Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-03-20
RELIC OF THE PAST.
The First Steam Fire Engine New
Orleans Ever Owned.

An interesting relic of almost a
generation past was seen on board the
steamer Golden Rule as that vessel
passed up the river last night. 1t was
the worn-Out wreck of the first steam
hire engine the city of New Orleans
ever owned, and as the race it
has run is an interesting one,
a few "reminiscences will not
prove bad reading. 1t was along early
in the fifties, perhaps about 1854, that
the city Of New Orleans bought an
engine, built at Baltimore at cost Of
some $4,000, colossal concern weigh
ing nine tons, and run on three wheels,
two behind and one in front. The
machine created a great sensation
among the citizens of New Orleans
when it was received there, as it was
the beginning of the end of the old
volunteer no-pay system of putting
out fires. Its advent excited disgust
and derision among the fremen, and
gave cords Of trouble to its managers.
Soon after landing in its house big
fire broke out in the Verandah hotel,
nearly opposite the st. Charles,
destroying that structure, and DR..
Theodore Clapp's church. both old
time and popular landmarks.
The Young America, that
was the engines name, turned
out, broke down on the route, but
finally did good service in quenching
the flames among the ruins, old Cap
tain Jack Adams, a popular fire war
den and insurance agent representa-
tive, holding the nozzle" 1t was a
long time after that before the Young
America" got another chance for a
run. When it did, the unwieldy
thing broke down in turning street
corner, and it did not reach the
fire until several hours late. The mex
chance it had, a mud hole caught j
on the bounce, and no water wa
thrown. The volunteer fire boys wer,
greatly tickled over these mishapa
and the heavy expense bill for repairs
| About that time Israel Gibbons, tn
local Of the Crescent, and afterward
a major in the southern army
long since gathered to his fathers
wrote a bunch Of humorou
verses about the Young America,
and this made more fun for the fir
boys. The rhymes were in part a
| follows:
"Im not much on rur,
don't fancy such fun,
My wheels all your boggy streets hurting
detest such child's play,
But permit me to say
| I'min when you talk about squirting.
"Just put my main pipe
In Jack Adams grippe
And III throw from Canal st. to Gretna
| III knock cold in my Ire
Any sort of fire,
From . Duchman's smoke pipe to al
| Etna."
There was lot more of the sam,
| style, but this is enough for the nonce
as the Young America soon after fel
into disgrace, the introduction of tn,
Latta five and half ton engine, Will
four wheels, being much easier t,
handle, aud more effective in ever
particular. Since then, their weigh
has been further reduced two tom
or more. After lying idle, anC
costing pile of money, tn,
Young America" was sold to larg,
sugar plantation owner, who carried i
up the coast and set it to work tC
pump sipageIwater from the cane field
and throw it over the levee into tn,
swamps. Now, after more thar
twenty-five years service, the ole
worn out Young America" is on III
way north as old iron, to be broken III
and melted over. Several visitor
from shore examined the ancien
affair as it lay on the steamers fore
castle last night, and one or two who
witnessed its youthful operations ant
the grandeur of its reception then
recognized it on sight, despite time
corroding rust, and the machines ap
parcnt lack of care.