Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-15
TRUMPET AND SPANNER.
Men Who Ran with&the "Machine'' in
Old Days.

Men Who Ran withNhe :" Machimess In
Old Days.
THE OLD VOLUNTEER FIRE DAPARTMENT-How
IT WAS oRGANIzED-RIvALRIEs WHICH
SOMETIMES RESULTED IN BROKEN HEADS
HERoIsA AND DEVOTION TO DUTY.
That the old time volunteer fire department
is thing of the past in the District, as well as
in most of the larger cities Of the laud is on the
whole, q matter Of congratuation, especially
when community has an efficient paid de-
partment. Though in the old days there were
frequent rows and broils in most cases brought
on by the "hangers-on" of the companies, there
are many pleasant recollections Of old times
brought up now and then when firemen of for.
mer days chance 10 meet. 1t is extremely in
teresting to hear some OF THESE talk of old times.
Many are astonished when they hear descrip-
lions given of the engines OF a few years ago
and compare them with the engines of the
present day.
When Washington was, indeed, city of
magnificent distances when there was scarcely
a gravel walk to be found In the approaches TO
the public buildings, the government laid, the
foundation OF the old fire department by the
Engines tor the treasury WA" o ' fop
S5o1.33. These were allowed 70 be used as
emergency required by the citizens, but they
were chiefly used In the interest Of the govern
ment, for Uncle Sam then owned the most of
tue property here. 1t is likely they were in
service at the first fire OF consequence here, the
burning of building on Pennsylvania avenue.
between 10th and 2Oth streets, used as the
War department, In November, 1900.
THE FIRST COMPANY.
There is some "mist Of the ages" about the
early history Of the department For many
years there was question as TO which COM
pany was the oldest in the city. This question
was rendered difficult of solution IN conse-
quence OF failing memories and the absence OF
and heard the report of a committee. which
gave the nrst place to the COlumb ia, of Capitol
Hill, as it could show a continuous existence
under that name from about 1904. The Ana
costa, at the Navy Yard, contested this claim.
put failed to break it. The city councils, in
1904, divided the city into tive warls-tle first
composed of that part of tue city west OF 10Th
street, tue second bounded by 10th aud Sd
streets west, q street south and Boundary; the
the remainder OF the city. August l Tin of that
year the aiizens OF the first ward organized .
nre company at the West market. August
the second ward was held at Khodes'
hotei, ana subsequently Union Fire company
Was formed, with james Hoban president and
1our engineers, fourteen nremen, eight ladder
men and six sentineis. September oath citi-
zens OF the fourth ward met at Stills tavern
bia.
PASSING THE BUCKET
In the early days of the fire department
buckets OF leather were used, and the law
required the citizens to provide themselves
with such. There were not then fire plugs
through which an ample supply OF water could
be obtained, but in lieu thereof there were Gel
lars, reservoirs, or cisterns, where water was
stored ior an emergency. The earliest custom
was, on reaching fire. to form lines anu pass
WAFER rom pump or reservoir, to be thrown on
t !, nfe, the apparatus being worked by men at
the long arms. The duty of putting out fires
was not then delegated by the citizen but fire
Was regarded rs the common enemy TO be
fought by every one, even by persons in high
pubic station. Some OF our older citizens recall
seeing secretaries. members OF The cabinet and
othefs In the lines passin. the buckets.
collisions AT FIRES
AS most OF the buildings were frame struc-
lures 1t was frequently the case that a fire was
extensive and it was not infrequently the case
tina. the followers of the companies before the
nre was extlnguish shed, got up night. The terri
Tory o the several companies was well marked
ana UNDERSTOOD and young man going from one
section OF Tie city INTO another, almost always
cticuia ted ON having difficulty. The burden
upon the members and their friends tor neither
The general nor municipal government was
very Liberal in the early days IN fact, an
appropriation OF 500 per company per year
was looked upon by the early tax payer as too
much TO be paid out OF the Golfers OF the corpora
ton.
MAY DAY FESTIVITIES
The companies generally observed May day.
The custom was to strip the hose carriage of its
leather, anu early Ill the morning 20 to the
woods and gather Il load OF flowers. After deco
rating the hose carriage, each man carrying
return 10 the city making the streets rim. with
their songs Some OF the these songs were very
credItaoie productions. One dedicated to the
franklin by L. W. Tayleure, "Giod bless the
noble nre boy" became quite popular through
tue land through Kunkei's MINISTRIES. Others
were mere rolicktns dit.ies, such as one popular
with the Northern Liberties:
We've got a little suction four feet high
IT sends TO the moon AND vets the sky
linen zee zaw you may say what You Will.
But the cnunker Ooys are the boys for TO kill"
There was much rivalry between the coInpa-
MES aS to the appearance of the "machipes
On parade days they were often loaded down
with pictures, flowers and bunting the deco
rators exercising their ingenuity TO surpass ali
former Efforts. The trumpet. the badge or the
president authority, often massive silver in
sstfumeht, was on SUCH occasions used as u
Do4uet-holoer. 1remau's funeral. too was
Tue occasion OF large turnout Then the
Ose-carriaEe was utilized AS the funeral car
Inc spooI vi hose beln. removed and u plat
Iorln on Wnlcu 10 place the remains conStruc ted
and the "niacnine" clad III mouruins on this
Car, drawn by a pair OF horses, aud sometimes
drawn by ropes, The remains were conveyed 10
the cemetery.
RECEIVING AND MAKING VISITS.
The pleasant part Of the old volunteer fire.
mans lie was visiting and receiving visits.
Many OF the fire boys who took advantage OF
trips made years ago to the larger cities doubt
less remem DER the friendships then made, and
panies as such, at different times visited Baiti-
more, Philadelphia, New York and other places
and among the companies from other places
tnat visited thls city were the following: The
Friendship Fire company of Baltimore. who
came around on the steamer Columbia. July
TIN, 1914, and remained as guests OF the North
ern Liberty till the 18th; Washington Hose of
Philadelphia, received by the Perseverance,
Anacostia, Columbia and Franklin, Septem Der
10th, 1919 The late Geo. :. Gideon delivered
an address of welcome. Hook and Ladder. No
8, OF New York, were The guests OF the FRANKLIN
and Anacosta, April 18th, 1850 The Vipilant
FIRE compiiny, OF Philadelphia, was received
ny the Perseverance, December 10th $50 The
Weccacoe Engine company, OF Philadelphia.
was received by the entire department. Jan,
uary 10Th, 1851, and were quartereu at Dur
seys, 7th and streets The Americas Fire
company, of New York, were the guests Of the
Franklin, April Sd, 1851 WV
The protective Fire Co., of Rochester. N. Y
arrived October % 500, and were received nv
delegations from all the companies They were
evening. 80 ~
a delegation of Pioneer Hook and Ladder
company, with the Sun Fire company of Alloy.
andria was here ON November Is. 1903. on the
occasion OF the reception OF the hook and lad
DER truck by the Metropolitan Hook and Lad.
ger company, when thereWas u procession of the
department. ~ AS
The Good Win Engine company. of Ph,,a-
deiphia, arrived here on May is. 1856. and re-
manned until the 18th guests OF the Co
iuinbla. viz W.
Mechanics Engine company, of Louisville
ny, ana Pioneer Hook aud Ladder compnuv
OF baltimore arrived here on May 30 1877
anu were received by the Columbia and Metro.
pOmtan HOOK and Ladder companies
The America Engine company. of Philadel
pnla, Win steam fire engine arrived September
IL, 1903, as the guests Oi the Franklin AMI
were received by the companies OF the Dis
tTict. tney gave an exhibition OF their "na
chlne In The afternoon and then left 1or home
FIGHTING IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.