The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-09-07
WHY FTREMEN SHOULD AT.
TEND ANNUAL MEETING
by James Il. Crews, Chief Laurens
Fire Department..

anu members South
Carolina Firemen's Association.
Inc subject assigned me for dis
cussion, Why Firemen Should At
tend Annual Meetings" is certainly
one which should be very easily an
s"ered, especially when that notable
gathering is to be held in the nros-
porous. beautiful and hospitable lit
tie City of Rock Hill.
For firemen to be able to meet TO-
gether in these annual gatherings is
not only pleasant to the members in
social way, such gatherings tend
10 animate the membership-causes a
wholesome rivalry to spring up he
tween the various companies, and
much knowledge and experience is
gained by an interchange Of views.
Besides what better teacher. coun-
selor or adviser could any gathering
or young men have than our Presi-
dent, Chief Louis Behrens. His COM
panionship and kindly advice has
ulated the ambition Of the person.
mel of the Laurens Fire Company.
and we all know the advantage and
inspiration given us through personal
contact and association with all the
members Of the State Association.
The efficiency of the fire companies
in turning out to fire-calls can be at
tributed to the practice made neces-
| sary in preparing for these pleasant
State gatherings and aside from the
pleasure afforded the membership, the
public at large gets the benefit, also,
OF thorough preparedness, and the
| membership Of the companies are
doubly paid for all trouble and pa
tience expended in seeing and know
ing that the public appreciate the
splendid efficiency brought about by
these social annual gatherings.
BY contact with brother-members
OK our State Fire Brigade, / have
been impressed with the necessity
and the manner of caring for the
hose. The old adage: "a stitch in
| time saves nine" is not more appli-
| cable in any sense than in seeing that
the hose is properly cared for. For
what boots it if a company have the
finest quality that can be bought, IL
it be not properly cared for and al
ways in the right condition when
needed.
And last, but not least, we must
not forget the chemical" feature Of
our department. For quick service,
We all know that the chemical de-
partment fills a most important need,
as large per cent Of fires is quench-
ed or sufficiently subdued by the
time the full apparatus arrives to
make success certain in fighting the
most stubborn fires
1t affords me much pleasure to
once more be with "the boys" in
spirit if not in fact Nothing engen-
ders so kindly a feeling nor makes
one feel like we are one united and
happy family, engaged in the lauda-
bic purpose Of not only saving prop
erty, but oft times the lives of un-
fortunate women and children and
our Association should not be consid-.
cred as gathering, simply, of men
employed to protect peoples property
but one engaged in the important and
humane duty of daring death to save
their felow-man if needs be.
No association is more noble than
Iours-none more hero-like, and none
more self-sacrifcing.
These gatherings are so pleasant.
so uplifting and so noble that we
should not deny these pleasant occa-
sions to any brother-firemen, and to-
this end we hope every fire company
in the State will join with us in these
annual celebrations and share with
us its pleasures and its glories.