The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-05-18

OF solid gold weighing % penny
weight Upon the face is inscribed,
Chief OF Fire Department, Ply
moth, Ind" On the reverse side
Presented TO Fred H. Kuhn by Wide
Awake Hose Co., 1905 1t is need
less to say that Mr. Kuhn is very
proud of the medal. He was COM
pletly taken by surprise and in few
words expressed his gratitude to his
comrades. After the meeting he
treated the boys to ice cream and
smokes" at Alberts
The following is the address OF pre-
sentation made by First Assistant
Fire Chief Underwood, Foreman OF
Wide Awake Hose Co:
Comrades:
This meeting is not held on any
regular anniversary, but it is near to
being one. In June, 1893, Wide
Awake Hose Co., No. ?. was organi-
zed, and added to the Plymouth Fire
Department. Dy next month we will
have rounded out % years of service
The most OF you know the history OF
the Company, as it has ben an open
book for the public to read at any
time, and as one who has been honor
ed by you as an officer all of that
time, | am not ashamed to let the
people of our city know all of our
acts as an organization. / think we
have the good will of the people,
and hope we shall individually and
collectively ever merit continuance
of their respect.
AT our meeting of August, 1898,
the name of Fred H. Kuhn was pro-
posed for membership, and on motion
the rule was suspended. case of en-
ergency declared, and he was elected
that evening At that time Mr.. Kuhn
was serving the Department and the
City as the Chief Officer, having been
appointed, at the suggestion of the
Department, by the Council on May
6, 1884, year after the organization
of our Company.
Mr.. Kuhn was born in 1858, and at
the age of &c had so far established
a reputation as a fire fighter that at
such an early age he was chosen as
Chief-and that he has in the past 2l
years lost none of his ability in this
line, the fact that he still holds the po-
sition is proof enough. The changing
political complexion of the City gov
ernment has never affected Mr..
Kuhn's hold upon the ofice-all alike
recognizing his superior worth in this
sphere.
Mr.. Kuhn has ever been interested
in the welfare of the City, and at the
same time loyal to the entire depart
ment of fremen. He has never urged
men to take risks that he himself
would shirk, but has ever been found
where danger was greatest In his
efforts to combat the fire fend, he has
recognized that in the language of
the lamented Chief Sweenie of Cnica-
go, "the science of fighting FIRE is get
ting there quick"
When Mr.. Kuhn became Chief he
was quite "sprinter' and for man
of his build could be counted on to
"get there, Eli" Becoming convin-
ced that the use of horse would en-
allie him to make quicker time he
took to the saddle, and could be seen
coming down the line like a jocky,
with stirrup gong warning. the on
lockers Later a buggy was put into
the service, all at his own expense.
Time, with her wonderful inven-
tions, brought to the hand of man
kind the automobile, and Our Efficient
Chief can now be looked for coming
on the wings of the wind, driving his
"red devil when the changing bell
and footing whistle gives notice that
the dread enemy-6re-is raging. At
one time Mr.. Kuhn conceived the
idea that the bicycle should be made
to do service in its turn as means
of transporting him to the place OF
duty, but-we1l he ssiled. We never
had the pleasure of seeing him ride to
a FIRE on a bike"
Mr.. Kuhn will not be such very
old man when he has served the City
and the Fire Department as Chief for