Evening star., 1924-08-03


of Washington men and women who
have records for long service and
still are hale. happy and hoping to
better their achievements.
These record makers have been at
the same tasks for 40, so or 60 years,
yet when offered retirement with pen
sions generous enough to grant them
all they need during the rest of their
lives they refuse to quit working.
Neither money nor rest, they de-
clare, could bring them thrills and
pleasures equal to those they have
gained and will go on gaining in their
work.
THE shot that killed Abraham Lin
coin helped to send Tom Dona-
hoo, 416 Tenth street northwest, into
theatrical work, and he has been
there ever since.
II was sitting in front of Ford's
Theater on that fateful Friday night"
Donahoo recalled. Il heard the shot
fred, saw the President carried across
the street to the home where he died
and was standing by on the following
Monday when Government officials
told the Ford brothers that they were
going to buy the building. SO that no
more performances could be given
there.
The tragedy made the theater seem
a very important factor in life to me.
a 15-year-old boy, who for several
Years had been attracted to the
stage
Seven years later Donahoo was
granted his greatest wish-a theater
job The position was watchman at
Wallis Opera House, later named the
Majestic Theater, and he took il in
1872. Then followed work in almost
every theater in Washington, stage
hand, doorkeeper and spotlight man,
and with all these tasks the happy
half century of meeting stag ge celeb
rites.
Edwin Booth I remember WELL
the veteran said. such fine dresser
he was. with his howery ties and
bright suits. And he was fond, too.
Of going into the corner saloon"
Last winter old Tom" a4his as
sociates call him. working as door
keeper at the President Theater.
caught a cold from which he has not
recovered fully.
sometimes l think I'd better not
work any more" "Old Tom confided.
as he started coughing. My son
would be glad to take care of me.
But then I think how much stage
folk and stage work have meant to
me. All, no grander work can
man find
WHEN fire alarm rings, and the
w 40 en- n p
rant ringing of a second alarm, An
drew Jackson Sullivan hurries into
his red automobile and speeds to the
scene OF danger. He has been speed
ing TO scenes of danger for >forty-five
wears. first as private of D. c. Engine
Company, No. 5, now as deputy chief
engineer of the fire department, its
second highest officer.
He has fought about 5000 fires, in
Guiding every big blaze which has
broken out in Washington since 1879.
TT is just about second nature to
go to d fire now" Chief Sullivan com
mented. and those who have watched
this officer directing an attack on
raging blaze know that apparently
he never is nervous nor wanting to
know what to do next
Some Washington fires have been
exciting; some have not been so eX-
citing Some meant hard work: some
meant much harder work" he con-
tinued.
Have you rescued many persons
from fire?' the fire fighter was asked
Yes, ] have carried persons from
burning buildings, but never regarded
rescues as anything out of the ordi-
nary. I was employed to save life
and property, so merely was doing
my duty" he responded.
TT is not SO much the so-called
thrills as the associations that |
would hate to leave now" Chief Sui
livan said. explaining why he did not
desire to be retired.
Take Chief Engineer Watson for
instance. ! have worked under six
chief engineers and George S. Watson
is the best of all. His interest in
his men has been proven by his ef-
forts which led to passage of the fire
mems pension bill. I would work all
night and day for that man.
i've always enjoyed comradeship
with firemen. Even before joining
the depa rtment, when | was shoeing
horses, ! often visited Engine House
No. 3, and went to fires with the
boys"
Fire fighting has left its marks on
Chief Sullivan, yet few 69-year-old
men are as able as he is. Despite
broken bones and other injuries re-
ceived in action, he has lost only 1s
days in As years because of sickness
x x !: x
WHILE Chief Sullivan has been
W working to save people from fire
in this world. Mrs. William G. Craw-
ford. 1908 Military road northwest,
has been working to save them from
punishment in the next
Her parents were Salvation Army
workers She donned the blue and
red army bonnet when in her early
teens and now, after 80 years of army
service, is co-commander of salvation
Army work in the District Of Colum-'
bia and Virginia.
- couldn't stop my work now, she
declared. MY greatest joy is to feel
that / am helping others
Even as little girl / loved to. aid
elderly or feeble people. An aged
woman near my home used to hang
handkerchief from her window when
ever she wanted ME to do an errand,
and many times day would look at
the window, hoping the little white
signal would be there.
II married Salvationist. Both my
husband and l were officers in the
army, each solely in charge of meet