The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-12-04

The Maverick Hose Co, Wh1ch
flourished in the early days OF
Billings, n maintained ,ts organ
ton, went into effect in Montana
in 1918, stands out as perhaps the
most unique semi-Official group
in the history of this states mu-
inequalities. Its members paid for
the privilege of fighting fires, both
in initiation fees and dues. AdmlS-
sion was limited and granted only
after the candidate had proved his
viriIity by withstanding a series OF
tests which the proud withstanders
claimed left all lodge remonies In
the a
The Maverick Hose Co. perhaps was
no more unique than its predecessor,
the Yellowstone Hook & Ladder Co,
except that it maintained a more stable
and permanent organization an q
reached the point where it was looked
upon as a tradition in Billings mu-
nicipal life. It maintained club rooms
and held a banquet every year.
After the arrival of prohibition,
members opined that the annual ban
quet would no longer measure up to
the standard set over many ear ana
so the Maverick Hose Co. disbanded.
The firefighting was Ma;tb oetng ghs ao annu ng
banquet membership in the Mavericks
was no longer even recreation.
In the summer Of 1884, two years
after Billings was founded, a fire wiped
out a portion of the business section
of the city. There was at that time no
organized fire department.. A month
later the first fire department. was
formed, a volunteer organization called
changed its name to the yellowstone
Hook and Ladder Co. First officers of
the brigade we're Fred H. Foster, pres
ident; George M. Hays, vice president;
w. H. Van Sinden, secretary; H.. II.
Mund, treasurer; S. S. Smith, CHIEF;
J.. G. Bond, first assistant chief. and
G. A. Griggs, second assistant chlef.
The fire. fighting apparatus consisted
of a hand-drawn hook n ladder
wagon and a number OF buckets. n
official uniform was a red shirt.
The Married Mems Call
The fire hall was a two-story frame
with a rope dangling into the room
below. Medals were offered the first
man to reach the hall and ring the
bell in case of fire. I'm Ease of fire"
because sometimes there were false
alarms. Particularly on Sunday after
noon the bell sometimes rang vigor:.
ously. Small boys and loafers around
town would scurry through the alleys
and side streets, but could find no fire:
That was known as "the married
mems CALL" and while wives worried
over the welfare Of their spouses who
answered it, the nan of the family
would be enjoying q quiet game OF
poker or q Dutch lunch on the upper
floor of the fire hall, where none but
members of the company were per-
mitted.
When the fire bell rang calling each
man to do his duty, they could be seen
scurrying from their homes in all parts
Of the village towards the fire hall.
The doors would swing open n the
running firemen emerge with the
hand-drawn hook and ladder wagon,
buckets dangling from bars on each
side of the vehicle. When the fire was
reached, buckets were passed from
hand to hand along a line OF men
reaching to the nearest water supply.
The bucket system was the only
method of fighting fire in Billings
until 1887. when the city waterworks
was installed. Then two hand-drawn
hose carts, each with a reel OF hose,
were purchaser for use of the firemen.
In a Huff, Brigade Disbands
Until 1888 the organization was
known as the Yellowstone Hook and
Ladder Co. That year, however, a liv-
cry stable caught fire and burned to
the ground. The mayor, E. B. Camp,
criticized the ann in which the
firemen had combatted the flames, and