Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1858-06-10
Our Hook 81 Ladder COnapa-


Plymouth has never had an organized
fire company until this year; and within six
or seven years has been visited with two of
the most destructive fires on record, ac-
cording 10 the number of inhabitants. The
first DESTROYED the who'e block, on the east
side of Michigan stree known at that time
as the business portion of town. The fire
was frs. discovered in the building owned
by Robert Rusk; and having nothing to
work with. the fire spread through the en-
tire block, consuming all the buildings,
except the dwelling of H. B. Pershing,
which stood on the northwest conner of
the block, land it was barely saved by ia
king down small building. standing be-
tween it and Westervelt's store.) and the
building owned by A L. Wheeler, on the
southwest corner, which was only saved
by the wind coming from the south, and
there being no building Dearsr than twenty
feet on the nel.h All who witnessed that
fire can testify that if there had been
Hook d Ladder company in town, there
would have been no difficulty in saving
Mr. Wsstervelt's store-room and goods,
ard the property of Mr.. Pershing.
All our citizens are acquainted with the
fire of 1857. and can easily conceive the
good that Hook Il Ladder or Engine
Company, could have accomplished. 1t
was estimated, at the Time, that the loss
was not less than seventy thousand
dollars--an amount sufficient to have rur-
chased the implements for seven hundred
and fifty Hook d Ladder companies, al the
same cost for each as the present one; or,
seyentyJfpe fire Engines. at a cost of four
hundred dollars more for each one than the
amount which ii is proposed to purchase
one at now.
Facts are stubborn things, and all who
are acquainted with the history of these
fires, cannot .ail to see wherein a Hook q
Ladder Company could have saved fifty
times their cost in one hours time.
Plymouth can now boast Of an organ
lied fire company. A few persons who
were scarcely interested to the amount of
one hundred dollars, were those who first
got up the excitement, and who are enti-
tied to the honor of organizing our fire
Company. Every person who has any
knowledge of the duties of fireman,
knows that no pecuniary interest prompts
him to act in that capacity, as there is no
salary attached to that most honorable po-
sition. Nothing but desire to preserve
the property of his neighbor, actuates him
to strict performance of the duties devolv-
ing upon him. He leaves his work, and
night after night he meets with his cola
borers, for the purpose of devising plans
by which the greatest amount of good can
be done for the greatest number; and for
this trouble, what il their reward? no: mon
ey, nor even the well wishes Of some of our
citizens, who may vet see the day that this
same Hook 4 Ladder Company will have
an opportunity of returning to them good
for evil. We sincerely hope that those of
our citizens who are in the habit of saying
that they are sorry they subscribed any
thing for the Hook & Ladder Company, as
they are of the opinion that it will do no
goodwill. hereafter, when they have oc
casion to speak of it. use different Ian
guage. We have heard number Of the
members of the Company say that if the
citizens did not want a fire Company.
and are determined to break it up, by
talking cisrespectfully of the members and
the cause they are enlisted in. they would
have nothing more to do with It. A
Bucket Company has been organized, and
is to be governed by the Hook & Lad.
der Company. The Company have four
ladders OF different lengths; and the mem
bers are sure to take these ladders inn
mediately on the alarm of FIRE. These.
together with the buckets, will be suffi-
cient to extinguish any fire that viii be.
likely to occur, until we can get an En-
CINE. We hope to see the fro Company
encouraged, that the members will stick
to It like death to dead Niger" for
NE kne,c good will result from it--righf
sill prevail.