The morning call., 1892-01-18
VETS ELECTION.
An Old Vamp Reviews Pleasant
RecOlIectiOns.
Turning the Pages Of HistOry-ConspicUous
Figures at the Polls-scanneps Career.
How the Machine Was Run.

daring deeds of the past. A surprising
number of them were on hand from Vallejo,
Oakland, Alameda, and Other interior sec
tions-"Just come down. you know. to vote
and see the boys" was the way one ex-
pressed it.
Captain John Short, the old foreman of
Vigilant 9, was there, lively as ever. Will
lam Duffy, the Vallejo ire-eXtinguisher.
just got in on the last train, which Cots
chalk, who was to come on, missed. Marys-
ville's old fire chief, CAPTAIN Sheppard, was
full cf interest. Chris bunker, w. }. Har-
rlngton, F. K. Krau;h and Henry Kohn, the
su rvivOrs Of Rlncon Hose 6, were quartet
in them selves. Columbian II was heard
Of in A. A. Louderback, Sam Davis, Abe
Fr0mberg and John c. Roberts, the latter
being the late President of the Vets.
William Valentine, ex-AsSistant Engineer
OF Alameda. Nas q reminder Of Howard 3;
c. j. Gilbert, once First Assistant Of Gull
foTuia J. did not miss the TOll-cal; that
K niCkerbOcker was ever alive" was dis
played by the activity of Steve Bonner, As
siStant Engineer George W. hennard and
Charles Mcmahon; Monumental 6, that
always had IDLY set OF bricks, had ut
reason to feel proud in seeing Henry Lin
thai, the popular Secretary, re elected.
William Bushman thought so. Henry Kos
camp came from South San Francisco so
that the independence Hooks should not be
forgotten, that company whose motto ever
was, Were for service and not for show ="
Tom Sawyer Jr., the eX-Secretary, told OF
Berkeley's gigantic strides IN fire prOtec-
tion. George Pidgeon did not fail 10 tell
Of the days when he was fireman In PhlI-
adelphia. Volunteer rs old boys were de-
lighted in the election for a fifth term as
President OF their old c0mTade on the
brakes, John Fay.
A VETS PREDICTION.
The ex-Chiefs of San Diego, Messrs.
Mumford and Mcdowell, predicted they
would have their white hats out in Chicago.
Thomas Cavanagh felt as If old was again
on deck. Captain John Duane. the sturdy
old Veteran Of Manhattan =, narrated the
fist battle Gin the ffties." William G.. Il.
Smith, the b stonian, Frisco and san MateO
fre-eateT, fairy hypuotlzed the Crescents,
Pacfcs ard Eureka yamps. Thomas Saw
year ST.. like true vamp, accepted the re-
suit with good grace and, as when he ran
with Liberty Hose. viii ever be found On
the rope w. q. OHaTa was lively. Big
John {. Carroll looked as young as when
he ran with Washington Hose. Br0derlck
! was not behind, as {. Martin, the Hack
Inspector was there. (. A. Will, the new
Treasurer, was In high glee; SO was Gus
Wade. Senator j. ii. MaEOny sWeied with
pride at being called First Vice"
The Vets" will install their officers on
Tuesday evening, after which a banquet
Will take place. 1hey will 60 to Chicago
next year, and will be Joined by the Port
land veterans. 1t is eXI ected that 4 big
crowd of Ted-shrts will be in line at the
proper time. One Of the solid results Of
election was a little squirt IN the dlrec-
tion Of the treasury, nearly $500 bing paid in.
Fred K. Krauth, the veteran Chief Engi-
ne T OF tie Alameda Fire Department. a
position he has held for many years. was in
the city last tn esday. His department can
boast Of a chemical engine, aud keeps pace
with the times. There will be an election
for Chief and assistants next month, but
krauth will have no opposition for re-
election.
VaIlejo's old Fire Chief, William McGin,
noted years ago for his mastery skill in
handling ire tournaments, tie pride OF Va
llelJ hTemen, was ln the city on tuesday
and voted at the Vets election in the even
ing lie wanted TO have the Vets again
visit Vallejo as they did two years ago.
ONLY FEW OF Us LEFT.
Elburton LawtoU. an old fireman, fore
man # No. hose, was over from Oakland
He looked at an old picture Of the Board Of
F0renen, but of his old associates only
John J. MahOny Of No. 3 engine, James
l. l. ~ " -
are now doing duty.
ohm Comsteck has been attached to the
fire patrol since IL went INTO existence in
1915 and has been Lieutenant in charge Of
Patrol for many yeaTs-eYer since 1t was
organized. He is a city boy, and got his
first schooling both in books and fireman.
ship here. tie is cool, brave and admires
the service he is engaged in.
1.-the Sons Of EXempts is still increasing in
mem beTshiD.
Contests for seats In the Fire Commission
have been numerous. In December, 1872,
Martin Bulger refused to surrender his scat
to John Z. Merrill. The Legislature took
away the power Of appointing q Fire Com
missioner and vested II with the Under
writer's, who appointed Merrill. Bulger's
main objection was that the law did not
specify what Board Of Underwriters the
fire OF marine board, should appoint After
five months delay the Supreme Court seated
Merrill. In 1873 Merrill, who was in EurOpe
resigned, and the Underwriters appointed G..
r. Story TO succeed him, while +. Flaherty
was appointed by the Supervisors. The
latter claimed that the law specified that
they should fill ell vacancies for uneXpircd
terms, while the former claimed as the
original appointing power they had a light
to fill vacancy in the Office of their ap-
pointee. Story got out writ on the Fire
Commissioners 10 show cause why he
should not be admitted to his seat He
acted rs q Fire Commissioner till March,
1874, when the new board recognized
FiaheTty. subsequently the appointing
power WAS taken by the Legislature and
given 10 the people.
LAW AND POLITICS.
In December, 1881, the outgoing Board OF
Supervisors elected John Mason and Fred
Siebe, while the new board appointed J. B.
+. Davis and John &. Smith. The former
were admitted to seats in the board, while
the latter went to the courts. The contest
Of PaTson and Clark against Edwards and
Mahoney is well known, the former being
victorious in the Superior Court after being
several months In litigation. The recent
case Of DAILY and PToll against Martin and
Parson is now pending in Department 6.
Ex-Fire Commissioner and ex-Supervsor
Charles b. Edwards. who died few months
ago In this city, flied the unexpired term Of
John Rosenfeld, resigned, and was elected
for full term, defeating ID. L. Beck.
General Ii. A. Cobb. the we'll known real
estate man, was very active fireman ''in
the hftles," serving as foreman Of Lafay-
cite, No. 2.
William Alvord. the President Of the
Bank OF California, was, in the fftes, an
active fireman Of Pennsylvania, No. II,
and is now member Of the Exempt Fire
Company.
Detective !. w. Lees was foreman Of Cal
The late w. S. O'Brien, ex- Chief .Ackersou,
j. W. Farren and p. A. O'BTien afterward
held the Office. Con OCOnnor, Marcus ID.
Boruck, Adam T. Grant and T. w. Bren-
nan we're also members Of the company.
Thomas Murray lost his life while in the
discharge Of his duty as fireman at fire on
First street in January, 1865. The Assist
ant Aldermen, with the concurrence of the
Aldermen, authorized the expenditure Of
$500 in erecting q suitable monument over
his remains
CHIEF sCANNELL's CAREER.
On June 4, 1885, Chief Scannell first came
prominently to the front in the Volunteer
Fire Department by being elected foreman
OF Empire Engine Company, No. ], the
name of which was afterward changed to
"Broderick," in honor OF its first foreman,
David G. Broderick, the United States Sem
etor who was killed in duel by David S.
Terry. The Chief. before his arrival here,
was member OF Knickerbocker of New
York. Besides being a fireman he is a
Mexican war veteran. On Decembsr 10