Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-10-11

pairs of muscular arms the water was
drawn rapidly into the box from the
cistern and thrown with great force
through the hose. Strife between the
various companies for the honor of
throwing the highest stream was ever
rife. and the brakes Of the engines
would be worked with violence that
threatened to wreck the machinery. 1t
was with an engine of this kind that
the Chicago Red Jacke.s made tour
of the East in 1852 and won the cham
pionship. The height of every young
mans ambition in the period between
1874 and 1858 was to run with an en-
CINE. Hose carts and trucks were
good enough in their way, but the real
arlstocracy of fire department work
was only to be found in the engine
houses. Manning the brakes gave full
opportunity for display of muscular
vigor, and victory in putting stream
of water higher than any OF their COM
petitors brought to the engine company
members a glory to be obtained in no
other way.
department Parade in 1914.
1t was to celebrate the arrival of
one of these old-fashioned engines, the
first real fire fighting machine to be
used in Chicago, that the department
was called out for parade and inspec-
ton in 1874. Nobody seems to remem-
Der the exact date. but the review prob
ably took place some time early in the
fall. The department then consisted
of three companies. One of these was
the Fire King, No. 1, to which was
assigned the custody and use of the
courtesy called an engine company, but
1t had no machine until after 1874, its
work ut fires being confined to the
handling of buckets and the saving of
property. The third organization in
the department was fire guard and
bucket brigade. Stephen f. Gale, now
hale and lively at the advanced age of
SO years, was the chief engineer. 1t
was largely through his efforts that the
discipline and effectiveness of the force
were brought to point of high excel
lence. and many of the improvements
which afterwards marked the work
Of the department were inaugurated.
Mr. Gale was a man of energy and n
strict disciplinarian. He took COM
mand of the department in the spring
of 1874 and held the position for three
years, resignlng in 1S41 on account of
Ill health, it being then the opinion of
his doctors that he was in precarious
condition. Mr.. Gale is now. half
century after that time, apparently MS
strong and vigorous ms any ordinary
man of 60. He and A. H. Burley and
@. %. Peck are supposed to be the only
men now living who participated in the
first parade of the Chicago fire depart
ment in 1874. and all three of them are
remarkably well preserved. Mr.. Peck
was then private in the Fire Kings
and Mr.. Burnley was member of the
Chicago Fire Guards. more popularity
known as the "Forty Thieves" 1t be-.
ing the custom then to apply the sobri-
quet In good-natured way because
the efforts of the guard were solely d.
rected to the saving of portable prop
erty.
Scene OH Courthouse square.
This parade was held on the court
house square, the site of the present
city and county building. 1t was then
vacant lot. and, while in the heart of
the young city, was inclosed with
rough slab fence like piece of pas
ture land. Washington street, ON the
south, and La Sale street. ON the west,
both Of which are shown in the picture,
We're muddy, unpaved highways, prom
inent only because of the churches To-
Gated on them. The Universalist
Church stood on Washington street
about where the Chamber of Com
merce building now stands, and the
Baptists had house of worship on the
west side of La Sale street, Just north
of Washington. In those days the
court house square was favorite spot
for open-air shows and displays. as 1t
was within handy reach and yet far
enough removed from the business part
of the city to prevent interference with
the trade and commerce of the town.
1t was IN this lot that Chief Engineer
Gale warshsled bis hremeu In 1874