The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-10
Annual inspection Of the Richmond
Fire Department.
WAS WITNESSED BY THOUSANDS
A Magnificent DispIay-Many Infc-
resting Features - A Gold Medal
for Captain Wise and Brass
One for President Frischkorn


ment--a department which for efficiency
and beauty cannot be surpassed anywhere
In the United States. and the mention of
which Is invariably accompanied BY eu-
iogy.
The streets were filed with people, and
every window and balcony in the vicinity
was also thronged. Those who came were
well repaid for their trouble, for the de-
partment did itself proud Every piece OF
apparatus was an appie-p.e ORDER inc
metal shone like the full moon, while the
powerful. shapely horses were IN the very
pink OF condition. full Of life and ready
to gallop up the steepest incline III INC
city.
THE FIREMEN.
Ana the fremen? Too much cannot be
said IN praise OF their appearance. From
chief Fuller. Assistant Chief Shaw ana
Fire Alarm Superintendent Thompson
down 10 most recently acquired member
Of the department there was not man
who was not a credit to the force ana 10
the city.
The hour set for the beginning Of the
inspection was O'Clock. but long before
that time the crowd began TO assemble
and about fifteen minutes before the ap-
pointed time the glittering engines ana
trucks OF the department took up their
positions on either side OF the street pc
tween Ninth and Eleventh, the very earth
trembling beneath the ponderous tread OF
the massive horses.
Along the north side OF Broad, begin
ming at Ninth were ranged In a glittering
row the buggies of the Chiefs CheInicai
Company No. !, and Trucks Nos. i, ana
2. on the south side were Engines ], 2
g. 4, 8, 6. Z, and s. IN line In front OF e"ch
stood tho men.
The members Of the Board Of Fire Com
missioners were early on the scene head
ed BY their President. Capt John friseh-
korn. Those on hand were Messrs. Chas.
+. Taylor, Joseph l.. Levy, j. *. Shep-
pard and L. c. Jenkins. Capt. q. wait
Tavlor. the other member. did not arrive
until after the close Of the inspection, De-
ing detained unavoidably.
nv the use of lines, and the eihclent
efforts OF the police. Broad street from
Ninth TO Tenth, was kept ciear. ne
board opened the proceedings py cioso
inspection Of each piece OF machinery
as wei as the horses attached thereto
ana many expressions of pleasure were
heard at the excellent order In which
they were found.
Captain Taylor paid special attention to
n handsome pair of horseshoe Whlte
and the other brown, whose names are
Charles and Taylor, respectively. truck
No 6. the last piece OF apparatus pur
chased-knowp as the BABY truck'
received considerable notice. "A manu-
some baby 1t is. fully equipped in every
narticular Mr.. Thompsons handsome
little fre-Iarm and police telegraph out
at. with its neat force and handsome
rnouse-coIored colt attached, was also a
feature worthy Of attention Al the
close Of the inspection the big bell In
the tower tolIed nine, and Chief Fuller
In his buggy dashed away down Broad
street, followed by the department IN
single file. the horses careering, anxious
to throw off all restraint. ana the men
at their posts, erect and alert
Down they went to Eleventh; then
acrozs and back again to Ninth. This
performance was several times repeated,
the department thus being shown OIL
to the greatest possible advantage.
A IMMATURE BLAZE.
Then came the next feature of the
programme. and most interesting one.
Just in front of headquarters there had
beea erected a pile OF dry-goods boxes,
filed with excelsior. pine boughs, and
other things, and well saturated with
kerosene oil, while by way of enlivening
things, Secretary L. S. Jones added few
packs Of "haby-wakers" TO the pile.
Combination Chemical Engine and
Hose Wagon No. meanwhile returned to
its quarters When all was ready
match was set 10 the pile. and soon ii
was blazing furiously, the giant crack
ers making things lively as they ex-
ploded. An alarm was at once turned
in from Box 14. and the chemical engine
H., Ctt ~
Iy rate The fire had gained good head
wsy before its arrival hut it was only
q matter Of seconds before the last spark
was out after the miniature hose had
been turned upon IL.
When the fire had been thoroughly ex-
ilnguished engine No. took up dts posi-
ton at the corner OF Tenth and Broad
ana endeavoTed TO eclipse fits record of
last year In the throwing OF water. The
City Hall tower, which Is about 100 feet
In altitude was the objective point. and
the staunch engine succeeded in raising
n stream within ten feet OF the top, and
could possibly have done better had full
supply of water been available. No.
Is known as a second size La France
engine and the stream was thrown from
O. nozzle IA inches in diameter.
II had been intended for Truck COM
pany No. 3 TO give an exhibition of the
use Of scaling ladders which excited so
much interest last year. but on account
OF the sickness OF number of men in
tho company this had TO be abandoned.
The programme OF the afternoon closed
with most interesting ceremony-the
presentation OF the gold medal donated
by the Virginia State Insurance Com
pany for meritorious conduct This took
place in tho Board Room on the hfth
floor OF the City Han. Captain O. f.
Wise. OF engine Company No.N4, Deing
the recipient.
VISITORS PRESENT.
There were present at the ceremony
all the members OF the board Captain
Wise and his company. Judge f. c.
Minor. Of the Law and Equity Court;
Hon. d. c. Richardson. Major n. V.
Randolph, president OF the Virginia state
Insurance Company: Mr. Mann S.
Quaries. Mr.. James r. Fiournoy, Mr.. a.
c. Ruskell and others
Captain Frischkorn first spoke, calling
attention to the objects Of the annual
inspection OF the department from a
practical standpoint. He then referred
10 the medal presentation inaugurated
by the Virginia State Insurance Com
pany, and said that the board had found
difficuity In deciding 10 whom II should
be given. as there were number OF
mon really entitled TO such a reward.
in fact. he said. II there were a dozen
medals all could be disposed Of
He cited the case where a member of
engine Company No. 7 had almost alone
put out fire at A. Hoens establishment
and almost lost his life by the explosion