Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-18
D1sTBIOr FIRE DEPARTMsNT.
It's Early HislOry-The First Fires
I'm WashinRtOn and What They
Led TO-lhe Old Volunteer Com.

i'm Washington and What They
Led TO-1he Old SOiulteef Com.
paniess
At the time Of The removal Of the seat of Gov
eminent from Philadelphia to this city, In the
year 1900, washington was indeed "city OF
magnificent distances" the houses being few
and far between, and the streets and avenues
being scarcely more than country lanes. 1t was
some time before there were any precautions
taken against damage by fire.
THE FIRST FIRE OF ANY MAGNITUDE
happened to be Government building and q
serious loss having been entalled thereby, IL
was not long before the Government officials.
as well as the citizens generally felt an interest
in adopting some uniform system se for the sup
took place on Saturday night, November 8. 1890,
In three-sJory building on Pennsylvania ave.
nue., above 2lst street In which the offices OF
the War Department were temporarily located,
and in few hours they were entirely con-
sumed, with all the papers Of the Department.
deeds for lands sold to the United States were
recorded, and some of the papers OF the account
ing officer. The library destroyed was quite
large, containing many military works difficult
CURED was owned by Mr.. Joseph Hodgson, aud
after repeated petitions to Congress by Rebecra
Hodgson, his widow, bill was passed May l.,
1922, appropriately $1,000 to pay the legal rep
resentatlves OF Joseph Hodgson, the value Of
the building rented in 1890 BY Samuel Dexter.
then Secretary of War.
was that OF the Treasury department, which
occurred January 10Th, 1901. about dusk. When
discovered one OF the rooms OF the accountant
was in full blaze. The fire was extinguisned
In an hour and a-half by the citizens with water
buckets, but not until several rooms were
burned out and many valuable papers de-
stroyed among them ledgers and journals In
which were entered the accounts settled By he
commissioner with the Offices OF the quarter
master and commissary departments claims of
persons for services during the war Of the revo-
luton; an account rendered by the bank OF the
United States for the sale OF Per cent stock;
an account OF Hazen KiInball for the contingent
expenses OF the Office Of state; an account of
Thomas Claxton as agent for furnishing the
Capitol; the accounts and vouchers of Tench
Francis, puryeyor Of public supplies for pur-
chases from July, 1891, to september, 1IsS, &c,
&c.
THE FIRST FIRE LAW.
January 10th, 1903, an act was passed by the
city councils approved by Robert Brent. mayor,
and certified by James Barry, president of the
first chamber, and Daniel Carroll of Dudngton,
president OF tie second chamber, providing for
the prevention and exiting uishing of fires Sec
ton 1 provided that every proprietor OF auy
dwelling house or store house should, prior to
the list day of March ensuing, at his or her ex-
pense, provide as many fire buckets Of leather,
containtngtat least two and d half gallons, as
there we're stories In such house. Every pro-
prietor neglecting to procure the proper num-
Der of buckets should forfeit one dollar for each
bucket. Ii the proprietor of any dwelling house
or store house not residing within the limits Of
the city fail TO procure buckets. the occnoier
penalty for neglect and recover from SUCH de-
fault1ng landlord the expense thereof. section
2 provided that all the buckets should be en-
tered and numbered In the Office OF the register
whose duty it was to record the name Of tie
proprietor OF houses with the number Of ten
ants, who were required TO have the name and
number painted On the buckets under penalty
OF 81 for each Neglect. Section 3 made Il the
duty OF the occupierS of houses to preserve tle
nfe buckets without suffering them to be Used
for other purposes; II any bucket was lost or
hpStrOyPd they IN rpOiarp them within
month under the penalty OF IS for neglect; they
were required TO keep them In a CONSPICUOUS
place In their houses, and send them TO any fires
which might break out. Section authorized
the mayor 10 Immediately procure ladders AID
fire. hooks, to be deposited with such citizens as
were disposed to take care of, and use them
and $50 was appropriated for the purpose of
supplying the public with them. Section
made 1t the duIy OF the sealer Of weights ami
measures twice In each year to visit every
house and examine the number and state OF the
buckets and report the same TO the register;
and authorized the law officer Or any other per-
son Informing 10 receive one half Of the dnes
and forfeitureS usder the act. Section au-
thoriZed the procurement by the mayor prior 10
the LIST of May. 1904, of one substantial fire ell
CINE. to be kept near the Center Market; and 50
soon thereafter as may be, too additional fire
engines were to be procured by him, to be sew
orally kept near the Eastern and Western mar
kets for which purpose the sum of $500 was ap
propriated out OF any money In the treasury.
This law was carried into effect at once, but
many OF the citizens and owners of houses being
unable To get their buckets ready in The time
prescribed by the act, on the 2Stn OF March
1903, bill was passed that so much OF the tirsE
act as required the providing OF fire DdcEets
prior TO March Isl be repealed, and that persons
OF June following TO do 50. This was Certified
to Mayor Robert Brent by Samuel Harrison
Smith. president Of the first chamber, and vas
approved.
PIRB WARDS ESTABLISHED
On July "a, 1904, an act OF city corncllS OF
Washington TO establish fire wards and Fl e
companies" was approved 1t provided tn It
the City be divided into fire wards. All west If
10th street to constitute the first IRE ward: lie
second, bounded on the vest by 18th street, on
the south by G street south until it intarseated
with srd street, and by such street from sucn
intersection to the extremity thereof; tie tIifd
fire ward to consist OF all that part Of the city
ward to consist of all the remaining part OF the
city. Section authorized the mayor to ap-
point one man residing In each ward who shall
call meeting of the citizens, who shall organ
ke themselves into fire Companies which Shall
pass such rules for government as they may see
MT, each company TO annually elect one of its
members who, with the four citizens appointed
by the mayor. shall be denominated fire direc-
tors, and constitute board OF general superln-
tendance, &C. This act was signed by Samuel
II. Smith, president OF the first chamber of the
city councils OF Washington; Nicholas king,
president Of the second chamber, &c. and ap.
proved by Robert Brent mayor The mayor
thereupon appointed as directors, pursuant 10
the act, Thomas H. ellis, first ward; James
Hobap, second; Nicholas Voss, third, and
Griffith CoombeS, fourth ward An act was
passed the same day approprlating 1900 for the
purpose OF sinking wells and erecting and re-
pairing pumps In the streets.
ORGANIZING TIE FIRST COMPANIES
August IL, same year, meeting OF citizens
CONVEX ed at Il he West market to organize them
selves into a nre company. Mr.. Joseph Stretch
was elected chairman OF the meeting, and
Thomas Ii ellis secretary. A committee OF
three on rules for the government OF the fire
company was chosen, VIZ: Joseph Stretch, John
WcodSide, ard Thomas II. GilliS
Tie cltiZenS Of the second fire ward met at
the call Of Captain James EIoban on the oath of
August, at Rhodes hotel; James Davidson in
the chair, and John Hewitt secretary Similar
action was taken at this meeting 50 far no
meetings had been called by the directors OF
the thiId and fourth fire wards.
The Sti or September, 1904, a meeting OF the
Union Fire company \secoud ward was held al
Rhodes tavern; Richard Forrest In the cAair
Officers were elected for The first time as fol-
lows: James HuoaC, president: Andrew W "
Jr.. vice president; Wash. Boyd. treasurer; JAS
III. kearLey. secretary. Clotworthy Stephenson,
Peter LencX, Lewis Muin aud Henry Langley
were elected engineers: fourteen f,remen wer,.
elected eight ladder ue1, six sentinels aud
John Hewitt was elerted 10 represent the coL-
peDJ 10 the board Of general superinteJdenJS
The citizens OF the fourth fire ward convened
at Stells tavern, Tuesday, SEPTEMBER a4Jh. 1874
and elected John Coyle, Henry Ingle and DAM
Raplne a committee 10 draft rules and resula-
tlonS for the government OF q COMPANY 70 be