The times., 1899-04-23

quired to report to the mayor on the first
Monday in each month. Later in 1887 one
| inspector instead of two was appointed at
a salary Of $50 year.
+! The winter of 1S43-44 was noted for the
| large number of fires in different parts of
Georgetown, and the treasurer was heavily
drawn upon to pay the S. reward which it
was the custom to pay the company first
on the scene OF the blaze. The situation
| finally became so serious that the town
| authorities passed law giving to any per-
| son who would give information that would
| lead to the conviction of any person or
| persons implicated in setting fire to any
| building within the confines of the town
a bonus of 500.
Rivalry Among the Companies.
| Those were times Of ropes and free runs
to all fires west of the Capitol, and the
| Georgetown department had many pitched
battles with the Union Fire Company of
Washington, they often arriving at fires in
Washington before the Union Company
At nearly every fire the members of rival
fire companies fought pitched battles. so
great was the rivalry to get the credit for
extinguishing a blaze. Often in the old
days, when fires were few and far between
the spirit of fun broke out among the FIRE
boys, and it was the custom on numerous
occasions to play all manner of jokes. In
the year 1S40 some of the members of the
Vigilant and Western Star companies
started huge fire with boxes, barrels and
other infiammable material on Brick Yard
Hill, in Georgetown, and sent messenger
to the Union Company, in Washington,
urging them to come Immediately, as the
busiest part of the town was in serious
danger. The Union Company responded
to the call, and reached Georgetown after
a long. hard run only to find that they had
been victimiZed.
1t is needless to say that they were angry
and they plainly showed the disturbed
condition of their feelings by denouncing
the Georgetown boys in language more for
chile than polite. A fight generally en-
sued, in which stones and clubs were freely
used. The Washington boys were finally
compelled to retreat across Rock Creek.
The next day more than forty arrests were
made and the whites engaged in the dis
turbance were fined while the slaves re-
ceiyed lashes. Frequently the Potomac
Hose Company would steal from their
quarters with their apparatus and going
through the streets past the home of the
Vigilants with muffled bells would by their
haste and evident, desire to reach the
imaginary fire lure the Vigilants to follow.
1t often happened that the Vigilants fol-
lowed with all haste for several blocks
before finding themselves to be the victim
of joke. Then they returned to their
quarters threatening dire vengeance and
planning to get even at the first oppor-
turity.
In 1866 the department was again reor-
ganized and four fire commissioners were
appointed. This was about the time steam
began to be used. A steamer was pur-
chased and named the Henry Addison in
honor Of Mr.. Henry Addison who was
prominent figure in Georgetown politics
and at one time mayor. In 1871. when
Georgetown passed from the control of
the corporate authorities and began to be
governed directly by the District govern
ment. the department was again reorgan-
ized The Georgetown section OF the Fire
Department became known as Company
No. 5, and until 1883, occupied the quar-
ters of the Vigilants when it was moved
to its present quarters in what was for
merly the old town hall building.
At the last session of Congress appropri-
ations were passed providing for a truck
house to be located on the heights of
Georgetown. and a chemical company to
be located in Tenleytown. The members
of the present organization in Georgetown
consist of the following: John d. Kurtz,
assistant chief; Charles A. Kreamer, fore
man; Andrew c. Busher assistant fore
man; James F. Reynolds, engineer; Mosby
Brown. fireman; ]. H. Oliver, hostler;
James Childs, assistant hostler; John Da-
ly, R. G. Tegler, ]. G. McKeever, and W.
D.. Cronin, privates. While the depart
ment in the point of number of men is not
equal to that of the old hand pump, when
all the male population of voting age
were members, it is far more efficient. This
may be attributed to the improved appa-
ratus and the excellent discipline among
the men