The morning call., 1892-11-05


Young America No. 13 and the Tiger M ID
These names bring back host of old
time recollections to men who lived here in
the early days. Not one of these companies
but has its recolleetions and "reminiscences
OF bravery and daring and dangers hanging
about it.
Many Of the old volunteers are now In the
paid department.; all were entitled to join
who had been enrolled on the volunteer
books for thirty days
The closing scenes OF the old volunteer
fire days were those of bitterness, many pro-
testing loudly and stoutly against the new
order OF things. They felt it took the honor
away when the firemen were to be paid for
their services.
But eventually even its bitterest foes took
kindly to the paid fire department, and since
its inception IL has been always OF increas-
Ing efficiency.
Its history has been the History Of prog
ress. The paid department began with but
six fre-eDgines. Now there are eighteen.
The introduction of the Hayes ladder
marked considerable epoch in its progress
Daniel ID. Hayes. fireman employed in the
corporation yard, invented this useful appl-
ance, which is now in general use all over
the country.
sprung in to existence. the chemical engines
have appeared, the Siamese twins and the
triple muZzle have been invented.
The Siamese twins were-it is no longer
kind of nozzle that could be fed by two
different lines of hose. 1t was replaced by
the triple nozzle, which is fed by thee
lines of hose. This throws a powerful
stream that will demolish an ordinary
frame building.
Yes, the Fire Department has progressed,
despite the reluctance of supervisorial
boards TO vote sufficient moneys for this
important branch of the public service, and
despite many, many hindrances-despi
rotten and leaky hose, despite imperfect
engines and badly made contriyances-
despite 1t all the department has grown and
grown till il is like strong man to-day,
ready and waiting TO cope with the enemy
in whatever guise 1t may appear and conf
dent of It's ability to win a short, sharp vie
tory al no matter how great a cost
And sometimes the cost Is great. The
records show that, as instance this excerpt
from Chief Scannelrs report of 1895:
October S-Station 81. Time, 2:0S A. NJ.
Fire in the large Crocker building Fire
had commenced in the basement and had
been burning some time before the alarm
was sent IN. Two noble and brave
fremen - Martin Hannah and Peter F.
Healey, of Engine Company 4-lost their
lives in the discharge OF their duty. and
several other firemen were injured by the
falling in Of the first floor"
It's brief, isn't it? Yes; too brief Ii
doesn't tell the story at all. Hannah and
Healey knew there was great danger in
their positions IN the basement but they
val fhaF al 20
tup ate inasmuch as Ii enabled them 10 do
greater service in quenching the flames than
could be done elsewhere.
So they staid.
Without warning the floors fell upon
them and buried them.
And the citizens realizing their wondrous
bravery and sad fate. raised a fund of
! $4,000 for the benefit of their dependent
| relatives, but it couldn't bring Hannah and
| Healey back TO life. and ii didn't save the
| life OF many another brave fireman who has
stuck by his post of duty till death relieved
| him.
| Yes; call your fremen ward politicians ali q
call them what you will. but when the call
TO duty comes they are not found skulking
and when dangers threaten they are bravest.
here's another excerpt from Chief Sean
nelPs report:
April 3, 1885 Three-story brick building
at the corner OF Sacramento and Dupont
streets. Tie top floors were occupied by
Chinese lOdgers, who became panic stricken
and helpless at the sight of flames below
But for the promptness and bravery
displayed by the truckmen number Of
| lives would have been lost
'Truckmen," the report calls them. Such
bravery is so common with the department
that the Chief thinks it superfuous to even
mention the names OF the rescuers, many of
whom, as every one remembers who remem-
bers the occurrence, risked their own lives
to save the lives of pack of Cinnamon.
Yes. San Francisco has reason to be
| proud Of her brave fremen and her efficient
| fire department
They have been tried-both the depart
ment as whole and the men in it-eyery
man Of them. They have been tried and
| found not wanting.