The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-24

meeting. held for the purpose. The con-
struction OF the Richmond dock was COM
menced in ISIS. about which time the
stone arch was thrown over Shockoe
Greek. The shlp-lOcks were commenced
ana completed within the year 1852 81.
The Richmond Fire Department soon
consisted OF three companies. furnished
with side-brcak engines, reel, hose. &c.
scvcrally located. at Rockets, near the
Capitol square, and on ShOckoe HILL II
appears 10 have continued without aug
mentation until about the year 1884, when
a large hand-engine, manufactured In
Philadelphia. was introduced This was
known I'm our fremen's tradition as the
hydraTiian, and was under the control
OF the late James BOsher, who may have
held also. the responsible position OF chief
engineer OF the Fire Department.
The hydraulian was of such proportions
and OF such massive construction that
HAND power was found 10 be inadequate
10 tie drawing Of 80 10 points desired In
accidental emergencies. II was conse-
ouentIy stationed in a small building To-
Gated on the east corner Of Tenth street,
and the basin from which water was
pumped and forced through hose 10 the
desired points Such was the power OF
the hydraulian that 81 is said 10 have
forced "a stream OF water completely ana
clearly over the State Capitol from hose
extended 20 that point-a feat which has
not since been riyaIed, even with tno
greatly improved fire engine.
FIRE ASSOCIATION.
The so favorably rec0llected Richmond
Fire Association. which combined the
functions OF fire. marine and life insur-
ance. and Of "a fire department proper
was chartered in January 1881, with pro-
visionary control of the Richmond Fire
Department. The chief engineers under
81 were successfully James Bosher, Thorn
as A. Rust William q. TOmpkins James
q. Crane. Robert rs. Burton and John TT.
Claiborne. and the working body was
composed OF the association. each OF
whom was required TO own one or more
shares of the stock OF the same.
The membership was composed Of our
most respectable citizens including many
Of the most staid habits and disuihed
demeanor. Scmi-annual 'Wdshings,' as
they worc termed. were regularly held.
at which there were competitive trials
of the capacities Of the several engines of
the department. The day was always
closed with some busiuess-like report
for the six months working proceeding
made al the City Hall and with b0un-
uml repast given at one of our hotels.
Those periods We're consequently marked
ones, looked forward to with delightful.
autIcipations or reverted TO with glow
ing sensations.
The Richmond Fire Department was
constituted as follows 80 1s41:
Company no. Titus C.. Rice, com
handing.
company No. Anthony 4 Krfsch-
man. commanding.
Company no. 3-George II. TompHns,
commanding.
Company no. ALLEN NJ Lyon, com
handing.
Company No. 5-Joseph Robinson, COM
handing.
Company No. 6-Hugh A. Watt COM
handing.
Ia 1870 the following companies were
added.
No. captain W. &. WalthaM
No. 8-Captaln James Elicit
Each Of these companies was equipped
with side-brake engines. hose-reels, &c.
Titus c. Rice was long a prosperous
and prominent citizen. He conducted an
extensive timing and plumbing estab-
lishment. q grist mill, and farm near
the city, from which last he furnished
large contracts of wood 20 the Rich
mOnd and Petersburg railroad, one OF the
stations of which was named for him
Mr.. Rice also held the commi sion OF
colonel I'm the State militia Later in life
adversely overlook him and he closed his
days in great poverty in 1871 as pilot
plying his vocation on James river.
Anthony A. Krischman. the well re-
membered confectOucr on Main street
and as ensign or color bearer OF the
Richmond Light Infantry Blues
Captain George u. T0mpkins, OF tho
Richmond Light Infantry Blues.
Allen VI. Lyon, O. successful marole
worker father OF Thomas deceased,
and of Daniel and Captain Allen VI.
Lyon. Jr., we'll known tobacconists.
Hugh A. Watt, long successful china
me- chant.
VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT.
The department continued Under con-
troll Of the Richmond Fire Association UNI
Cd the year 1880. when it was made an
independent volunteer department, orsa-
uized as follows:
Chief Engineer John J. Fry; First As
sistant. Augustus Arsell, ST. Second AS
sistant. Lewis L. Barnes. Third Assist
ant. DR. Patrick Wilhe Brown; Liberty
no. ]. John IA. Shook. afterwlrd Andrew
jackson Arlington, foreman; protection
NO. 2. Nirginius BOssieuX, foreman
Phoenix No. g. Hugh ". Fry, foreman
Aid No 4. j. Oscar Goodo. foreman, Ma
CARA no. 8, Peyton Walden, foreman;
citizen No. 9. John ~. Rogers, foremana
Vigiant SO. g. william a. Charters
foreman: Hook ana Ladder No. i, Daniel
Haeer,y, foreman; Hose Reel Company
on Church Hill. James Elicit foreman;
George Claiming Wilde. first assistant
and fire alarm bell ringer.
Under the new regime the companies
were largely composed of young men, be-
tween the ages of sixteen and twenty
one years. and chiefly from our most rec
spectable families. They We're highly
emulous OF success in their chosen func-
tions. and were animated by an esprit
de corps rivaling that of the Imperial
Guard. If the first Napoleon and am elan
approaching that of the famous heroes
of Balaklava or the charge of Picketts
men at Gettysburg rivalry was so in-
tense as sometimes 20 impede the efec.
tive usefulness Of the department.
To exhibit the interest involved. many
OF the companies were provided with
tho old fore and aft heavy cumbersome
engines. a majority OF the companies
did away with them. and al their own cost
purchased new. elegant. improved side
break engines, ar an expense o. two or
more thousand dollars. Most OF the COM
panies owned their own equipments and
were scrupulous In keeping them in good
condition. Some Of the companies. be-
sides owing the apparatus had a large
amount of cash I'm the treasury
Many Of our now staid and plodding
citizens Will recall with pleasure. no
doubt their youthful enrolment among
the Tigers Arabs. Red Birds Rough and
Ready. Vow Vows Yellow Jackets and
ctIar cherished GpefgnaffOne i'm which
they delighted i'm. when running with the
machine I'm 1859 the volunteer organiza-
tons were abolished. and a paid depart
r.nl.t nrn.t.a I-nnnn n s the Lirn Hrl-