Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-23

one danger must have been from
carrying lighted Goals through the
streets from one house to another.
The order reads as follows:
Whereas the buildings and other
property of the inhabitants are often
in danger by the practice Of some per
sons smoking segars and carrying fire
in the streets:
Therefore, voted, That any person
who shall carry fire through the streets
or on land, unless the same be secured
and under cover so as to prevent anv
sparks from falling on the streets or
on any land in any of the town be-
tween the mill in Hallower improved
by Mr.. Lambert and the brook nearest
and next south of Thomas HinckIey's
and extending westerly of the Kenne-
Dec river 80 rods or shall kindle any
nre within the limits aforesaid on any
OF the tracts of land. without first OBJ
tanning leave therefor from the select
men for the time being or shall put
lre TO or be found smoking any Segars
or Pipe without building, within the
limits aforesaid, shall pay a fine not
exceeding two dollars nor less than 80
cents, to the use of any person who
snail prosecute and recover said fine
III any court proper to determine the
same
Recorded from the original.
JOHN SEWALL, Town Clerk"
nave not looked this up to identify
the GATE of the town meeting in which
1t passed but give it as an illustration
OF the different methods of those days
from our own.
But huge as the chimneys were and
lnfrequent as the fires, still they were
often enough to cause alarm and 10
make thinking men believe it time to
be prepared TO meet the foe in some
organized form. The lack of town
records added to the fact that the
newspapers of that day religiously
avoided printing any matter having
the slightest connection with home
matters renders it impossible to learn
more of such matters than comes with
in the ken of our older inhabitants.
The first fire engine in this part of
Maine is still in existence and al
though not properly connected with my
paper is worthy of some notice as
probably the very first fire engine in
Maine, and. which, by the way, should
be in the custody of this society. This
engine is the property of the Vaughn
heirs in HallOwell, who have a summer
residence which was built by Benjamin
Vaughn in 1897. In the stable Of this
old homestead is still to be seen the
little old tub. 1t has solid wooden
wheels which are bound with half inch
IRON tires. The body or tank is five
and one-half feet long, and in the CEN
ter of this is placed the pump with one
cylinder working much the same as an
ordinary kitchen pump except that it
is worked by a pair of brakes. 1t had
no means for taking water, but little
leather buckets were used. The con-
nections are all of brass, to which is
some so feet of leather hose
about the size Of those used on a lawn.
DNiHo iiNtlSu anu Cdpptu ny nozzle
over three feet long forcing half inch
stream. 1t is painted on the end "B.
Hallowell," and is believed to
have been brought from England a
ago.
1t was a little earlier than this that
the first fire company Of Augusta was
formed. 1t was an association Of
many of the householders Termed for
the mutual protection of it's members
against fires. They were banded under
a printed list of articles or rules which
required each member to keep ready at
least two leathern buckets, according