Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-10-02

1t seems quite proper before the
late visit of the Fire Chiefs of the
Northwestern Coast passes into his
tory to record some OF the incidents
connected with the early organization
of a fire service in this city, about
iorty years ago, facts that may have
quite passed out of the minds of the
few who remain who then constituted
the vigor and strength of our little
community. Feeble as we were then
compared with our present condition,
Olympia was the leading "city" on
the Sound, having the first regularly
organized fire company in the Terri
tory of Washington, and the first fire.
engine. if we except small affair at
the garrison of Fort Vancouver. oper.
sted by the soldiers for protection of
Uncle Sans property and the town OF
Vancouver, adjacent to the parade
grounds.
1t was along in the social season of
1864-5, that Charles E. Williams, one
of our leading merchants, and an en-
thusiastic fireman from training and
inclination originated project for Sc.
curing for our protection FIRE engine,
at time when many of the Eastern
small cities were substituting for their
hand apparatus pumps worked by
steam. He saw in the bargain column
OF some firemen's journal an advertise
ment of firstclass hand-engine, for
sale at much less than cost value, and
at once planned for its possession.
Owning" Olympic" afterwards Good
Templar's hall, the only place then
open to public entertainments. he
conceived the idea Cor rather adopted
the means which had been successfully
employed by the ladies to create Long
Bridge and give us Westside wharf, 10
accommodate line of ocean steamers)
OF a grand ball to raise the money.
In this instance the word grand was
not misapplied, for the price OF tickets
was placed at ten dollars and the sale
was unlimited. The consequence was
that everybody bought tickets, the
church people AZ we'll as the secularly.
minded "a true verification OF the
adage which declares that the act
may sometimes justify the means.
As all the costs were donated, the
gross amount, aggregating nearly il
not quite $500, was available for the
object. In the course of time the
purchase was made, and the engine
shipped by the long route around the
horn." but when the younger men be-
gan discussing the proposition Of
forming . company to "run der ma
chine" controversy arose as to the
ownership Of the engine, when it
should arrive, and the placing Of
wide door in the Olympic building
gave force to the rumor that Mr..
Williams regarded the engine as his
personal property and intended to
" house" it in his own building, but OF
course, for the public use. There
were "kickers" in those days, the
same as now, and as arbitration"
was not then panacea for oil trouble,
as time passed by. the larger the
mountain of Discomfort grew, until
open rebellion resulted, and q fire
company called the Squilgees" WAS
formed, without, however, any definite
idea OF the line of policy to be pur.
sued.
In this company was q man who
afterwards developed into quite an
important factor in politics, and, from
his persistent activity in public affairs,
finally became Surveyor General of
the Territory. His name was L. p.
Beach, and for several years he liter.
ally carried the political domination
OF Thurston county in his coat-pocket.
1t was 10 his conception OF the gro
tesque side OF matters that led to the
organization and subsequent acts of
the Squilgees. Taking it for granted
that Mr.. Williams claim to the en-.
gine completely removed all hope OF
its use, successfully, as public utility,
he, with several others. formed plan
for turning the movement into ridi'
cule. The running-gears OF wagon
we're obtained from Henry Winsor.
the liveryman, huge hogshead from
a crockery dealer, and q long hawser
and go.cart from Capt. Fiuch's wharf,
and these we're extemporized into a
very fair semblance of fire apparatus,
by ]. C. Hornbeck, the boat-builder
who in olden times owned q shop in
the old Cleale premises, corner OF
First and Water streets. Then post
ers were placed announcing in bold
type