Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-22

mick, treasurer. Francis Allison. Charles
hewitt John c. Brent and others were
elected members. The Patriotic Fire
Company on January q, at HoItzman's
tavern. Sth street north of Market space.
elected the following officers: Andrew
Coyle, chief clerk OF the Post Office.
president; David OFT, druggist on Penn
sylvania avenue west OF 9th street. vice
president; William H. Barron, secretary.
and William Hewitt, register OF the city.
treasurer. Among the thirty odd mem
bers arranged In divisions of engineers,
laddermen. axmen. etc, were Andrew
Coyle, jr., Stephen p. Franklin, J. J.
Sample. Aron Van Coble. James Moore.
1r. John Settinus. Ezekiel Young. Samue
Henry Smith, Seth Hyatt, P. Mauro and
B. NJ. Belt The next meeting OF the
Patriotic company was held In the ooun-
Gil chamber on 18th street. On February
% the Gazette had communication call
ing attention to the frequent alarms OF
fire when depredations were committed
on property and calling on the mayor ana
corporation to organize q eet OF watch
men especially for night duty to protect
the property.
Plan for Signaling.
At meeting Of tho Columbia Fire Com
pany at Fftzsimmon's Hotel March 2, res
olutions were adopted looking to a con-
ference of committees from the various
companies to devise a plan Of signaling
at night the location Of fires. They also
directed the president and vice president
to walt on the President OF the United
States in the event Of the passage Of a
bill in Congress to purchase fire engines
for the protection Of public buildings and
inform him of the willingness of the COM
pany to take charge Of that designed for
ha "A In nr3l ho
pany met at the engine house at the
Treasury. On the 7th Of April. about
o'clock in the afternoon. several frame
houses on 1 street between 10th and Goth
were burned. These belonged to Mrs. Nc
Kelden and Mrs. Kedglie, and the occu-
pants suffered greatly. The next after
noon several small brick and frame houses
near the south end OF New Jersey avenue
small fire near the Navy Yard bridge
slightly damaged some houses. Before
the engines returned to their houses
another fire took place on the property
Of Griffith Coombe. George Beall and
others on New Jersey avenue southeast,
entirely destroying some outhouses. just
as the citizens were returning from
this fire another alarm was sounded for
a fire at F and 18th streets. and this
destroyed the houses Of John A. Wilson.
exciting fire. as the flying cinders. famed
by the winds, set fire to several roofs.
Mr.. LambelPs stable on X street near
7th southeast was burned the next morn
ing. In view Of these fires q town meet
ing was called by B. G. Orr, the mayor,
at o'clock April 10 at the Center
market to organize patrols. solicit sub
scriptions for sufferers by the fires. etc.
The councils were asked to take measures
to regulate the fire companies, procure
apparatus and provide means for a better
supply Of water. Attention was called
through the Intelligencer to buckets used
mayor. Benjamin G. Orr. offered a reward
of $500 for the apprehension and convtc-
ton of incendiaries.
Officers Hold Meeting.
A meeting Of the officers of the fire COM
panies of Georgetown and Washington
was held at the Center market in April,
at which Andrew Coyle presided and Col.
William B. Randolph was secretary.
There were present Dr. Alexander Nc
Williams Of the Anacostia, M. Dove of
the NevY Yard, John N. Moulder of the
Union, Col. w. w. Billing and c. l..
Coltman of the Star and Daniel Rapine
of the Columbia. Resolutions were adopt
ed declaring that the companies would
act under the laws Of the corporations of
Washington and Georgetown, and that
at fires the officers of the engine arrfv-
ing first on the ground should be rec
they would do their utmost to promote
harmony and intelligent cooperation at
iires. There were represented at this
convention the Vigilant, Union and Sun
companies Of Georgetown.
In April the corporation made an appro-
priation Of 81 600 to purchase alarm bells
for each Of the four market houses. There
was dearth then Of fires for several
months. At meeting Of the Columbia
Fire Company, November 2, a resolution
aIo hot thn sadd
cure a set Of wheels for the conveyance
of ladders and hooks. and this is the first
mention Of anything like hook and
ladder truck OF carriage In the District.
Messrs. Benjamin Burch. Nicholas L..
Queen and Henry Timms were appointed
the committee to wait on the President
and Col. Lane, commissioner of public
buildings, and ask that the engine
for the protection Of the Capitol be
placed in their charge. The council
November D, made an appropriation for a
frst-class engine for the first ward COM
pany, as also one for a supply pump hose
carriage. These pumps were built in
Philadelphia, and 1t was claimed that
est engine with water faster than a full
set Of men could discharge 1t. October
30 two frame tenements near the navy
yard, occupied by Messrs. Wheeler and
Locke, were burned; but by the exertions
of Mayor Smallwood. who lived near. and
saved.
December o. 1919. a meeting was held
at Mattingly's Tavern, near the foot OF
Sd street southeast, for the purpose of or
ganiZins fire company. This was known
as the Phoenix company, and the engine
and apparatus were located at the to-
bacco warehouse on Sd street between NJ
and N streets, and the following officers
were elected: john A. Chalmers. presi-
dent; Thomas Howard. clerk in the navy
yard, vice president; Edward Mattingly.
treasurer: G. W. Dawson, secretary.
There were about forty members present
at the first meeting. among them Will
liam H. Barnes. lumber measurer; Joseph
Follansby,-a well known carpenter; Hen
ry Kurtz. foreman anchorsmith at the
navy yard; Benjamin Bean, carpenter
and builder; Gustavus Howard, carpenter:
Henry Johnson. Thomas hewitt. Thomas
Coote, brewer; Edward Booth, Samuel P.
Lowe, tobacco inspector; William R Mad
dox. William Nottingham, Charles l..
hewitt, E. CASTLE. George Sanford and
others.
How the Bulldog Got His Name.
From Harpers Weekly.