The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-01
THE VOLUNTEER FIREMEN.
A Suggestion for a Reunion of the Boys
Who run with the Machine"
The Early Days of the Fire Department in
lndianapolis-Iaughable Incidents
Among the 0ld-Time Boys"
Written for the indianapolis Journal.

Written for the indianapolis Journal.
We have had each week of this month a re-
union of q character quite remarkable enough to
attract general attention. First, that of the sur
vivors of the constitutional convention. and,
combined with it, that of the survivors of the
the Legislature of 1882; and last, that of the
''Old Seminary Boys" attended by two of the
old teachers, William Sullivan. of this city. who
taught forty nine years ago, and Rev. James D.
Kemper of South Charleston, O.. who taught
just forty seven years ago. continuing till 1845
Many of the old pupils attending the re-
union were students of one or the
other from forty to nearly fifty years
ago. The occasion suggests another
reunion that might be held with much pleasure
to the participants and much interest to the
general public-a reunion of the firemen of the
old volunteer" department. which was replaced
in 1860 by the present paid department and its
steam apparatus. There good many of
those old fremen living in the city still, and it
could hardly fail to be enjoyable occasion that
brought them together to talk over their adven-
lures in fire and water in smoke and ashes and
flying spray, when they were the sole dependence
for fire protection, and not whit less effective
ceSsors are for theirs. Charles Richnann, at
one time chief of the paid department, was cap
tain of the "Invincibles' or Wooden Shoes" in
the old department. Joseph w. Davis the first
chief of the new system, is living near the city,
and he was also captain of the
wooden Shoes" Ex-chief Sherwood belonged
to one of the volunteer companies, the West
erns," probably.
Gen. Fred Knefer was secretary, and later
captain OF the Marion company, the Oldest In the
city or State, having been organized in Febru-
airy, 1885, from previous bucket company" or
ganized in 1926, and provided with the Marion
engine, built by Agnew, of Philadelphia, at the
joint expense of the Legislature and the citizens
Most Of the prominent men of the early days of
the city were Marion fremen. James Blake was
long captain, and James NJ Ray secretary, as he
was secretary of pretty much every thing that
paid nothing. Among the members were
Squire Caleb Scudder, DIR. John L.. Mothers
head, Thomas A. Norris John Morris, Daniel
Yandes Nicholas McCarty Thomas H. Sharpe,
James Sulgrove John Wilkins. Isaac Phipps.
and a score of other prominent citizens. Earlier
than General Knefers time General Coburn
was captain of the Marion, succeeded by b. H.
Sulgrove, of the Journal of that time. who was
first president of the Fire Association or egis-
lature of the volunteer department. In 184l the
Marion company divided, and the seceders,
under John H. Wright, father of Frank and Dr.
Mansisr Wright, organized as the Relief COM
pany anu cot the Good Intent" a good. second
hand Philadelphia engine-Indianapolis did all
her business with Pm adelphia in those days
and then we had two engines ana companies
here. In 40 the Good Intent" was tam oy
third company, and the Relief" got a row boat
engine. in which the fremen sat down and
worked the brakes backward and forward. To
this company John G. New. of the Journal, be-
longed till it was broken up. and at one time
Theodore Ross of the book firm of Ross & Ray
preceding Samuel Merrill, sr.,-now secretary
OF the Grand Lodge of Odd-fellows of the United
States, was captain.
Some half dozen companies were formed
altogether, and provided with very powerful and
valuable engines, but never one that surpassed
the old Marion for readiness and efficiency The
''rer boat found powerful, but unhandy
and easily disordered and was changed in about
1857 for a fine side-brake engine. In 1858 the
separate companies were brought under COM
mon authority by the appointment of Joseph
Little as chief engineer, with B. r. Sulgrove and
William King assistants. In 1856 the compa-
mics combined for their own protection and ad
vantage and formed the Fire Association
above referred to. Towards the close of the
volunteer system there were probably as many
IS five hundred frenien on the different
company rolls, all of whom were exempted
by law from jury duty, poll tax, and city prop
erty tax. Chickering's and jealousies came in
with the Fire Association" when the men be-
gan to feel their power in politics and city cleo
tions, and in two three years the department
got to be good deal of trouble and expense, and
was anything but obedient to any authority but
its own The steam apparatus was growing in
favor, from the efficiency shown by that at
Cincinnati of Shawk q Latta's invention, under
the management of Miles Green wood, and a
steam engine was brought here. That was the
signal for the departure of the volunteer service.
1t had been noble and effective service for
more twenty-five years, and it deserves COM
memoration now, after the lapse of twenty five
years since its disbandment This year is the
semi centennial of the organization of the first
volunteer fire-engne company.
While the volunteer department was at its
best it quite as efficient as the present de-
partment allowing Tor the differences of appar
atus and means of operation, but still there were
occasions when Miles Greenwoods argument for
q steam3 system was made particularly cogent.
Steam engines don't drink whisky or throw
brick bats" There were very few of the volun-
'teer tiremen who drank on service, and fighting
was affair, but both would intrude into
the general order and efficiency once in a while.
When the old Marion engine house, on the north
side or the Circle, was burning. the captain beg
ged his men to put the engine on service at the
pcistern on Ohio street, and they wouldn't They
said they had as much right to good house as
fhe Relief Company" which had new brick
mouse on Meridian street, on the site
now covered by the Hubbard Block '.and
they meant to have it." They went to work final
ly. however, when the old house was SOLAR
gone that there was nothing TO save, and no
chance of its being rebuilt. Then they got the
house on Massachusetts avenue and New York
street. 1t was believed by good many that
some of the younger and wilder members set the
shabby old building on fire. but if it were true,
nothing was done publicly said about it.
The worst fight that ever occurred at a fire, in
which the fremen concerned, was on the
night of the 4th of July. 80 or SO. The Council
had recently passed an ordinance authorizing the
city marshal and the chief engineer, or the assist
ant in command to arrest spectators who inter-
tered with the fremen in their work, or to order
the men to put them out of the way. A large two
story frame house, belonging to the estate of
John Philip Michael. on the west side of Missis-
sippi street, square north of the State
house. took fire. The Marion engine was
getting new coat of paint and was out of sery-
ice, and the Marion and Relief companies ran a
'row- boat" together. Two of the Relief men
had the pipe of one line of hose and two of the
Marion men had the other. The first assistant
engineer, Mr.. Sulgrpve. of the Journal then,