Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-10-11

Hiatlc, or lHueeu puOllc meetings, IL
being in large unfurnished structure
known as Armory hall. in that city.
The name of Columbia hall was
taken from that the old hand engine
bore when shipped secondhand from
fire company near Niagara Falls,
New York. 1t seemed so appropriate
from associations and contiguity that
the name was adopted and the machine,
a powerful water-thrower, but being
no less man killer, did good service
at many fires, and should have been
kept as trophy of what she had done,
but she was surreptitiously and wan
tonly sacrificed to a Portland firm for
en- inexpensive hose cart, a later city
council having been utterly devoid of
the sentiment which should have pre-
served it from injury for what 1t had
done and for the high reverence in
which it was held in the estimation of
the early firemen, originating with the
"Squillgees"-and hereby hangs tale.
The engine was bought for about the
sum of $1,000 which was raised by
Charles Williams through a series of
balls held in his own hall afterwards
Tacoma or Good Templar hall) 1t
| therefore properly belonged to him,
but not so thought the people, who
On true pleasure bent
To serve a good intent,
sought to accomplish both in full de-
gree Although Mr.. Williams was a
man of excellent reputation, and lib
eral, willing for the city to use the en-
gine, he withal absolutely refused to
ha tr hn al No
being sguarely cut between a resolute
man and stubborn city, that finally
terminated in a burlesque.
Posters were issued and posted,
=, headed
| ATTENTION.!
| SQUILGEES NC. 1
VIII Meet Tonight on Mail and Foarth
for Drill, at 1880 O'Clock.
LET ALL ATTEND!
! Preparations made for the drill
were as follows: The gear of wagon
was borrowed from Winsor's stable
on which was placed hogshead, fin
! ished with brakes. long section of i'm
mense cable was puloined from
Finch's wharf and a dozen or more
men and boys induced to man the line /:
an alarm sounded by ringing dinner
bell as bonfire was lighted on Fourth
and Main. Away went the improvised
engine" with shouts from everybody,
reeling out the cable to bucket of
water. where a big syringe was alter
nate1y filed from the bucket and
squirted on the fire. 1t seems that the
people appeared to enter unanimously
upon the spirit of the scene, and very
soon Mr.. Williams appeared at his
store door and called for the mayor,
who appeared. After little speech,
he formally turned over the engine
to the people and handed the bill of
purchase and of freight. all paid, free
gift to the city. The effect of this ac-
ouiescence was remarkable and instan-
taneous. Kind hands grasped and joy
GUS congratulations were showered up
on him, and the Squilgees Immediately
changed their name to Columbia No. l.,
and elected Mr. Williams as its first
engineer. 1t was safe to say that he
suddenly became one of the most pop
ular men in the city, all by grasping
and candid acknowledgment of his
wrong.
A proper close to this article will be
statement that, for sentimental rea-
sons an effort was made to secure Miss
Pixley for the opening of the new
Olympia theater, on December 27, 1889.
She was found by dispatch on her ar
rival from foreign dramatic tour the
latter part of October. She declared
that nothing would afford her so much
pleasure as to give the first perform
ance in city that was so dear to her
through so many ties, and house
| which she had been led to know was a
credit to la and built by a friend from
whom she had received so much kind.
ness. She hoped that Sometime, that
dim memory-point on which so many
[ hopes and aspirations are laid away
| tenderly with full expectation and hope
of realization, she would be able to ad
dress throng of old friends and new
in Olympia theater But, alas! so fal
at least it was not to be. If she comes
when she comes-she will find many
| hearts to span the chasm in jOyou:
meet. j. NJ. NJ.