The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-09-10
FIRE FIGHTERS OF OTHER DAYS.
Some of the Visiting Veterans
Talk Shop.
They Tell About the Great Con-
fagrations of Old.
How They Subdued tho Elements with
Water Played Through Hun
dreds of Feet
of Hose,

II ali the Veteran Firemen now in this
city could, in turn, be induced to tel
their experiences at fighting fires in the
old days of San Francisco, what book
il would make
Stored in their memories are scenes and
incidents "a thrilling as ever were told
in story or song or sermon. Each mind
among them ia veritable storehouse OF
interesting things about the great con-
hagrations of the old days.
Last night a reporter OF the HERALD
approached Chief Burns and requested
that he tell some stories of the early
fires. Colonel Burns is that tremendous
man who marched on Saturday in front
of the San Francisco band, with the
baton in his hand and his bre asst all en-
crusted with medals.
well, you'll have to ask some one
else, my young friend" ne said, 'for
my memory ia poor, but III tell you
something. | was down to this CITY OF
yours in tho year 1852 and stopped at
the old Bella Union hotel. | see it's
gone now. And | notice some other
changes, too" and the giants eyes
twinkled.
II rode back from this town to San
Francisco in etage coach when every
mile would jolt the buttons off my
clothes. The horses we used were
little high spirited. The driver would
mount the box before the horses were
hitched on. One man would have hold
of the head of each horse, and when
they were hooked ON and ready the
driver would grab the lines, yell at the
men to let 60 aud the horses would
jump into run and keep it up
until we reached the next station,
where they were changed. Pm pretty
tough but We struck hog ranch up in
the San Josquin where | actually got
sea sick riding over the hog wallows in
the road. I'll get man who'll tell
you about the fires. He was there"
Then he introduced the reporter to Steve
Bonner and e. B. Vreeland Mr.. Vree-
land is secretary of the association and
was foreman of No. In the old days.
Two more magnificent specimens of
physical manhood could hardly be found
than those two. and bigger-hearted,
kindlier men never were discovered. To-
getier they told of the big free.
"The first big fire was in '56 and 1t
was that fire which started the volun-
teer department. There were big fires
right along then one q year for four
years. The fires in '51 and $50 almost
wiped the town out. After the fire OF
'52 lumber went up to $500 thousand
feet. all these fires were in the eastern
part OF town, down below Kearney and
Montgomery streets.
''0n the Fourthsof July, 49, fire
started which nearly devastated the
city. Another big fire was the Metro
poltan theater fire. Then the burning
OF the Razette house made pretty big
blaze.
'Dr. Scott's church, which stood near
where the mechanics library now is,
made good fire. In '57 there was
great fire on the water front which ex-
tended from Broadway and Davis down
to Vallejo, and up as far as Clay.
ION Sunday in 1862 fire broke out
on Market and East streets and burnt
to Clay. Two people were lost in this.
and the volunteers got their bodies and
took them into building on Sansome
street.
In '64 all the district around Pacific
and jackson streets was burned over.
All tuOso Illus WeEo Ahnuleu ny Tue
volunteers. 1t was very dangerous
business. The houses were all on poles
Only hand engines were used, and water
had to be taken from the bay.
"Aiter while we had cisterns put at
the street corners, but they had habit
of geing dry juet as we were getting the
upper hand of fire and we had lots of
trouble that way.
Zone time when there was O fire on
Taylor street, near Bueh, we played
through 1900 and over fest of hose clear
from Stockton street. No. IL took the
water from cistern, passed it through
500 feet of hosa to No. 6, which passed it
to No. 5, and No. passed it to No. 8
which played it on the blaze. That
water seemed to be pretty nearly rubbed
dry before it get on that fire.
'The frat steamer WAS brought to San
Francisco by Peter Donshue, but it was
O great unwieldy thing and had to be
abandoned. Then No. 6 brought out
rotary steam engine and shortly after
No. II imported plunger pump engine.
The rivalry between the TWO companies
was very bitter alter that.
"The first time that we got an alarm
over the electric syHtem in San Franz
cisco it came from box AZ, but all the
veterans thought 1t was from box III and
rushed up in front of the city hall.
Chief Scannell was there. We asked
him where the fire was? Damned if
know he said. Then he yelled up to
the clerk upstairs: Where's that fire p
The clerk told him. Then he yelled
out to us: What are you damned
fools doing here? get out whore that
fire iep
SIT was United States Senator Broder-
lick who organized Empire Company No.
/. Terry killed him. you remember.
| The department has contained men in
| oil walks of life and men who have held
every position under the government
except that of president. There were
senators, hod carriers, bank presidents,
scnooI masters, saloon keepers. and tn ey
were oil good men and what's left OF
them are yet-but you can judge that
for yourself"