Los Angeles herald., 1905-06-25

similar size in America.
The fact is, there has never been a
large fire in Los Angeles-that is to
say, any which the department has
had any real difficulty in handling. This
immunity is probably not owing en-
tirely to the vigilance, dash and skill
of the fire fighting forces of the city,
though much of 1t is surely referable
to those grounds. Two other causes
The first is the absence of night winds,
both In San Francisco and Los Ange-
les, and most Of the fires everywhere
start in the night time. The second
is the liberal use of redwood in build
ing operations. A fire will make more
headway In a city in section built
OF granite than of redwood.
Well Known Members
In this old volunteer fire department
there were many highly interesting
characters. Take Jake Kuhrts, for in
stance. This gentleman has kept up
his interest in fire matters to the pres
ent day, and as a fire commissioner
his advice has been invaluable to the
body Of which he is member. Many
day and oft has Jake stretched his
long legs racing to fires as a member
of the old "Thirty-Eights," setting a
pace which many shorter limbed
man had much ado to keep up. Jake
is Of German birth and began life as
q rio nd rio
full claim to be man of leisure. He
is compound of Nimrod and Izaak
Walton, and with gun and rod he
puts in his time right pleasantly, keep
ing an eye on the closed seasons on
land and water, and seeing to it that
everything goes we'll with the fire lad
dies.
Thomas e. Rowan, one of the origi-
nal Thirty -eights," whose recent and
premature death cast gloom over Los
Angeles, was one of the best known
and best liked men who ever lived in
this city. He was popular with the
boys" and with all classes. He had
tiptop qualifications as a club man and
was popular as politician and mayor.
He was well qualified to run with the
machine, as he was a great gymnast.
His sudden death surprised every one,
as, almost to year or two before his
death, he could try a handspring and
walk across a floor in the old Califor-
MIA club, on his hands, with his heels
toward the ceiling. Tom Rowan was
nf nd Loft 1fl
sons who have made some mark in
the world, a widow, and a daughter. |
His going hence has left social gap
which may not soon be filled. AS a |
fireman and citizen he was of the
best.
c. {. Miles Was One
AS a fireman, Charles E. Miles was
Of the order of the superlative. Char
ley" as he was known all over South
ern California by his friends, who
were in truth legion, came to Los An
seles from Baltimore and was a type
of the Maryland good felow-none bet
ter No one who knew him in his
bright, halcyon days would ever have
dreamed that he would have such a
'ad endinng. He was civil engineer
oy profession, and was connected with
he Los Angeles Water company in
is early days. Starting out as a MEM
ser, afterward captain of the Thirty
lights" Miles became chief of the Los
Angeles fire department. Unfortu-
lately for him, he entered politics, a
ole I'm which he utae aurnrisiroIx, NON |
liar. He had every qualification for
politics but one, he could not for the
ife of him say no.
He was elected county recorder on
he Democratic ticket and then his
roubles began. When any of the lion
ecourse was of course had to Charley ,
files He was not the dernier resort of ,
he impecunious but their first. Such ,
rule of running an office where large I
ums of money were taken in could TX
ave but one result. Soon the generous {
nd unthinking Charley Miles awak- $
ned to find himself unable to make I
is regular settlement with the county, 10
nd he found himself in default to a s
amount, S
His Bad Luck
Fortunately a large-hearted brother,
ho was broker in San Francisco, t
anne to his relief and made the de- 7
lut good. From this time there was a c
light upon poor Charley which his
lends saw and which he himself felt a
Iost poignantly. He was out OF luck a