davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-13

The czar OF Russia owns single estate
that Is lo0,0oO,OCO acres in extent, and is
saic to be the largest in the world.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-13

Admiral United States navy. was born
in Greenfield. Mass. Feb. q. 1884, en-
tered the navy as midshipman Oct. 1,
1850, was commissioned as lieutenant
in 1858, ieutenant-commander in 1862,
commander in 1869, and rose to the
rank of admiral In 1893
He did great work in capturing slaves
during 1881. Served with distinction
during the civil war, at Charleston, S.
c., and at Mobile, Ala
He is now in command of the ASH
attic squadron.
Admiral Carpenter will shortly be re-
tired.
Rusktn Is very fond of gems and us11-
ally carries a number of diamonds loose
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-19

carried out. On Sept %, 1857. the new
company Resolved, That the engine
OF the company be painted lead colorso
that the company may have it before
the close Of navigation" They didn't
want to wait for frills and gliding. The
engine arrived before the close of nav
igation-the following year. Meanwhile
the Hope boys played
M'CLOUD'S PIANO BOX
and did the best they could The COM
pany rented a building on Franklin
street, near Fourth, for an engine house
and held its first meeting there Dec.
30, 1857. From then on the membership
of the company grew rapidly and the
following additions were made to it's
roll in a short time: NJ H Sullivan,
John G. Renshaw, Luther H. Eddy,
George w. Dart. ]. B. Irvine, L. Dodge,
P. O'Brien, Calvin S. Uline, T. German,
George Gruber, George Benz, Henry
Orlemann, James Franklin, E. II. Hal
sted, William Ellspar, William Christie,
c. T. Jung, j. G. Trott, I. V. D. Heard,
J. W. German, G. H. Parker, S. r.
Morehead, J. c. Becht, M. Harris, P S.
Mcdonald, John II. Wiley, j. B. Croft,
M. e. Waldron, II. f. MaSterson, John
Winters, Richard Slater, Henry Smith,
r. A. Kemp. John Cody, C. T. wager,
E. S. Beck, H. J. Taylor, T. L. WEIGH,
Abram Baker, John w. Roche, J. L.
Farwell, j. E. Pickering, William Giles,
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-19

early membership Of the company, in
addition to those already named in
cluded the following gentlemen: G.. H
Williams, II. E. Buel, c. D. Elfelt.
Richard Galloway, Philip Ross, ]. r.
jerks, Edward Heenan, George l..
Becker, Harry Pearson, r. W. Nc
Cloud, John Cody, T. milestone 3.
Rodeck, William Van Hamm, B. Muller,
F. Kiefer, Joseph M. Marshall, Joseph
Spiel, R. H: Fitz, George F. Blake,
William Golcher, N. Coyle. William
Oliver, r. c. Knox, John w. Crosby,
Fred Forester. A. Kuby, A. B. Bracket.
Joseph Hall, William II. Wolff, George
w. Moore, A. N. Jung, r. Marshall,
William F. Mason, D. D. Cameron, E.
Cramsie, A. J. Whitman, Walter S..
BARLEY, Henry Breidert, c. Franck, J.
Whitman. B. Schoenemann, J. J. Beau
mont I. Soens, J. l.. Forepaugh, S. Lee
Davis, F. Theobald, w. Fohr, P Bork,
P. Burch, P. Dancer, J. Haggenmiller,
F. Thorn, D. H. McCloud, J. TT. Mat
thews, J. Lunkenheimer, J. Hinkel, F.
Jansen, ]. Schmitt, J. Kliner, r. Grieb-
Ter, A. Roedler, w. Helfmann M Auer-
bach, G. Sachse, Charles Scheffer. P J
Dreis, and others.
The Pioneer Hook and Ladder COM
pany has from its inception until it's
DISARMAMENT upon the establishment of
the present pay department, been noted
for its great efficiency. It has had in
the course Of its long career some Of the
most prominent citizens among it's
members; has furnished mayors to the
city and chief engineers to the fire de-
partment. 1t has ever done woman
service at fires and been the feature
of many civic parade. 1t very soon
became the especial favorite Of our
German fellow citizens and always car
ried a goodly complement of that ma
tionalfty on its rolls. 1t was the
nucleus about which grew the magni-
ficent volunteer fire department of st.
Paul, which was the pride of the city
for SO many years. Tt Is only the want
Of sufficient space here that prevents
the publication Of its full roll of mem
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-19
OF ST. PAUL.

fire and broke up the assembly, which,
In the language of that day, suddenly
dispersed to see the confiagraticn."
Nevertheless something was accom-
the leaders in it, r. c. Knox, circulated
a subscription paper among the citi-
zens for funds to
BUY A HOOK AND LADDER
outfit. The amount realized was S344,
and the ladders were bought. They
were made by Capt Dart, now of the
West side. They proved to be heavy,
cumbersome affairs, and as there was
I no truck for transporting them, they
had to be carried on shoulders, and
soon fell into disuse. Pressing pass
ing teams into service for their car
rage was tried, but the experience was
not looked upon as entirely success
full On the first occasion Of this kind
a countryman driving along in his
wagon was summoned, and ordered by
the excited ladder bearers to "give up
that team" He supposed these wild
eyed highwaymen believed him to be
horsethfef and were going to hang
him, SO, with yell, he jumped from
his wagon and went over the neigh
boring bluff and down the ravine with
out losing any time, leaving his team
in the hands of the ladder men. They
used it, but when in a day or two it
got to be rumored around the country
mo doubt by the weird tale of the
scared teamster-that St Paul was
maintaining a regularly =
ORGANIZED LYNING CLUB,
they became Disguised with the press
Ing system and abandoned it. 1t was
a good deal of trouble and hurt the
reputation of the town. This ladder
company was the original fire organiza-
ton OF this city, and had among it's
members r. w. McCloud, r.. c. Knox,
G. D. Elfelt, Jorn McC1oud, w. B. Dodd,
G. p. V. Lull, Robert Hughes, Thomp-
son Richie and others, most of whom
became members Of the subsequent or
ganization, and several being still resi-
dents OF st. Paul. AS for the ladders,
their use for the purposes for which
they were bought was shortly aban-
doned, as has been said; they were
slowed away longside of the old Central
house, and were used by the citizens in
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-19
bership as roll Of honor Of which
those named were the patr1archs.
REPEATED DEMANDS

REREAIED4 0E&AAINOS
Of the citizens for additional apparatus
for the use of the fire department have
been referred to. Mayor George L.
Becker, himself a fireman, urged the
matter upon the city council in his in
augura,I, delivered May 13, 1856, in
which he said: 1.-THE fire department
deserves liberal and willing support
the company already organized should
be placed upon firm footing, and at
least two fire engines should be pro-
vided for the use of the city. The
treasury of the city warrants the ex-
penditure, and the vast samount of
property exposed to destruction by the
devouring element infperatively de-
mands 1t.
sd Sfagisa to esss rs sssst
ton, heretofore referredHo, for the pur-
chase of fire, engines and apparatus,
and for the issue of s., GOO OF city bonds
| to pay for the same. another resolu-
ton adopted at the same time called
for an estimate for the construction of
three reservoirs on Thita street, at the
corners of Robert, WaS1asha and Ex-
change streets. It is 70, be noted in
passing that the water supply consisted
I-of ponds, creeks, excavations, wells,
etc, and the river, Wheh the fire was
NEAR enough to it to be Teached Re-
spending teethe foregoing, the city
comptroller of that day communicated
to the council the melancholy fact that
as for bonds he couldn't borrow money
on them at less than 2h per cent a
month and he considered that border
ing on extravaganza. 1t was a crusher,
and ended that part of the programme.
Aid. Ryan came to the rescue with
another resoIution--then the favorite
Gov Of al; 1priSIa
pears-authorizing the mayor "to pro-
cure 100 gutta percha buckets, to con-
tain three gallons each, and to be
labelled City Of st. Paul. also fifty
axes with the letters st. p indented
therein, all of which to be placed in the
hands OF the hook and ladder COM
pany. That was on Aug. %, 1857 but
allowance must be made for the slow
movement of deliberative bodies. The
| fire department, through its chief en-
gineer, promptly declined to receive
these accessories, being already more
| than fully supplied with, such
PRIMITIVE, FURNITURE.
Then the council tried che old reso-
luton for purchase of engines over
again eff it can be done on the credit
| of the city" 1t was during that fateful
month of August, 1857. that the firebug
was abroad in the municipality, and the
condition of things amounted almost to
panic Robberies and burglaries were
committed under the shield of the con-
fusion attending conf1agration, the
Finances of the country were all awry
and the satire of that closing clause
may be appreciated when it is under
stood that there was no such thing as
credit anywhere. Commenting on this
state of things a journal of that day
covers the ground without waste of
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-19


should be in the cabinet of the state
historical society.
the hrst OF the permanent companies
Of the ST. Paul volunteer fire depart
ment to be formed was the
PIONEER HOOK AND LADDER
company, which was organized Nov. 6,
1854. The preliminary meeting was
held in the Office of Charles J. Henniss,
and on Dec. l following the organiza-
ton was perfected by the election Of
the following named officers: Presi-
dent, Charles ]. Henniss; vice presi-
dent, Washington M. Stees; secretary, e.
Greene Durbin; assistant secretary, J.
W. Stevenson; treasurer, John Nc
Cloud; directors, Thompson Richie,
Isaac A. Banker, John w. Cathcart,
c. z. V. Lull, Benjamin Irvine, j. Q. A.
Ward Shortly after President Hen
Miss resigned, Vice President Stees sue
ceeding him, George w. Prescott being
elected to the vice presidency. The
membership of the company at the out
set was twenty eight, constituting all
there then was of the fire department.
The outfit consisted of the old lad
derS spoken of above. Prospects for
the success of the company were not
very promising at first, but the MEM
bers took hold with will, and through
prompt and energetic action raised $500
for the purchase of additional appar-
atus, meanwhile using what they had
The first winter the boys built a pair
Of rough bobs, which constituted their
ladder truck. They also procured at
their own expense necessary ropes,
hooks, buckets, axes, etc. The com
pany was afterwards partially REIN
bursed by the city for this outlay. On
Feb. 27, 1855, an act was passed by
the legislature Incorporating the com
pany. That year it was learned that a
good truck could be bought of the
Jefferson Hook and Ladder company
of Philadelphia, for $500, and accord
ingly Messrs Stees and Ward were
commissioned to make the purchase
They did so, and the truck was shipped
to st. Paul, by boat, from Pittsburg,
arriving Aug. "a, 1856, after a passage
full of vicissitudes, among which was
its being sunk in the Mississippi river
rapids for some weeks 1t was raised
and when it finally got here was
rusty and weather worn, notwithstand-
ing which it was accounted a valuable
addition to the company's outfit The
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-19

w. w. Doolittle, JAG Pontius, William
Brack, T. c. Robinson, Frank, Pen
niman, A. NJ. Daniels, Martin Delaney,
H. Koempel, G. G. Marsh, Thomas Bar
wise, w. II. Taylor, Truman S. White,
Fl. Stanbury, John B. Sanborn, Peter
Leitner, Thomas Lamb. c. M. Daily,
Philip Roche, P. O'Donnell. Richard L.
German, n. J. Marsh, William Parsons,
H. Dyer, George Stephens, George w.
Freeman and others. About the same
time
MINNEHAHA ENGINE COMPANY
NO. 2
was organized, obtaining recognition
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-19

der house, and was subsequently sold
by the city to the Jansen Chair Fac
tory company, which used it for many
years. In 1872 a young boys engine
company was organized under the
name Of the Mechanics. They bought
the McCloud engine and used it for
several years, and finally in run to
fire on O dark night they plunged
with it into a slough at the foot Of
Pine street, near the gas house. The
young mechanics got out after nasty
wetting, but the engine sank, and,
am told, still lies buried there await
ing resurrection by some archaeologfst
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-19

No one has ever yet read history or
story of city or village without run
ming across mention of the fire depart
ment in some of the pages. 1t is so
omnipresent in all the doings and hap
penings of every municipality, young,
old or middle-aged, that disregard Of
it would be to leave out Hamlet"
1t is with ours, as with other cities, in
this respect; yet 1t is very difficult to
gather together the odds and ends
which go to make up the annals of
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-19

differently for various purposes, chiefly
in building, until they became the prep
erty OF the Pioneer Hook and Ladder
company on it's organization in 1854
At the time of the organization of the
ladder company QS5D, the matter of
purchasing a fire engine was agitated
and the necessity for such a machine
generally urged. An editor of that day
the newspapers were in the van on
such occasions-put the case strongly:
I'VE want a fire engine and proper
complement of hose. Insurance rates
are now so high as to be almost beyond
reach, and all because we have not ad-
equate facilities for extinguishing
fires. We are in the situation of the
man of Pawtucllet who applied for in
surance and being questioned as to the
means in his town for extinguishing
fires was obliged to reply, 1T rains some
times"
THE FIRST ENGINE.
Several years elapsed, however, be-
fore anything was accomplished in this
direction; and then it was not the city,
which had been incorporated March 4,
1854, that supplied the want, but the
enterprise and public spirit of three
private citizens, John and r. West Nc
Cloud and Thompson Ritchie, who pur-
chased what was known as a piano
poA eASiilS dl lIlelT OWN expense. IL
arrived in June, 1855, and on the goth
of that month had it's first public test
here. 1t was Of small capacity, but did
good service and was the only engine in
use for several years. 1t was finally
bought by the city and turned over to
the care of the Pioneer Hook and Lad
der company, and later on QS5O, to
Hope Engine Company No. 1. It's dimin-
utive size seems to have had some
points of advantage not reckoned On.
In those days there was considerable
shifting Of settlers and change in own
erships of real estate; and the high
ways were many of them byways-
cross cuts which the public used by
liberation of the proprietors of the
land. With these frequent transfers
of real estate came, Of course change
Of boundaries and line fences sprung
up one day where the day before there
were none. These fences often ran
across the roads and were encountered
unexpectedly by the fire engine boys
But they were not to be Disconnected by
trif1es and on such occasions the order
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-19
KENPSTER INDICATED.
Judge Johnson Finds for Milwau-
KEGS Ex-Heaith Commissioner.

MILWAUKEE, Wis, Jan. 13.-Dr.
Walter Kempster is the health COM
missioner of Milwaukee, unless the SUI
preme court reverses the decision rem
dered this morning by Judge Johnson,
of the circuit court Last spring the
common council voted him out of office
after an investigation Of the manage
ment of the Office during the small
pox epidemic. The decision is as
complete vindication of the health
commissioner. Besides deciding in ia
vor of Dr. Kempster, Judge Johnson
ordered that the costs of the proceed
ings be taxed against l.. J. Mueller
and Henry G. Fischer who preferred
the charges which called forth the in
vestigation. The costs will amount to
from s., 900 to S., 900
CUT TO THE QUICK FOR THE
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-19

difference to unseen danger which is
SO common among men, and unheedful
Of the future never thought of fire or
fire department until confagration
came down upon them. Don't try to
cross bridge till you come to it,"
sufficient unto the day, etc." and the
like were familiar and favorite quota
lions among them. Wrapped in the
security Of self-confidence they slept
easily under shngle roofs through
which protruded the jaunty stove pipe
daily inviting fiery destruction of dwell
ing and domicile. On the 18th of May,
1850, Rev. e. D. NeilPs chapel on
Washington street was burned. This
was
THE FIRST FIRE
in the history of st. Paul, and in some
degree awakened the citizens to the
necessity of providing means to COM
bat or prevent fires in the future. They
We're not, however, unduly aroused over
the matter if we may judge from the
oellperate and easy going way in which
they set about it. The newspapers
urged speedy action in the premises,
employing ingenious argument to that
END In plthy paragraphs. On the ap-
proach OF winter daily warnings APP
\ peared in their columns such as the
following: Look out for your stove
pipe and your hot ashes" Let every
man who owns a bucket keep it full
Of water" ION the alarm of fire.
let every able-bodied man and woman
rush to the rescue, armed with buck
cts, tubs, dippers, gourds or whatever
else in the vessel line comes handy"
Build an ash house for your hot ashes,
you can use your ashes for the spring
soapmaking. It's dreadful thing to
be without soap" etc.
But notwithstanding these vigorous
pleas and suggestions no concerted ac-
ton was taken until December, 1851 when
- cell was issued for "a meeting at
the school house to consult about or
ganizing a fire company" The meet
ing was held on the 9th, and while 1t
was in session an old log building took
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-19

to hoist 'er" would be given, the en-
CINE would be lifted over the fence and
the company would pursue the even
tenor Of its way and
run WITH THE MACHINE"
as though nothing had taken place.
Upon the arrival of the new engines
liz 1858 the McCloud engine was stored
away in the rear Of the hook and lad
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-19

had passed sundry resolutions the pre-
vious year for 1.-The immediate pur-
chase of two fire engines with hose
carts and necessary appuiitenances,
but the adoption of the resolution was
as far as the city had got up to'the time
of Hope company's organization. 1t
was understood, however, that some
time or other the resolution would be
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-19

words, as follows: IF $4,000 Of the
money expended by the city in pre-
posterous grading had been devoted to
the construction of convenient reser-
voirs, to be filled by rains and springs,
in the absence of any more efficient
waterworks, and to the procuring of
the fire engines ordered some two years
ago, we should not be compelled to rely
upon syringes and wet cellars as our
only means for putting out fires"
There were two disastrous fires that
month, besides many minor burnings,
and things were getting hot outside the
lines of conf1agration. The citizens
found it necessary to take matters into
their own hands, and as first step
towards remedial measures. fire en-
CINE companies were formed and
Hope" and "Minnehaha" came into
being
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-19
HOPE ENGINE COMPANY

No 1 was formed Sept. IA, 1857. The
first and many subsequent meetings Of
this company were held in the Pioneer
company's house on Fourth street,
where the Lowry Arcade now stands.
On Sept. Is, communication was sent
to the city council by the company, stat
ing the fact of organization and ask
ing recognition, which was grant
ed. The communication had the
signatures of the company's charter
members, as follows: John@E. Dodge,
r. c. Wiley, M. Levoy, Portus Dodge,
John E. Missen, Joseph Elicit, Fred
Whippermann, John T. Tool, ]. H. Bris-
tow, J. c. Gand, Charles Riehl, John
Roguet, E. Rhodes, B. Bradley, Joseph
Arey, Thomas Hughes, b. Borsch, T. F.
Masterson, John J. Williams, P. Metz
ger. The first board of officers was as
follows: Foreman, NJ. Leyoy; assis-
tants, R. c. Wiley and j! Arey; secreta-
ry, John T. Tool; treasurer, j. H. Dodge.
The company proceeded to business
very promptly. The city council, urged
thereto by the voice Of the citizens,
St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-19

that institution whose life is of the
things that were-the volunteer fire
department OF st. Paul. 1t Is a curious
but well-founded commentary that
must be made with reference to the
memory of the oldest inhabitant; al
though he has we'll In mind the sever
ity Of the winter Of 'fifty-three," or
\ the heat of 1.-The summer Of fifty ve;"
4 the arrival of steamboats,, with their
tonnage, style, color and names of
their captains during a fornidably
lengthy course of early-day seasons
when there waren't a railroad-no-
not this side O. Galena;" the none
tary depression which followed close
upon the heels Of "the crash of fifty
seven," as compared with present-day
financial shortages; in a word, although
he is an encyclopedia on anything and
everything that happened during his
{ day and generation within the limits
Of his town, his memory is musty on
the doings Of it's fire department. Here
he is strangely foggy, mindful only in
dim sort Of way that there never
was a civic celebration, procession or
function but the boys" were in it;
never a disaster but they were at it
put out or do mans best to do so; never
step of the city's growth unmarked
by the pace they set; names, dates and
places have gone aglee; but the red
shirt, fire helmet, trumpet, spanner and
= machine" glimmer through all, never
theless, lending to recollection and rem
1niscence the greater part of their
Importance and splendor.
FROM THIS VAGUE PAST
1t is here attempted to weave the
story of st. FauFs everyday fire fight
ers; not as fully as one could wish. it
is true, since space is necessarily lin
tied while the subject itself is well
nigh inexhaustible but as well and full
ly as may be under the circumstances:
~ and whatever is said will, from asso-
citation, have its due quota of interest
and serve to recall to memory many
honored names and brave deeds not
here recounted, of which the roll alone
would stretch to many columns
st. Paul's early citizens had that in