The San Francisco call., 1901-12-22

- ing cry of Fire, Fire"' as the
bell of the old City Hall at
Washington and Kearny streets rang out
its fearsome message.
Then the rush of many feet, shouts and
the light of lanterns; the sound of clank-
ing brass and wheels. and the good city
folk of that time would tumble out of
bed to see Knickerbocker Engine Com
pany No. dash by on a run. Frequently
the watchers would see the strange sight
Of a fair-haired girl clad in fireman's hat
and coat tugging along at the ropes of
the engine or running with the men,
shouting words of encouragement.
Many would say as they gazed. well.
Lilies with 'em tonight" or Look.
there goes Lille Hitchcock, the daughter
OF the fire laddies" For in those. days.
in the last half of the fifties and in the
sixties, Lille Hitchcock was truly the gall
liant comrade and informally recognized
member Of Knlckerbocker Company No.
s. She had her key TO the engine house
on Sacramento street and to the meet
ing-room the same as any other brave
fireman.
She was the daughter Of DR.. Hitchcock,
an old resident of San Francisco; a gen.
tleman Of the cid regime from South
Carolina, who served as a surgeon in the
Confederate army. When the little one
arrived he was disappointed. for he had
set his heart on the girl being boy
but he is reported TO have said: well,
never mind, Wen do the best we can to
make her a boy" So Lille came honest
ly by the taste for masculine sports and
pursuits, which she developed from q
child.
Engine No. was not her first love in
the shape of a fire engine. Across the
street from the Oriental Hotel at Battery
and Bush streets, where the Hitchcooks
made their home when she was q tiny
girl. was the engine house of No 4.
This engine had a great fascination for
Lille and another girl friend, also Of the
irrepressible sort, and who is still living
in San Francisco, and together they
planned to get on the right side of the
fremen. They did IL successfully, and
there never was an alarm of fire in that
vicinity but these two small women would
put on red shirts kept for the occasion
and start for the engine house in the hope
of getting ride on the engine, which they
sometimes would accomplish.
But the best Of friends must part, and
great was the wailing when the second
small girl was big enough and mischiev-
Gus enough TO be sent to San Jose con-
vent Then Lilies mother sought to nip
in the bud her daughters love for the
life of daring fire laddle. but as well
Try to stop the wind from blowing. The
little miss used to pass on her way to
school the engine house at $40 Sacramento
street, still standing. then the home of
No. 3. the redoubtable engine of tho
Knickerbocker Fire Company,
There sne used to stop and look with
longing eyes at the brass of the machine;
once she stopped and asked a question
IL ia I +-I,.
displayed won the hearts of the hremen
of No. 3, and she has held them to this
day. One Of the members Of the COM
pany then drove an omnibus for the old
Peoples line, and would often give the
little wOuld-be fireman a lift on the way
TO school.
After this confidential basis was estab-
lished the fire bell would never ring at
any hour hut the men of No. knew that
Lille Hitchcock would be on the streets
somewhere. watching for them. They all
grew 10 have great interest and pride
in their young comrade, and as the years
went on the attachment increased and
has never decreased on either side.
This continued for some years and the
little girl had grown to the threshold
Of sweet sixteen perhaps, when ii is said
a gallant fireman, q dashing young fel-
low, showed symptoms of having designs
upon the heart Of ''the daughter Of the
sent to join the other girl, who had been
missing al the fires for so long time
at the San Jose convent.
But this girl. who hunted and rode like
a boy on her fathers ranch at St. He
lena, and handled a gun with the best Of
them, was not the young person to en-
dure such seclusion without a protest.
She very promptly tried the method of
starving herself. This succeeded. and she
was brought home to the Occidental Ho-
tel, where her parents were then living.
AS she grew nearer to the estate of a
full-hedged young lady. her interest in
her "fireboys," as she called them. grew
to be more and more a part of her life
She kept her hreman's hat and belt upon
a hook or any other convenient piece
Of furniture in her room where she couid
snatch it up and be off at the first sound
Of the fire alarm. More than that, she
secured badge permitting her within
the lines at fire.
1t was a hobby carried to extremes
with her, perhaps, but in these days It
was considered the thing for ladies to be
honorary members OF fire companies. The
SansOme hook and ladder was a grand
affair, numbering among its members all
the young boods Of the town. When they
gave a grand ball at Music Hall It was
d social event long to be remembered.
Number 4" carried for many years
their engine in paraGes an apron of red
white and blue silk thrown to them one
Fourth Of July by a lady whom they
cheered for wearing it.
On August II, 1863. members fee of
500 was paid by the chairman of a meet
ing Of the members Of Knickerbocker
Engine Company No. 5. at which Lille
Hitchcock was formally made an honor
ary member Of the company The amount
OF the fee was contributed afterward by
the members Of the company and re-
turned TO the chairman. That was an
event which she who was thus honored
looks back upon as one cf the pleasant
est Of her life, and the anniversary of
which has been suitably recognized nv
her ever since. On Christmas day 1863
beautifully engrossed certificate of
membership costing the company 500
was presented to "the daughter of tho
fire ladies in her mothers rooms at the
Occidental Hotel by Assistant Foreman
Stephen Bonner Of No. ), who is now ser
geant Of police here.