The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-05-13
\ F'irst-Class Fire Department.

Anderson now has one Of tho best
ouu;rpcd and most efficient Fire Depart
ncnis; OF ai,y city in tho State rr"pniilon-
ate to IL, size. Tho Department is ciii-
ciuntly trained, and for tho time that it
has been organized is u marvel Of order
and system. The whole Department has
been created in the past two years, having
been perfected and regularly organized
during the past two months The first
company formed was the "Pioncer''
Steamer Company, which WAS purchased
ring Mayor MaXwelrs term, but has been
thoroughly refittod and perfected since.
It has membership of about fifty nlenl-
bers, commanded by President James NJ.
Payne, who has long been known in
Anderson rs most daring and success.
full fireman. This engine is powerful
one, with the finest appointments in every
respect, and the company haVo 12OO feet
of hose five inches i'll diameter, and With
the ample cistern arrangements can reach
almost every, house in the most popu!o,u!s
tional cisterns, which we learn are to be
speedily placed on the outskirts of the
city, the system Of protection will be as
ample as can be reasonably desired. This
company, the Pioneers" stand mt the
top of the list of efficient companies, from
their record at the Greenyille tournament
last year, in which they ran 100 yards
and threw fifty feet stream OF water IN
221 seconds, which so far as we know, is
the fastest time on record. This company
is thoroughly efficient and has already
done ex xtremely valuable service in saving
the business portion of our city from do.
struction. They arc prompt, vigilant,
daring and efficient
"The Rough and Ready" hand Engine
Company is also composed of about fifty
members, and is of1icered and manned by
the colored people, and have for their
President Lawrence Jones. Their engine
was purchased only q short time ago by.
our present Council and they have never
had so fur an opportunity Of showing their
progress at fire. They have drilled fire.
ouently, and show that they are fully
prepared to do valuable work whenever
occasion requires.
The last addition to the department
is the independently Hook and Ladder
Company, which has recently been organ
lied by some of the young men Of the
city with Mr.. G. M. Tolly, as President.
They have purchased a most handsome
and complete outfit, consisting ola Truck
built by Horton 4; Co., Fire Apparatus
Manufacturers, Cincinnati, hung on full
platform springs, with tiller behind so
that the truck can make short turns. Its
length is about 10 feet height feet in
ches, and is equipped as follows: Z lad
ders-one 45 feet extension, one 30 feet
straight, one ~ feet straight, one 90 feet
straight, one 1S feet roof ladder, and ono
is feet scaling ladder, 4 fire axes, with
picks, 12 rubber buckets, 4 ladder sup.
ports, hand pole hooks largo poll hook
with chain and rope attached, large crow
bar, Babcock Fire Extinguishers, equal
to $50 gallons Of water each, fire Ian
terms, l trumpet for officer in command,
and signal lamp with the emblem OF the
Company.
The Independents have never been at a
fire since their organization, but have ex-
hibited their skillful handling of their
equipment in parade. They can readily
scale any building in the city and can do
most valuable work as auxiliary to the
These thrco Companies arc organized
under a City Ordinance, with DIR. 4. +.
Diver as CLiel, and Capt. John O'Don-
nell as Assistant. These gentlemen have
been identified with the Department. from
it's formation, and by experience, judg-
ment and tact are we'll qualified, for
the duties assigned them. They have
under their command most excellent
body Of iiremen, and when occasion re-
quires may be depended upon to DO efll-
cient work.