The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-09-21

Captain. Jacob Siewers, Ist lieuten.
ant, Francis Fries; End lieutenant
Lewis Belo; lst engineer, Nath Vog.
Ter; End engineer, Henry Reede; Bro
engineer, Lewis Eberhard; secretary
and treasurer, Chas Brietz.
The latter is the only one of the
seven officers elected fifty years ago
Friday evening that is yet alive.
Ihis company was chartered in 1913
and the officers soon after received
their commissions.
The engine house in those days
stood On the west side of the Salem
| square opposite the old postoffice. In
under the roof of which were kept the
hooks and ladders belonging to the
company.
According to the old rules, the
company had to drill at least two
hours every three months and conSe-
quently the square became the muster
grounds of the company, the test be-
| ing the star on the church steeple.
When this was attained the engines
capable of doing full duty. After
the new engine was bought the old
one was placed in house on
Shallowford street convenient to the
old cotton factory, and this place
| likewise became favorite drilling
| ground.
| No doubt some who are present to-
night will remember the fatiguing
| runs made in those days to beat the
hose carriage or the s'bucket men, to
the scene of the trial. At the fac
| tory the capacity of the old engine was
| tested with the newer one.
| The other favorite places of trial
were the old Salem Hotel, the Broth
er,s House and the Potter's garden.
| In those days, as well as at the
present time, Fire Company Day
| the boys, and many shower bath
was hilariously taken by the boys
| for fun's sake.
After two years of hard practicing
| and great deal of court-martialing.
| the efforts of members were rewarded
| by the excitement Of their first fire
| which occurred at $50 O'Clock Satur-
day evening, April 9th, 1915, at the
| Siewer'S cabinet shop.
That the company did its part well
is shown by the small burnt place in
the Notwithstanding on the south
| west corner of the building. The
| greatest damage at this fire resulted
| to the engine by sand being dipped up
out of the branch with the water and
| getting into the pumps.
The next fire occurred Wednesday
night, April -, 1853, at 10 o'clock.
From a copy of the Peoples Press,
( dated Saturday, April 18th, 1853, we
| take the following: s'On Wednesday
night about 10 o'rlOck, fire was dis
| covered on the premises of Mr.. Foltz,
in an clubhouse distant OILY d few
/ steps from the dwelling house, which
| was fortunately subdued without do
ing much damage, excepting the de-
/ struction of the building in which the
| fire originated and the dairy. The
| dwelling house was in imminent dam
| ger. The family having retired for
the night, signs of the fire were first
noticed at Zeverly's Hotel, aud the
alarm immediateLy given, when a
aroused from their slumbers -prompt-
| ly repaired to the scene with the en-
| CINE, and fortunately aided by the en-
| tire calm which prevailed, succeeded
| in extinguishing the devouring ele-
| ment. The origin of the fire was &C.
cidental, and discovered just in the
nick of time to save the dwelling"
The engine while on it's way to the
| fire was stopped at the cistern in
! front of the Salem hotel to be filled,
so that upon it's arrival at the place it
could at once be put to work. For
| some reason or other, the engine was
| allowed to suffer for water until the
command of ''old" DR.. Keehln set
| right: Form line Brethren! form
a line. Empty buckets to be passed it
| by the sisters and girls, and the full
buckets by the men and boys. When
my well gets empty go to Tim Vo-
gler's, and when Tim Yogler's gets
empty go to Waggoman'sr'
On April 22d, 1854, the fire company
| appeared on drill for the first time in
| uniform which consisted of wide
| brimmed oil-cloth hat and an oil cloth
| cape. This uniform continued in use
until the company was disbanded in
1861, and we are told that one of the
sold boys" marched bravely into bat
tie with the full assurance, that that
which had protected him from water
| would certainly be shield to him I'M
| der fire. Whether or not oil cloth
proof against Yankee bullets, one
thing is sure, our friend Snider came
| home safe and sound.
On April 14th, 1855, the company
| drilled for the first time with their
new four-wheel hose carriage. This
carriage remained in use about &c
| years and is now likewise doing duty
| in BethalIia.
In 1859 it became evident that a
new engine was needed, as the old i'm
| ported one wa9 about worn out by
hard practice, and the Vigilant engine
was not enough to protect the town
and its growing industries. On De-
cember 10th the new engine was
tested for the first time and worked
admirably. This engine was the first
suction engine in town and could
throw two streams.
1t was purchased in Baltimore
where it was known as the Watch
man." 1t is now generally known as
l
chased by MeSSrs. f. & III. Fries and
the town commissioners together. Ii
is the original Trough s. Ready en-
CINE, so called from the picture OF
GenI. Zachary Taylor which used tC
be upon it. This engine was always
station ed at the sWool Factory" and
was used in 1884.
On June 9th, 1861, the company, in
view of a recent act passed by the
Legislature. that all males between
Is and 45 years of age must attend
house for the purpose of considering
the situation as they did not wish t.
do double duty.
After thorough discussion it wal
decided to turn the fire apparatu
over to the town commissioners. Thi:
was the end of the Vigilant Company
1t had been in existence eighteen
years and had done its duty at fou
fires.
On Saturday, December 23rd, 1861
at 6 O'Clock in the evening, the ga
! caught on fire and was not extin
guiShed until almost all of the Woo
work was consumed.
On July 1St, 1854, there was anothe
fire. At o'clock in the afternoon tn,
/ dwelling house of the late Mr.. Henri
Shaffner caught fire an was great