The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-10
THE FIREMEN OF OTHER DAYS.
An Organization Formed by the Surviving
Volunteers-A Reunion Is to Be Held.

For several years there has been talk at diff
ferent times of the surviving members Of old
volunteer fremen forming q permanent organ
ization, In order that their memories and serv-
ices might be perpstuated. but no decisive &C
ton Was taken until last night Some thirty
eray-headed men. who. as boys, "whooped her
years ago, before steam. electricity and
horses came to replace them, met at the chiefs
Office at fire headquarters. and without any
discussion determined that IN organization muss
no longer DO delayed. Among those presen,
were, John F. wallick, B. R. Sulgrove, Henry
Coburn. Geo. w. Sloan. Paul Sherman. John
F. Shoemaker. Edward Bassstt. j. C. Yohn,
Thomas Atkinson, David Ri. Brouse. Hiram
Seibert, B. F. Norwood, George 81. Black, Will
lam z. Featherston, g. B. Thompson, Chris
Meier. Charles 8. Brigham, Paul Lendormi and
William Mansu r.
Mr. Mansur. Of the old hook and ladder COM
pany, was called on to preside and Henry Co
burn, Of the Marion company. acted as secreta-
~. A COMMITTEES OF i've, consisting OF 3. r..
Sulgrove. of the Marion, John n. Wallick, OF the
Relief, William Lancks. of the InvincibIss, Paul
Sherman. OF the Western. and Hiram Ssibsrr,
OF the Union, was appointed TO draw up brief
constitution which provided for . president.
vice-president. secretary, treasurer and exceu-
tive committee. to be elected annually; designated
the association as the Veteran Voluuteer Fire
Association Of Indianapolis" and made every
surviving member Of the old department mem.
Der 90 application. 1t also provided for an an.
nual reunion, and occasional meetings on re-
quest The expenses of the association are to
be paid by volunteer contributions The follow.
ing officers were elected for the first year:
President-wiliam Mansur.
Vice-president-B. r. Sulgrove.
! Secretary-Henry Coburn.
Treasurer-Albert Norwood.
Executive Committee-G. B. Thompson Harry Sci
bert General Fred Knsfer, W. D. Sherwood and G.
T. Meier.
It was suggest ted that ell the members should
sign the constitution, and the secretary was in.
structsd to prepare complete roll Of all the
members OF the old department. both living aud
dead. Another meeting was called for the same
place next Wednesday evening. when arrange
tse organization was completed. the volunteers
enjoyed themselves for time relating rem
iniscences.
The volunteer department was in operation
until 1859 or go, when the city purcha sed a
steam engine. and employed paid force. In
its infancy il was known a. the "Bucket
Brigade" In certain quarters Of the city were
kept q supply of leather buckets, and whenever
fire occurred the members of the department
ran for the buckets. and thence 70 the FIRE
source from which it could DO had. After the
Bucket Brigade" came some enRinel
that were worked by hand. They were
known as 'row boats" from the fact
that the motion in working the pumps was SINH
lar to that of rowing. The machine" was also
pulled over the streets by hand. Whenever
FIRE was discovered the nearest big bell In sight,
whether il be q church bell or wha. not
sounded the alarm The volunteers answered
the alarm, no matter how engaged, and as on,
of the old members remarked last night, There
was some very tail hustling to sec which com
pany could get . stream OF water on the fri
irstp