The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-04
FOR THE VAMPS.
"reminiscences Of the Volunteer
Fire Department.
Trip Of the Monumentals to the Capital Oak
lands Aid Aecepted-Cape Gods
Fire Company.

Oakland has responded to at least two
calls for aid in this city. The last time was
for the destructive fire in the Bancroft
building in 1886. Two engines were sent
over, and did good service. 1t is not on
record that any engines were called tor
from this city to aid in extinguishing big
FIRE in the interior, except in the early fifties.
HELP FOR SACRAMENTO.
While Monumental Engine Company No.
was on parade on July 13 1854. tele-
gram reached here from Sacramento thai a
very disastrous conhagration was in
progress, and was liable to lay the town in
ashes. The excitement was so great that
the Monumentals abandoned their parade,
and n steamer-the Wilson G. Hunt-being
provided, Captain George II. Hossefross
and eighty-three OF his men went up with
the ''Deluge." their big engine. now known
as the Exempt Leaving here at 3:15
o'clock in the afternoon, they arrived at the
capital city at quarter TO II O'Clock.
Although the f:e was checked when they
arrived, the engine was put to work ard
did good service. OF course they were roy
ally treated after the fire by the Sacramen 10
firemen and citizens, and were accorded a
hearty welcome on their arrival home, being
escorted 10y Howard No. 3, Vigilant No. 9
ana PennSYlYafia No. II.
AN INCIDENT OF THE FIRE.
The State Journal in abiding to the in
cidents of that fire said: when the fire
threatened the Courthouse with destrue-
ton the Governor, who was present and
who lad been working from the commence
ment OF the fire wherever Sacramento
needed soldier, asked those present to as
sist him in saving the furniture. To this
many objected on the ground that private
parties who could not suffer the loss as well
as the county needed their services. A
full-length portrait Of Washington was
standing against the southern wall, and,
pointing to il the Governor said: See.
country; will you permit il to be destroyed? p
Then general rush was made for he por-
trait and it was saved
WELCOME GUEST.
=. p. Pulls, the New York veteran who
was recently here. was quite an interesting
historian Of the ola times in New York, and
pleased the vets greatly by his remnis-
ences. He said the New York vets would
visit New Orleans this month to be gone
nine days, and be was pleased that the visit
Of the New York vets 10 San Francisco in
1887 had called into existence the flourish
ing vets society here. In all cities in the
East similar societies have sprung up like
mushrooms. The grizzled members enjoy
the reunions immensely and are enthusi-
astic.
p. A. O'Bricn. who was lively fire-eater
in the old department, was foreman of Cal
ifornia No. 4, and in the present department
was for many years foreman of engine 3
when it was located on Suffer street, near
Jones.
PARSONS BRAVE DEED.
Daniel w. Payson Of Vigilant No. 9, in 1855,
at the risk of his life, rushed into frame
building, which was entirely enveloped In
flames, and saved from a dreadful death an
Infant that was quietly lying in its cradle.
An old veteran of Big has paper which
gives an interesting sketch of the Baltimore
Department from 1868 to 1872. Each men,
Der at one time was furnished at the COM
pany'S expense with two firebuckets and a
bag 10 hold small articles saved from fire.
These were required at every fire. The
buckets were required 10 fill the engine in
the absence of hose. Three members were
appointed to stand al the door OF every
burning binding as a property guard.
Fines for non-attendance to duty ranged
from pence to shillings aud pence
John Dnkehart was Chief forty-six years.
SAM BRANNAy's GIFT.
The silver-plated engine presented to
Howard No. 3 by Sam Brannan cost SlI. 500.
She was exhibited IN the New York CRYSTAL
Palace before she was shipped out here.
Chief Crowley was al one time first as
sistant foreman of Pacific No. S, whose old
house is now nsed by Hose /.
A vet. who came from Cape Cod, contends
that the department there consisted al one
.time OF two big washtubs. eight pals and
big syringe, and that they never let a fire
get aWay from them. neither