Evening star., 1935-12-15
Volunteers M a d e
History and Gave
Color to Days of
Disaster in S ON e
Federal Buildings.

born. His father, Robert King. who
preceded the son as the city surveyor,
soon followed him to this country. but
returned to his native land in 1902 and
continued to reside there. Nicholas
King was quite active in civic affairs
and was probably the city's first Ii.
brarian being librarian of the Wash.
ington Library in 1897.
Robert Brent was the first mayor Of
the city, serving from 1902 to 1911.
MANY years after the paid fire de-
Avn partment came into existence an
association of veteran firemen was
formed, their headquarters from 1892
being in the old engine house at the
corner of Nineteenth and H streets,
now occupied by the Association Of
the Oldest Inhabitants, and here they
deposited from time to time large
number of relics which finally grew
into quite museum. 1t is probable
that there are no surviving members
of this association, but the Oldest In
habitants are very proud Of this COLI
lection. and are not inclined to let any
Of the relics or souvenirs 60 out Of
the building. for fear they may be lost
or damaged.
AL the old volunteer companies are
here represented in one way or anoth-
er, particularly in the lower room,
though there are some relics in the
room where the meetings are held. In
1908 the association was fortunate
enough to locate the engine which
was used by the Columbia Engine
Company, founded in 1904 and reor-
ganized in 1914. This engine, said to
have been built in 1850, was, curiously
enough, found in an out-of- f-the-way
Virginia village and placed in the
Union Engine House. Here are also
firemen's trumpets, belts, hats and
other things used by the volunteer
firemen, including a leather bucket
dated "1727" bearing the name 'P. B.
Key" or Philip Barton Key Of George
town, a relative of Francis Scott Key.
INDEED, this old curiosity shop, as
it might well be called, contains
pictures of early firemen, fire houses,
badges and a uniform worn by Ben
jamin Grenup. a volunteer fireman,
who was killed in an accident which
occurred May 6. 1856. In all prob
ability, it was this same old Columbia
engine, now zealously guarded by the
Oldest Inhabitants, that crushed TO
death the unfortunate Grenup. The
Star at the time gave the following
account:
Fatal Accident.-As the Columbia
Fire Company was on its way last
night to the fire upon Seventh street
lamentable accident occurred, which
occasioned the almost instant death
of Benjamin Grenup, young man
we'll known and much respected in
this community. 1t seems that in
coming from the engine house to
Pennsylvania avenue the most active
men are usually selected to guide the
engine down the hill, which is very
steep, and it is as much as a swift
runner can do to keep in front Of the
apparatus. Last night we learn that
the speed of the engine was so great
that it was necessary to check 1t by
changing the direction. In doing this,
Mr.. Grenup was caught between the
tongue or guiding pole OF the appar-
atus and a lamp post and so injured
that he died in few minutes
The funeral, which took place on
the day following the accident, is also
chronicled by The Star as follows:
THE funeral and parade yesterday
was the second solemn and impressive
ceremony of this nature occurring
lately in this city. The procession
started from the Columbia Engine
House, the body Of the deceased being
placed in a metallic coffin, upon which
was inscribed, B. C. Grenup, killed
in the discharge of his duty as a mem.
Der of the Columbia Fire Company,
May 6. 1856, aged "a years and Q
months
THE hearSe, drawn by four white
horses, was accompanied along the
line of march to st. Peters Catholic
Church in the following order:
The Columbia Fire Company, mar
shaled by Thomas Robinson and with
Esputa's Brass Band; the Stone CUT
ters' Association, Franklin Fire Com
pany, John White, marshal; Northern
Liberties, Henry Keener, marshal;
Western Hose Company, William Ten
nant, marshal; Perseverance, John
Fox, marshal; Metropolitan Hook and
Ladder, No. /, Joseph Walding. mar
shal; American Hook and Ladder, VIII
liam Ferguson, marshal; Anacostis
Fire Company, Alexander Eaton, mar
shal; Union Fire Company, delega-s
ton of 10 members from the Hook and
Ladder Company Of Baltimore and the
Friendship Fire Company from Alex
andria.
The funeral services were per.
formed by Rev. Mr.. Knight, after
which the procession proceeded to the
vault of st. Patrick's Church, where
the remains of the deceased were de-
posted"
CRENUP'S body did not remain long
- in st. Patrick's vault, but was soon
afterward inferred in Glenwood Gene
terry. where q beautiful monument
CONTINUED on Tenth Pase.l