The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-09-21
Fire Clubs Of Boston . Century Ago.

Fire Clubs Of Boston Century Ago.
Nothing moro farcibly illustrates the effi-
cheney Of the Steam Fire Engine, than the
inadcquacy Of the old system ofexsingu''h'
Ing fires An old unpublished manuscript
Of DR.. BENJAMIN WArERuoUss, for many
years Professor Of materia mediea in Har.
yard University, and the introduccr Of vac
cination into America, contains q descriP-
ton OF fire which occurred In Boston, Ju.
ly 30th. 1904. One hundred houses and
more than 100000 worth Of property were
destroyed by this conAagmtion. Boston,
eminent Throughout its history for its public
spirit and generosity to the unfortunate,
mised for the sufferers more than $4,000.
In view Of the smallness Of the city at that
date, this was a more ininifcent gift than
the recent donation to Portland. Afler Civ.
ing an account Of the fire, DR. Warehouse
proceeds to describe a novel institution
which existed in Boston thrce-quartes Of
a century ugo. We prefer to let the "Amer-
eau Jenner" tell its own story:
! have already noticed tho extraordina-
ry activity Of i'oston in extinguishing fires.
There is, believe, no city of its size on the
face Of the earth, which Is governed 50 lii.
tic by police aud so much by the manners
Of the people. This is also largely true Of
all the towns in New England. Alta time
when almost all Of their houses were built
OF wood, accidents by fire were considered
among the most formidable Of calanlities.
This induced the Bostonians, at an early
period of their history, to combine their eli.
lors, and to net with more system In the
extingtiishinrnt of fires, and gavc rise to
certain &C. peculiar associations, called "Firc
A Fire Club Is generally composed Of
fifteen or twenty persons. The officers are
n Chairman, Treasurer and Clerk. The
members hold the office of Chairman in ro-
taii0n. The other officers are chosen on.
nually. The association meets ut the houses
of the members.
The design of Fire Club is to preserve
the property of its members in case Of fire.
especially valuable papers, money, plate
and rich furniture. The rules Of the socie.
" enjoin that each member be provided
with two buckets and two canvass bags,
each article marked with the name Of the
owner, and the devise of the club. Some
times hammer. bedwrench, and pincer
are added to the other apparatus. Allthese
implements arc kept in the hall Of the
house, AMI never used for any domestic
purpose. A COMMITTEES Of the Association
wits the house of each member, at least
once quarter, 10 see if these articles are
in good order, and in their proper places.
Any delinquency subjects the owner to a
fine. In case of fire, the members take
possession Of the house, remove tho bed
and furniture, and, il the owner is absent,
secure Ibis plate, money, and important pa
pers. This sacred trust has never been
known to be violated. '.','
The members have q watch-word by
which they recognize each other in the
night Tie benevOlence of1these societies
extends even beyond the effori to save prop.
ery. One of their articles prescribes: II
any member shalt from unavoidable acci.
dent by fire DO reduced ia circumstances,
the society bind themselves to take his case
under consideration, and II expedient, to
nssist him. There are, perhaps, ~ or Is
of these Fire Clubs In Boston. Some Of
them existed nearly q century. .Ang,lstiis
amiei, Impapidi famnar,im, Villcanus Nsp.
iuno eedif, arc some Of the devices Of these
associations
Besides these clubs, there arc Fire War
dens, chosen annually by the town, whose
authority during fire Is absolute. Even
the engines are under their direction. They
form the people into two long files extend.
ing from the fountain to the engine, one
file handing up buckets full of water, and
the other passing down empty buckets.
These officers can compel the people to en-
ter the files and remain there arc cx.
ernpt from tlIis service hut the members Of
the Fire Clubs. The Warlens decide what
fences are to be removed to reach water,
aud what houses are to he torn down to mr.
rest the progress of the flames. These Of.
ficers are gentlemen Of consequence, and
never receive any pecuniary reward for
their services. There are 25 Fire Wardens
in Boston. They cnrry baton rs ~ mboi
Of their Office, and disobedience to their
authority is punished by heavy fine.
The engineers arc commonly mechanics,
and are exempted from miltia duty. The
two engines which first reach fire receive
n reward of about four g,,ineas. The hos.
tonians have an ample apparatus for extin.
gushing fires. but hey ought % hare sentinel
stationed in some hugh io,cer 10 ,oaieh for fires
and sound a general aldruL'
When the French army was ut Boston
just on the point Of clnbarking for home.
the Generals were one evening at a card
party nj the house Of one Of the principal
Inen OF the country. Suddenly, upon an
alarm of fire, the master Of the house threw
down his cards, called for his watch, coat
and boots, aud ran of with his buckets,
while the la,lies, accoJing to their custom,
placed candles in the windows To see q
large city Illuminated in few minutes, and
the first men in the community flying to rs.
sist the distressed without knowing or cnr-
ing whether they were white men or ne
gr0es, was spectacle both novel and grut'
flying TO the French officers.
The clubs comprised some Of the first
inen in the nation. The celebrated Sanu.
el Adams was member of one Of them
for many years. j have heard the eminent
patriot say that these Fire Clubs were ofno
small consequences in the early period OF
our contest with Great Britain, and that IN
them were engcDiere,l the committee OF
correspondence 80 fatal TO our opponents
and 40 useful TO ourselves -coll'm'itees
which wove 80 strong the bands Of our Un-
on that England and her niles could not
sun,ler them.'
srhs vas written In lisI Tbs r-ier win obsesvs ho~
,.,S,Iv the sur--tioa Dr. wAirrhouse sntiipsisi