, J.. e. Uhler; First Vice-Pr
ident, j. r. N. Curtin; Secretary. F. I
Pollard; Treasurer. VIM. H. Bontz. Jr.
Engineer. William H. Bontz; Driver OF
Engine, Julian Ballenger; Driver NJ
Hose Wagon, Ernest Warder
Columbia Steam Fire Engine Co:
President, VIM A. Smoot; First VIce.
President, William II. Griffith; Second
Vice-President, ]. L. Duffey: Secretsrv
Norman c. Treakle; Assistant Secrs,
tary, Charles r. Herbert; Treasurer
John Leadbeater; Engineer Noble II
Smith; Driver OF Engine, Henry Posey:
Driver Of Hose Wagon, Stephen TAYLOR
Relief Hook and Ladder Co.: PresI.
dent. John H. Trimyer: First vice.
President, Joseph DeSilva; Second Vice
President, John Griffin; Secretary
Charles DeMoll; Treasurer. Gettys
Myers; Recorder, Claude Pickin; Driver
John E. Clapdore.
The history Of the Alexandria Fire
Department goes back to Revolutionary
days The old Friendship Fire Com
pany, OF which George Washington was
a member and to which he presented a
! fire engine In 1774, still maintains an
organization and has a membership in
Guiding number Of our leading citi-
zens.
The military history is record of
honor. Alexandrians went with Brad
dock and Washington on the ill-starred
expedition to Fort Duquesne. The town
was well represented in the Revolution
and in the War Of 1924. II sent
troops to help suppress the Pennsylva-
MIA Whisky Rebellion" During the
war 1t was taken and plundered by the
British. Its shipping, then quite inn
portant, suffered. To the Mexican war
Alexandria sent company of men un-
der Capt. NJ d. Course, who was after
wards the first colonel OF the famous
llln virginia. In the civil War Alex
andria was represented by five compa-
mics Of infantry, one company of cav
airy, and two batteries Of artillery. To
the memory of the valiant dead Of these
commands living comrades and citizens
erected a monument. Elders "Appo-
mattox," an impressive statue, in the
center OF the crossing Of Washington
and Prince streets. The veterans of this
war also have a Lee Camp Hall, a fine
building, in which is located the public
library Robert e. Lee was visiting in
Alexandria when he was notified of his
appointment to the command of the
Virginia State troops at the beginning
Of the war.
Alexandria sent one company 10 the
Spanish-American war, under Capt. At
knson. This company is now known
as Company G OF the 10th Virginia In
fantry. but locally known as the Alex
andria Light Infantry. 1t has q com
modious armory on South Royal street.
The present officers OF the company are
as follows p. ]. Murphy, Captain; w.
w. Domaine, LIST Lieutenant; r. C. Tai
bot, I'd Lieutenant