Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-25

set county, Maine. Yes, there II Z
fourth reason why am proud. and
that il my career as d fire fighter said
Mr.. Buckley today.
"Just what gives Mr.. Buckley the
def ermine.
Sometimes says he. 4 think Il IL
one. and then again think Il 10 IN.
other. 1t is pretty hard to determine.
" hen J.'fn Station Pooler comes over
and starts talking about fire nghting,
/ am sure that l am proudest Of my
record as the head of the fire fighting
force Of the capital city Of Maine. But
when Blaine Viles comes up from Au-
gusta to the land of milk and honey
and says, Gee John, but you don't look
much the same as you did when sent
you up here I'm dead certain that the
victory over tuberculosis Is the one
best bet. Then comes along some fell
low who says that getting a key to
st. john is a wonderful achievement.
and that looks like the plumb center.
after all.
"'But when George E. Fletcher. who
used to be the chief Of police of Au-
gusta. one who doesn't even know
what prevarication means, remarks
that the cup donating that ] am a
truthful man should be the one OF
!, which l should be the most proud, all
the others take to the rear
"Mr. Buckley was born at Augusta.
on the banks of the Imperial Kennebec.
and his father. the late Daniel Buck
ley. was for many years coachman for
James G. Blaine. AS a young man
the King Of Dead River early evinced
an interest in the fire department Of his
n md r. ~
enough entered the service. remaining
there until he had worked his way up
to the position Of chief. which he held
for eight years. At the end Of that
period his health was very poor, and
all thought he was to be an early VIC
tim Of consumption.
"Inhaling smoke at fires had weak
ened him. and the man who few
years before had been big, husky and
the picture of health. was weak. ema-
ciated and the shadow Of his former
self. Weighing but 80 pounds. 1t was
then that the Hon. Blaine S. Viles came
along and induced him as a last resort
to come up to this Dead River region.
No one believed that it would effect a
, cure. least of all Mr.. Buckley.
But the unexpected occurred. The
out of doors. the good air and life in
, rs pounds and can do an all day hike
! enough the woods without a puff when
| it comes night.
"As chief of the Augusta fire depart
ment the King of Dead River attend
/ ed many of the fircmen's conventions
of the New England states. as we'll as
many Of the national and international
| conventions. 1t was at one of these
| conventions that he received the key
to the city of st. John. This key was
given to him by the mayor Of the city
I, David Diplock. another Augusta fire.
man. receiving one at the same time.
1t was at convention at Toronto
Ontario, that he met John Strattor
Fooler then n member Of the fire de.
rartmcnt Of that city. Mr.. Pooler now
lives at Flagstaff. few miles from
here. Eacn month Mr.. Pooler tramps
or paddles his canoe over to the Ledge
House and Messrs. buckley and Poole,
talk fire fighting until an early hour
the next morning.
among the plans which Mr.. Buckley
is making fer the summer is to have
Albert jenkins. the mascot Of the Au
gusta fire department. visit him fol
several weeks at TIE Ledge House."