The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-30

length to carry twelve buckets each:
The poles were carried on the shoulders
of the firemcn when going to the fire,
and often served as weapons of defense
and ofrerse in the battles which fire.
qucntly occurred between rival compan-
les
INTEREST INCREASED.
As time rolls on, the interest in the
old department of Scranton seems TO in
crease. Apart from the dry record of
fires attended by the old fire-laddies, the
details If their doings would make a
chronicle probably as Interesting as any
romance. To the student of the manners
and customs of by-gone times and to the
general public, these stories are full Of
interest which never weary with the re-
telling The fights, the songs, the brave
deeds and the social life of the old fire.
men, are full of pathetic and heroic in
terest. They represented the best class
Of our people. such as statesmen, judges,
lawyers, politicians. doctors, business
men, etc.
Shortly prior to the incorporation of
Scranton as a city proper, which was
effected in 1866. the first steam fire en-
Eine, pulled by hand was introduced.
1t was called the Lady Washington"
and was purchased by the members OF
the company, styling themselves Lady
Washington Engine company No. q" who
individually and collectively raised the
money to pay for the same. About this
time, through like efforts on part of
their members, the Nay Aug and Frank
lin Engine companies We're similarly
equipped with engines propelled by hand
or man rover. The latter company, the
Franklin, was organized, however, as
early as July Sd, 1851, when it used the
old-timc hand engine. The Neptune Fire
company was also in existence about the
time Of the breaking out Of our inter-
state war, and possessed a hand-pOwer
machine of crude construction, but of
effective working force. But as a large
number of its members enlisted in the
army at that time, its organization like
many other companies throughout the
state was temporarily abandoned.
In fact, the war proved disastrous to
many fire companies, the members of
which were among the first to respond to
the call to arms and rush forth to de-
fend the country's flag as eagerly as they
had frequently before rushed forth to
protect the property and lives of the
people of the old borough, and as a con-
sequence, there were so few members left
at home that they were not supported
and some of the companies rapidly
dropped out of existence. But when the
war ended, the brave fellows who sur
vived returned home, and although many
limb, still the desire to save was strong
within them, and in a short time they
succeeded in reorganizing the companies
on a firm basis.
When Captain Kelley was head of the
fire department of Scranton he purchased
in 1868 three hook and ladder trucks for
81, 200 each in New York. Also about this
time the Good Win Hook and Ladder
company was organized. The trucks re.
! 1ai in In bo pf
several months, exposed TO all kinds of
weather, before anything was done with
them. Later on, however, one of the
trucks was taken TO Providence, when
the City Of Scranton was Incorporated. A
company was organized there under Cap
| tain Pierce, and called the Mohawk
Hook and Ladder company" The other
| truck was sent to the West Side and put
in possession of the company known as
the Hyde Park Hook and Ladder com
pany"
| These companies, however never made
| a perfect or thorough organization, and
| the trucks afterwards, again exposed 10
| the elements, without care or attention,
| soon rotted into uselessness and forget
| fulness. The city for the maintenance of
| these companies did nothing With the
exception of the Good VIII company, "
which was reorganized by lot OF colored
people, who called themselves "Union
Hook and Ladder Company No. l." but
! owing to want of recognition and proper
support on part of the councils, 1t alsc
soon disbanded.
CLOSE FISTED POLICY.
Some of the early city fathers were SC
close and penurious that they objected
TO the city paying for the grease or OF
needed for lubricating the running geal
of the fire apparatus-claiming as th,
boys" run the machine" they ought tC
buy their own oil. The fire laddies in tn,
old days used to go TO Fullers drug store
on Lackawanna avenue, near the Coyn,
house. and ask for castor oil for theil
engines. Many times they had no none,
to pay for tho same, as councils I'm tn,
niggardly policy pursued, would not ap
propriate cent for the fire department
But one good and tried friend never faile,
the fremen in such dilemmas. Mr.Wulian
f. Hallstead, when appealed to, woul,
say; Give the boys all they want,
win pay for It," He was always the vol
unteer fremen's friend, and the old boy
will never FORGET him.
In organizing the fire department II
1868, the boroughs of Hyde Park an,
Providence were included within the lin
its of Scranton. which paved the wa.
for the present marvellous development o
the city. Captain Keeley was chief 0