Kolekcionar vatrogasnog znakovlja

Dobrovoljno vatrogasno društvo Split, najstarije u Dalmaciji, napunilo je 135 godina svog postojanja. Osnovali su ga splitski intelektualci, a bilo je otvoreno za sve. Društvo nije nastalo samo zbog gašenja požara, nego je imalo i političku ulogu koja je bila usmjerena na borbu za rješavanje nacionalnog pitanja u burnim vremenima kada ni hrvatski jezik nije bio službeni. U Splitu je tada živjelo 14 500 stanovnika, a narodni pokret uzimao je maha. Dalmacija je bila administrativno odvojena od sjeverne Hrvatske. Split je bio politički podijeljen na autonomaše i narodnjake. Prvi su htjeli da se Dalmacija kao samostalna jedinica pridruži Italiji, a drugi su htjeli političku i kulturnu vezu sa sjeverom Hrvatske i ostalim južnoslavenskim narodima. U to vrijeme rođaci Luka Karaman i Ante Bezić vratili su se sa studija, prvi iz Graza, a drugi iz Beča. Jedno su vrijeme obojica studirali u Grazu gdje su završili i najmoderniji tečaj vatrogašenja i položili potrebne ispite. Karaman i Bezić došli su na ideju o osnivanju Dobrovoljnog vatrogasnog društva i proširili je Splitom.Prihvatili su je još neki intelektualci jer su kroz takvo Društvo vidjeli priliku za promicanje hrvatske misli i općenito angažman oko rješavanja hrvatskog pitanja. Naravno, u Društvo su bili dobro došli i radnici i obrtnici, drugim riječima svi zainteresirani. Autonomaši su im to predbacivali, međutim  oni su isticali da je ponos biti član jedne družine kao što je vatrogasna i za one koji se bave knjigom i za one koji se bave čekićem ili blanjom. Napisan je pravilnik Društva na hrvatskom jeziku kojeg je prihvatilo općinsko namjesništvo. Knjižicu za pravilnik, pod naslovom Dobrovoljačko Vatrogasno Družtvo Split, dizajnirao je sam Bezić, a tiskara Ante Zanonnija napravila je dva primjerka 1883. godine.  Prva skupština društva održana je 17. lipnja 1883. godine kada je izabran i Upravni odbor na čelu s predsjednikom Lukom Karamanom i dopredsjednikom Antom Bezićem. Marko Jakaša bio je perovođa ili zapisničar, Mihail Tartaglia blagajnik, a peti član bio je Stipan Kolombatović. Upis Društva izvršen je u Zadru, odlukom Carskog kraljevskog namjesništva 19. lipnja 1883. godine s naznačenom svrhom djelovanja: Braniti život i imanje splitskih stanovnika i okolice.

 The Voluntary Fire Brigade Split, the oldest in Dalmatia, has celebrated 135 years of its existence. It was founded by intellectuals from Split, and it was open to everyone. The society was formed not only to put out fires, but also had a political role that was aimed at fighting to resolve the national question in turbulent times when the Croatian language was not official. At that time, there were 14,500 inhabitants in Split, and the people's movement was gaining momentum. Dalmatia was administratively separated from northern Croatia. Split was politically divided into autonomists and populists. The former wanted Dalmatia to join Italy as an independent unit, while the latter wanted a political and cultural connection with northern Croatia and other South Slavic peoples. At that time, relatives Luka Karaman and Ante Bezić returned from their studies, the first from Graz and the second from Vienna. For a time, they both studied in Graz, where they completed a state-of-the-art firefighting course and passed the necessary exams. Karaman and Bezić came up with the idea of ​​founding the Voluntary Fire Brigade and expanded it through Split. It was accepted by some other intellectuals because through such a Society they saw an opportunity to promote Croatian thought and general engagement in resolving the Croatian issue. Of course, workers and craftsmen were welcome in the Society, in other words, all those interested. The Autonomists reproached them for that, but they pointed out that it is a pride to be a member of one company, such as the fire brigade, both for those who deal with books and for those who deal with hammers or planers. The rules of the Society were written in the Croatian language, which was accepted by the municipal governorship. The booklet for the ordinance, entitled Volunteer Fire Brigade Split, was designed by Bezić himself, and the printing house of Ante Zanonni made two copies in 1883. The first assembly of the society was held on June 17, 1883, when the Board of Directors was elected, headed by President Luka Karaman and Vice President Ante Bezić. Marko Jakaša was the translator or recorder, Mihail Tartaglia the treasurer, and the fifth member was Stipan Kolombatović. The registration of the Society was made in Zadar, by the decision of the Imperial Royal Governorate on June 19, 1883, with the indicated purpose of action: To defend the life and property of the inhabitants of Split and its surroundings.