USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > New Bedford > History of the Fire Department of the city of New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1772-1890 > Part 9
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She is an independent tub, the first one in the town, And when the alarm of fire is given you'll always find her 'round. To throw the first stream on the fire will always be our aim ; We'll do our duty while we're there, and gain a noble name. Chorus.
Our new machine is Jeffers' make, one whom every fireman knows ; She'll play one hundred forty feet through one hundred feet of hose. A side-brake machine is she and takes water in behind ; She is as saucy a machine as you will ever find. Chorus.
Young America is her name and she will do her best, When the fire is raging most, to put her to the test ; We know she is a small machine, but then she'll put out fire, And we'll try to save the property of all who may desire. Chorus.
Simeon Potter, Gideon Underwood, William Mann,
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NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Our foreman and officers are faithful to their trust, And when we hear them give command we work without a fuss ; Our hosemen they all know their place, and the boys who man the brakes,
And when they halloo "Strike her, boys," she's always sure to take. Chorus.
Our tub she'll go to the reservoir and put her suction down ; The boys they'll man her brakes and commence to brake her down. The water'll come with lightning speed and through her hose will skate,
And soon will come the welcome sound, " First water," Number Eight. Chorus.
By day or night we'll be on hand, in sunshine. fog or rain, You'll find us promptly at our post, smothering the flame ; And when we've done our duty there, and made the water foam, We'll take her up and man the ropes and drag our engine home. Chorus.
We thank our generous citizens for lending us a hand, And if their houses get on fire, we'll save them if we can. We'll try to fill a fireman's place, we'll mind our brakes and hose, We'll do you all the good we can in conquering our foes. Chorus.
The Young America was in constant service until 1857, when the company was disbanded and the engine was sold to the city and placed in reserve. It was subsequently sold to Hon. Weston Howland, and was in constant use for 18 years at his Fish Island factory.
The Evening Standard of Nov. 9, 1854, contained the following :
At five o'clock this morning Liberty Hall building was discovered to be on fire. The fire department was immediately on the spot, but their efforts were unavailing to save the far-famed " temple of liberty," within whose hallowed walls freedom for all men has so frequently been proclaimed, and from whose tower the note of warning to the poor, trembling fugitive from oppression has so often sounded. At about 7 o'clock the structure was destroyed. It had fretted away its short term of existence and witnessed its last exhibition of impressive tragedy and mirth-provoking farce. The actors have positively made their last appearance. The fire caught from a lamp in a transparency in front of the restaurant, in the lower part of the building, that had been left burning all night. From thence the flames were communi-
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HISTORY OF THE
cated to the building, and thence ascended to the upper portion, between the wall and ceiling, and were consequently invisible for some length of time.
Being out of reach of water until it had gained strong headway, it was impossible, from the combustible character of the building and the scenery attached to the theatre, to stay the progress of the flames. The occupants of the building were as follows: E. C. Leonard, carpet store ; Bourne & Perry, shoe store ; City liquor store ; Davis & Allen, merchant tailoring establishment; Isaac Quinnell, restaurant; Uncle Tom's Cabin, a restaurant of long standing, owned by Thomas T. Allen ; Charles E. Hawes, daguerreian rooms ; Mechanic, No. 6, club- room ; Telegraph office, Benoni R. Paine, operator. The Grotto restau- rant, west of the building, and Eli Haskell's house, on the north, were repeatedly on fire, badly charred and scathed by the fiery element and drenched with water.
We but express the concurrent opinion of all sensible men when we say that no department in the world could have exhibited more indis- putable evidence of skill, efficiency and manly effort than ours that morning. To Chief Engineer Joshua B. Ashley and his efficient corps of assistants and the members of the fire department, collectively and individually, our citizens were indebted for the safety of that portion of the city in the vicinity of the hall. Let the proper meed of praise be given."
A thrilling accident occurred during the progress of the fire that came near costing the life of Mr. Pliny B. Sherman, an officer of Columbian, No. 5. He was on a ladder, well up on the south side of the building, with the pipe, when the burning jet fell, striking him as is came down. He was thrown vio- lently from his position, and, without doubt, would have been instantly killed but for the fall being partially broken by his striking against an awning frame and being caught in the arms of Mr. George D. Bisbee, who, seeing the accident, leaped from the lower rounds of the ladder and caught him as he fell. A few minutes' rest and he was back again to his work. He never did know when it was the proper time to go home ; and Bisbee always had the reputation of being in the way when wanted.
I have gathered from various sources some facts about this building which will prove interesting to our readers. The tract of land on which this building was located (northwest cor- ner of Purchase and William streets) was given by William
te L
be
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NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Rotch, in 1795, to the First Congregational church, and a building was erected during the years 1795-6-7 by Manasseh Kempton, Jr., and Eastland Babcock. It was occupied by the society for public worship some time before its completion. It is said that one of the pew holders was so anxious to occupy his pew on the following Sunday that he gave a carpenter a quart of brandy to saw open the pew door. It was, however, long before the Maine law was projected and while temper- ance movements were in their infancy.
The famous bell was purchased Feb. 18, 1796, of Capt. Silas Jones, of Nantucket. The money, $255, was raised by subscription, the largest amount, $10, being given by Thomas Pope, and the next largest $6, being given by a colored man named Aaron Childs. It was a bell of remarkable tone and clearness. In the November fire it was melted in the flames. The metal was gathered from the ruins, and several of our townsmen had tea-bells and articles of ornament made from it, which are still held as valuable relics of the old liberty bell.
During the excitement that thrilled the nation following the passage of the infamous fugitive slave law, in 1851, and at the time Thomas Simms was arrested and sent back into slavery from Boston, a rumor became current in that city that the United States marshals were planning to visit our little Quaker city by the sea in J. H. Pearson's brig Acorn, accompanied by United States marines, to recover certain fugitive slaves that were supposed to be in hiding, awaiting transit to Canada by the underground railroad. The news was brought into town by Mr. S. P. Hanscom, the New Bedford express rider, who rode all night, arriving Sunday morning with the startling in- telligence. It was not long before the warning notes of the Liberty Hall bell rang out and said in thunder tones to the affrighted colored people that their enemy was near. The im- mediate cause for the alarm was that a strange vessel was re- ported to be in the bay, and Mr. Rodney French ordered the bell to be rung. Some of our readers will vividly remember
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HISTORY OF THE
the excitement that followed, for everyone, especially the col- ored people, felt that real danger was at hand. No officers, however, made themselves known, and it is not certain whether they entered the city or not. One thing is sure, that the reported presence or the vessel was a mistake. The mar- shals would have assuredly met with a warm reception had they put in an appearance. This is but one of many interesting epi- sodes that occurred during those days when it cost something to be an anti-slavery man. To illustrate the work going on in the interest of the slave during that eventful period, I quote the following from the Morning Mercury, April 21, 1851 :
" EXTRADITION EXTRAORDINARY .- We are pleased to announce that a very large number of fugitive slaves, aided by many of our most wealthy and respectable citizens, have left for Canada and parts un- known, and that more are in the way of departure. The utmost sym- pathy and liberality prevails toward this class of our inhabitants.
At the completion of the elegant stone church corner of Union and Eighth streets, in 1838, the old building was sold and became "Liberty Hall," and was used for lectures, polit- ical meetings and entertainments. From time to time several additions were made to the building on the west end, and about 1846-7 stage and scenic properties were added, and the hall became the principal place for theatrical representations, etc. It became chiefly noted as the place for lyceum lectures and for lectures by the distinguished advocates of the cause of the slave. The mere mention of the names of William Lloyd Garrison, Wendell Phillips, Frederick Douglass, Stephen Fos- ter, Theodore Parker, Parker Pillsbury, and Henry Ward Beecher will call up recollections of an era in our history that was pregnant with results affecting the extinction of slavery in the United States, and it was in this hall that these orators poured forth their torrents of eloquence, argument and invective.
Charley Rhodes once astonished the audience at a local po- litical meeting in this hall, when our home orators were called
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NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
to the platform to speak upon the vital issues of the hour. Several citizens had been through the ordeal when Charles saw from the gallery Mr. Nancecawen, a well known citizen, enter the hall and take a back seat. In voice loud and strong, in notes full and prolonged, he shouted : "N-a-n-c-i-e-cowen," with an emphasis on the last syllable and a continued stretch on the first two. It is needless to add that the audience was taken by storm, and so was Mr. N., who was obliged to re- spond with a speech to satisfy his admiring citizens.
Stephen D. Jordan, an old fireman, gives me the text for another true story about the bell. One night the bell-ringer put in an early appearance to ring the 9 o'clock, and while waiting for the hour, fell asleep while sitting on the upper stair. Time rolled on and still he slept, calm and undisturbed. The deep tones of the clock in the adjoining church was toll- ing the hour of midnight when the bell-ringer was startled from his nap, and grasping vigorously the bell-rope, rang out his 9 o'clock at 12. In a moment the whole town was in com- motion. The other bells took up the refrain ; the fire engines were flying through the streets; citizens dressed and half- dressed were scudding through the thoroughfares, anxious to lend a helping hand against the fire fiend. But it was not the night for him to be abroad, it was only a false alarm-the price paid for that comfortable nap.
CHAPTER IX.
HE first hook and ladder truck belonging to our fire ser- vice was stationary, and was located on the land now oc- pied by the post office. It consisted in part of the stone wall near the engine house, then standing on this land and occupied by the Citizen, No. 2. On this wall were fastened several horizontal bars connected with an equal number of upright posts. This arrangement served as a repository for the lad- ders, and the hooks were hung upon brackets-sometimes. It is said that when the firemen were in very much of a hurry for them they usually explored the ground first, and as a rule found them there.
This structure had a roof, not altogether a tight one, but a roof nevertheless. It served splendidly to catch a good pro- portion of the rain and snow, and its open-work character made it successful in keeping the ladders and hooks moist and slimy in summer, and in winter everything would be locked in an icy embrace. This served to keep the ladders at home during the winter season, for they were not in condi- tion to be borrowed.
Our modern truck is mounted on wheels, and the whole ap- paratus goes to the scene of conflagration. Then, when a fire was raging in any part of the village, and a ladder or hook was wanted, it was sent for. There was some economy in all this, for the unused apparatus was not subjected to the wear and tear incident to the average fire.
Among the implements belonging to this branch of the ser- vice in those primitive days was the " battering ram." When a fire was very obstinate and likely to prove dangerous to the neighboring houses, these long sticks of solid timber were brought out, manned with sufficient power, and the whole thing pushed tlat to the ground.
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NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I have already given a list of the members attached to the Hook & Ladder Co. in 1835. At that time the company manned a carriage built by Mr. Nathan Durfee, father of James Durfee, in 1800, that was equipped with the ordinary means of service, and fully met the requirements of the day. It was stationed in the house on Purchase street and was in commission till 1855, when a new truck was built by Joseph
Brownell & Co. This carriage did royal service till 1872, when great improvements were made. Among these was a system of rollers, arranged so that the heavy ladders were moved with greater freedom. The carriage was fitted at this time to be drawn by horse power. In 1861 the truck was moved to the engine-house on Market street. This building was formerly occupied by the Hancock, No. 9, on Foster street ; and when it was moved in March, 1861, the company held their monthly meetings in the house while it was being moved on the rollers.
July 4, 1865, our city celebrated with great pomp, and the fire department, as usual, was an important feature in the par- ade. The Pioneers made a beautiful show, the truck being decorated with flowers and flags. Two boys, dressed in ap- propriate costume, were placed in prominent positions on the carriage-one a representative of the Revolutionary army, and the other of the navy-while under a high canopy in the cen- tre were two lovely figures, the Goddess of Liberty and the Soldier of the Rebellion. The whole decorations were in fine taste and gained the admiration of the great concourse of peo- ple who thronged the streets. The company spent $100 on this feature of the parade.
The battle axes taken from the pirate Georgia, were presented to the company by Austin S. Cushman, Esq., in recognition of the patriotic zeal of the Pioneers in honoring the return of veterans of the army and navy.
In June, IS72, the Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company re- turned to their old station at the Central Engine-house. A
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HISTORY OF THE
few extracts from the records may prove interesting to mem- bers and their friends :
Nov. 26, 1873 .- The company made a public parade, having the Volunteer Hook & Ladder Co., of Taunton, as guests ; and on Sept. 9, 1874, the Pioneers made a return visit to their Taunton friends.
They seem to have had a close fellowship with the Volun- teers, for we find record that on Oct. 7th they again visited our city and had a public parade and a general good time.
Feb. 8, 1875 .- Mr. John H. Judson, Ist assistant, was elected as- sistant engineer.
Oct. 15, 1875 .- The Pioneers visited Taunton again, and were pre- sented an elegant trumpet by their hosts-the Volunteers.
Jan. 31, 1876 .- After 20 years' faithful service, Mr. Martin L. Hath- away withdrew from the company and was presented an elegant testi- monial.
July 4, 1877,-The Pioneers received as a prize a silver pitcher and salver, given by the citizens, through the solicitation of Mr. Charles S. Kelley, now president of the Protecting Society. The trial was as fol- lows: The truck starting from the corner of Pleasant and Market streets, ran to the north of Mechanics Hall, took a 30-foot ladder from the carriage, placed it against the building, one of the members mounted to the top, returned, and the ladder replaced on the truck in 42 seconds.
Aug. 13, 1877 .- The Pioneers took an excursion to Rocky Point, as guests of Reindeer Hook and Ladder Co., of Fall River. Took with them, as guests, Assistant Engineer Judson and L. G. Hewins, Jr., Clerk of Board of Engineers.
Aug. 23 .- Moonlight excursion to Mattapoisett, with the Reindeers and Steam Fire Engine Co., No. 4, of Fall River, and Contest, No. 3, of Fairhaven.
Aug. 4, 1877 .- The new carriage, built by Joseph T. Ryan, of Bos- ton, was received and put at once into commission. [It cost $1800 and is still in active use. The old apparatus was sold to the town of Middleborough.]
Jan. 24, 1883 .- Mr. Charles H. Walker resigned his membership after a long service. [Mr. Walker was presented with a token of es- teem. In 1862, September Ist, he resigned his position as foreman to go to the war, and was escorted to the station on the morning of his departure, Sept. 19, by the Pioneers.]
This branch of the fire service has always been an impor- tant one, and its record for usefulness is equally creditable
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NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
with that of any other organization belonging to our fire department.
I mention a few happenings during these eventful years :
March 9, 1855 .- Occurred the burning of Taber & Grinnell's rivet factory. Loss $6000.
July 3, 1855 .- The Ohio, No. 3, records 186 feet as the result of a trial of the engine.
July 4, 1855 .- During the morning, just as the grand procession had been formed, a fire broke out in the dwelling of the widow of the late George Howland, corner of Sixth and Walnut streets. It imme- diately communicated to the adjoining barns of Charles Taber and Capt. Robert Gibbs. A lively blaze ensued. The Tremont Engine Co., of Roxbury, who were in our city as guests, took their apparatus to the reservoir corner of Walnut and Sixth street, and worked like ti- gers, until the water gave out, when their position was changed to the Friends' Academy reservoir.
The following description of the engine trial, July 11, 1855, is from Mr. George B. Wilbour's records of Franklin, No. 10 :
July 11, 1855 .- The postponed trial of engines, appointed for the 4th of July, came off this morning in the presence of a large crowd of spectators on Market square. The exhibition was spirited and exciting, but was conducted with great harmony and with the best of feeling.
The first company that played was the
Ohio, No. 3.
Ist trial-170 ft. 2d trial-170 ft., 10 in. 3d trial-172 ft. Young Mechanic, No. 6.
Ist trial-147 ft., 2 in. 2d trial-133 ft., 9 in. 3d trial-not played. Hancock, No. 9.
Ist trial-167 ft., 8 in. 2d trial-168 ft. 3d trial-166 ft., 4 in.
Franklin, No. 10.
Ist trial-169 ft. 2d trial-170 ft. 3d trial-163 ft.
Oregon, No. II. Ist trial-157 ft., 5 in. 2d trial-168 ft., 3 in. 3d trial-176 ft., 8 in.
Final results and best distances were decided to be in the following order :
Oregon, No. II, 176 feet, 8 inches. Ohio, No. 3, 172 4 Franklin, No. 10, 170 66 Hancock, No. 9, 168
Young Mechanic, No. 6, 147 2
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HISTORY OF THE
The engines drew their own water and played a horizontal stream through 150 feet of hose. The size of pipe used was about 13-16ths of an inch, except No. 6, she being larger than the others and was re- stricted to one inch stream. After the trial the companies adjourned to the City Hall, where the presentation of city plate was made by the municipal committee of the 4th of July. The first prize, a silver speaking trumpet, valued at $100, was presented to No. II. The sec- ond prize, a silver trumpet, valued at $75. was given to No. 3. The third prize, a silver cup and salver, valued at $65, to No. 10. The fourth, a silver trumpet, value $55, to No. 9. The fifth, a silver pitcher, value $45, to No. 6; and to Pioneer Hook and Ladder Co. a silver pitcher, valued at $35, was presented. The whole affair passed off very pleasantly and satisfactorily to all concerned.
Jan. 7, 1856 .- The oil and candle works belonging to Lawrence Grinnell & Co., were burned at 4 p. m. The streets were well-nigh im- passable with huge drifts of snow, and the firemen experienced great difficulty in getting the machines to the scene.
Feb. 25, 1856, occurred the fire at Gifford & Topham's Copper Foundry, on Front street.
In order to curb and break up the racing spirit between Nos. 5 and 6, the Board of Engineers felt compelled to adopt the rule that only one of these engines should respond to an alarm, the other to wait until it was ascertained that its services were actually needed. The rule provided that they should altern- ate monthly in this arrangement. As might be expected, this movement did not prove popular. An amusing result of its enforcement, not anticipated by the authorities, was that when- ever either engine was rolled from the house the opposition company would hook on to the Pioneer Hook and Ladder truck, and the racing was kept up. It wasn't quite so enjoy- able but it was better than nothing.
The Pioneer enjoyed a reputation for awhile of having a very large and enthusiastic company. Some of my readers will recollect when this new side show came near proving a serious matter. It was on a Sunday afternoon when the No. 6 and the Hook and Ladder truck were returning from an alarm of fire in Fairhaven. The Pioneer, returning to the house (it occupied the centre, as the boys will recollect), ran up and by the building preparatory to backing in (having the right of way) as if nothing were there ; but there was some-
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NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
thing there, it was No. 6, and vigorous pushing resulted in the rear end of the truck being lifted on top of the engine. The excitement at this moment was intense, and a vast concourse of people filled the street. It looked like a row, but it didn't come. Chief Engineer Ashley, aided by City Marshal Ingra- ham, soon brought the affair to a close, and the engines were housed in good order, barring a few scratches. The incident, however, was not without results, for its occurrence made many advocates for the steam fire engine, and was one of the many causes that brought about the change.
I present the full membership for 1856, in which year the hand-engine service was perhaps at its best :
FIRE DEPARTMENT, 1856.
Chief Engineer, Zachariah Hillman.
Board of Engineers, George Perry, Robert C. Topham, James Dur- fee, George G. Gifford.
5
S
A fair picture of Citizen, No. 2.
CITIZEN, No. 2. (Acushnet Village.) Foreman, Reuben Washburn. Clerk, Edward P. Lund.
James S. Howard,
James Terry,
James Butler,
John McCagh,
Lemuel A. Washburn,
Howard Pittsley,
Thomas S. Potter,
L. M. Emerson,
Charles H. Potter,
George L. Hathaway,
Valentine Luce,
A. B. Grinnell,
Charles A. Cushman,
Arthur Ricketson,
Rodolphus S. Nye,
Samuel P. Burt,
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HISTORY OF THE
Edward Spooner,
Francis Spooner,
George Collins, Augustus Hathaway,
Seth Howard, B. Ritter, H. Matthews, Charles D. Reynolds,
William Chase.
OHIO, NO. 3. (Purchase street.)
Foreman, Frederick P. Chase. First Assistant, Albert M. Tallman. Clerk, George W. Paine.
Warren Moore,
Henry B. Almy,
William H. Records,
John Barnett,
Isaiah Wilson,
Abraham Bolles,
Augustus G. Shorey,
Edward Raymond,
David Almy,
William Carter,
Ebenezer Pierce,
Franklin Hammond,
D. Barbour Angell,
Isaac Burgess,
Corban B. Lucas,
Isaac Kenniston,
Joseph R. Hathaway,
Andrew R. Turner,
George Mahan,
Benjamin N. Luce,
Samuel Hawes,
James Gillespie,
James Warren,
Erastus Remington,
Timothy Blanchard,
Alfred Spencer,
John T. Sherman,
Sylvester Parlow,
George Haskins,
Daniel V. Smith,
Frederick P. Spooner,
Edward S. Thomas,
Abner T. Case,
Frederic Wood,
Franklin Taylor,
Isaac H. Barrows,
William Cower, John Cook,
Samuel W. Richmond.
COLUMBIAN, NO. 5. (Purchase street.)
Foreman, John B. Hyde. First Assistant, Pliny B. Sherman.
Second Assistant, Benjamin Weaver. Clerk, Giles S. Fales.
George D. Bisbee,
Thomas W. Cook,
Charles W. Keen,
Thomas Hilliard,
Samuel C. Hart,
Christal Licht,
John F. Wood,
Otis Wilcox,
Eugene H. Gifford,
William A. Russell,
Charles A. Morgridge,
Charles H. Bisbee,
George T. S. Sears, Joseph F. Gifford,
Nathan Maxfield,
Benj. F. Hayden,
Perez Jenkins, Henry B. Covell,
Henry A. Wilcox,
Robert N. B. Doane,
Albert Chadwick, Richard T. Durfey,
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NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Thomas Garvey, Alfred Wordell, Edwin P. Gage,
Hiram A. Davis,
Charles H. Booth, William Gammell,
George G. Gifford, Thomas Cross,
Peter Gobell,
Francis Tuite,
William H. Holmes,
Horace King,
George Hinckley,
Frederick Morse,
Andrew T. Wood,
Edward S. Jenkins,
Allen Raymond,
John Harrity,
James Smith,
Judson Tosier,
William Peckham,
James F. Chase,
Adoniram Myrick,
William Love, John Duffy,
Henry Morse,
Caleb A. Thomas,
Seth A. Wilcox,
Joel B. Arnold,
David L. Hathaway,
George R. Maxfield,
James L. Wilber,
Michael Vhay,
James H. Hood,
William Gifford.
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