Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-11
HAD FIREMAN ARRESTED
FOR WETTfNc HIM.
But Or. chauncev Burgess Lost His
Case, Says Old Record Book.

4
The first record book OF Engine COM
pany No. 5, presented to the Norwich
fire department by Robert Mahoneys
and Of which mention was made In
Tuesdays Bulletin. contains many in
teresting bits of old the old volunteer
company's history.
Under date of May 1. 1s47. appears
the following:
company, the members were most of
them present. and the machine worked
to the satisfaction of all No accident
happened to any OF the members of the
company, and the cierk regrets that
he has to record that such was not
the case with the immense throng Of
spectators who had assembled to wit
ness the energetic performance of the
company. 1t unfortunately happened
that one of our most worthy citizens,
Doct. Chauncey Burgess, was passing
at the moment the men were at work
on the brakes. He was accidentally
wet in consequence of not being SEEN
Every effort was made by Mr.. Newell
TO convince the doctor that 1t was an
accident and altogether unintentional,
but without success. and there being
no other redress for the doctor, MI
Newell was arraigned as criminal
upon an action of assault and battery.
The case was brought before Justice
L. w. Rogers and ably argued by
Messrs. W. L. Brewer for the plaintiff
and Edmund Perkins for the defend
ant. The testimony was mostly intro
duced by the doctor himself and the
justice decided the case was not made
out and the defendant was discharged.
We believe Mr.. Newell was sustained
by every good citizen and by all the
members of the company
| Under date of Friday evening, March
I'd. 1s49. the following appears:@
Company met agreeable to bylaws.
| Foreman Peale in the chair. The first
was the calling of the roll; the second
| the report of the treasurer. Third the
choice of officers with following re-
suits:
Henry PeaIe, foreman; d. A. Della
ney, first assistant; Norman Walls
second; t. 1. Champlin, clerk and treas
| urer.
The. following motto was proposed
apd accepted Work me well, keep me
4 clean. I'll take the But of any ma
| chine" and ordered to be put on the
machine.
The following is an account of q
wafer throwing contest held Saturday
May 23d. 1850:
The company was formed and were
escorted to Franklin square by Com
pany No. 8. They proceeded to east
end Of Main street and met Quinebaue
company No. of Greeneville, and
i with Hudson and Niagara companies
in the rear marched back through
Main street, up Union street to Broad
way: then met the No. of the Falls
from thence into Washington street
and down to Franklin square. Here
we were addressed by HIS Honor. We
then had a consultation with the en-
gineers. The result was that we were
| assigned to work in a line from the
dock to the tall steep1e on Main street
Our number took the suction, FRS
played into No. 1, into No. 2, to No. 8
from to No. 6, thence into Quincbaue
No. I. and they on the steeple. three
| rounds. The result of play was thai
No. was the only machine that wei
| the Cabbage Head.
Owing to counter orders, No. and
| No. had a short sxirmish. No lives
| lost.
After we were dismissed the com
pany proceeded to Franklin square tC
hear the decision of the appointed
judges. who declared no. 5 winner Of
| the day.
Under date of March S. 1852, tho
record book shows that @. H. Stanton
father of Chief Howard L. Stanton
was elected second assistant foreman
of the company.