Evening star., 1911-08-20
OLD FIREMEN-1833-'4-'5-'6.
By James Croggon.

Under the charter of 1920 the preven-
ton and extinguishment of fires was one
OF the duties imposed on the corporation
or Washington. The FIRE apparatus owned
by the general government and the corr
poration was manned by volunteer COM
panies. but often by 1893 such companies
existed only in name In some instances
the manual engines were in the custody
or the commissioners of the ward. New
ertheless. fires and apparatus had an at
traction for young men. and In some
cases of fire there were to be found vol
unteers to do the work at the fires.
The streets were in such condition often
that the older citizens did not relish the
labor Of dragging the apparatus to the
scenes OF conhagration and there work
Ing laboriously at the levers. Almost
annually there were included In the ap-
preparations money for the repair of the
government engines. the Union, Franklin
and Columbia companies, about $40
being sufficient therefor. The corporation
also made appropriation for the market
engine, and some companies were aided
both by the national and local govern
ments.
In 1893 the officers OF the Franklin
Company were Charles L. Coltman. long
years brick manufacturer. president
j. A. NJ. Duncanson, post office clerk,
vice president: Nicholas Callan. justice of
the peace, secretary. and Col. w. w.
urer. with w. L. MoCauley. sea!er of
weights and measures, captain of en-
gineers; Robert Coltman, afterward war
den OF the penitentiary, captain Of hose;
John +. Callan. druggist, captain Of prop
erty men, and Anthony Preston, slater.
captain of ladder men. The company at
this time was meeting every other month,
but at this meeting fixed its meetings on
the first Tuesday OF each month.
Treasury Building Burns.
A serious fire took place in the Treasury
building, on the site of the present de-
partment. about o'clock Sunday morn
ing. March 81. 1893, and It was totally
destroyed. with many valuable papers. 1t
was subsequently ascertained to have
been the incendiary work of two broth
ers, R III. and ii. H. White, who We're
in the pay of claimant whose object
was to cover up fraud. One of the
brothers was convicted and sentenced to
the penitentiary for ten years. while the
other escaped through the statute OF linn
itation.
In August delegates to a fremen's con-
vention were called to meet at the Wash
ington engine house, adjoining the post
office, and the convention subsequently
met at the Franklin engine house. Three
CohipdHieS IIoIl Aie4dhuIid, Two ITom
Georgetown and four from Washington
were represented. Col. c. K Gardner.
afterward city postmaster. called the
meeting to order and Alexander McIn-
tire was made chairman and e. F.
Brown, a claim agent, was secretary. A
resolution was adopted for the appoint
ment of one from each company to lay
before Congress a statement Of the diff
culties under which the fire companies
labored. This committee consisted OF
Hugh Smith Of the Hydraulion, Stephen
Shinn OF the Relief and Thomas E.
Baird of the Friendship OF Alexandria;
r. B. Fowler of the Western Star and
w. ]. Gozler of the Vigilant Of George
town and Col. c. X. Gardner OF Columbia.
DR.. William B. McGruder of Union. Z.
F. Brown of the Franklin and Samuel
Bacon, jr-, of the Phoenix. and the presd-
dent, Mr.. Mc1ntire, was added to the
committee. This committee subsequent
ly met at the engine houses here and In
Alexandria.
In 1884, at the annual meeting OF the
Franklin, there were but a dozen present
and the officers of the preceding year
were continued. 1t appears that the In
telligencer inserted the calls for meet
ings OF the fire companies free OF charge.
Water for Navy Yard.
September 5, 1894. a resolution of the
corporation gave permission to Commo-
dore Isaac Hull. commandant OF the navy
yard, to construct q reservoir near the
intersection Of 9th street east and Georgia
avenue and to convey water therefrom>
into the navy yard.
October q the cabinet shop of j. X.
streets, was entirely consumed by fire.
with his tools and stock This WAS the