The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-26
VETERAN FIREMAN
TO QUIT SERVICE
Rufus Newman, 50 Years in
the Harness" to Pre-
sent Resignation.

Rufus Newman, the oldest member
OF the fire department in age as we'll
as in service will resign his position
as driver of the No. > combination
chemical and hose wagon January l.
Mr.. Newman, who was seventy years
old Sunday. and who has been in the
service since September Is. 1873,
gives as his reasons for rendering his
resignation to Chief Miller that he is
unable to do his work properly on &C
count of his age and failing health.
Mr.. Newman says that he is taking
this step voluntarily, believing that
younger man could do his work bet.
ter. He says that there is no i'll feel
ing between himself and the head OF
the department, or other city officials,
and that he has not been requested to
resign. Mr. Newman is the second
driver in the department to resign
during the past few months, George
Wilson, formerly driver of the hook
and ladder truck, who was the Oldest
active fireman in the United States,
retired some time ago because he was
to be transferred to the No. 5 COM
pany.
For more than thirty-eight years Mr..
Newman has been connected with the
fire department in the capacity of
driver of the No. ? company. When he
started in the service it was as driver
of the one-horse reel, stationed at the
No. hose house, where the present
city building stands. With the ex-
ception of every eighth day, year in
and year out. and few days vacation
Mr.. Newman has spent the greater
part of the past thirty-eight years at
the No. hose house.
when ! became connected with the
department we had no fire alarm sys-
tenn and no telephones" MIR. Newman
said. when there was fire the per-
son who noticed the blaze was obliged
to run to either the No. l or No. 2
hose house and notify us. The har-
ness was kept on the horses constantly
because we had no equipment as we
have now for hitching the horses
quickly to the wagons.
There were but eight regular men
on the department at that time, four at
the No. hose house and four at the
No house. These men were paid
$40 per month. However. there were
eight minute men who were not
classed with the regulars They were
called upon whenever there was a fire
and were paid 1888 per month. We
had no water works or pumping sta
ton and consequently we were obliged
to get our water from cisterns and
wells.
II have seen all of the improve
ments, one by one, during the past
thirty-eight years, and they certainly
have added to the efficiency of the de-
partment, so that now we can be on
the scene of fire within few min
utes after we are notified and If an
alarm of fire is sounded shortly after
the fire has started we soon get 1t un-
der control. l doubt very much 1t
there will be as many improvements
during the next thirty years as have
been made during the past thirty
years.
When Mr.. Newman accepted the po-
sition as driver at the No. house,
Isaac Dougan was chief of the fire de-
partment The other members of the
! No. company were James Parsons,
Charles Hebbler and Isaac Newby.
Mr.. Newman says he intends to re-
tire and will not enter any line of bust
ness.
Fire Chief Miller, speaks very high
! ly of the work of Mr.. Newman, saying
he has performed his duties in most
efficient and conscientious manner.