Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-10
THE OLD FIREMEN-1838.
By James Croggon.

The year 1898 was an eventful one and
much interest was shown by the citizens
in the five companies. In some sections
of the city the youth organized and pro-
cured engines and simple hose reels With
which to aid the older companies. To one
of the companies was given the use of
small engine which had been used by
the Treasury Department and other
junior companies had engines with copper
works.
Fhe Columbia company at its annual
meeting in January, 1s.sS, elected the fol-
lowing officers: James Adams. long con-
nected with the Bank of Washington, presi-
dent; Benjamin E. Cuttings. vice pres-
dent; w. w. Stewart. secretary: Simeon
Bassett, treasurer; William r. TAFT.
Samuel Briggs and Simeon Maddox,
captains of engineers, hose men and prop
erty men, respectively. James A. TAFT.
Francis Hanna, Richard A. Stewart, John
c. Fitzpatrick and George Phillips were
elected delegates to the firemen's conven-
ton.
Union Company Election.
At the meeting of the Union Fire Com.
pany Rev. French S. Evans was chosen
president, E. Hanley vice president.
Charles Calvert secretary. j. Q. P.
Degges assistant secretary. Samuel
Scott treasurer Samuel Drury captain
of engineers and DR.. f. Howard captain
Of hose. At this meeting q flagstaff was
ordered to be fixed to the belfry, the ma
tional flag to be displayed on 1t on all pub,
lie Occasions. The ladies of the first ward
on the 9Th of January presented the men
handsome banner The company on this
occasion made short parade and In front
of the Seven Buildings received the fiag
at the hands of Mrs Goldborough. Mr.
Evans, the president. making an appro-
PIRATE address. This banner was of vel
low silk and on the front of it were
clasped hands and the motto: I'm Union
There Is Strength
The Franklin Fire Company soon afte
received handsome gallery engine
and suction. made by the Messrs
Rogers in Baltimore. Before 1t was
delivered trial was made in that
city by Baltimore firemen in the pres
ence of representative of this city,
when it was proved to be equal if not
superior in beauty. strength and power
| to any apparatus here
Firemen's Association Formed.
A convention of delegates was held
at the Franklin engine house January
s. and a firemens association was
formed. John c. Barclay of the Union
presided. and J. II. Smoot Of the Frank
lin was secretary. The delegates OF
the said convention were Messrs. Han
ley, Barclay. Magruder. c. N. HagneI
and Howard of the Union; j. \. NJ
Duncanson, Wallace kirkwood, j. H
Smoot. Nee. Young and William DUR
of the Franklin {. w. Boteler, James
Laskey, John Purdy, j. c. Hardness
"a 4 "a of no
verance;, James TAFT, Francis Hanna
r. H. Stewart. J. c. Fitzpatrick and
George Phillips of the Columbia; Will
ham NJ. Ellis, Richard Barry, Thomas
Thornley,, p. L. Henshaw and Robert
Clark of the Anacostia or Navy Yard
Hillen. Levi Davis and +. Collins of the
Vigilant. Georgetown; Geo. Shoemaker
j. Thomas, S. Cropley. II. Thicker and
r. Davis of the Western Star OF
Georgetown.
In the latter part of January there
the corner of Goth and G streets, al
which the Union company did good
service. The new apparatus of the
Franklin company was tested January
30 at the east front of the Capitol. but
an accident occurred which postponed
a full trial till the evening of that
day. when it gave better satisfaction
than was expected. The same even
ing complimentary dinner was given
to John Rogers the builder. February
10. at the meeting of the Union com
pany, Mr.. Evans resigned as presi-
third ward. and a resolution was adopt
ed that his name be placed on the
honorary roll with all the privileges
of an active member.
Three Fires in One Day.
On the oath of February there were
three alarms of fire. There was a blaze
at the residence of Col. kearney at the
southwest corner of 14th and streets
This took place at o'clock and was
subdued by few members of the Frank
lin company. The second alarm was
about nOOn caused by a foul chimney
in the Patriotic Bank building. on Penn
sylanvia avenue, near 9th street, and the
third alarm was at night in the back
part of the house of Mrs. holmead, on
Pennsylvania avenue east of 9Th street.
This fire was extinguished by the Per-
severance company. On March 10 fire
took place at the house of ]. II. Brad
ley on Louisiana avenue near Az street,
the roof being slightly burned. April l
stable belonging to G. G.. Cooper. in
the square north of the Treasury. was
safely removed.
The citizens Of the first ward held a
meeting at the Western Market to urge
the construction of A reservoir on Slash
run. north of X street. The meetings
of the Perseverance Fire Company were
held at the Ffremen's Insurance Com
pany on c street near 7th street.
April the councils passed an act to
procure additional apparatus for the
Third Ward company and April q, w.
T. Griffith, DR.. Burrows Daniel Camp
bell, Charles Boteler, George w. Phil
lips, Thomas Parker, Caleb Buckingham
and Silas H. Hill were appointed COM
mittee of the Perseverance company to
solicit funds for additional apparatus. In
this month the Franklin Perseverance
and other companies went to fire in
Alexandria. drawing the apparatus
through the mud.
Vote to Transfer Engine.
The Union Fire Company in May adopt
ed a resolution agreeing to the transfer
of its old engine to the Perseverance
company. During May there were sew
eral false alarms of fire. On the night
of June /. between 8 and o'clock, the
stable Of Brooke Mackail on the heights
of Georgetown was burned. and the
Union and Franklin companies of this
city went to the assistance OF the two
Georgetown companies. Immediately
afterward. during a heavy rainstorm the
alarm bells of Capitol Hill and those of
the First Baptist Church on 10th street
were rung for fire in a frame building
near the Foundry Methodist Church on
G and 14th streets. Fortunately there
was little wind to fan the flames. Had
there been the fire would without doubt
have spread because of the scarcity of
water. July IS the councils granted per-
H. ire so,,1