History of San Joaquin County, California : with biographical sketches of leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 23

Author: Tinkham, George H. (George Henry), b. 1849
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1660

USA > California > San Joaquin County > History of San Joaquin County, California : with biographical sketches of leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 23

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The Hanneman machine was housed in a two-story brick building on Channel Street near Hunter, the lot being donated by Captain Weber. Their former engine house had been a wooden structure on the Levee where now stands the Hotel Stockton. The Hook and Ladder Company occupied the same house, but the Hooks were later located on Market Street. Where the Eureka was housed we do not know, but in 1854, a neat two-story build- ing, costing $11,450, was erected on Hunter Street for the use of the Eurekas and the Pro- tection Hook and Ladder. The second story was handsomely fitted up by the companies, and on the eve of Washington's birthday the 9

Eurekas gave a house-warming to all of their brother firemen and friends. It was said to be "the greatest event of the city, tables were spread with every luxury upstairs and down, and champagne flowed freely. The members spared no expense and the invited guests com- prised our best citizens."

In the last month of the year the Eurekas were again made happy because of the arrival of their splendid second-class Smith engine, a machine that proved to be, in their hands, the best second-class machine on the Pacific Coast. The machine had been ordered by the council of the Button & Smith Fire Engine Company, of New York, at a cost of $1,500. Shipped around Cape Horn, it arrived at San Francisco on the clipper ship Phantom late in December, '54. The engine arrived in Stockton December 28, on the steamer Cornelia, and that evening "the ceremony of receiving the new engine was the occasion of a gallant dem- onstration on the part of our firemen." A pro- cession was formed and preceded by a band they again marched to the Levee and manning the engine ropes, they paraded through the principal streets, then back to the cistern, cor- ner of Main and Center, where the throwing power of the machine was tested. Although new and working stiff, the company were well pleased with her first performance as she threw a solid stream of water seventy-five feet through the open "butt" hose and a seven- eighth inch nozzle "pipe," thirty feet higher than the flagstaff.

San Joaquin Company

Soon after the Eureka was well settled a new fire company, the San Joaquin, was organized March 12, 1855, with George Schultz as fore- man. , The company numbered twenty-eight men, mostly Germans, and they adopted as their uniform gray shirts, black trousers, glazed caps and black belts with the name of the company inscribed thereon. Later they adopted red shirts and in time all of the com- panies had fire hats. The old piano machine formerly used by No. 2 was turned over to them and it was housed in a shack of a building where now stands the Chamber of Commerce rooms on Weber Avenue. During the following year the city fathers, for $300, secured a lot two blocks east where now the present chemical engine is located and a two-story brick build- ing was erected. This was the only company that had the proud distinction of having an alarm bell. It was purchased by subscription at a cost of $250, the German ladies donating fifty dollars of that amount from the proceeds of a ball. A bell tower was erected on the engine house and the bell installed. Alas, in loud clear tones it ne'er rang out for the bell

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was cracked. The company used it for several years, when it was supplanted in 1865 by a new bell weighing 480 pounds. When the new engine house, the present structure, was built, 1869, the bell was sold to a Linden church denomination.

A warm friendship existed between the fire- men and the traveling theatrical companies that played in Stockton and this friendship was expressed in gifts and theatre benefits. One of the first companies to play in Stockton was the Chapman family, including their daughter Caroline, a young girl of ten or twelve years of age. In August, 1852, they tendered the firemen a benefit, the proceeds to form a fund for disabled firemen. Two days later, memorial services were held, August 14, in memory of the death of the great statesman Henry Clay. Caroline Chapman on this occa- sion was the guest of the firemen, riding on the Hook and Ladder truck. This so pleased the young fire fighters that they tendered the Chapmans a benefit in the Corinthian Theater on the Peninsula.

Two years later in December, 1854, the Stockton Theater was opened under the man- agement of George Ryer, and in January, 1855, he tendered the firemen a benefit, in which Caroline Chapman volunteered her services. It was "one of the most brilliant entertain- ments they had ever witnessed. The firemen in their uniforms made a splendid appearance as they entered, preceded by the band playing 'Hail Columbia.'" At the conclusion of the performance Ryer responded to a curtain call; as he turned to leave the stage he was met by the chief engineer, Edwin Colt, who presented Ryer with a beautiful diamond pin, in the form of a cross, and studded with eleven large dia- monds and valued at $600. It was a gift from the firemen and other citizens.

At the close of the dramatic season, the fire- men were again favored with a benefit, and Caroline Chapman again volunteered her ser- vices. Mrs. Chapman was called on for a speech, and leaving the stage, she returned immediately bearing in her hands three mag- nificent silk banners, bearing the inscription of three fire companies Weber, Eureka, and Pro- tection Hook and Ladder, together with the date of their organization and their motto. Chief Engineer Colt received the banners and then called for three cheers for the Chapmans.

Howard Engine Company Visits Stockton

Another close friendship was that of the Stockton firemen for the firemen of other cities. The Howard Engine Company No. 3 of San Francisco visited Stockton June 19, 1855. It was one of the most notable events of that day, as the Howards were the high-toned engine company of the metropolis, and their foreman,

Frank E. R. Whitney, was one of the founders of the Dashaways, a temperance society, and a temperance man, something very unusual firemen. The Howards brought with them their beautiful double-deck engine presented to them by W. D. M. Howard at a cost of $5,000, and the American Brass Band. They were given a cannon salute of fourteen guns at day- light, ten guns when the reception committee received the visitors, and minute guns were fired during the moving of the parade. About 7 o'clock the Howards were welcomed to the city by the reception committee and escorted to the Protection engine house; from there they marched to breakfast at the Weber House. At 8 o'clock there was a firemen's parade, with two bands. At 6 o'clock the entire department marched to I. Zachariah's garden on Park Street, now the asylum grounds, "where they were served with a sumptuous repast by the proprietor. The following day by invitation of Dr. R. K. Reed, the resident physician, the visitors visited the Insane Asylum. The Howards then visited the home of Dr. E. S. Holden where they were enter- tained and partook of a collation gotten up in the doctor's best style." The third day they returned to San Francisco on the steamer Bragdon, the Stockton department escorted them to the boat, and the Howards from the hurricane deck gave cheer after cheer for Stockton and the ladies. Arriving home late that night they were received by the First Cal- ifornia Guard and the entire fire department of 700 firemen and escorted to their engine house. Chief Engineer Colt spared neither time nor money in entertaining the San Francisco fire- men. Remembering this, a short time after- ward, the company sent Chief Colt a fine fire hat valued at forty-five dollars, appropriately inscribed on the visor. On every parade Colt wore this hat, and of handsome features, com- manding appearance, wearing his heavy white coat and carrying his silver speaking trumpet, he was the observed of all observers.

Eurekas Make Return Visit

Early in June, 1856, the Howards invited the Eurekas to be their guests. The Stockton firemen accepted the invitation for July 4th, as the common council had refused to appro- priate any money towards a celebration here. Early in the afternoon of July 3rd the com- pany, fifty-five in number, led by Condy's Cornet Band and escorted to the steamer by their brother firemen, were cheered all along the streets, "and their machine was as bright as a new dollar and beautifully decorated with flags, ribbons and flowers." Arriving at San Francisco, as the steamer neared the Pacific Street wharf, they were welcomed by a cannon salute fired by the French artillery company

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of the Vigilance Committee. They were re- ceived by the entire San Francisco fire depart- ment, numbering over 700 men, in full uniform. On landing their machine, four men were de- tailed from each San Francisco company to man the Eureka's engine, and the firemen paraded the streets for nearly one hour, pass- ing each engine house during the parade. Then entertained by the Howards until 4 o'clock they were permitted to go to bed. Aroused early the following morning, for a fireman is supposed to never grow weary, they were kept going throughout the day, and that evening attended the American Theater. On Saturday the Howards and the Eurekas took the Stockton machine out for a wash, and the company at the brakes played 185 feet through an inch nozzle and 100 feet of hose; the San Francisco firemen then trying their muscle played 181 feet. That afternoon the Eurekas visited the Monumentals, the "big 6," as she was called, on Clay Street hill, the company for which the song, "The Engine House on the Hill" was composed. There a collation was given the visitors, and toasts given and songs sung. That evening the Eurekas were tendered a complimentary banquet at the American Exchange. It was one of the finest banquets ever given in San Francisco, the feast alone costing over $5,000. The bill of fare was printed on the richest of dark blue silk, in ink of pure gold. The following day, Sunday, they attended the service of the elo- quent divine, Rev. Dr. Scott. On the after- noon of June 7 they returned to Stockton, escorted to the steamer Urilda by the fourteen engines and three hook and ladder companies of the metropolis. The firemen declared that they had been treated like royalty. They couldn't spend a dollar, everything was paid for in advance by the Howards.

The motto of the Stockton firemen was "Where duty calls there we obey," and t1 believed it their duty not only to extinguish the destructive material fires, but to inspire and encourage the fire of patriotism in every American heart. During their existence they celebrated every natal day by a parade, and every member not in line was heavily fined unless he sent a qualified substitute. The citizens were not so patriotic, and in 1852 there would have been no celebration except for the action of Protection No. 1. Appointing a committee, they solicited subscriptions for a celebration, and finally aroused the do-noth- ings to action. The day was ushered in by the thunder of cannon from 2 o'clock in the morning until 10 o'clock. A procession was then formed upon the plaza, comprising the Hook & Ladder Company of forty men, with their truck handsomely trimmed; the Masonic order and citizens. Marching to the Methodist Church on Washington Street, they listened to

an oration by A. C. Bradford, the reading of the Declaration of Independence by J. A. Don- aldson, and patriotic music by the church choir. Dinners were then provided by the different hotels and the day ended with a grand ball in the dining room of the Crescent City Hotel.

On another occasion in 1859, Minard S. Thresher, foreman of the Weber Engine Com- pany, made a motion at the monthly meeting that they celebrate Washington's birthday with a grand ball. In support of his motion he declared that "It is one of the many duties of a representative body of citizens like the Weber Engine Company to keep alive in the community the patriotic spirit with which the fathers of our magnificent country were im- bued."

Patriotic Firemen

The patriotism of the Weber Engine Com- pany was never more emphatically expressed than in June, 1861, when the news came, April 26, by pony express, that the secession- ists had fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor. It was a crucial moment; the ques- tion was, are you for or against the Union? The Webers quickly answered the question by flinging to the breeze the Stars and Stripes on their magnificent flagpole, 130 feet in height, which was brought from Oregon in the rough and hewn into shape by the carpenter members of the company. It was planted in front of the engine house, a small brick build- ing then on Channel Street near Hunter and July 2 "a reunion was held and a celebration over the raising of a beautiful flag with stream- ers over their pole and the clinking of glasses was continually heard." The pole was topped by a tin fireman's hat four feet across. The flag was 16x30 feet with streamers 60 feet.

The Channel Street engine house was alto- gether too small for the housing of the steam engine purchased in 1863, and the common council erected for them a new and much larger engine house one block west. In lower- ing the flagpole to remove it to the new loca- tion, it got away from the workmen and falling with a crash, the smaller half was splintered into a thousand pieces. The company then send to Oregon for another pole and splicing it with iron bands, the pole 120 feet in length, was replanted in the center of the street, and surmounted with a galvanized weather vane representing a steam engine. Some four years later a boy of twelve years climbed the pole and reefed the halyards. It was a dangerous feat and for his work he was well rewarded by the company. This was the tallest, and the only ground-planted flagpole south of Sacra- mento, save that on Banner Island. It could be seen many miles distant from any direc- tion and with the flag and streamers flying. on a clear day, it was a beautiful and inspiring

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sight. The pole had a tragic ending. On February 9, 1870, a strong sou'wester was blowing with increasing violence; "during the gale windmills were upset, shingles blown from houses, and the Weber flagstaff fell to the earth with a crash, the pole crushing through the roof of the Corinithian Building into the room occupied by Charles Walner, the musician."

First Steam Fire Engine

The invention of the steam fire engine caused a complete change in the method of extinguishing fires, especially in big cities, where they had proven themselves to be far superior to the hand-power fire engines. San Francisco had purchased a steam engine and found it first class in every respect. This was in 1860 and the Webers had sold their Hanne- man engine for $1,200 to parties in Pacheco, Contra Costa County, and were undecided for a time whether to purchase a double hand engine or a steam fire engine. In the com- pany there were several first-class machinists and steam engineers and they recommended that the company purchase a steam fire engine, as it could do a greater amount of work, throw a heavier stream of water a greater distance and work all day or night without tiring. They had not figured, howover, on getting the heavy steamer to the fire by hand power nor the muddy condition of the streets in winter. The city appropriated some $2,000 and the company sent on an order to Levy & Neaffie of Philadelphia for a second class steam fire en- gine at a cost of $4,000. The engine was shipped around Cape Horn in a flying clipper and it arrived in Stockton late in December, 1862, and during the month the engine was set up by William Keep, proprietor of the Globe Foundry.

The trial of the machine that was to work wonders in putting out a fire was to be tested New Year's day, 1863. The trial was the talk of the town, for it was quite a novelty to have an engine playing upon a fire. On that day the Webers in full uniform proudly marched to the Levee pulling the steamer, soon to be deeply humiliated by a long delay in getti up steam. The fire in the boiler furnace was lighted and the crowd expected to see some- thing wonderful. The smoke rolled out of the stack in volumes, but the engine would not make steam sufficient to start the flywheel. Then the hand engine firemen began to laugh and joke the Webers about their wonderful steam engine. Finally the engineers found out the trouble; the firmen had used pine burrs in lighting the fire and they had choked up the smoke stack with soot and the steamer had no draft. Taking off the smoke stack and cleaning it out they again lit the fire using less smoky material, and the engine

was soon playing two heavy streams of water. The engine had been tested at the factory and threw a stream of water 245 feet.

The trials and tribulations of the Webers had just commenced, for the little brick engine house on Channel Street was too small to accommodate the engine and the company was compelled to house her in the wooden coach house of Fisher & Company's stage stable, a block to the east. The company peti- tioned the council for a new and larger engine house, but the city fathers replied that they had no money for that purpose. The Webers threatened to disband and then the council got busy and passed an ordinance for an election, the citizens to vote upon the question of the council issuing bonds to the amount of $5,300 for the erection of an engine house. The citi- zens voted the bonds by a heavy majority. Captain Weber deeded the city a lot on Chan- nel Street just north of the water front and the building was erected and dedicated May 19, 1864. The company with great ceremony hauled the steamer and their four-wheeled hose carriage to its new headquarters. That evening they had a collation and a dance in the new hall of the second-story of the build- ing. The hall was handsomely fitted up at the company's expense.

The steam fire engine was a complete failure as a fire extinguisher and an elephant on their hands for several years, because they had no means of quickly reaching the fire during the summer and in winter it was useless because of the condition of the streets. At an alarm of fire the members would run several blocks to the engine house and, already "winded," they would undertake to hasten to the fire with their heavy engine, perhaps a run of a half mile or more. Many a time have we seen the Webers "running" to a fire on a walk, the men being completely exhausted. Ofttimes the Eurekas and San Joaquins would reach a small fire and extinguish it before the Webers arrived. The members could not afford to use horse power to haul their steamer; the city could not provide it as the other three com- panies could demand horses and so they were the laughing stock of the community until March, 1870. Then they employed Charles Ashley, a farmer, at $100 per month to fur- nish two horses, live in the engine house and drive the team to every fire. Then the tables were turned and the Webers had the laugh on the hand engines.

Another handicap of the steamer was the scarcity of water, for at that time there were no fire hydrants. Few fires burned any length of time, most of them wooden one-story build- ings, when the Webers with their two power- ful streams began playing upon the flames. The only water source was the fire well or cisterns dug at the intersection of four streets

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or the Stockton or Mormon channels. The steamer exhausted a fire well in about ten. minutes, while it would supply a hand engine from two to three hours, flowing in almost as fast as it was pumped out. These cisterns were from fifteen to twenty feet in depth and about fifteen feet square. They were walled up first with three-inch plank and later with brick at a cost of from $200 to $400. They were placed along the principal streets of the city, and the outlying residences had no pro- tection whatever from fire. In a far distant fire the first engine to arrive would set at the cistern, run off their hose and play into the second engine and she into the third engine, which played upon the fire. In this manner the companies would play upon a fire a half mile distant from the nearest fire well.

Although the Weber was at all times speedy in reaching a fire during the dry season, in the winter season they were no better off than in the hand hauling days, for galloping the horses over the good streets, the minute they hit the mud the animals were winded, and the driver was compelled to stop and let them rest.

After a time the Weber steamer, which was the second steam fire engine on the Pacific Coast, became antiquated and out of date and in 1874, at a cost of $4,200 the company pur- chased a second class Amoskeag steamer. The "Old Betsey," as she was called, was then used for all kinds of purposes, pumping out cellars, sprinkling streets, and taken to the islands at one time to extinguish a peat fire. The engine, although forty years old, did fine work at the pavilion fire in 1902 and is now in the city corporation yard, ready at any time to fight her old enemy, the fire fiend.

Members of Weber Engine Company

The names of these who gave their time and money freely for the protection of the city should be remembered and I here submit the names of the Weber Engine Company, to- gether with their occupations as I remember them: H. F. Horn, saddletree maker; John A. Balthis, Joshua Barstow, John W. Hart, Robert W. Howes, William H. Derrick, black- smiths; M. J. Jerry, John Sirey, Henry Robin- son and Thomas K. Hook, corpenters; I. V. Leffler, hotel keeper; John W. Root, wagon- maker ; J. H. Hogan, Frank T. Baldwin, attor- neys; George M. Doll, George S. Ladd, mer- chants; L. E. Yates, stable keeper ; Charles G. Earnest, tinsmith ; Sol Salsman, harnessmaker ; Charles E. Pinkham, J. H. Barney, Dan Mea- der and George A. Brown, bookkeepers ; R. W. Keltie, stage proprietor; John Gross, hotel- keeper; John Crofton, constable; Amos Du- rant, laundryman; John Goode, painter ; John Barker, cattle dealer ; Charles Brutchy, saloon- keeper ; William Jackson, R. J. Patterson, Ben

F. Sanborn, Charles Schneider, W. H. Briggs, A. Enders, A. Levy, George Devoll, D. K. Hienbonch, Tom. Donecliff, E. Jeffers, F. A. Taylor, C. E. Taylor, William Applegate, W. O. Cutler, L. Weingath, H. B. Babcock, Ed Stockel, Fred Valentine, R. M. Jersey, T. H. Bridge, John Brown, Andrew Hansen, M. S. and Thomas Thresher and John Ziegler.

The Weber Hose Company

In the earlier days of the fire department, each hand engine was accompanied by a two- wheeled hose cart carrying, on a reel, about 600 feet of leather hose. After the purchase of steam fire engines by the Weber and the Eureka they used the same style of hose cart, drawn by a horse, each cart carrying about 1,000 feet of heavy duck lined rubber hose. Early on the morning of September 10, 1877 an alarm of fire was turned in and Charles Ashley, the Weber engine driver, rapidly drove to the fire. He was followed by Frank Kins- ley, a young man of some twenty years of age, driving "old Bob," the hose horse. In the darkness he was thrown from the cart by some obstruction and falling under the wheel his leg and thigh were so badly crushed that he died the following day. This was the first tragedy in the Stockton Fire Department. His funeral was attended by the entire department together with an escort from the Stockton Guards, of which he was a member.

At this time both companies had auxiliary hose carriages which were manned by young volunteers from fifteen to twenty years of age. They were four-wheeled carriages, beautiful in design and costing each company from $1,200 to $1,500 each. The Weber Hose Com- pany was organized in January, 1875, and disbanded in February, 1879. The company elected as its first officers, E. F. Foran, presi- dent; Charles M. Weber, Jr., foreman ; Henry Eshbach, assistant foreman; E. J. Walker, secretary ; Henry Wolf, treasurer, and Eli Confer, Mathew Crane and Frank Eck, com- mittee on investigation. The company in- cluded such young fellows as Otto Grunsky, Wm. W. Westbay, Charles Starkey, John Boice, Lincoln Ruggles, Robert Furry, Frank Adams, Otto Vogelsang and William Sanders. So enthusiastic a fireman was the last named member, he would ride his little white pony to the engine house and assist, with the pony, in starting the hose carriage.

Eureka Hose Company

The Eureka Hose Company, organized De- cember 4, 1868, comprised young men of about the same age as those of No. 1. Both hose companies were assisted by their proteges, and and on the occasion of the Eurekas' visit to San Jose, June 2, 1873, in celebration of their

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anniversary, they were accompanied by the Eureka Hose Company. The Eurekas took with them their fine steamer and two beauti- ful iron gray horses and were much admired in the Garden City. The foreman of the hose company, John P. Kafitz, a young man about twenty years of age, acted as drum major for the brass band that had accompanied the Eu- rekas; the son of a boot and shoe maker, he was very popular with all classes of citizens, and so successful was he in his new position the Eurekas presented him with a complete drum major's uniform at a cost of $150. The presentation was made in Mozart hall on the evening of July 3, about fifty of his friends being present. The presentation was made by A. B. Bennett, and the following day, lead- ing the parade, in his gorgeous uniform, he was admired by thousands of people. Five years later, November 21, 1878, his death from tuberculosis was mourned by thousands of people. He was a member of the military, a major on the staff of General Canavan, Third Brigade, N. G. C., a member of several secret societies, and second assistant engineer of Eu- reka No. 2. The funeral services at the Pres- byterian Church were conducted by the Rev. Martin Post of the Congregational, and Rec- tor Elias Birdsall of the Episcopal Church, with Mrs. Gertrude Starbird, Flora Phelps, J. Le Rose Phelps and Charles E. Pinkham in the choir and Ivan Carmichael at the organ.

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History of San Joaquin County, California : with biographical sketches of leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 23

Author: Tinkham, George H. (George Henry), b. 1849 Publication date: 1923 Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1660

Author: Tinkham, George H. (George Henry), b. 1849
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1660