Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-14
CITYS FIREMEN
TO HOLD JUBILEE
Fiftieth Anniversary Of Paid
Department to Be Cele-
brated Tomorrow

The Philadelphia frc department will
celebrate its ffticth anniversary as n
paid orga nization tomorrow with pa
rade and reception to Ne men who
have been with the force since March
10. 1871
Starting from fire Headquarters. IBIS
Race street the parade will swing down
Broad street to City Hall. the five vet
eterans in flower laden automobiles
being surrounded by a guard Of honor
! Of those next to them in years of service
In the Mayors reception room they will
be received by Mayor Moore. who will
extend 10 them the city's thanks for
their loyalty during half a century.
Captain John Rumney. 1884 Ridge
avenue, ia the oldest in years of the
veterans. having been appointed fore
man of Engine II at the age Of thirty
three. He has been with that company
during his entire period of service. In
the same firehouse is William flanagan.
1877 Green lane. driver of the engine.
who Joined the force at the age of
twenty seven. He has been with En-
gine II since 1883 Recently Rumney
and flanagan were given banquet By
the Twenty first Ward Board of Trade
at which they were each presented with
purse containing 5000
Captain Charles Williams 1898 Fast
Atlantic street, Of Engine COMPANY 90.
another Of the charter members" Of
the department. having been appointed
to Engine l3 as fireman when thirty
two years old lie has been trans &.
ferred to various companies .hrOughOut
the city many times. With John Rum
ncy he served in the Civil War.
Driver for Forty eight Years
William ',raham. 2514 A street, il
the youngest of those to be honorcd
having become fireman at the age OF
twenty three. For forty eight Years he
has been driver for Engine -, hay-
ing previously served with Engine Cos.
II and %.
John j. Winring. l457 North FELTON,
street. served with Engine No. when
he joined the fire fighters at the age of
twenty seven. In 1873 he was trans
ferred to Truck 3, and since 1900 has
served with Engine II.
Lacking but one year to be ClasSed
with the charter members is Rattal
ion Chief George W. Nallinger, who has
been with the force since 1872
The founding of the paid Fire De q.
partment dates back 10 the old volun
teer days. when the rivalry between the
various companies grew TO such n pace
as to cause furious feudS. rulminatinu
in the two notable ones of 1870 be :
tween the Good Will and the Philadel q.
phia Engine Cos. and the Spring Gar
den and Western Cos, reSDectiycly.
These organizations had frequently
run afoUl OF each other at differcn,
h'a2eS and finally the Philadrlphia
Engine Co. men capped the climax by
| dumping the carriage of the Good viii
Co, into the Schuylkill river of the San
som street wharf, and then setting fire.
50 the story goes. to an old -four mill
at Broad and Vine streets.
Retaiiate With Similar Tactics
Copying these tactics, the Spring
Garden Fire Co. threw the carriage OF
the Western Fire Co. into the river and
then rejoiced at the Westerns = discom-
6ture when hre broke out in their
territory. Battles on the streets were
common between the fighting factions
and finally the authorities intervened
after some men had been beaten over
the head with ''spanners'' for coupling
bsst 4nd seriously injured.