The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-31

grafton.
The Chlet"-few people ever call him
anything else-ls a native of New York,
where he was born on January 81, 1920, and
where he lived until 1876 In fact. he holds
now certificate Of the New York Fire De-
partment for his services in its volunteer
CORPS.
David Scannell was as good a soldier as
he was fireman. Leaving New York with
the First Volunteers of that State. he
served through the Mexican War, first as
Lieutenant and retiring finally as captain.
1t vas not until 1851 that he came to Cali
fornia on the steamer Gold Hunter. arriv-
ing here in time tO take an active part III
fighting the great fire of May 4, when the
young city was nearly all consumed.
He was appointed Custom-house dray-
man by Mayor X. p. Hammond, who for
years was one Of the Police Commissioners
OF this city, and who, until his death, held
David Scaunell up as model Of public
servants.
Subsequently David ScanneT served as
Under Sheriff with Sheriff Gorham. Those
were the turbulent days or 1855, when the
young New Yorker made such record for
bravery and grit that the people made him
Sheriff, then the chief and most important
office in their gift. He was the first Sheriff
under the consolidation act
In the meantime, ike every law-abidng
young man who had made the new FL Do
RADIO his home, David Scannell Joined the
Fire Department. There was no money in it
nothing but danger and hard butts. He be-
came member Of Empire Engine Company
No. /, of which David c. Broderiek was
foreman, aud which, after the latter's
death, became Bro1erick No. l.
In 1860 David Scannell was elected Chief
Engineer of the Volunteer Department and
was unanimously reelected in 1868. He
held the office for three years. when the
paid department relieved the volunteers.
In 1862 w. W. Lent Eugene Sullivan R
NJ .IpSsun md NJ Nj Chairman
TO send a regiment of 1000 men to the war,
ana David Scannell was named as colonel.
General Wright, in charge Of this depart
ment, said tine State could not spare the
men ana our old Chief was unable to add
sanguinary record TO the glorious one Of
relief he had achieved
On April 4. 1871. David Scannell was
elected Chief Of the paid department TO
succeed Charles IL. Ackerson, and be has
held that position until this date, making
continuous story of self-sacritice, DAY and
night, saving human life and property with
perfect disregard of his own welfare, and
endearing himself with every individual of
this city and county. over whom he has
been faithful and conscientious guard ian.
He has labOred hard to bring the depart
ment up 20 its present state of efficiency,
and in battling the flames ne has shown
skill and bravery that could not be sur
passed In bloOdier fields by soldiers VIII ose
names are now handed down in history.
AmHuE OCGHHtll ) most intimate IliP0QS
was the late Harry H. Byrne, who was
District Attorney of San Francisco. As to
his early career in this city it is said that
David Scannell was styled the first reA
dude" 1t las been stated of him that in
the early tifties, when boiled" shirts were
scarce, he always kept a number of them
on hand, and that il was his practice to
promenade the principal street every fore
noon in Immaculate shirt-front and peg-top
trousers. with boutonniere in his coat
lapel. Although a young fireman, and a
most faithful worker around the engine
house, lie was also most fastidious in his
tastes, aud always found little spare time
to exhibit himself In his best attire. A
boutonniere was his hobby and he always
wore gloves when he was young man.
He even affected the light oveTcoat in those
days and when he was on the street in his
fashionable garb he presented most at
tractiVe aud handsome appearance, for be
was a very tine-lOOking man. In the after
noon he could generally be found around
the engine -house, dressed in q red wooden
shirt and looking every inch the sturdy fire.
man he was. He was man of exemplary
habits, but was, nevertheless, coDvivial,
and always ready for good time. He was
bachelor TO the backbone, was never in
having a sweetheart He was man among
men and that tells the story of his life in
nutshell.
Twelve years ago. on his sixty-frst BIRTH
day, reporter had the following interview
with him:
"Good-morning, Chief; just dropped in 10
congratulate you on your birthday"
Same to you. Birthday. whose birthday?
Who gave you that steer? What's the day
of the month"; Tue 31st, why, God bless
me, this is my birthday, and l am 81 years
old; but. don't give 1t away or the girls will
all 60 back on me. wouldn't be a bit sur
prised If We had a big smoke some where
Today and got my neck br0ke?"
Chief. will you give me some of your
"reminiscences Of the department."
We'll, l have plenty OF "reminiscences, but
L have forgotten blamed pretty near all of
them. You see l have been with the de-
pRrtment, more OF less, for thirty years.
having joined In 1851. In those days we
had eight engines and two trucks. Let's
see. There was Empire J. Lady Washing
ton 2. Howard g. CALIFORNIA; i. Knlckerbocker
.. ana the MoDumpntals ran 6, and out
OF the house on Portsmouth square. David
Z. Broderck was the first foreman of En-
plre J. but every man of us considered
himself Chief. The alarm used TO be sent
out by MonumeDtal's bell. and also by Cali
fornia's bell. A Characteristic of the
early department was the class OF men
composing it; the very best class of our
citizens being fremen-merchants and
bankers being as enthusiastic frenen as
adventures and gOld-seekers. You see it
had to be so. A fire in those days would
have been almost national calamity and
every one would have suffered. In 1860
after being foreman of Empire engine for
eight years, was elected Chief for three
years, and In 1868 / was re-elec ed without
opposition. 1t was still volunteer depart
ment; but when the paid department came
in 1866 l went out. / was opposed to such an
organization because did not think it was
a success and because | would not work
against the boys IN the volunteer depart
II MT. then experienced sort OF hide
aud-seek' 'tn-and-our game for some
years. | was out until II, during which
time Frank Whitney and Charley Acker-
man had command. When | went in again
| emained liz until 1873, when the Leeisla.
ture changed the Fire Commission and |
was an out, and Whitney was Chief until
the next election. In December, '73 | was
once more put in charge, but Whitney dis
puted my right. and a lawsuit resulted in
my favor, and l got pay for several months
of Whitney's work. Since then have re-
manned in command as Chief"
"Chief / suppose some Of our prominent
citizens of to-day we're active Gremen when
You first met thcm?
Yes, nearly every one of them. Even If
he was II OF a fireman, the good citizen would
come and take hand at tbs pumps. l re-
member as enthusiastic fremen the late
William S. OBrien, who was foreman Of
California No. 4; George L. BOhen, now in
the insurance business, used to run with
MonumentaIs No. 6; William I. Coleman
Sansome Hook and Ladder Truck; Con.
O'Connor and Captain Lees ran with Cali
fornia No. A. Commissioner Ned Cotter and
Captain Douglass with Empire No. l, Cap
tain Short was foreman of Vigilance No. 9.
AS said. every one in those days was
fireman, and they didn't sit on bucket or
Tool around with their hands IN their
pockets, either"
Il suppose yon have seen some pretty big
fires in this city?"
Rather. A score or more; but they have
all been written up again and again, and l
could not tell anything new about Them.
The worst ] remember were the May and
June fires in '5l, when half the place went
down and the loss was in the millions"
GU have been hurt at fires once or twice.
have you not?"
= "Once or twicel If cat has nine lives
have something like a dozen. have had
my arms broken four times, NV ribs SIN ashed
three times and my collar-bone aud leg
broken. Ny body is covered from bead to
heels with scars, clumps and bruises, and 1
w ll,r l. asxnV ~