The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-12
WIuMARTn IS DEAD.
fcontinued from Page one.)

-
to every alarm, day and night The
iceclad buildings in zero weather ana
the suffocatfng heat In midsummer
had no terrors for him. The swaylng
OF walls. the intensity , OF heat ,,aara ana
and ceiling, and the roaring OF flames
aroused no fear in his dutiful, daring
ana courageous character.
Known either personally or py
reputation by every fire department
head in the county. Chief Wilmarth
was an authority in fire fighting mat
ters. His civil service ana pension
plans have been adopted in every part
of the United States. The equipment
used by the companies in Topeka to-
day was built to follow out the plans
and designs of the veteran fire f1gnter
In late years the chief was watched
carefully by his officers Haro OF
hearing, he was in constant danger
while fighting a fire. For several
years he has been accompanied con-
stantly-unknown to himself-by his
driver. Scores of times he has been
ing 1t was his belief that the chief
should be the last man to ABANDON
| doomed structure. AS long as the
water flowed through the hose, the
veteran stuck to his post. He was a
| constant stimulant to the efficiency OF
| the officers and men under his cnarge
His Power of Endurance.
Small of stature. but rugged and
Vigorous, Chief Wilmarth always has
been q most familiar character In
Topeka. His attention to the most
trivial affairs of his men made him a
lovable Character type ON or many my
llove. His recognition of service and
duty, brought under his direction a
most competent and loyal depart
ment of firemen and officers. His at
tention to the smallest details OF his
office and working equipment made
him an official of value and economy
to the city OF Topeka
i The fire chief would have been II
years of age this spring. His last fif-
teen years of service have been a
marvel to his friends and associates.
His power Of endurance, his ability to
withstand the soakings of wintry
Iblasts, his constant service at the Of
Il fee. his exposure to the heat and
lcold-his physical makeup has suf-
| fered the torments of a score of nat
ural lives.
i Chief Wilmarth began public SER
Ivice by the organization of volun-
|teer fire department in Topeka-the
first in the history of the city. He
was appointed the first chief of the
Ipaid department. He has built up
the organization until today it in
cludes ten companies, 64 men ana
possesses $150,OOO in equipment
; The last word that the chief sent to
\
yesterday. He called Tommy" Hig-
gins, his driver for years and now In
charge of station No. 5, to his side
Reaching up and giving his familiar
pat on the shoulder. the chief said:
,I This is Wednesday-be good to-
: day, Tommy, my boy"
It seems that Wednesday always
has been the hardest day for the de-
partment in Topeka. 1t was the one
day in the week that Tommy drove
the chiefs car. And for many moons
: the unlucky Wednesdays have wit
messed from one to five fires. 1t wal
5 the first Wednesday for months tha
the chief was not ready to respond tt
Kind. braves loyal fearless
. grand old man. Truly, Topeka ha.
! been stricken today!
Il His Life Story.
III George o. Wilmarth was born il
a Providence. r: l.. in 1888.
= of sturdy Kansas settlers, who wer'
:, struggling to make Of 1t q free state
n At the conclusion of the border wal
: he returned to his former home t.
finish his studies, and in 1859 came t.
Topeka and established the first bOol
and stationery store in the city. Il
j 1869 fire destroyed his establishment
which for those days was large. TIL
loss was complete, not even a book o
4 an account being saved.
In 1865 he was appointed by tn
mayor and council to the office of cit
n clerk, which he held until 1870. l
n was during the latter year that h
g became a member of the fire depart
q ment, joining Safety Hook and Lad
y der company No. 1, in which com
pany he soon attained the position Q
assistant foreman, and in April, 1877
y was chosen chief of the department
\, which office he has filed with homo
.. to himself and credit to the city up t
l. the present time. being in continuou
l. service A. years, Al years and 1
Is months Of which he was chief. Thl
l; is the longest service record OF an
81 fire chief in the United States.
~ Chief Wilmarth was a strict dis
8. ciplinarian, although not harsl
a Never forgetful of his men, he we
studiously attentive to their safe'
or OF duty. At fires he never called Q
his men to go where he himself woul
l. not go.
1e Chief Wilmarth was q member
i, the National Association Of Fire Ell
gineers, a body comprising the chic
of the principal fire departments
America
During his long term of service
received several injuries, and hi
= many narrow escapes.
tn His home is located at 1101 We
Eighth street, where he leaves q wi
~ ow, but no children, his only son ha
ing been killed q few years ago in
- elevator accident in California
Although he had no children of
own, he was probably addressed
father" more often than any 9th
man in Topeka, and those who a
dressed him thus did so with respt
at and endearment. He was "fathe
he to all the boys IN the nre oepal
his ment ana TO the CITY naAi emptoye
Sorrow at City Hall.