USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > New Bedford > History of the Fire Department of the city of New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1772-1890 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16
Art. 5. The clerk shall notify at each stated meeting a committee of three members present, in rotation. to visit the house, shop, store of each member, examine his buckets, bags, etc., and report the state of them at the next meeting. He shall also at some suitable time appoint the day for said visitation, which shall be one week at least previous to each stated meeting of the society, and the time and place for said com- mittee to meet for said purpose. Any member refusing or neglecting to attend to this duty shall pay a fine of one dollar. And if the clerk shall neglect his duty in this or in any of the articles mentioned or here-
II
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
after to be mentioned, he shall pay a fine not exceeding one dollar at the discretion of the society.
Art. 6. Each member shall keep constantly in good order, hanging up in some convenient place in his dwelling house, under penalty of fifty cents for each deficiency, two leather buckets and two bags; the buckets to be painted conformably to the orders of the society; the bags to be one yard and a half in length and three-quarters of a yard in breadth, with strings to draw them up. The buckets and bags shall be marked with the owner's name, under penalty of twenty-five cents for each bucket and bag.
Art. 7. At the alarm of fire each one shall immediately repair, with his buckets and bags, to the dwelling-house, shop or store of that mem- ber which he believes to be most in danger and use his best endeavors, by the direction of the owner if present, to remove and secure his goods, and to return them to him again free of expense. And for the better preservation of order and the security of property when removed in time of fire, it is agreed that the committee to be appointed by the clerk, in pursuance of the fifth article of these regulations, shall be a committee for the time being, to have the general superintendence and direction in these respects.
Art. 8. The loss of buckets or bags in time of fire shall be made good by the society, provided the owner shall make report of the same to the clerk within a week after it may happen, having the loss previ- ously notified in some public place.
Art. 9. The admission of members shall be by ballot, and three negatives shall be sufficient to prevent any person from being a mem- ber of this society.
Art. 10. No person who is not a member shall be admitted to the society's meetings.
Art. II. Any member who shall absent himself three meetings suc- cessively shall on the fourth be particularly notified by the clerk, and if he does not then give or send a reasonable excuse he shall be no longer considered a member, and any one who neglects to pay his fines or as- sessments after three several applications from the clerk shall be no long- er considered a member, and if any member or members shall directly or indirectly disturb or molest the peace and good order of the society such member or members shall without delay be expelled from it, and any member who forfeits his right of membership shall forfeit all his interest in said society.
Art. 12. There shall be a watchword whereby to know each other in time of fire, which shall continue until the society shall see fit to change it ; and it shall on no occasion be divulged.
Art. 13. Each member shall have a copy of these articles, with the names of the members annexed, and shall produce the same to the clerk at each meeting in order that any alterations may be inserted.
Art. 14. All questions respecting the affairs of the society shall be determined by a majority of votes, except for the admission of mem- bers already provided for, and no member shall leave the society with- out permission until the business is over, under penalty of twenty-five cents.
12
HISTORY OF THE
Art. 15. If any member shall think that his fine ought to be re- mitted, for reasons not provided for, he may mention it at any meeting of the society, which fine may be remitted by a majority of the mem- bers present.
Art. 16. Nothing in these regulations shall be construed as to inter- fere with the power or authority of the fire-wards whenever they shall see proper to exert it.
Art. 17. These articles shall be subject to amendment at any meet- ing of the society by a majority of the members.
Art. 18. Any member who may be duly elected clerk, shall either accept the office or pay a fine of one dollar. It being, however, under- stood that no member shall be obliged to serve two years in succession.
Joseph Ricketson,
Josiah Wood,
Elisha Thornton,
Francis Taber,
Barnabas Taber,
John Thornton,
Job Eddy,
Peter Howland,
James Allen, 2d,
Joseph Maxfield,
Simpson Hart,
William Ross,
Cornelius Howland,
Gilbert Howland,
Nicholas D. Greene,
Gilbert Russell,
Daniel Taber,
Sands Wing,
Nathan Taber,
Caleb Congdon,
Abraham Shearman, Jr.,
Asa Russell,
Frederick Mayhew,
Benjamin Lincoln,
Caleb Greene,
Freeman Barrows,
Wm. Sawyer Wall,
Pardon Tillinghast,
Jahaziel Jenney,
James Arnold,
William James,
John Howland,
Peter Barney.
From a perusal of the records, faithfully and systematically kept, to the final dissolution of the society in October, 1816, it seems that the members were under strict discipline. I make a few extracts which may possibly prove of interest :
Ioth mo., 12, 1807 .- The committee have examined the state of buckets and bags and find them all in good order, except William Ross, Sands Wing, Benj. Lincoln.
Ist mo., 11, 1808 .- The society find their bags and buckets all in good order excepting Benj. Lincoln's bags, without strings. This gentleman was fined fifty cents for deficiency.
11th of 4th month, 1808 .- The committee report buckets and bags belonging to the society in good order, with the exception of one of Jahaziel Jenney's bags, the strings of which would not draw it up. Abraham Shearman, Jr., Nathan Taber, Fred'k Mayhew, committee.
Jahaziel was fined 25 cents. He was one of the characters of the day, of whom many amusing stories are told. One day
13
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
when Mr. Thomas Hazard was harnessing for a sleigh-ride, Mr. Jenney coming along, suggested that he be allowed to use the sleigh. "No, Mr. J., you can't have it now ; but I will give you a sleigh ride next Fourth of July." When Independence day came Mr. J. had not forgotten the promise, though Mr. H. had. Proceeding to the stable, and pulling down the sleigh from the loft, he harnessed up and with a few in- vited friends scraped through several of the sultry streets with evident enjoyment. History does not record what Mr. Hazard said about it.
Speaking of characters peculiar to the town, I am tempted to relate a story of "George Lecain," a noted wit. The story has no relation to our fire department, but relates how "George was fired out of Newport." He was a noisy, loud- mouthed fellow, often an annoyance to his fellow citizens, and so proved himself to the selectmen of Newport. Once, when on a visit to that town, they threatened him that they would " drum him out of town" if he didn't keep quiet. " Bring on your music," was George's response. He was escorted to the boundary line, followed by a crowd of men and boys. Lifting his hat gracefully, he addressed the company, thanking them for their attention, and remarking, as he closed his speech, that the only difference between George Washington and him- self was that George W. was drummed into town and George L. was drummed out of it.
7th mo. 11, 1808 .- Simpson Hart, Job Eddy, Daniel Taber, Peleg Howland, Josiah Wood and Freeman Taber paid fines of 50 cents each for non-attendance at last meeting.
Ioth mo. 8, 1810 .- Peleg Howland's buckets were not hanging agreeable to regulations, and James Arnold's buckets were sitting on the floor without bags. They were each fined 50 cents for the above deficiencies.
Ist mo. 13, 1812 .- Sands Wing paid fine, 50 cents, buckets and bags not being in their places.
In the records for 3d mo. 13, 1815, a committee reported that they found 230 buckets in the town, about enough to serve efficiently one lane of 400 feet.
14
HISTORY OF THE
The final meeting was held roth mo., 1816, and I copy the record verbatim :
Ioth mo., 1816 .- On motion made and seconded, voted, That after the rising of the meeting the society be dissolved, each member present engaging that they will continue to keep two good fire buckets and bags ready for use at fires, to which in future they will endeavor to carry them as heretofore. The members present further holding themselves ready hereafter to associate with their fellow citizens in the formation of a similar society or any other measure calculated to provide against the calamity occasioned by fire.
Resolved, That all fines due, together with the assessments last voted, or any other dues be paid by each member to our former clerk.
CALEB GREENE, Clerk.
In 1802 the town was divided into two fire districts, and the board of fire wards consisted of :
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT (New Bedford) .
William Rotch, Jr.,
Daniel Ricketson,
Abm. Smith,
Cornelius Grinnell,
Thomas Hazard,
William Ross,
John Sherman,
James Howland.
SOUTHEAST DISTRICT (Fairhaven) .
Jethro Allen,
Nicholas Taber,
Noah Stoddard, Joseph Bates.
These, with Isaac Sherman and Thomas Nye, Jr., served till ISog.
CHAPTER II.
HE board of firewards for 1809 were Caleb Congdon, Cornelius Howland, Seth Russell, Jr., Henry Beetle, Lu- ther Williams, John Alden, Kelley Eldredge, John Delano, Jos- eph Church, and, with Peter Barney, William Kempton, Peleg Jenney, Benjamin Howland, they served in that capacity until 1814. Abraham Gifford, John A. Parker, James Howland, 2d, Samuel West, Benjamin Lincoln, James Arnold, Charles Church, Zachariah Hillman, Andrew Robeson, Reuben Rus- sell, John Ruggles, Josiah Wood, William James, Edward Wing, Ichabod Clapp, Nathaniel Nelson, Levi Standish, Jos- eph Bourne and Benjamin Howland served from 1815 to 1821.
In ISII a fire occurred in Benj. Lindsey's printing office, then located on the east side of Water street, very near what is now the northeast corner of Commercial street. Mr. Lind- sey, who celebrated his 83d birthday in 188S, remembered clearly this fire. Though he was but five years of age, his father took him to the office on the afternoon preceding the fire. The smell of smoke caused them to look about, and he helped him to overhaul a lot of old rags in the building. The fire caught, however, from live ashes placed in a wooden bar- rel in the east part of the building. The fire was first seen from Fairhaven, and the alarm given from there in the night. At this fire a ludicrous incident occurred that will bear relating. A ladder had been placed against the building that was im- mediately mounted by Mr. William Meader, with an axe, to break in the window. Closely following him was Mr. Timothy Delano, with the pipe and hose of Citizen, No. 2. By accident the pipe was shoved under the trousers leg of the unfortunate Mr. Meader when the order was given to play, and the result was that in less time than I am using in telling this story his clothing was filled brim full with the sparkling
16
HISTORY OF THE
liquid,-so full that it gave him the appearance of a bloated aristocrat : so full that he flowed over at the bosom, presenting to his admiring companions a sort of miniature Niagara. It is said that he didn't like it, for some reason ; possibly because it was a bitter cold night. People get unreasonable at times.
At this same fire the dwelling house adjoining was in danger. In the confusion, occasioned by the hasty removal of the family with their household goods, the baby was lost. The frantic demonstrations of the parents brought to their aid troops of sympathizing friends, who joined eagerly in the long search for the little one. At last baby was found sleeping quietly in its cradle in Peleg Howland's garden, on the oppo- site side of the street, where it had been landed, completely enveloped with bed spreads, sheets, etc., and surrounded with furniture and kitchen utensils in a perfect barricade. It seems that the person who removed it did not notice that a child was in the cradle, but piling on it the above mentioned articles had taken " cradle, baby and all" to its place of safety.
Jan. 23, 1819, two tub engines, Nos. 3 and 4, were purchased of Hunneman & Co., Roxbury, for $900, the purchase being made by the following committee : James Howland, 2d, Tim- othy Delano, Gideon Howland, Jr., John Coggeshall, Jr., John A. Parker. The department now consisted of five en- gines, Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the " Jolly Rope Maker." When the first large fire took place on Centre street, Sept. 6, 1820, George H. Taber dares to assert that the Oxford engine came over and played the first water, but James Durfee dis- puted it with vigor. He modestly admitted that it was true on another occasion-the Lindsey fire. Thus we see the early development of rivalry, not only between the towns, but be- tween the fire companies as well.
I give the account of the first great fire as described in the morning Mercury of Sept. 8, 1820: "On Wednesday morn- ing, about half past four, the inhabitants of this town were alarmed by the cry of fire, which originated in the extensive
17
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
bakehouse of Mr. Enoch Horton, situated on the street lead- ing from the Commercial Bank to William Rotch's (formerly Gilbert Russell's) wharf. In a few minutes the whole build- ing was involved in flames which spread to an adjoining wood- house, containing a large quantity of dry pine wood, and in despite of the exertions of the citizens, aided by seven engines (these without doubt included the two across the river), which were constantly playing on the desolating element, it spread in almost every direction, consuming in its progress the buildings on the east, west and north of it, until by great exertions it was finally subdued, just as it was communicating to the store of Peter Barney on the south east and the dwelling house, owned by Gilbert Russell, on the west. Had either of these buildings been permanently on fire no human exertions could have arrested its progress until a large part of the town had been laid in ashes, and had there not, fortunately, been an entire calm at the time, we should, in all probability, have had to record a calamity scarcely inferior to those of Wilmington and Savannah. The buildings destroyed were a bakehouse, owned and occupied by Mr. Enoch Horton ; a large three- story building, owned and occupied by Mr. John Perkins as a store and paper staining manufactory ; a store, owned and occu- pied by Mr. John Harrisson as a paint store, etc. ; a store, owned by Mr. Gilbert Russell and partly occupied by William Card, block maker ; a store, owned by Mr. William Tallman and occupied by Mr. Churchill, grocer ; two cooper shops, one owned by Mr. Reuben Russell, and the other by Mr. Allerton Delano ; a shoe shop, occupied by Mr. James Bosworth ; a blacksmith shop, occupied by Mr. Nathan Durfee, and a barn owned by Mr. G. Russell. We understand that Mr. Perkins and Mr. Harrisson are the greatest sufferers ; the loss of the former is estimated at about $4000 ; the latter upwards of $3000 ; that of Mr. Horton about $1500 ; and the total at about $12,000. The large three-story wooden building, occupied by the Mechanic Company and Messrs. Hussey & Allen, was
IS
HISTORY OF THE
saved principally by the judicious, spirited and persevering exertions of the citizens of Fairhaven, attached to the engines from the villages of Fairhaven and Oxford. The manner in which the fire originated has not been ascertained. We hope it will be a warning to a greater caution in the management of fires, particularly in combustible buildings, and that our citi- zens will see the policy hereafter of building their tenements of brick or stone. It is a mistaken notion that they are much more costly than wood, beside the expense of insurance is abundantly less on a brick or stone building than one of wood."
Exemption from poll tax and military duty was the compen- sation awarded to members of fire companies during these years. Their organization was of a simple character, their operations at fires being under the supreme dictation of the fire-wards. All citizens were alike under their control, and were expected to keep in their houses fire buckets ready for immediate use. It was an important duty, for we must remember that suction engines were not at this time in use, and the water supply of the engines was dependent upon buckets. To illus- trate again how the buckets were often used for other purposes, I relate an instance, given me by Mr. Ambrose Vincent, at the fire of a stable on Second street. The dwelling house of Cor- nelius Howland, Jr., on the opposite side of the street, was in great danger. It was barely saved by the steady use of the buckets in wetting the roof and sides of the building. Among those passed up was one, the contents of which were not wholly sparkling water, but also a liberal supply of "frozen potatoes," that made themselves known as they went rolling and tumbling down the roof upon the crowd below.
The following citizens were at times members of the Board of Fire-wards during the years from 1822 to 1830 :
19
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Jonathan Swift,
Lemuel Williams, Jr. (26),
William Hathaway, .
Isaac Case,
Sturgis Phinney (22), Eli Haskell,
Lysander Washburn,
Dudley Davenport,
William T. Russell (23),
Charles W. Warren,
Samuel Rodman,
Gideon Howland,
Richard Williams,
William W. Swain (27),
Timothy G. Coffin (24),
William
Charles W. Morgan,
John Price,
Jireh Swift (25),
Elkanah Tallman,
Benjamin Rodman,
Zachariah Hillman,
Haydon Coggeshall,
William H. Allen,
Elisha Dunbar,
Ivory H. Bartlett (29).
The Centre street fire caused much uneasiness among the people on account of the limited means of fire protection.
JAMES ARNOLD.
20
HISTORY OF THE
Finally a committee, consisting of James Arnold, Dudley Davenport and Timothy Delano, was empowered to purchase another fire engine. In 1821 the Cataract, No. 6 was re- ceived from Philadelphia. The name was changed to Me- chanic soon after its arrival. I present a copy of the bill :
THE TOWN OF NEW BEDFORD, To James Arnold, Dr.,
To one first-class Suction Engine, with 900 feet copper riveted Hose, &c.,
Freight on same,
$1,360.00 15.00
Aug. 15, 1821. Received payment by an order on the Town Treasurer,
JAMES ARNOLD.
It will be seen that the addition of this engine to the de- partment was a most important one. It was the first suction machine purchased, though it is stated as a positive fact that the " Jolly Rope Maker" was fitted with the suction apparatus. Its use being unknown, it was cut off.
The No. 6 was a powerful engine, the pumps being the " Perkins patent," then considered an important invention. It had a long and famous career, as will be seen in future sketches. The following is the list of members, Feb. 2, 1826 :
Timothy Delano, Stevens M. Burbank,
John Paun, Joseph Bramhall,
Charles M. Pierce,
Thomas Peckham,
David Padelford.
Gibbs Taber, Gamaliel Taber,
Joshua V. Himes,
Lyman Allen,
Christopher Roffer,
Benjamin Beetle,
Edward Russell,
Pardon Potter, 2d,
David Chase,
Samuel Bonney, Jr.,
Stephen Parker,
Frederick Underwood,
Nathaniel Crandall,
Charles V. Card, Alfred Leonard,
Jonathan Hathaway, Gifford Taber,
Christopher Slocum,
William Crosley,
Marshall Waldron, Humphrey Manchester,
Humphrey Wood, David Peckham,
Joseph Congdon.
Obadiah Burgess,
Charles P. Maxfield,
$1,375.00
21
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
In 1821, battering rams were ordered by the town meeting for the use of the fire department. They were heavy sticks of timber, about 20 feet long, so fitted and arranged that a num- ber of men could easily handle them in tearing down build- ings. They were of considerable importance, for it was frequently the case that buildings were destroyed to stop the progress of fire.
In 1824 a fire occurred, Nov. 17, an account of which I take from the Mercury of Nov. I8: "Yesterday morning, be- tween 2 and 3 o'clock, the barn of Mr. Abraham Russell in the town was discovered to be on fire, and was in a short time totally burned, with several tons of hay and other articles which it contained. The fire had made such progress before dis- covered that any attempt to extinguish it would have been un- availing. An apartment had been fitted up in the building which was occupied by Mr. Abraham Russell, Jr., as a hat manufactory, and in which was a large stock of furs, unfinished hats, etc., not an article of which was saved. Two cows which were in the barn made their escape by some means un- known, one of them badly burnt. The loss sustained by Mr. Abraham Russell, Jr., by this calamity is, we learn. very heavy, and it cannot be doubted but that a liberal and munifi- cent spirit will on this occasion be manifested toward him by our citizens. The citizens of Fairhaven and Oxford Villages are particularly entitled to our thanks for the promptitude with which they offered their assistance on this as well as on all former occasions."
In 1826 a contract was given to Timothy Delano and James Durfee for a suction engine, Columbian, No. 5. It was a bold venture for our resident mechanics to undertake so important an affair. When we remember that John Agnew, of Phila- delphia, was the chief builder in the country (his only rival being Hunneman, of Roxbury), we can more readily appre- ciate the responsibility these citizens took upon themselves.
22
IHISTORY OF THE
JAMES DURFEE. ( One of the builders of Columbian, No. 5.)
Columbian, No. 5, was accepted by the town Feb. 28th, IS27, at a total cost of $762. It proved a triumph for the mechanical skill of our own artisans, and it took rank with the best of the Agnew engines. The history of this engine, with that of its contemporary, Mechanic, No. 6, became an inter- esting part of the fire department annals for the next forty years. Both engines were staunchly built ; had they not been they never could have stood the wear and tear of the "runs and races" of the coming years. As they were located in the same house on Purchase street, conditions of rivalry arose that
23
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
became more vigorous and intense, as the years went by, when the whole department became infected with the same spirit. Poetry alone can do justice to the subject, and so I quote the impromptu verses of a resident clergyman :
Away they went with rush and shout, And trumpet blaring high, Till timid people stood aghast, And trembled for the sky. They trembled for the sky, my dear, They trembled for the sky ; The women, too, God bless their hearts, Did tremble for the sky.
Each man he did his level best, Until the goal was won ; O, it had thrilled your very soul, To see those fellows run. To see those fellows run, my dear, To see those fellows run ; O, it had thrilled you to your toes, To see those fellows run.
The first engine placed at the Head of the River was in IS21 or 1822. It was a bucket machine and operated with a flexible pipe from the tower, the same as described of Independence, No. 1. At the first trial Foreman Samuel Pierce stood on top of the tower, directing the stream of water at his pleasure, when the pipe burst at the butt, and he en- countered the whole force of the water in such a manner as to actually lift him in the air. It is not recorded how many feet the engine played on this trial, but the feat performed proved it to be a powerful machine. It was in service till about 1828, when it was wrecked, accidentally or purposely (the latter quite likely), on the way to the fire of Pardon Nye's barn. The engine was dragged to the conflagration with horses and in some mysterious way it was smashed. This bucket machine was soon replaced by the Hunneman tub, No. 3, from New Bedford.
It was the custom to take out the engine on Saturday after- noons to play, which practice was for some reason an annoy-
24
HISTORY OF THE
ance to Mr. Blank, a resident of the town. One day, when he had dressed in his best Sunday suit, with fine frilled shirt bosom and cuffs, to go to Raynham, he went to the Mill Pond, where the engine was being worked, evidently to criticise and find fault. The stream was being thrown on the cotton factory, and to avoid being sprinkled he took refuge in a blacksmith's shed close by. Now this shed had a poor roof. It was neither fire nor water proof. Many years had elapsed since it had been shingled, indeed it is extremely doubtful if it had ever been at all. It was a poor refuge in a powerful rain storm. It proved to be such to Mr. Blank when the pipemen turned the stream from factory to shed. He indeed presented a sorry sight to his friends when he emerged from the building. The copious supply of water had filtered through the roof and mixed with the collected dust of many years. With this shower he was thoroughly drenched, and his intimate acquaint- ances could hardly have recognized him. His visit to Rayn- ham was postponed until the next fair day It was an unfor- tunate accident on the part of the pipemen ; for it was quite as much of an accident as the " smash up" alluded to above.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.