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 24

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 24

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The Gallant Young Firemen

Some ten years previous to the organization of the hose companies, there were two young- ster fire companies between the ages of eight and twelve years, the Young Americas and the Vansyckles. George Kroh, a carpenter and a genius, then residing with his parents next to the Birdsall Foundry, on San Joaquin Street, in 1859 made a small box engine and placed therein a double cylinder pump, which he had manufactured in the foundry. It was what was known as a garden pump. George Kroh was a member of Weber Engine Company No. 1 and organized a company of boys, took charge of the little engine and named it Young America. The Young Americas were the principal attraction in the 4th of July proces- sion that year.

The Eurekas not to be outclassed by their rivals, the following year formed a similar company. Some two years previous, J. M. Van- syckle, agent of Wells Fargo & Co. and a member of No. 2, had presented them with a small fire engine about three feet high and five feet long, which had been imported from New York by the express company to protect their building in case of fire. It would throw a stream of water similar to our garden hose of today. The Eurekas accepted the gift, repaint- ed it, and named it Vansyckle. The two little

fire companies were in the 4th of July parades and in that of 1863, there was no more prouder boy than the author, in his glazed cap, black trousers, red shirt, and patent leather belt with the word Vansyckle on it. The Young Amer- icas wore the same uniform except their shirts were white. The Independent, in writing of the celebration said, "A number of young lads in this city have organized an engine company and they will appear in the 4th of July parade, the Eureka Engine Company having given them control of the little engine Vansyckle. The boys have elected George R. Sanderson, foreman, Edgar Whitney, assistant foreman, Charles Williams, secretary, Calvin Baldwin, treasurer. The other members are George Warfield, Frank Wilkins, Harry Housman, Gilbert Don, John Clowes, John Housman, Charles Weber, Frank King, George H. Tink- ham, Edgar Sanderson, Andrew Chase and George Rappel."

The highest ambition of a fireman was to arrive first at the fire, "get on first water" and play a greater distance than their brother com- panies. In this the Eurekas were ever ready and they elected so far as possible active, vigi- lant men. They obtained as members nearly all of the draymen in the city ; these men, with their two-wheel drays, would put their horses on a gallop for the engine house at an alarm of fire and jumping from their drays would man the ropes. Sometimes they would throw the rope over a dray stake and up the street the engine would roll, the two men on the engine tongue trying to keep their feet to say nothing of guiding the engine. So eager were the men to have their engine in working order, they had monthly drills or "washes" as they were called, and on Saturday evening at 4 o'clock they would go to the channel and for a half hour or more work their engine.

In order to encourage these engine playing contests the state fair directors gave premiums for the best playing. In 1857 the State Fair was held at Stockton and engine playing con- tests took place between the three Stockton companies and the Monumental No. 6 of San Francisco and the Young America of Sacra- mento. The Fair directors gave silver trum- pets for the best first, second and third class engine playing, the engines to play through 100 feet of hose open butt without any pipe, one stream with a 11/4 inch nozzle and two streams with a 7/8 inch nozzle. The only sec- ond-class engines in the contest were the Stockton machines, and the Webers played open butt 23 feet, one stream, 155 feet, and two streams, 158 feet. The Eurekas played 34 feet open butt, 157 feet, one stream, and 156 feet, two streams. The San Joaquins played 19-154-160 feet. The judges declared the play- ing a tie. The San Joaquins and Webers re-

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fused to make another trial and five days later, the Eurekas playing alone threw a stream of water 157.5 inches and the judges awarded them the silver trumpet.

The following year visiting the State Fair at Marysville, the Eurekas had a hard experi- ence. They left Stockton August 24 in the steamer Gazelle accompanied by Condy's band and a number of citizens. The steamer arrived at Sacramento about 7 o'clock that evening and they were entertained by the fire- men of that city. Embarking the following morning, about forty miles above Sacramento the Gazelle struck a snag in the river, and leaking badly, to keep her from sinking, the Eurekas were compelled to work their engine throughout the day and a part of the night. Fortunately another steamer came along and the company transferred to her and late that night landed at Marysville. The contest was over before the arrival of the Eurekas. The Marysville firemen insisted on the Eurekas giving an exhibition of her playing powers, and after the gravel which she sucked up from the river had been cleaned from the engine the machine threw a powerful stream 197 feet. It was a greater distance than two of the first- class machines had played. Returning again to Sacramento on the Gazelle, which had been repaired, they were again entertained by their brother firemen in Sacramento, then leaving about 4:30, after a slow trip, they arrived at Stockton after a twelve hours' run, and found that the firemen here had been waiting all night to receive the home comers. They were welcomed home by a cannon salute, skyrockets and a big bonfire. Marching to the Eurekas' house the band playing and the men cheering, they housed the engine and then proceeded to Webers where a collation was spread, then vis- iting the San Joaquins there was another eat, the affair ending with another feast in the Pro- tection Hook and Ladder house.

Nicholas McKensie, T. J. Smith, Delos Man- ning, J. C. Oben, Thomas Eckstrom, F. H. Lewissen, Joseph Long, Dan Lucas, Thomas Greneir, Christopher Lyons, Thomas J. Keyes, Frank Morse and John Shea.

The coming and the parting of friends is today but a momentary event, for we have almost annihilated time and distance, but in the other days the departure of friends meant perhaps a return no more. Such perhaps was the thought of the Eurekas when it was an- nounced by W. B. Clark in January, 1853, that he was going to Portland, Ore., to reside. He was one of Stockton's oldest citizens and he had been the foreman of the company for sev- eral years. Assembling at the engine house the company tendered him a bountiful col- lation, which ended with the presentation to him of a beautiful California gold ring. Then manning the engine ropes, he was escorted to the steamer by his friends and cheer after cheer greeted his departure.

Two of the most popular firemen in the department, regardless of their Eureka mem- bership, were Henry Hodgkins and Samuel Baldwin, and when it was announced that they would depart for the east November 17, 1858, there was quite a stir in the city. The press stated that "Our city was thrown into consid- erable.confusion yesterday by the announce- ment that two of our oldest citizens, Henry Hodgkins and Sam Baldwin, would depart for the East. They go to New York and from thence Mr. Hodgkins will go to England. Champagne and various drinks were the order of the day and at the Eureka engine house, which was thrown open for the reception of friends, Mr. Hodgkins was presented with a beautiful gold ring. At two o'clock Mr. Bald- win's friends at the 'Shade' made him a pres- ent of a gold watch chain. At the appointed hour the friends of both gentlemen, both prom- inent Eurekas, assembled at the engine house and marched from there to the steamer. As the Helen Hensley left the wharf cheer after cheer greeted the two travelers and the wish for a pleasant voyage and a speedy return." This journey was taken by steamer, then the only way. After several months Mr. Hodgkins returned to Stockton, and again went East in July, 1869, by railroad. He was accompanied by Henry Robinson, who went to Massachu- setts, and George Weller, to Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Hodgkins before his departure for Eng-

The members of the Eureka engine com- pany at this time were Solomon Pearsall, fore- man; Wm. R. Jefferson, first assistant fore- man; Edward Hickinbotham, second assist- ant foreman ; B. P. Baird, B. F. Boutell, Henry Blum, Geo. W. Aylesworth, D. W. Blackleach, Louis E. Chicard, Thomas Cunningham, Mark Dugan, C. H. Huffman, C. D. Bryan, W. M. Coombs, E. A. Everett, John T. Hickinboth- am, John T. Boice, Samuel Elliott, Wm. Gra- ham, A. M. Gray, John Flyn, John Kerr, Hen- ry Hodgkins, C. S. Cook, Elbert Weeks, R. B. . land "gave a farewell dinner to his friends and Lane, T. W. Newell, A. S. Rider, James Rud- bumpers of champagne were drank to the long life and future happiness of the host." dick, Thomas McWha, Mark Sellig, Jerome Myers, Geo. L. Sanderson, R. E. Wilhoit, Marshall Hook and Ladder James Middleton, Geo. Taber, Fred Schaffer, E. T. Spafford, Dennis Mehan, Joseph T. Scott, The necessity of a hook and ladder company is much like that of an extra tire on an automo- bile, you may have no use for it for several Robert Kerr, C. McCausland, H. Stewart, Henry Trembley, J. M. Swain, Fred Moebus,

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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

years and you may need it badly most any time. The use of ladders and truck is twofold, to save life from high buildings and to carry aloft the hose lines. Here in Stockton we had no building over two stories in height until twenty-five years ago, hence no need of ladders for that kind of work. The only use made of the truck and apparatus was to rake over the burned hay from incendiary fires, of which there were many. The city fathers refused to purchase a new and up to date truck for Pro- tection No. 1, so they were compelled to be contented with the old antiquated affair until 1883. At that time Oscar Marshall, who was reared in Stockton, invented an extension lad- der-truck. "It is a valuable invention, doing its work in the most satisfactory manner," said the inventor's friends. It was manufactured at the wagon-shop of F. Miller, and was 34 feet in length and 9 feet in heighth from the street to the top of the ladders. The ladders could be extended 60 feet by ropes and pul- leys, more in number than on a river schooner. Marshall had a pull in politics and had a spe- cial friend in James H. Budd, so the council bought the truck at a cost of $2,800. It was the joke of the town because in making use of the truck it was necessary to stop and back it up to the sidewalk. As time-saving at a fire is just as necessary in raising ladders as in hose work, the truck was of no practical value. The only incident worth recording is that it caused the death of a young fireman, David Ferrill, September 2, 1890. The young man, in running to a fire, attempted to jump upon the running board of the truck, then drawn by horses, his foot slipped and falling to the street the rear wheel passed over him, badly crushing his body and he died a few minutes later. The city kept this apparatus until 1895, at which time they purchased an up-to-date Babcock truck. With this truck it is possible to run alongside of a burning building and raise the ladder 60 feet within a minute and a half, and supporting two firemen on the top round of the ladder, swing round in a three-quarter circle.

Protection Hook and Ladder

Ever ready, ever willing to do all within their power to save life and property these were the members of Protection Hook and Ladder No. 1 in 1858: S. T. Nye, foreman ; Da- vid Porter, assistant foreman; Benjamin R. Lippincott, H. M. Fanning, Charles P. Gree- ley, John P. Nash, Harry Hubbard, M. L. Bird, Henry B. Underhill, E. E. Kenney, E. B. Whitman, Charles A. Potter, C. O. Burton, Charles A. Hutchinson, Wm. B. Losee, Wm. H. Nowell, Wm. Harper, Geo. Kroh, David G. Oullahan, John H. Tucker, Wallace Tinkham, Edward Hickman, Thomas R. Moseley, Royal

B. Parker, Charles A. Mead, Louis M. Hick- man, J. M. Conley, Henry H. Hewlett, J. P. Stockwell. Samuel Geddes, Geo. H. Sanderson, Elisha Lyons, John Fox, John L. Woodman, Hart Littebrant, Charles Jones, Robert W. Miller, A. L. Bours, Henry Grimbel, F. L. Sargent, Wm. Sanders, Elbert J. Smith, L. Howard and Wm. Chiten.

Eureka Serenaders

The pioneers had no methods of congratu- lating their newly married friends except the instrumental and vocal serenade and the bar- baric charivari. The Eureka serenaders em- ployed both in congratulating their brother firemen in their matrimonial ventures. In 1856 they presented their secretary, Rufus B. Lane, with a handsome and costly pin which he proudly wore during his life. Deserting his bachelor friends in October, 1859, he mar- ried Miss Jennie Hodgkins, the sister of Henry Hodgkins. About ten o'clock that night the Eurekas silently marched to the home, accom- panied by a cornet band and tendered their secretary and his bride a serenade. Some two hours later they again appeared "and the firing of the cannon, which they had hauled to the house on a dray, shook all the glass in the neighborhood for blocks around; awoke all the babies in town and set the dogs howling. Then followed the usual uproar of trumpets, bells. tin cans, the old fiddle and other hideous in- struments, until the bride and groom appeared at the door and invited the crowd in to take something."

In 1860 there was another seceder from the bachelor ranks, Alfred S. Rider, the biggest fireman in the company, who weighed over 200 pounds and later reached nearly 300. He was one of the eight "Pioneers" who, uniformed in their dark blue coats, black trousers, fire hats and white leather belts, marched abreast ahead of the Eurekas in every parade, carry- ing on their shoulder genuine heavy broad- axes. They "blazed the trail" and looked very ferocious to the youngsters. He was married October 11, to Miss Sarah McLellan and early in the evening he was given a fine serenade by the band. Assembling at the engine house about eleven o'clock, "they had with them all kinds of ingenious ear torturing instruments, including three bass drums,. two snare drums, a fife and a good performer, a church bell, fish bells, cow bells and the cannon which they had loaded upon a dray. Proceeding to the Crescent City Hotel they began their unearthly racket, firing the cannon several times during the 'serenade' and after the boys had pounded and blown until nearly exhausted, the bride- groom appeared and introduced his bride. A procession was then formed and corralling the bridegroom all hands marched to Sol Pear-

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sall's saloon, where the champagne flowed freely."

Another serenade, quite discomforting to the recipient was that to Louis M. Hickman, who had just married Mary Dallas, the oldest daughter of Charles Dallas. On the night of their marriage the firemen and other friends appeared before their residence on West Oak Street to give the married couple a serenade. The house was dark, the bridegroom endeav- oring to make the serenaders believe no one was at home. But they had kept track of his movements and began their unearthly noise, beat their tin cans, fired pistols, set off fire- crackers, whirled their wooden rackets and yelled for the bridegroom until they were ex- hausted. The bridegroom was a haughty young man and opposed to serenades when he was the object of them. It was a clear case of stubbornness on the bridegroom's part and victory or death on the part of the Eurekas. On each side of their engine was the motto "We aim to conquer." Going to the engine house, they hauled the machine to the cistern near the home and began playing a stream of water through the window. Did the happy couple appear? They did in short order and the bridegroom treated the crowd, but he never forgave them.

Double-Deck Engines

When in 1859, the Webers were planning to purchase a second-class steam fire engine, weighing three and a half tons, and draw it by man power, the Eurekas voted to order a first- class hand engine with a weight less than one- third that of the Weber steamer. We have already. noted the wisdom of their choice. Sub- scriptions were obtained from the members to the amount of $2,000, an English opera com- pany gave them a benefit netting $150, and in November they ordered a first class end-stroke machine from Jeffries & Co., Pawtucket, R. I. At the same time an engine of similar make was ordered for the San Joaquin Engine Com- pany. The engines arrived early in December, 1860, having been shipped around Cape Horn, and were set up and ready for a trial wash on Christmas day. The cost of the two machines was $7,500, the Eurekas' engine costing $500 extra because of finer woodwork and finish. The box of the San Joaquin engine was ma- hogany and the trimmings brass. The Eureka engine was a beauty, as handsome an engine as was ever seen in the state. The box was rosewood so highly polished that it reflected like a mirror. The trimmings were of German silver and inlaid with pearl. The machine would play four streams of water, two from each side with sixty men at the brakes. It was known as a double-decker because twenty men, ten on each side, worked the brakes standing on decks or platforms on top of the

box. As a powerful water-playing machine the new engine was not a success for several reasons ; the older members, exempt after five years' service, according to state law, had re- tired; the draying business was now confined to a few four-wheeled drays; the teamsters had gone out of business because of the coming of the railroad. Many of these men belonged to the company. Quite a number had joined the army, among them Sol Pearsall, the fore- man of the Eurekas. Monthly washes had been discontinued and a sufficient number of men could not be assembled at one time to bring out the full power of the new machine. The competition between the two companies was somewhat enlivened when the Webers attached horses to their engine steamer, as they would ofttimes arrive first at the fire. To offset this the Eurekas purchased a horse and harness, kept the animal near the engine house and employed a young man to ride him to the fire, hauling the machine. It was amusing.to see the engine rolling up the street, the horse on the jump, and the engine-tongue men hav- ing all they could do to keep their feet, to say nothing of guiding the engine.

Hand power versus horse power is a losing game, and the leading Eurekas soon learned that unless they bestirred themselves the com- pany would go to pieces. The men would run to a fire and work hard at the engine brakes perhaps an hour or more, with their rivals, the Webers, standing around and looking at their steamer doing the work of extinguishing the flames and this, of course, was very discour- aging for No. 2. The Eurekas had at this time a member named A. B. Bennett, a man of good education, quite an executive, and he. with others, in 1871, organized the Eureka Association. The circular sent out by them read as follows: "The prime object of this association is the creation of a fund to be devoted to the purchase of a steam fire engine for the use of Eureka No. 2, to be employed in the service of the fire department of Stock- ton. "The capital stock of the association is fixed at $6,000, divided into 1,200 shares of $5.00 each, to be aided by such voluntary contributions, in the form of donations from insurance companies and other sources as may offer in aid of the enterprise. For eighteen years our motto has been, 'We aim to con- quer,' and so long as vigilance and unaided muscle were opposed to us, the contest was equal, and the Eurekas were considered no common foe. There is not a man who has served in the company's ranks that is not proud of his record; but it will soon become a thing of the past and be forgotten unless, as in other days, we prove ourselves equal to any emergency."

This stirring appeal had its effect and in a short time stock sufficient was sold to warrant

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the company in ordering an engine. The de- sign of the machine, one that would be supe- rior in every respect to any second class steam engine on the coast, was planned and blue- prints made by A. B. Bennett. These plans were sent on to Jeffries & Co., Pawtucket, R. I., with instructions to build the best en- gine that could be made. The engine was landed in Stockton December 6, 1872, at a cost of $6,000, nearly $2,000 more than the regular brass-trimmed engine. The machine was worth it, as steam could be raised in her boil- ers from cold water in less than five minutes, and in an exhibition play July 4, 1874, through 100 feet of hose and 114 nozzle- pipe and drawing water through 7 feet of suction hose she played a stream of water 295 feet. This is a distance scarcely exceeded by the present day auto pumps.

The company purchased three large, hand- some iron-gray horses through their foreman, Thomas Cunningham, and as soon as the en- gine went into service, two horses were at- tached to the engine, and one animal to the hose cart. The engine driver was Charles Thompson, the horse cart driver, Fernando Lastreto. Then the old rivalry between No. 1 and No. 2 was renewed, but it was not the man to man contest of the old days and hence the charm and the interest was gone. It was simply a race of horse against horse in answer to the fire alarm and not always honestly driven. On one occasion, in a collision, a horse's leg was broken and he was later killed. Then the chief engineer was compelled to make certain rules regarding their speed to a fire, and under no conditions must the head engine cut out the rear machine.

For many years all three companies cele- brated their anniversary days by picnics, balls and excursions, but particularly attractive was the celebration of the anniversary day of the Eureka No. 2 under the slogan "The Day We Celebrate." It was in fact a small 4th of July celebration and was anticipated with pleasure by many citizens. The company made every effort to make each picnic a success and they were assisted in their work by all classes of citizens. Sometimes the picnic was held jointly with the other companies, but in the main they were celebrated by the Eurekas alone.

On June 2, 1869, a salute of seventeen guns awoke the town at 6 o'clock, and ushered in the "day we celebrate." Flags were flying from all of the engine houses and many pri- vate buildings; the Eureka engine house was decorated from top to bottom. At 9 o'clock the members in full uniform and the exempt members in citizens' dress assembled at the engine house on Hunter Street. Forming in line, the stalwart Pioneers, marching eight abreast, with their broad-axes, led the parade,

followed by Schmidt's Cornet Band, the Eu- reka Exempts and fifty-six firemen hauling their "new engine, beautifully ornamented, glistening like silver in the sun." Then came the Eureka hose boys with the handsomely decorated four-wheel hose carriage. After parading the streets the company halted at Park and California streets and there took conveyances for Good Water Grove. As the twilight hour drew near the company and their friends returned to the city. The Eure- kas were met at Park Street by the entire fire department in full uniform, with their engines and escorted into town. Then took place a magnificent scene, one that in this day cannot be reproduced. Each fireman had been pro- vided with a flambeau and plenty of Roman candles, "and as each company turned from California into Main Street, the real carnival of fire began. The street was ablaze with Roman candles shooting red, white and blue fires all along the line and these but increased the beauty of the glistening machine and the varied colors of the firemen's uniforms and fire hats. But it was on the plaza that pan- demonium broke loose. The lurid glare of the torches, the shrill scream of the engine whis- tles, the shooting stars of the Roman candles, the deafening detonation of the bombs and the whole scene was made weird by two im- mense bonfires vieing with the moon for the supremacy of light."

In 1883 the company held their picnic at Agricultural Park, and it was a picnic long remembered by those present, because of its novel feature, a clambake. We have had sev- eral meat barbecues before and since that date but a clambake, never before and once only since that time. The picnic was the talk of the town for several days. To superintend the affair an expert clam baker, Dexter from Sausalito was engaged, and three tons of clams, ten sacks of potatoes, thirty dozen crabs, 180 pounds of fish were shipped here from San Francisco, together with three tons of sea- weed, rocks and many other things necessary for a successful clambake. At five o'clock the fire bell rang out to awaken the citizens, and at 9 o'clock the members of the Eureka En- gine Company began assembling at the engine house. Forming a procession and led by the band, the company marched the streets and then took carriages for the park. Four tables were set, each table seating 400 persons, and over 2,000 persons were present.

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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 24

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