USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > New Bedford > History of the Fire Department of the city of New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1772-1890 > Part 10
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YOUNG MECHANIC, NO. 6. (Purchase street.)
Foreman, Nathan Barker.
First Assistant, Charles W. Dyer.
Second Assistant, J. Augustus Brownell.
Third Assistant, John Murdock. Clerk and Treasurer, Sanford Almy.
William E. Watson,
Fred. A. Plummer,
William A. Church,
Thaddeus Betz,
Thomas C. Allen,
Christian Betz,
Thomas C. Allen, Jr.,
Edwin Betz,
Benj. R. Watson,
Thomas Paul,
Joseph Hammond,
Wm. G. Denham,
William McKim,
Thomas Dowden, Jireh Tripp,
James Patterson,
Jos. A. Landers,
Daniel Ripley,
Benj. F. Hinckley,
Bradford G, Potter,
Roland R. Crocker,
George B. Devoll,
Martin J. Lewis,
Warren Potter,
Clarfaus Vansant,
Gustavus H. Cushman,
John J. P. Zettick,
Fred. Underwood,
Charles H. Underwood,
Wm. D. Smith,
James M. Dooley,
Edwin R. Baker,
Wm. H Sherman, David Chadwick,
William Winslow,
Warren G. Peirce,
Charles Perry,
Freeman C. Luce,
William Neal,
John McCoy,
Roland W. Snow,
Wm. Ricketson,
Wm. H. Allen,
Alex. Mckenzie,
S. A. Pierce, Ira Milliken,
Henry G. Strong,
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HISTORY OF THE
Henry Hazard,
Lorenzo D. J. Sears,
George M. Young,
Fred. Macy,
Moses C. Vinal,
Benj. F. Soule,
Charles G. Kempton,
William P. Sowle,
Abm. S. Davis,
William H. Nichols,
John E. Jones,
Isaac W. Benjamin,
Thomas A. Cranston,
Hallett Hamblin,
Joseph H. Lawrence
PHILADELPHIA, No. 7. (Fourth street.)
Foreman, Thomas L. Clark.
First Assistant, Daniel S. Eaton.
Second Assistant, Joseph Burt, Jr. Third Assistant, Charles F. Brightman. Clerk, George S. Bowen.
Robert T. Barker,
Holder R. Tripp,
John C. Maul,
James A. Davis,
Allen Raymond,
George Baylies,
Thomas Almy,
John Sweeney,
Thos. S. Palmer,
Geo. H. Chase,
James Maguire,
Benj. C. Warren,
David W. Wardrop,
Daniel McDonald,
Nathan Ellis,
Charles G. Jones,
Cornelius B. Tripp,
Roland T. G. Russe
Stephen Robinson,
Robert Mckay,
Benjamin Cole, Albert Gray,
Wilson Pierce,
Leander F. Pease,
Nathaniel Pierce.
Wm. B. Cook, Adam Brown,
Jos. Allen, Jr., Henry Russell.
HANCOCK, No. 9. (Foster street, near North.)
Foreman, Tillinghast P. Tompkins. First Assistant, Samuel H. Mitchell. Second Assistant, William James. Clerk, Lazarus S. Moulton.
George A. Pool, Joshua Bowman,
Silas Taber,
Henry Shiverick,
Amos F. Lovejoy, Edwin Luther, Joseph A. Parker,
J. C. Haskins, Hiram E. Small,
John P, Caswell,
Samuel White, Daniel Besse,
Robert Luscomb, Lot Tripp, Davis Johnson, Nathaniel Jenney,
Wm. Huddy,
Joseph Hoyle, Wm. F. James, James Lowther,
Leander T. Manchester,
James Munroe, Andrew R. Lincoln,
Fred. N. Stearns,
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NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Horatio N. Bly,
Richmond Macomber,
Charles Crocker,
Hervey H. Fish,
Wm. C. Bassett,
Joseph Lawton,
Benj. Crocker,
Charles H. Luther,
Abiel Winslow,
Allen Wilcox, Richard Luce,
William Card,
William Hubbard,
George W. Perry,
Daniel D. Perry,
Mitchell Lowther,
Warren W. Parker, James H. Pease, Geo. F. Lucas, Edward Reed.
FRANKLIN, NO. 10. (Third street, head of Griffin.)
Foreman, Marshall G. Sears. First Assistant, George W. Jennings. Second Assistant, Andrew J. Jennings. Clerk, George B. Wilbour.
William Gibbs, L. S. Jennings,
Francis McShane,
Isaac C. Booth,
W. H. Eldredge,
W. H. Jennings,
N. B. Colyer,
Bradford Sowle,
Robert S. Cornell,
S. A. Colyer,
Benj. F. Sowle,
Stephen Haskins,
Zach. Booth,
Charles H. Griffin,
Albert W. Taber,
Charles Russell,
James M. Tripp,
Jesse V. Luke,
Henry Moore,
Charles M. Dedrick,
William Booth,
Gamaliel Moore,
L. W. Baker, Elias Tripp,
Daniel Eldredge,
Nathan Sears,
James Pike,
Job. W. Heath,
J. O. Fisher,
B. R. Jennings, George Wilson, Samuel Eldredge,
.Charles Shields, Benjamin W. Allen, Bradford L. Church,
J. S. Conway,
W. A. Dunbar,
S. H. Jennings,
W. H. Lothrop, George Burger,
Gifford Haskins.
OREGON, NO. II. (Middle street.)
Foreman, Henry H. Fisher.
First Assistant, W. J. Chadwick.
Second Assistant, Samuel S. Gifford. Third Assistant, James S. Chase. Clerk, Thomas P. Swift.
Gibbs Taber, Richard W. James,
Franklin Nye, Andrew Devoll,
Gilbert Winslow, John·Wrightington,
George H. Tripp, F. M. Chadwick, E. L. Dexter,
John Allen,
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HISTORY OF THE
William A. Weeden, Joseph F. Roberts,
John H. Gray,
Daniel McLaughlin,
Alden Lawton,
George Shaw,
David Shepherd,
Daniel Babcock,
Luther Lemunion,
Peleg Blake,
Thomas Peirce,
John Tew,
Charles Dyer,
Charles C. Hall,
James R. Chase,
Asa Buffington,
James F. Macomber,
G. M. Maxfield,
Matthew Russell,
George Chadwick,
Edward Lawton,
Edward Osgood,
John Linton,
Abel Snell,
Frederick Miller,
Abm. Hathaway,
Thomas Sweet,
Luther Atwood,
Perry G. Potter,
Alonzo Tripp,
David Potter,
William Hested.
PIONEER HOOK AND LADDER CO., No. I. (Purchase street.)
Foreman, Robert A. Dillingham. First Assistant, Whitman Vinal. Clerk, Nathan B. Gifford.
Holder Brownell,
David Hatch,
Stephen Wilber, Frank Hews,
Lot T. Sears,
Jesse A. Palmer,
Elias Knowles,
Russell Wood,
James McKenney,
William Manley,
Benj. F. Fisk,
B. F. King, Jr.,
Christian Dantsizen,
Wm. Goodnow,
James A. Davis,
M. L. Buffington,
John Hiland,
G. W. Andrews,
George Hatch,
Benj. Clifton,
George G. Peck,
John Savage,
David Palmer,
Alden Brightman,
YOUNG AMERICA, No. 8. (North Second street.)
Foreman, L. B. Ellis. First Assistant, Matthias C. Pease. Second Assistant, James W. Lawrence. Third Assistant, James Kent. Clerk, Alfred Osgood.
James C. Hitch, George Walden, Alex. H. Ellis, Wm. H. Peacock, B. F. Lowden,
Haile R. Luther. Charles Bunker, William B. Allen, Chas. E. Maxfield. George Allen,
George Devoll, H. M. Kempton, Thomas Manley, C. A. Richmond, George Maxfield, Horace Macomber,
139
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
C. E. Perry, R. W. Murphy, Benj. F. Lewis, Edward B. Wilson,
Joseph C. Austin, Charles Barnard, Edward T. Wilson, James Smith,
Alex. Doty.
THE VETERAN ASSOCIATION OF FIREMEN.
This company was composed of a number of persons who formerly belonged to different engine companies in the city, and now acted as a resevve. They had charge of the engine Mechanic, formerly belonging to company No. 6.
PROTECTING SOCIETY.
The members were special policemen when at fires or when alarms of fire occurred.
President, Henry P. Willis.
Vice-President, Charles Chandler.
Secretary, William C. Macy.
Directors, E. D. Mandell, Henry C. Kelley, J. F. Dearborn, William Tallman, Jr., Edward Russell.
George F. Barker,
Sanford S. Horton,
Abm. Russell,
Abm. Taber,
W. P. S. Cadwell,
Nathaniel S. Cannon,
Edmund Rodman,
F. L. Porter,
Edward Knights,
Edwin Munson,
George F. Kingman,
Gilbert Allen,
Charles Almy,
J. P. Knowles, 2nd,
Henry Childs,
Joseph Knowles,
James P. Macomber,
William Leverett,
Nathan Lewis,
William Howe,
Lemuel M. Kollock,
B F. T. Jenney,
C. D. Stickney,
Albert B. Corey,
L. P. Ashmead,
J. W. Macomber,
Joshua C. Hitch,
R. W. Raymond, Dennis Wood,
G. D. Gifford, C. W. Seabury,
W. G. Wood,
Cornelius Davenport,
M. A. Covell,
N. Lincoln, Jr.,
Jos. Buckminster, W. G. Baker, J. A. T. Eddy,
J. Barrell, Charles H. Nye,
Charles Taber, George Knights,
James Durfee, Jr., Jos. Plummer,
C. B. H. Fessenden,
W. H. Bartlett, Alden Wordell,
Charles E. Hawes,
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HISTORY OF THE
Alfred Wilson,
Ivory S. Cornish,
Thomas Russell,
Z. S. Durfee,
George W. Choate,
W. F. Durfee,
George L. Brownell,
Charles H. Gifford,
Stephen P. Haskins,
John J. Hicks,
W. K. Tallman,
J. F. Delaney,
George W. Howland,
Reuben Howland,
Taber Bowles,
Edward R. Gardner,
Ebenezer Hervey,
L. H. Morrill,
Sylvander Hutchinson.
The apparatus for blowing up buildings was under the con- trol of the Board of Engineers. A red staff was the distin- guishing badge of the engineers.
In 1856, the firemen were requested to wear at all fires badges made of white metal, with the designating figure of the company. Locks were put on all the engine houses, and each member of the department furnished with a key.
In 1857, rules were adopted to the effect that all companies should keep to the right when going to a fire, and no running was allowed in returning.
In 1858, the companies were frequently reminded from head- quarters to more strictly obey orders.
Our readers will see the significance of the above extracts from the records of the Board of Engineers. They all reveal the excitement that prevailed.
TILLINGHAST P. TOMPKINS. ( Chief Engineer, 1858-1871.)
CHAPTER X.
HE Board of Engineers for 1856 consisted of :
Chief Engineer, Joshua B. Ashley. Assistant Engineers, Tillinghast P. Tompkins, George Hinckley, Israel F. Bryant, Tilson Wood. Secretary, J. Augustus Brownell.
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HISTORY OF THE
1857. Chief Engineer, Joshua B. Ashley. Assistant Engineers, T. P. Tompkins, Thomas C. Allen, Moses H. Bliss, John Mathews. Secretary, J. Augustus Brownell.
1858-1859.
Chief Engineer, Tillinghast P. Tompkins. Assistant Engineers, John Mathews, Moses H. Bliss, George Hinckley, Thomas P. Swift. Secretary, Charles M. Pierce, Jr.
1860.
Chief Engineer, T. P. Tompkins. Assistant Engineers, John Mathews, George Hinckley, Moses H. Bliss, Henry H. Fisher. Secretary, C. M. Pierce, Jr.
On the evening of April 19th, 1856, occurred the cele- brated Howland street riot, an event that must carry us back to the years 1826 and 1829, to find any parallel occurrence. It is somewhat remarkable that the conditions that brought about the riot are kindred to those of the two riots above mentioned. Our readers will remember in our description of those events that we found certain sections of our town in- fested with a dangerous class of citizens, occupying dwellings that were moral pest-houses, and with surroundings detri- mental to the dignity and good order of our community. In each case a murder had been the prime cause that brought into existence the organized mob. In the riot we are now discuss- ing we find a simple repetition of the same condition of things. So that we may have an intelligent knowledge of this affair, let us take a general survey of the place and the peculiar circumstances of the event.
Howland street is a short thoroughfare in the south part of the city, running east and west, parallel to and situated between Grinnell and Griffin streets, beginning at Acushnet avenue and running east to the river front. In the years gone by, and es- pecially at the time of the riot, the eastern section was a noted resort for drunken sailors and evil-disposed persons.
143
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Nor was this confined to Howland street, for South Water and other intersecting streets partook of the generally bad reputa- tion. They abounded in dance halls, saloons, gambling dens and brothels. When our ships came in from their long voy- ages, these abodes of iniquity were in high carnival, fights and brawls were of frequent occurrence, and it was dangerous to pass through this section after nightfall. It was no uncom- mon circumstance for persons to be knocked down and robbed in this vicinity. Matters grew steadily worse and more un- controllable, when the climax was reached in a murder.
Early on a Sunday morning a man coming out of Benj. Baker's fish market, then located at the foot of Howland street, discovered the body of a man close to the water's edge. Supposing that he was drunk, he called the attention of the bystanders to the danger of the incoming tide. What was their horror, on approaching the spot, to find the man dead ; an ugly wound on his head showed with certainty that he had been foully dealt with. The investigation that immediately followed, under the direction of William O. Russell, coroner, revealed several startling facts : That the man had been mur- dered ; that the crushing blow on the top of the head was the immediate cause of death ; that the man had been seen in the house No. 17 Howland street the night before ; that the track of blood from the spot on the shore where the victim was found was traced in direct and unbroken line to this same house. All this was brought out clearly and positively ; but who did the deed, and under what circumstances, was never found out, at least by any official investigation. The name of the unfortunate man was Rogers, and he was a resident of the northwest section of the city.
Not long after this event, another body of a dead man was found in the "Long House," and, though no bruises were found showing violence, it was deemed necessary to have an inquest. The body was removed to the boat-builder's shop of R. C. Topham, where an investigation was held, but without any sat-
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HISTORY OF THE
isfactory results. My readers can easily understand how in- tense the feeling became after two such tragedies.
A thrill of terror went through the community as these dreadful occurrences became known, and they became the all- absorbing topic of conversation. But few days elapsed after the fruitless investigations, when the preliminary arrangements were commenced which ended in a most complete organized mob. Several meetings were held in which the plans were matured A triangular piece of white paper pasted about the city was recognized as a call to these gatherings. Whenever a red paper was posted it signified danger. The date first se- lected for the demonstration was April 5, but the affair was postponed because of the delay of the engineers in moving the old hook and ladder truck to the Second street house. The new truck, built by Joseph Brownell & Co., was to be placed in the engine house on Market street.
Let it be understood that the municipal authorities, with His Honor George Howland, Jr., at the head, were not lax ir their efforts to maintain order ; indeed his administration was conspicuous for the vigorous enforcement of law. And let me say in passing that the Howland street of 1890 is not the How land street of 1856; far from it. A stroll through this thor oughfare one lovely evening recently revealed another scen than that of early days. With vivid pictures in mind of it condition in the rioting days, when the rookeries and gin shop were in full blast and the streets thronged with tipsy sailor and bold women, when the air was filled with sounds of ribal jest and profanity-deviltry, degradation and dirt reigning su preme,-with this panorama of the past before me, I walke leisurely through this street. New houses, new stores, goo sidewalks ; cleanliness and thrift everywhere ; well dressed well behaved, courteous people all along as I strolled down t the shore, crossing Water street to the noted " Marsh," when Mormon hall and the lesser temples of vice held high carniva in by-gone days. A group of good natured boys, who we
145
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
having a jolly good time talking and laughing on the street em- phasized the impression that it is comparatively sweet and pure. To be sure, here and there is a saloon with its suspic- ious surroundings, but even this seems compelled to have an air of decency and good order.
Just east of the house on the northeast corner of Howland and Second streets was a small, two-story house, No. 17. It was here that the murdered man, Rogers, was last seen alive. The occupants of the house were of the worst class, and the place was noted for being one of the vilest on the street. Through an alleyway on the east of the house and standing in the rear directly northeast stood what was known as the Long House, a large building occupied by similar characters and used for kindred purposes. On these two houses centred the demonstrations of the mob.
Several weeks before the riot the streets were filled with ru- mors in regard to something that was going to happen. At first it was not even hinted where or when. Not many days elapsed, however, before Jerry was announced as having ar- rived in town. That this character was no myth was soon demonstrated. My information regarding him and the organ- ization of which he was the acknowledged head is of the most reliable character, and the facts relating to the finding of the murdered man on the shore were told me by the very man who made the discovery.
One morning our citizens were greeted with bits of red pa- per, posted everywhere through the city, bearing the signifi- cant words : "Fire ! Fire ! On Howland street ! Paint your faces and look out for the police." This was an appeal to the more than three hundred members of the organization that the attack was to take place on the following Saturday night, April 19th. They met that evening on City Hall square, and, at an early hour, a party of the rioters took the old truck from the Second street house, proceeded to Howland street, and under- took to pull down the house, No. 17. Their efforts were un-
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HISTORY OF THE
successful, until about 9 o'clock, when a false alarm of fire was raised and brought the whole force and an immense crowd of people to the scene. The rioters now were in their great- est strength. They proceeded to the vicinity of the house, quickly stripped the carriage of the long hooks, and the work of demolition commenced. One of these hooks was thrust into the front window, another to the roof, the rioters manning the ropes, and surging, with heavy strain, the house began to come down. The Long House, in the rear, was the first to be set on fire, though both were soon in flames, and burning fiercely, while dense volumes of smoke filled the heavens. Jerry mounted the ridgepole of No. 17 and directed the operations.
A thrilling episode occurred when this building was entirely wrapped in smoke and flame. The roof fell in with a tremen- dous crash, carrying Jerry with it, and it was for some time supposed he had perished in the seething furnace. But he soon put in an appearance and continued to direct operations. The fire soon spread to the next building east, called the Block, but the damage here was slight. Any attempt on the part of the engines to play on either of the first two buildings was defeated by cutting the leading hose. The fire department was promptly on hand, but its operations were distinguished by its apparent stupidity and want of efficiency.
The Franklin, No. 10, was the first to arrive. Singular as it may seem the engine stopped directly over the reservoir cover and not a man could find it. Nos. 5 and 6 came tearing through the streets, anxious, of course, each to beat the other in getting first water, shoved their suctions under No. 10, got water and played on-no they didn't play on the fire, for the reason above stated. All the engines of the department were hindered from doing any service. The only instance where they were at all effective was in putting out the fire in the Block. The crowds of people were great, for the papers of the day mention the number as at least three thou-
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NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
sand. The police were present, but were helpless in prevent- ing the work of the mob; indeed, the mischief had been ac- complished before they were present in any force.
The City Guards, Capt. Timothy Ingraham, were ordered out by the mayor, and marched to the scene, fully armed and equipped for serious work. They halted on Second street, near Howland, and awaited orders. By this time the rioters had dispersed, evidently satisfied with the work accomplished, and the Guards were not called upon for service. At midnight the crowds of people retired, and thus ended the famous How- land street riot. Several persons were arrested, but their cases never came to trial. The denizens of other notorious sections. of the city were badly frightened, and during the night outposts were stationed to give the alarm should the mob be seen ap- proaching. The city government took vigorous action to pre- vent further demonstrations of this character. The military were under arms for several weeks, and many of the engine companies were sworn in for special duty, but fortunately their services were not required.
I clip several items from the records of the companies :
April 26, 1856 .- Oregon, No. 11 .- False alarm of fire. Proceeded to Howland street ; found no fire but plenty of police.
October, 1856 .- Franklin, No. 10. - A beautiful pennant was pre- sented to the company by Weston Howland, Esq. Resolutions of thanks were passed.
Jan. 21, 1858 .- Fire at Fairhaven. Depot of the Fairhaven & Bos- ton Railroad Co. burned. Engines 5, 7 and 9 went over and rendered effective service.
April 9, 1858 .- William B. Cooke, Esq., presented Philadelphia, No. 7, a splendid gold-clasped Bible. The gift was received by Capt. Clark, who made an appropriate speech. The company passed a vote of thanks and also a resolution that a chapter should be read at every regular meeting. [The records show that this was faithfully carried out at this time. Church going seemed to be popular with the firemen.]
On Sunday, April 11, 1858, engine companies Nos. 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 attended service at the Elm Street M. E. church, and listened to a sermon by the pastor, Rev. Henry S. White.
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HISTORY OF THE
May 16 .- Franklin Co., No. 10, attended Trinitarian church. Sec- ond sermon preached to firemen by Rev. Wheelock Craig. The Frank- lins mustered 62 men, including their volunteers. On June 10th they went to Allen Street church ; sermon by Rev. John Howson.
In November, 1859, the Board of Engineers took the hose reel of the Franklin, No. 10, out of service for some slight re- pairs, supplying them with a spare reel for temporary use. At an alarm of fire on Nov. 26th the engines responded, and to the genuine surprise of the Franklins the Young Mechanics, No. 6, appeared with their hose reel. This raised their ire ; and on returning to their house they appointed their officers a committee to wait on Acting Chief Hinckley for an explanation of the affair. They were informed that as the No. 6 reel was off for repairs the engineers ordered the Franklin reel to be at- tached to No. 6 ; and as the service was only a temporary one they declined the request of the committee to make any change. The sequel to this affair is given in the following extracts from No. Io's records :
Nov. 27th .- Alarm of fire at 9.30 o'clock P. M., caused by a fire in the Market street school-house. Not much damage done. No. 6, first water. No. 10 was on hand and put down at the corner of Union and Fourth streets. The company, seeing their reel at the fire, took it and, assisted by their friends, succeeded in taking it to their engine, although No. 6 tried their best, assisted by the engineers and the Protecting So- ciety, to prevent them. Some of the tallest specimens of pulling and hauling on record was witnessed at this fire. The reel was afterwards given up to the engineers and placed again with No. 6.
Nov. 28 .- The company's hose reel was returned this afternoon and placed with the engine.
At half past one on the morning of April 18, 1859, fire broke out in the carriage factory of William A. Nash, in Mechanics lane. It spread with great rapidity and the build- ing was soon enveloped in flames. The fire spread to the two stables of John M. Hathaway & Brother, on Elm street, thence to that of Messrs. Bailey & Hathaway. Our readers may well imagine the fearful condition of matters when these
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NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
four buildings, filled with combustible materials, were in a rag- ing, uncontrollable blaze. The heat was intense and almost unbearable. Fortunately the horses, 67 in number, were saved by cutting the halters and driving them from the buildings. They went prancing about town, free to go at their own pleas- ure. They were corralled when their owners had more leis- ure, in the morning. The fire worked rapidly to the west, and Andrew J. Dam's billiard saloon and bowling alley on Elm street was soon ablaze, as was also the two-story house next west, owned by Seth R. Thomas ; also, Joseph Linton's black- smith shop, L. G. Carpenter & Son's blacksmith shop, and the building west occupied by the same firm, second story by G. Tuckwell and Pierce & Co .- all these on the north side of Mechanics lane. On the south, Mechanics Hall, occupied by the City Guards and Union Boot & Shoe store, took fire and was badly injured, though not destroyed. The city library was in great danger, and the window casements on the north side were badly burned. The granite walls of the North Congregational church, on the east, stayed the progress of the fire in that direction. The entire loss of property was $27,000, on which there was an insurance of $9500. The conflagra- tion was the work of an incendiary, who chose a place and time for one of the most disastrous fires our city ever experi- enced. The combustible nature of the buildings, with their contents, made favorable material for the terrible fire, and the only wonder is that the department was able to stop it when it did ; for at the moment when the flames were fiercest the reservoir on City Hall square gave out, and four of the en- gines had to be moved to other points for water.
The Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company did great service at this fire in pulling down sheds, (there were a number that connected the stables) and in removing fences. Thirteen buildings in all were destroyed in this conflagration. The newspapers of the day speak in commendable terms of the work done by the fire department.
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HISTORY OF THE
At noonday on August 24, 1859, the greatest fire in our lo- cal history, involving an immense loss of property, occurred on Water street, north of Middle. It was past twelve, an hour when the shops and streets were deserted, and the workmen were at dinner, when fire broke out suddenly in the engine room of William Wilcox's planing mill, on the east side of Water street, on the same spot where now stands Til- linghast & Terry's mill. The structure was of wood and, in an instant, was enveloped in flames. A strong southeast wind was blowing at the time, and the fire spread with great rapid- ity to the buildings north, leaped across the street, even before the alarm was given, taking all the shops on the west side of Water street clear to North street, and worked its way steadily westward to Second street.
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