The morning call., 1891-08-31

the new system the boxes numbered from l
to "A, the latter being on the house of Engine
Company Il The highest box is now 426.
There is also a San Francisco Branch of the
fire alarm system.
Frank Atchison. formerly stoker of En-
gIne g. Is now engineer OF fire company OF
Victoria.
Sam Mcdowell, formerly foreman of En-
elne Company q, and late chief oil San d.
ego. has again returned to that city.
Auditor Thomas j. l.. Smiley was very
active member of the Volunteer Fire De-
partment, having been with Howard En-
CINE Company 3. and for years represented
that company in the Board of Delegates.
Charles II. Mcmahon. the big flag bearer
of the Veterans, has returned from the in
terror He is shouting: ITO Chicago in
1892"
THE PAID DEPARTMENT.
CarboliZed and rubber hose first was in
troduced in the department in 1871, super
Seding the leather hose then in use.
The recent article relative to inventors
that appeared in THE CALL has brought an
army of inventors to the front, who claim
they all invented, but of course some one
else got patents on their work.
The paid Fire Department went into SER
vice on midnight December 3, 1866, with six
engine, FIVE hose and two truck companies.
Now there are eighteen engine, nine hose,
two chemical, one water tower and five truck
companies in service, besides the fire-boat
Irwin, that protects the waterfront.
VETS VERSUS ExEMPTs.
Talking of taking our big engine, the
dOuble-decker of the Veterans, why we
would wash her dry" said w. D. L. Hall,
who was foreman of Monumental Engine
Company. No. 6. which at one time owned
the Exempt. THAT big engine-just think
of it-how we got over the sand, mud and
n KE hAri in rlNr 1aus h.a
vice We did. It's aimply astonishing to
think Of it. New comers can hardly realize
IL, but it was so all the same"
host of stalwart Vets would think it
fine fun to have pumping match with the
EXempts. Both engines are in good condi-
ton, and it would really be fun for the old
timers to have a contest some evening.
The Veterans will hold their regular
meeting tomorrow evening. John Fay, the
President. had new gavel sent him by the
Astoria red-Shrts.
Captain Isaiah w. Lees was foreman of
California, No. 4, of the Volunteer Depart
ment. Marcus d. Boruck is exempt from
the same company. He was Secretary of
the old department in It's palmy days.
FOR ADMISSION DAY.
The Exempt Fire Company will go on a
two days excursion to Santa Cruz, leaving
here on the evening of September Sth.
Their headquarters will be at the Pilot lose
Company's house on Pacific avenue. There
they will receive and entertain their friends.
They will take their famous big double
decker engine, odd Big s." with them, and
will work it to show the younger generation
how fires were put out in early days. A
committee went TO Santa Cruz last Sunday
and were taken in charge by Chief Alvini
and Mayor Bowman and well entertained
The Veteran Firemen will celebrate Ad-
! mission day by buils-head breakfast,
clam and crab bake at Sausalit0. They
/ xlNrr ,1.+
as much interest Is being taken in the affair
by the old boys y parlOr of the Native
Sons will picnic at Wildwood Glen, near
where the Vets will hold their feast.
Ex-Fire Marshal John l.. Durkee is. truly
speaking, representative of the leaders of
the old department He was members of
Monumental Company, No. 6; was several
terms its foreman, was in the fifties"
Captain of Police, and served over twenty
years as Fire Marshal. He is now one of the
pillars OF the Exempts.
James II. Ranus and E. L. Sheppard, ex-
Chiefs Of the MarysyillelFIre Department,
live in this city.
VETS AS CARD-PLAYERs.
Supervisors Aver. Jackson and Hyer are
members OF the Veteran Firemen'5 ASSOcia :
tion.
Police Officer John McGreevy is the best
crib--player among the Veteran Firemen !;
| old Joe Marshal holds the best hand in
have piano in their rooms and the quartet
| give some of the old refrains quite fire.
Quentlv.
Adley H. Cummins. prominent Vet. is
| now Street Commissioner at Fresno.
Chief j. +. Kennedy of the Oakland Fire
Department is increasing its efficiency. a
new engne-hOuse has Just been completed
back of the City Hall. Ex-Chief Hill is
again resident OF Oakland.
w. 5. Dale, a Los Angeles fireman, has in
vented truck and water-tower. 1t was
tested at Oakland last Monday at Eleventh
and Webster streets. 1t is a ladder built on
truck which can be elevated and carries
Its own hose high above the ground, and
shoots strong stream $50 feet into a burn
ing building. 1t requires only 80 seconds
| time to get 1t IN working order.
SMILEY WAS STUBBORN.
Auditor Smiey's refusal to audit the de.
| mands OF the extra assistant engineers and
| others again, after the opinions of both the
| City and District Attorneys that it is legal
| to do so, and the passage of the same by the
| Supervisors, has caused no little excitement
| in fire circles, but the auditor SAYS he thinks
and feels he is right and wants the point de-
cided by the courts. He contends that nc
| offices can be created when the law pro-
hlbltS it, They cannot be created, he con-
| tends. until we have new charter. One OF
| the ire laddies says that it is Just like Ton
Snlley-he always stands on technical
| point. 1t was so even with him when hf
| was i'll the old department In the Board oil
Delegates, when his company was tried fol
| disobeying rules, he raised the point that
| the foreman, and not the company, should
be tried, and gained his point. The mex
| point lie raised was that a foreman couls
| not be tried as lie was not certificate mem
| Der. and he got the delegates muddled ur
| and the company got clear. Tom was a
| lively runner in those days. but he never
thought of running for Office or accepting ar
Of LI - II
| as a mule" said fireman, and wont bacl
| down, and those now suffering for coli
| should get speedy decision Of the courts