New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1903-12-23

tuc 4uSeuulGy u Gu0s-0dfly pioneers
provided, the fire fighters have added
to their resources from time to time
until now they can boast of one OF the
best equipments in Minnesota and a
record for efficiency which is probably
unsurpassed. s:
The New Ulm Fire Department had
its inception within a very few years
after the founding of the village.
Hardly had the sturdy German settlers
commenced upon the task of building
up the wilderness before they took
steps, headed by Chas. E. Roos and
Charles Wagner, to secure the best
fire protection possible. This was as
early as 1857 but, of course, at that
time there was no actual organization
the faith of the citizens being foun-
ed upon the primitive bucket brigade,
Upon the discovery Of fire the viii
layers would rush to the threatened
quarter carrying their own pals and
recepticles and accounts say that their
efforts were usually successful. It
was apparent, however, that this rude
method would not answer all require
ments and certain ambitious settlers
fell back upon their inventive facul-
ties to supply the deficiencies. Jacob
Flick, q barber, employed his spare
moments in perfecting small suction
pump, operated by hand, and when
the device had been complicated Aug.
Quense, the parochial harness maker,
patiently fashioned a hose from leather.
PRIMITIVE LEATHER HOSE.
This appliance, which continued in
use for a number of years and an
swered its purpose admirably, is
spoken of by the older settlers as a
thing wonderful to behold, but it does
not seem any more impossible to the
modern fireman than was the alarm in
those days. Although church bells and
steam whistles came into vogue a
few years later, there were then no
churches in New Ulm and as sub
stitute monster circular saw was
brought into requisition.
Held aloft by two muscular men,
others would strike upon it's surface;
raising din upon the improvised toe
sin which could be heard distinctly
for several miles. The pump with it's
leather hose was preserved as a relic
for years and the old circular saw is
still extant. Today it is an humble
property on the stage of the Turner
Theatre and, when it is desired to pro-
duce cathedral effect, the tolling of
the bell is obtained from the same
source whence came the wilder fire
alarms of the territorial period.
DEPARTMENT. ORGANH D.
The first organization of which there
is any record was pc fected about
1865. Charles Wagner was elected as
the first chief of the department and
among the original members were
Chas. Roos, Carl Bach, Julius Berndt,
Jos. Popp, August Stock, Geo.Dauer,
Chas. Schroeck, Peter Herrian, J. F..
Neumann, August Hellmann, Charles
Stoll and Chas. Brust. Of the fore
going Chas. Brust and Chas. Stoll
are still active members of the depart
ment. -, Z
When officers had been elected and
a constitution adopted, the city pur-
chased a large hand pump, one of the
first models to be placed on the mar
ket. 1t was cumbersome aft air and
was so heavy that when the firemen
had trundled it to blaze they had
little strength left with which to oper-
ate the handles. However, they
made the most of the facilities and a
number of the largest fires we're fought
with the apparatus. Subsequently
two smaller pumps, which could be
handled by four men, were secured
and the entire lot housed in a building
erected for the purpose in German
Park. When they became obsolete
the larger pump was sold to the vii
lage of Morton, where it is still in
commission, and the two smaller
thrown aside as useless. They still
remain as reminders of an age which
now seems almost prehistoric.
During the cyclone of 1881 the engine
house in German Park was demolished
and to replace it the present engine
house on Broadway was erected.
November 10, 1887, the department
was reorganized and given its present
name. At the first meeting Chas.
Stoll was elected president: Fred
Pfaender, vice president; VIM. Brust,
secretary; Emil Weschcke, treasurer,
and Peter Herrian was named as chief.
] It was at this time that the movement
was inaugurated which has given the
KoDoL DYSPEPSIA CURE
Digests al. classes Of food, tones and
strengthens the stomach and digestive
Inrunt,s. Cures DysDp Dsia. Indigestion,