The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-29

now captain of. His connection with
the department has given him oppor-
tunity to display much judgment when
fighting fire and his election to the Of
flee was a reward brought about by his
record as fire fighter and discipltn-
arian.
Capt. James was born in Worcester
Oct IS, 1858. He received his early ed
ucation in schools which stood on the
Common and where the Gilman Block
now stands on Main Street. He also
attended for time the Thomas Street
school and later the school on Provi-
dence Street.
His parents died when he was but 10
years old and his career as a schoolboy
was cut short He began life working
on a farm and later entered the employ
of theWashburn & Moen Manufacturing
Company at the Grove Street works.
June 10, 1884 he was appointed a call
man ON Ladder and run from the
Prescott Street house. July /, 1885 he
was appointed tillerman on the ladder
by the late Chief Simon f. Coombs.
He stayed in the department year
and a half and resigned to accept a
position with the Richardson Manufac-
turing Company.
He was out of the department until
Dec. 1888 when Chief CoOmbs offered
him the berth of Captain of the ladder
company. which he accepted,
He was out of the depart
ment again for a short time and
in 1895 came back as captain of the
ladder company. His connection with
the fire department has been entirely
as a ladderman and the argument that
a ladderman should be on the Board
of Engineers has added to the board a
man who is considered thoroughly COM
petent to handle that necessary branch
Of fire fighting He has had almost II
years experience in ladder work.
During his years of service the WOr
cester department has been called upon
to deal with some big fires and Capt.
James has had his share of work in
every one. At the big Hudson fire
when a delegation of two members
from each company in the city was
sent to the fire Capt. James was elect
ed from Ladder and went down and
helped do effective work in cornering
the fire with First Assistant Engineer
Wesley n. Avery who was then on
Hose 4, and others.
At the HUXLEY fire in Bracket Court
wheL Fireman Boyle and Brigham lost
their lives. Capt. James with his COM
pany was on the roof not three min
utes before it caved in, carrying with
it death for the two heroes. Capt
James men had raised a ladder and the
company were ordered off the roof
shortly after The entire company
were on the ladder at different points
with the exception of one man when
the roof went in. Capt James would
have lost q man but for the ladder
projecting over the roof. The last
man grabbed the top round of the
ladder as the roof fell from under his
feet
Every fireman with years of exper-
fence can look back at many narrow
escapes, and Captain James is no ex-
ception. He never called on his men
to work where he would not take
hand himself and this measure in his
makeup gave those under him con-
fidence in his judgment
Last Fourth of July night when the
icehouses of the Walker Ice Company
at Institute Park were burned his
company had a narrow escape from
being buried under piles of the saw
dust used in packing the ice. In July,
49, when the ladder now used by the
company of which he is captain was
purchased and brought to the house for
the first time the agent was giving
a practical illustration of it's workings
for the benefit of the men who were
to man it. Chief Coombs was pres
ent and when the 70-foot ladder was
raised in the air a volunteer to mount
to the top of it was called for.
captain JaneS-dt Inat time tllIer-
man-climbed to the top and the lad
der. which was not braced except for
its fastenings at the bottom. swayed
at least u feet from its perpendicular
position. Chief CoOmbs commended
Captain James for his grit on that oc-
casion. The grit displayed at that time
has never left the captain and he has
always stood ready to battle flame
in its own balliwick.
Cantain lanes is married and has
two children-Herbert T., a student at