The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-12


mems Association Of this city recalled
a few days since curious parallel be-
tween an event which occurred some fifty
years ago, when only volunteer fremen
manipulated hose carriages and fire en-
gines in this city, and recent occurrence,
which furnishes another example of his
tory repeating itself.
1t appears that week or so ago a
ringer Of fire alarms went on strike.
his grievance being the prevalence of
false alarms, with the consequent unnec-
essary expenditure of his own energies.
The veteran fireman above referred to
recalled that half century ago almost the
same thing happened, with the following
attendant circumstances and results:
At the period to which the veretan's
memory carried him there were In this
city number of volunteer firemen's or
CARNATIONS, among which may be cited
the Franklin Fire Company, the Perse-
verance Fire Company, the Northern Lib
critics Fire Company, the Columbia Fire
Company, the Anacostia Fire Company, the
American Hook and Ladder Company, and
pany.
1t CHANGED that the bright conception en-
tered the heads of divers jocose ind iduals
OF that day and generation that the ring ng
OF any of the various alarm bells OF t1e
city that might be convenient to their
hands at any time when they felt so dis
posed would not only afford means of in
nocent relaxation to them tthe self-de-
puted ringers) in the calling into action of
. no Ill III.
consequent commotion-not infrequently
resulting in free fight between the en-
bers of the various organizations-bu
would serve to give the firemen thems elves
an amount Of wholesome exercise and ex-
citement which they would no: otherwise
be enabled to enjoy.
But 1t somehow perversely happened that,
after the experiment had been tried for
little time, Ii met with strenuous opposi-
ton from the firemen. who carried their
objection to such an extent that they in
sisted upon having but one station ard one
bell to toll as the alarm, and, furthermore,
that there should be an official Or OHIO
appointed upon whom should devolve the
task and responsibility of sounding the
tocsin This was all very well. but the
trouble was to find the individual who WIS
willing to undertake that task and resron-
sibility. No one applied for the job, d
city council solved the problem in the man
ner following: That each fire company
should select one Of its members as bell
ringer, and anyone else who was found
ringing the bell was subject to fine (be Il
remembered. of course, that all this &C.
Cured ia the days before electric signal
ing stations were established).
This plan would have settled the whole
difficulty at once. were il not found that
feet success. for. while it effectually
stopped the false. it likewise prevented the
ringing OF the true alarms. 1t is said that
by remarkable coincidence each company
elected that one among its members as
bell ringer who might reasonably be sup
posed to be the last to arrive at the central
alarm station.
The consequence was that for a brief
period the usual method Of exsinguishing
a fire In Washington was by the simple and
natural expedient Of letting it burn itself
out. which it. of course, eventually did,
leaving the fire companies in a state Of
blissful ignorance of its existence, or only
a8ording them a view, when they did ar
rive on the scene Of heap of smoldering
embers in place OF what was once a more
or less stately building.
After some few experiences of this kind
the fremen. who were really conscientious
men. came to the conclusion that there
was no use waiting for the regular bell
ringer. and when hearing of fire from
person whose words and appearance bore
the impress OF truth they fastened off to
the scene of disturbance. At length each
to warn the other companies, |
through unofficial sources, when the runner
seemed pretty well founded, and little by
little the regular fire alarm ringer came |
to exist only in the wording OF an obsolete |
law.
The humorous persons whose sportive |
and playful fencies were the original cause |
If all the trouble, at length considerably |
decided, at least to a great extent and for |
1 long time, to forego their own personal |
pleasure for the good of the community, |
although it would appear that the per-
hant for ringing in false alarms is large |
y on tic increase, in proof of which fact |
nay be instanced the late strike OF one
If the ringers of the alarm bells.
The incident noted recalls naturally the
rany changes whlca have been made in
fire service from its prim-
tive inception to its present excellent |
tahiard of proficiency 1t was in the year
500 that the first ordinance relating to |
ire prevention was issued by the city
authorities. The law provided that every
proprietor of dwelling or business house
hould, prior to March l. ensuing. pro-
'ide at his own expense as many nre buck
It's of leather. containing two and talt
,allons, as there were stories to his house
Inder a penalty of 81 for each bucket he
i'd not provide as required by law; all |
we're likewise required TO keep these
buckets in a conspicuous place and send
hem to fires that might break out.
On the oath OF July, 1904 the city was
ivided into fire wards and fire com
anies organized. That portion of the city
vest OF Sixteenth street constituted the
FIRST ward; that part bounded by Six
zenith Street on the west. by & Street on
he south, and by Third Street on the east
onstituted the Second ward; that portion
outh of G Street constituted the Third
fard, and all the rest OF the city the |
'ourth ward. An individual was appointed |
n each ward whose duty 1t was to call |
Dgether the citizens of that ward for the
Lrpose OF organizing themselves into fire
ompanies. Each of the four companies
hus formed elected annually one of its
iemhers 10 the board of fire directors for
ne whole city.
The apparatus used Dy these companies |
lr extinguishing fires would appear, at |
his day, very primitive. The engines were
lerely large hand pumps, which were
,lled to the scene of the fire by the fire.
len themselves
On December is. 1897, a meeting was
ED at the Franklin Fire Company's hall
n the purpose of organizing a regular
re department. for which purpose the !
blowing officers were elected: Rev. I
rench S. Evans president: E. Hanley c
ce president: Charles Calvert, secretary; | a
Scott treasurer, and S. Drury. captain I
engineers. Mr.. Evans resigned his po-
tion February 10, and was succeeded by g