The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-15
OLD FIRE LADIES.
MEN WHO HAVE SERVED A QUAR-
TER OF a CENT1RY.

Chief Puder, Assistant Chief Mouro,
and Foremen Connolly, Corners, and
Hanley-Five Men Whose Records
Are Difficult to Surpass Foreman
Corners as a Life Saver-How the
Metropoli;ans Were Organized.
Few people in Savannah outside Of fire.
men know that this city can boast Of
having some of the Oldest firemen in the
country actively engaged in duty at the
present time. Five men connected with the
Savannah fire department have records of
a quarter of a century or more, and their ad-
ventures in that line are sufficient to ill a
book
Chief Engineer William 3. Puder has
been fireman since July, 1865. One even
ing in that mouth a crowd of young men
who had returned from the scenes Of war 8
few months before met in Johnson square
to devise means to perfect an organization
of some kind 10 divert their minds from the
events of the four previous years. Among
the number was Mr.. Puder. After talking
over matters for some time, one of the party
suggested a fire company. The suggestion
was enthusiastically received, and toe Met
ropolitan Fire Company went into ex-
istence then and there.
A COMPANY FOR EX-WAR PRISONERS.
1t was agreed that no one should be eligi-
BILE to membership except parole prisoners
OF war who had served in the confederate
army.
A committee was appointed to wait upon
| Gen. Davis Of the union army, who was
then in charge of the affairs in savannah.
with an office in the old Southern Bank
| building, and secure the desired permission.
Gen. Davis granted the request, and paper
was circulated through the city and by
night sixty men had been enrolled.
Application was then made to the city for
an apparatus, aud an old hook and ladder
| truck was given to the company. The
''Mets" used the truck until 1866, when
fund Of $4,000 was raised and the first steam
| fire engine ever used in Savannah was pur-
chased by the Metropolitans.
CHIEF PUDER.
Chief Puder was a member of this COM
pany for ten years, and was a pipeman for
| five years of that time. The iremen of the
olden time know well what pluck, ability
| and knowledge of fire fighting was necessary
| for man to hold the position of pipeman
| for such long term.
During his connection with the Metropoli-
tans, Chief Puder was injured twice, once
during the burning of the medical society
building on Farm street, at the head of
Joachim, now Bay street. He was on lad
der handling the hose, when a cornice from
the third story struck the ladder and hurled
him to the ground, severely injuring him.
The late j. J. Abrams, Esq, was injured at
the same time.
The other instance was in 1872, when be
came near losing bis life at fire on
Broughton street, between Montgomery
and Jefferson. He entered the burning
building with hose, and while upstairs his
escape was cut off.
A NARROW ESCAPE.
He was overcome with smoke and fell
from the seco story into the street. He
was picked up by Julius kaufman, foreman
| of the Marshall hose, and was taken to the
office of Dr. Fish, on the opposite side Of the
street, where it took considerable time to
| resuscitate him.
| In 1873, at the burning of the Kentucky
stables on West Broad street, George q.
! PGder, foreman of Cleburne Hose Com
pany, and brother of Chief Puder. was
killed by falling wall.
In 1875 Mr.. Puder was elected engineer OF
Germania Engine Company No. ?, and
served in that capacity until January, 1889,
when he was elected to his present position
Of chief Of the Savannah fire department.
ASSISTANT MoURos LONG SERVICE.
Another fireman who has record of
| WHICH Ao may De k)EOuu Is Assistant Cnlof
| George Mouro, who celebrated on Nov. %
last his 24th anniversary as an active fire.
man. MIR. Mouro became member Of the
Washington Hose Company in 1866 and
shortly after was elected assistant foreman
After serving in that capacity he was
elected secretary Of the entire depart
| ment, WHICH position he held for years
In 1881 he was elected assistant chief and
| he has held the position continuously since
| DurinCr do
he was drill master of all racing contests,
and gave general satisfaction. While Mr..
Mouro has only been connected with the
department since 1866 In active service. vet
he was fireman before the war, and as a
boy took especial pride in running with the
machine" and lending all assistance pos
sible.
BRAVE FIREMAN.
j. j. Connolly, foreman of HEADQUARTERS.
is another old veteran in the fire seryice.
he Joined the Washington Hose Company
In September. 1865, as torch boy, and aft
erward became a private After short
service as private he was elected second
foreman. and held that position until 1877.
when he resigned to become member OF
Barlow Fire Engine Company. He served
as private of tue Bartows for six months.
and was then made second foreman, which
position he held until 1884, when he
entered the present paid Department.
he did service as private and driver for
two years, and was then appointed to his
present position of foreman. During his
term of quarter OF century, Mr.. Con-
molly has met with many accidents and has
had several narrow escapes from death.
he is one of the bravest firemen that ever
handled pipe.
CoNNoRS AS A LIFE SAVER
P. ]. Connors foreman of No. l, also has
a record of quarter of a century. He
was one of the charter members of the old
Washington Hose Company, and was
its treasurer for years. At the
organization of the Washington Engine
Company ke was made first assistant fore.
man and held that position until the organi-
cation of the partly paid department, when
he became call man. When the city
authorities reorganized the departing 1t on q
full paid basis Mr.. Connors was appointed
foreman of No. l. While he was moi
actively connected with any fire company
previous to the war he used to run with
the machine" and assist in putting down
fires.
THREE LIVES SAVED.
Mr.. CoDnors is looked UPON as one of the
most daring tiremen In Savannah, aud has
had several very narrow escapes from
, serious injury. During his connection with
the service he has saved three lives At a
fire on the steamship George Appold several
years apO aX-C'hiaf AdOlnh Earnonda, 80