The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-28
HOOK AND LADDER CO.
Members of Old No. / Are in a Per-
picking Quandary.
WANT TO DO SOMETHING
But Just What to Do and How to
Do 1t Was Discussed Last
Night With the Result That
Nothing Was Done.

Last evening was the regular meet
ing night for Hook and Ladder COM
pany No. / of the ex-city fire depart
ment. The members who turned out
were G. S. Z. Wisner. w. A. Collins,
Gus B. English, Joseph Lepke, ]. w.
Smith, Henry Plaas and Joseph Mar
oney.
None of the regular officers of the
company were present, and q. S. f.
Wisner was chosen chairman of the
meeting and Joseph Lepke consented
to act as secretary. The meeting was
entirely informal and partook of the
nature of a council of war rather than
a business session. Mr.. Wisner stated
the situation in which the company
was placed, and urged that the hook
and ladder team take immediate and
independent action in the premises
without reference to the action which
the Phoenix Hose company No. l or
the department might take. He sug-
gested the formation of a club to con-
tinue the organization, which he said
contained the flower of the department
The hook and ladder crew was the
only reliable department, and he said
manw things not complimentary 20 the
Phoenix hose team. which he said was
not up to the standard of membership,
as held by the H. and L. company.
Joseph Lepke, who is president of
the ex-fire department, said that here
tofore he. had not favored fully The
idea of Withdrawing from the services
of the city, and personally had re-
sponded to all alarms which lie had
heard But since the present state of
affairs had arisen he favored imme-
date action and withdrawal.
This was the only thing that could
be done according to j. w. Smiths
ideas, and he made a MORTON to that
effect, which was perfunctorily put and
carried. The secretary was instruct
ed to notify the chief of their action.
When this had been done the seven
were in quandary as to what should
be done next. The blow was as I'M
satisfactory as a smash at a windmill,
because there is already another de-
partment in existence, fully organized
and capable Of handling the ire apar-
atus. 1t was like the resignation of a
man who has received notice tc quit.
Another idea was sprung by one of
the members, who suggested that
the names of all those who had Joined
the new department be stricken from
the roll of members of the old hook and
ladder company, because they could
not perforce belong to two companies
at the same time This blow also fell
short because those men had practi-
cally already withdrawn from the old
organization.
Inc question OF the ownership OF the
truck, which is claimed by the hook
and ladder company, was then dis
cussed, and the ACCESSIBILITY of getting
possession of it considered. Some were
of the opinion that the men who sub
scribed the money to buy the truck
gave it to the old company, and that it
has always been regarded as company
property. They thought that ex-Chief
John Iseman, who is now in Alaska,
has a bill of sale of 1T, but no one has
been able to get Iseman's address. The
idea prevailed that if a show of title
could be made the company should Sc
cure the truck. Some were for donat-
ing the claim of the company, whatever
it might be, to the city.
A committee consisting of Gus En-
glish, Joseph Lepke and G. S. E. Wis
ner was appointed to act as custodians
and to collect the property of the hook
and ladder company.
The discussion of ways and means
was protracted, and nothing further of
definite action was decided upon ex-
cept that most of the members of the
old hook and ladder company would |
pay poll tax this year.
Tonight is the regular meeting night /,
for the ex-fire department, which will |
probably assemble in Matte block hall. |
where the last meeting was held.
Whatever course may be taken, the
effort will be as ineffective as was that
of last night, for their occupations
gone. The trophies are still in the
hands Of the individuals who carried
them away when the old department
summarily vacated the fire house, and
some action may be taken to concen-
trate them. though at present the libra
ry trophies and pictures are scattered
in all parts of the city in the possess |
sion of the members who carried them !
away.