Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-11
the Firemen Of other DAYS.

The Firemen Of Other Days.
The article which appears on the first
page OF this issue deals. to some extent,
with the halcyon days when many of the
grandest young gentlemen of Richmond
belonged to the Fire Depsrtmentand lite
rally and fguratively ran with the ma
chine"
EDGAR A. Poe must have been ono OF
these. and perhaps in that exciting life no
learned "the music of the BELLS" which
he afterwards reproduced IN verso with
thrilling rhythmic effect.
The Gre alarm IN those early days was
signal for great struggle. Each company
strove to be the earliest 70 appear upon
the scene; each contended against all
others for the honor Of being the first to
have stream on the FIRE, and each sought
TO Guido oil competitors ia feats Of daring
and in persistent labor. But when the
work at the pumps was greatly prolonged,
the gallant dre-lsddIes we're seldom I'M
willing to surrender their posts 10 Others.
Sometimes these others were negro men,
who willingly took their masters places,
and with song and jest made merry at
their work
There came time in the history of the
volunteer Fire Department when the rivalry
between the various companies bad become
intense and when each had following
not distinguished for those virtues which
are characteristic of peaceful citizens.
And sometimes it was suspected that these
extra-Mdent partisans set fire to various
shabby-looking old frame buildings IN
order Ito have some fun" and particular
ly TO give their favorite companies the pest
chance TO be the first on the ground.
We do not know that any such charges
were ever proved but it is quite certain
that the heated rivpl-v which existed be-
tween some OF the companies. and the per-
sonal encounters which often occurred be-
tween their members, induced the Clty
Council TO give attention to the paddle
partment system which had come In vogue
in the North. After years OF discussion on
the part of press and people the PAID sys-
tenn got a footing here. and from time to
time il has been enlarged and improved
upon until we see q Capitalization OF all
such efforts IN our present admirable or
gsnization.
The introduction of the steam fire.
engine may be said to have dealt fatal
blow TO the volunteer system. Horses
were put in the places of the fieet-footed
fellows who were IN their glory when run
ming at the top Of their speed with their
red shirts on. Steam power put aside the
scores of strong arms which were wont to
man the brakes of the pumps; and, WILL
ing workers as the volunteers had been,
steam was found more patient, more en-
during. As far back as 1859 Richmond
had a steam fre-engine, and. what IS more,
it was built in this city.
During the war, places in the Fire Depart
ment were much sought after, by reason OF
the fact that its members were exempt
from army service. At the evacuation OF
Richmond by the Confederate troops,
when the flames from the burning bridges
began to sweep towards the business CEN
tire. the firemen were called out upon what
proved to be the most exciting duty they
had ever been asked to perform. The city
was burning up; the Confederates were
going out; the Federals were coming IN
Confederate iron-clads were being blown
up IN the river; powdor-magazlnes were
exploding in the city; drunken mob was
looting the stores. and terror and distress
revealed in every Richmond home.
Many of the fremen worked manfully
through it all, but their efforts were re-
warded with but little success. When,
however, the Federal troops entered the
city their commander compelled hundreds
of idle negroes to help the fremen. and
what with the combined efforts of the
fremen. soldiers, negroes, and other cltl-
Zens of Richmond, the flames were stayed
in their course a little west of Ninth
street. But we venture to say that no
other body of fremen ever had more ex-
citing experiences than ours had on that
memorable day of the evacuation. And
when some great artist is chosen to give
their heroic history IN one single paint
ING. let him choose the scenes OF that day
for his subject.
Richmond is very fortunate in the per-
sonnel of the officers and men of her Fire
Department. It is made up of good ma
terial, and it is well organized. This was
always the departments reputation. but
it has been especially deserving Of 1t since
it was put under the Board of Fire Com
missioners.
On next Thursday there is 20 be an in
spection Of the department, and then we
shall see the fre-laddies in all the pomp
of glorious street parade.