Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03
OLD FIREMEN-1837.
By James Croggon.

In the latter part of 1885 there was in
creasing interest in the fire companies,
although some had existence in name
only. The necessity for fire protection
had been emphasized by the destruction
of the post and patent offices December
TO- 1896, and the sentiment was strong for
an efficient company in the center of the
city. After some consultation among the
leading citizens residing about City Hall,
among whom were Capt. John II. God
dard, afterward for many years captain
of the Auxiliary Guards: John e. Hark-
ness. a carpenter and master builder; III.
T. Pairo, dry goods merchant; c. W.
Butler. Samuel Bacon grocer: Capt.
Caleb Buckingham, machinist, meeting
was called at the council chamber of
City Hall January IS. and the Persever-
ance Fire Company was formed The
Union company was fully reorganized in
that month and elected Rev. French S.
Evans. president: Edmund Hanley, vice
president: DR.. Flodoardo Howard. secre-
tary. and Samuel Stott, long grocer at
Goth street and the Avenue, as treas
urer
The committee on memorializing Con-
gress to charter firemens insurance
company and for the organization of a
fire department held frequent meetings,
as also the delegates to a convention to
urge the exemption of firemen from
militia duty. As a result. Congress pass
ed an act chartering the insurance COM
paDy, as also an act exempting seventy
five members from militia duty on COM
pany which possessed 500 worth of ap-
paratus and one hundred members if their
apparatus was worth more than 81 900.
II also passed an act for the formation
OF a fire department., consisting of the
presidents of the several companies and
for the appointment of an inspector of
apparatus in each of the three cities OF
the District, Alexandria being then in
Guided in the District The officers OF
| the companies were given authority tn
enforce obedience to the constitution and
| rules. to preserve order and summon aid
| to work the apparatus.
| The Perseverance Fire Company or
| eanized an efficient company for the
| third ward at meeting where Joseph
Bryan presided and John c. Hardness
| was secretary. The project to form a
| firemen's insurance company was indors-
ed. and John H. Goddard, NJ. p Calan
\ and John Purdy elected delegates to the
| convention. Like action was taken by the
/ Franklin company. and DIR. Wallace Kirk
wood. John Smoot, Nicholas Callan, jr.
C. l.. Coltman and w. w. Billing were
appointed delegates. Subscription to the
stock of the firemens company was
| taken in April. Shares were so each.
L ~ -
months and stock notes given for the
balance, and none but members of the
| company were allowed to subscribe
Gives Account of Fire.
The Intelligencer Of May % gives an
account Of destructive fire about O'Clock
/ in the morning of the 9th. 1t says: LAS
Mr. John Walker. the butcher, was go
| ing from his house to the Center market
| he discovered fire to be issuing from
| the back part OF the dry goods store of
Messrs. C. f. Washington & Co.. at the
corner of 9th street and Pennsylvania
avenue The alarm bells We're soon after
rung. and in very short time the en-
yines of the several fire companies. well
manned arrived on the spot. The flames.
however. owing perhaps to the combuNi-
BILE nature of the goods. soon attained
the ascendant and in the course of two
hours the entire building gave way with
/ a tremendous crash, the outer wall facing
| covering Ii with bricks. Fortunately no
| one was killed. but a colored woman car
! rying sofa was knocked down by the
bricks, but not seriously injured. The
| Washington company's loss was about
$40. COO insured for half that amount. The
| iron chest was gotten out by Mr.. j. A.
Bender and others. The boarding house
of Mrs Gassaway suffered, some OF the
occupants narrowly escaping with their
lives. Mr.. SHADES hardware store. ad-
joining, was injured, but insured to the
| amount of 5000. as also that OF Mr.
| Rawlings. merchant tailor: Mr.. Wilson
halter. and Hiram Richie timer. There
were number of idle persons who re.
fused to assist. notwithstanding they