Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1911-12-01
FIRE. LIGHTERS FEAST
Ladies' Of Annapolis Fire De-
partment Have Royal Time.
GOODWILL FIREMEN'S BANQUET
Assembly Rooms Scene Of Occasion
Such As Annapolis Has Never
Had BefOre-Beautiful Tables 4
Large Crowd. Y

had been called to answer an alarm of
fire Wednesday night, they would per-
haps have not been so prompt as
usual, as they were all gathered to-
gether at goodwill firemen's ban
quet given for the purpose of binding
the firemen closer together and Great
ing a good feeling between are
members of the department.
The Assembly Rooms, where the
banquet was held, never looked bet
ter, and it was a beautiful sight to
behold five long tables tastefully set
for the accommodation of at least
three hundred firemen and their
friends.
Although o'clock was the ap-
pointed time for their banquet, it was
at least $50 o'clock before the fire.
men and their guests filed into the
banquet room. The first to enter
were the members of the City Coun-
ell, followed by the firemen and their
guests. INN ediately upon ent ing
the door, the orchestra of ten - eces
under the direction of Cadet Hol jes,
leader of ST. Johns College and,
started popular selection and was
highly applauded after its rend ton.
The toastmaster of the banquet was
Fire Marshall Philip f. Porter, who
after stating the object of the gath
ering, and after all had been served
with the good things provided for the
occasion, introduced the various
speakers. Marshal Porter stated that
the Governor, Superintendent Gibbon
and Commandant of Midshipmen
Logan had been invited, but owing to
previous engagements were unable to
attend the banquet, but expressed
their best wishes to the fire depart.
ment and accorded it their hearty sup
port. The first speaker was Mayor
James F. Strange, who spoke of the
good work being done by the fire de-
partment ard that he was proud of
the men who composed it.
The Mayor was followed by Mr..
Harry 7. Levely. a member of Rescue
Hose Company, and the oldest active
fireman in the city. Former Mayor
John dep. Douw, ex-Mayor Gordon II.
Claude, ex-Mayor Samuel Jones, MIR.
Clarence M. White, of the West An
napolis Fire Department (the baby
company of the State). All made
speeches.
Mr.. Whites remarks were very in
teresting He stated that the COM
pany Of this growing village would
break ground shortly and commence
the erection of commodious quarters
for their firemen, and that they would
shortly purchase chemical engine.
Others who spoke were City Treas
urer w. G. Gott, who represented the
Chamber of Commerce; Mr.. William
II. Moss, for many years treasurer of
the Independent Fire Company; John
Frank, of Water Witch Hook and Lad
der Company, DR.. Frank H. Thomp-
son, Ennals Waggaman and others.
That the gathering accomplished its
purpose goes without saying, as each
fire company WED with the other, and
a general good feeling was manifested.
During the evening excellent
music was discoursed by the st.
Johns College orchestra, which is de-
serving of excellent credit. The rem.
ditions were lively and were heartily
applsuded.. The committee in charge
and to whom much credit should be
given for the success of the affair, was
composed of the following: Rescue
Hose Company-George Basil, George
A. Moss, James T. Small. Indepen-
dent Fire Company-Roy Jones, AL
bert Knackstedt, Philip E. Porter.
Water Witch Hook and Ladder Com
pany-Jesse L. Fisher. Harry F.
Letouaneau, John Frank.
The following menu was served:
Oysters on half shell, turkey, ham and
sweitzer sandwiches, pickles of all
kind, coffee, olives, crackers, cold
slaw, sauer kraut, sausage, celery,
mustards and harlequin blocks, ice
cream. cake, cigars and cigarettes.
1t took eight walters TO handle the
crowd, FIVE oyster shuckers to serve
the delicious bivalves of the Chesa-
peake, which were more than enjoyed.
1t was an event long to be remem-
bered, and one of the best occasions
of its kind ever given in Annapolis.
The banquet was given by the men,
bers of the three fire companies out of
their own fund, accumulated from sup
pers, raffies, balls and membership
fees. Each active fireman pays a fee
of Sl.10 and honorary members, 81 i,
None of the States fund or appro-
priation was used, or the fire engine
fund, which is in bank and on inter-
est. The banquet was given out of
tha oraro -ol frpd