Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-23
A. 49,
AUGUS'A'S FIRE LADIES.
Continued from page 81 II


other. Mr. Bridges father ard Mr.
Williams gave the first church and fire
bell in Augusta, which hung in the
parish church.
The wardens compelled both sexes to
take part in the work, especially in the
larger fires; il being the custom to
compel the women and children to pass
back the empty buckets. Did the war
dens note any lettering in the line il
was customary TO put more alacrity
into the workers by giving the law
ones sharp prods with the poles. If
they noted any assertions the hook
would he inserted into the collar or the
slack Of the pants and the deserter
forcibly returned to the ranks After
the fire each man would recover his
own buckets and with his women and
children return homes'. Some of our
older families still retain these old
buckets. but the most OF them have
long since gone the way of all the
world.
am unable to give the exact date of
the purchase of the first Augusta fire
engine although Captain Nash records
it in his pleasantly written account of
Augusta as in the year This en-
CINE was the old Washingtonian. and
was not so named. as her name might
indicate, on account of cold water
movement by that name of LATER date,
but from pure patriotism The engine
was a small one holding in her tank
about hogshead full of water Some
times the engine. when in action, was
placed in position near the fire and
filled from an adjacent pump. and
sometimes at a point midway between
the fire and the water supply: in which
case her tank was filed by the bucket
line to which | have before referred
To show her small capacity I will say
that the bucket line could fill her faster
than she could be cmptird by the
one or two joints of leather hose of so
feet each. and while she may have
been considered formidable at the
time of her purchase she really had not
as much force as an ordinary garden
hose today.
This engine was the only one owned
by Augusta until some time after 1875.
In the papers of that time | see con-
slant communications complaining of
this engine which We're particularly
angry after the destruction of the Cony
mansion, April II, 1894. l would here
note that at that time and for very
many years after the fire departments
of Augusta and Hallowel rendered
each other mutual assistance in the
case of fire alarm. Should an alarm
sound in fIallowell the Augusta fire
men went to the State House where
notice was sent them whether their
services were required or not; and. in
case the FIRE was in Augusta. the Hall
house plains for the same purpose.
Sometimes they would rot wait for the
word but push on to the scene at once.
And here let me call your attention
to the fact that these We're both coun-
try towns or villages at this time.
Hallowell being 4 pushing, thriving
MI 10 !, ir- no
ing a center from which river traffic
diverted itself inland. The inhabitants
Of the two towns as in all villages,
weIe well known to each other; and,
as certain military exemptions We're
offered flremen. as well as from q sense
of mutual protection, the members of
these volunteer companies We're. often
among the largest property holders.
No better idea can be given of the high
standing Of the fireman of that day,
socially ana otherwise. than to say
that the village corporation in 1895,
appointed as fire wardens Reuel VIII
lams. Charles Keene, William Pills
bulE, lnOfnaS w. Snlltn ana w lllidHl
X. Weston. To those familiar with the
history of Augusta no comment is nee
essary to shoW,the. high social and
political standing of these men, One
account of 4 fire in 1889 represents
Governor Kent, he of Maine went,
hell bent for Governor Kent" fame. as
being at a large fire on Water street
where Meonian block now stands, and
working like a Trojan on the engine
brakes and welding the heavy fire
hook to help pull down a couple of
buildings. Imagine my good friend
Henry b. Cleaves doing this, And yet
it was the custom of the time. Some
where in the early thrties captain, or
major, Ripley, commanding the
arsenal. sent to Philadelphia and pur-
chased the tub Uncle Sam" Though
not properly connected with the local
department, this engine played very
considerable part in the fire history of