Evening star., 1898-11-18
VETERAN FIRE LADDIES
History of the Volunteer Department Read
by Mr.. John F. Riley.
Leather buckets Used in the Days of
President MadisOn-The
Present System.

he veteran volunteer F1remen'S ASSO-
citation had a goodly attendance of mem
bers and friends at their engine house, 18th
and H streets, last evening-President Rich
ards in the chair and MIR. J. J. Peabody
secretary. The feature of the evening was
the reading of a history of the old volun-
teer fire department. by Mr.. John F. Riley
who has spent much time in the prepara-
ton of the history, obtaining the data from
papers and documents pertaining to the
early days of the District
After the introduction of Mr. Riley by
President Richards. he graphically de-
scribed the modern workings of depart
ment in extinguishing a fire, and proceeded
TO speak of the old days. From 1890 to 1909
leather buckets were the only reliance. No
vember 3. 1850. the War Department. on
Pennsylvania avenue between 22d and 23d
streets was burned and, it is said Presi-
dent Adams helped to pass buckets in the
line. 1t is recorded that Oliver Wolcott
performed such duty.
In January. 1901. the treasury was burned
and the government afterward purchased
an engine and located it a the Navy Yard.
In 1S':' fire buckets. filled with water were
ordered to be kept by housekeepers. Then.
for some years, there was not fire and
the companies formed under the act of 1904
gradually went out of existence.
5000 fire a a brewery in March, 1915,
Il'"t CT, CAUSED the du1nOrltleS TO act, and
in that year an elaborate bill to organize
companies was passed. In 1917 and 1918
three disastrous fires occurred one on
Pennsylvania avenue between 18th and 18th
streets and one at Greenieaf's Point.
Epidemic of Fires.
In April, 1919, there was an epidemic of
fires. and several were noted in the Intelli-
gencer, each rapidly succeeding the other
A fire at F and 14th streets, it was noted,
was reached by the companies at the Navy
Yard in twenty minutes. mass meet
ing was called by the mayor (B. S. ORR,
hut the cunds were wanting, and then Con-
gress appropriate $4,000 for two engines
and the paper speaks of the work of the
hremen at fire in the Capitol building
December 81. 1875.
The treasury was burned in March, 1893
and the papers stated that the lethargy of
both the general and local government, it
was thought, would be aroused, but not hin =,
was done Two brothers were arrested for
setting fire to the building and one was
convicted and sentenced TO ten years i'm
prisonment. but was afterward pardoned.
Another lesson was needed, and it came
December 10. 1896 in the burning of the
post office, of which Mr.. Riley read quite
a graphic description. Congress then took
action, and March 2. 1881, passed a law
reorganizing the companies, and October "a
there was grand procession, in which the
Columbia, Navy Yard, Franklin, Union,
Perseverance, Vigilant and Western Star
of Georgetown. headed by the commissioner
of public buildings, took part. Mr.. Riley de-
scribed this procession with some minute
ness. The apparatus, he said, was drawn
by horses with the Goddess of Liberty and
national ensigns the pieces, and in the
line were the mayors of the cities, officers
of insurance companies and others. The
line OF procession was from the | Mon ell
gine house to Georgetown and back to the
engine house where a collation. was served.
and thence to the Navy Yard, where Col.
Brown served a collation.. From there the
line moved back to the Center market,
where it was dismissed.
Perfect unanimity prevailed for many
years, and the companies then had on their
rolls the foremost citizens. Without hope
of reward they left the comforts of home to
save the property of their fellows.
RecOIIectiOns of Old Firemen.
Here Mr. Riley gave the recollections of
an old volunteer, describing the manner
of responding to and fighting the fires. The
deaths of Anderson, at a fire on 23d near
F street. March II, 1856, and Greenup,
May 6, 1856 while route to fire, was
described, as also the funeral professions,
each occasion bringing out thousands of
citizens.
The fire at the Capitol library, December
"a 1SJ1, was next described. Seven en-
gines played on the flames, and the firemen
were assisted by the marines ordered up
from the barracks. About 5000 books
were destroyed, Wlln uufIlDeT VI IiDe
paintings. Mr.. Riley then spoke of the
rivalry and jealousies among the compa-
MES. which led to disorders. The fight be-
tween the Northern Liberty and Union
companies followed October IL, 1852, when
by shot and stones several men Were
wounded.
Government Department.
The induction of the government fire de-
partment and the reorganization of the
volunteer department, under Chief Pea