USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1874 > Part 15
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4. Three strokes on the bell will constitute a second alarm ; Companies so called will report to an Engineer before commencing work; and all compa- nies are ordered to wait fifteen seconds, to be sure that it is not an alarm from another box.
5. After an alarm has been given, one stroke on the bells will call for the Hook and Ladder remain- ing in the house.
6. Two strokes on the bells after an alarm has been given, Companies are dismissed.
S. E. COMBS, CHIEF ENGINEER.
Office No. 80 Front Street.
Worcester, Jan., 1875.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
WORCESTER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ENGINEER'S OFFICE, WORCESTER, January 25th, 1875.
ARTICLE 1. Any Engine or Hose Company arriving at a fire, and finding an incomplete line of hose laid out from any steamer or hydrant, shall attach to and lengthen out such line until the fire is reached ; and in all cases the Company reaching the fire with their hose are entitled to the pipe.
ARTICLE 2. Any member of the Department who wilfully and maliciously turns a stream of water, or directs or causes it to be done, on any person or persons, shall be liable to be dismissed from the service. No charge will be entertained against any member of the Department unless such charge be made in writ- ing within five days after the act complained of shall have been committed.
ARTICLE 3. Each Driver shall give his entire time to the interests of the Department, and shall always be at or near the engine house where his machine is kept, except when directed by the Chief Engineer to perform other duty, or when allowed to be absent from said house by the Chief Engineer.
ARTICLE 4. All Drivers are strictly forbidden to run their horses to fires, under penalty of expulsion ; and they are required to use all due caution, and not drive over a line of hose if it can be avoided.
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ARTICLE 5. The several companies will run on first and sec- ond alarms of fire, in accordance with tables, from time to time issued by the Board of Engineers.
ARTICLE 6. Each Company, in cases where their apparatus do not respond to the first alarm, shall assemble at their respective stations, and wait thirty minutes, before calling the roll. Should the re-call be sounded within thirty minutes, the roll shall not be called in less than twenty minutes from the first alarm.
ARTICLE 7. All horses in good health must be exercised at least one-half hour every day, except on Sunday or in inclement weather, in the immediate vicinity of the engine house, at no time proceeding faster than a walk, and if in cold weather they shall be blanketed. The hours of exercise shall be from 9 to 10 A. M. Days when the horses are worked on the streets, and in case of fire in the morning, such exercise will be omitted. The drivers shall in no case take their horses beyond calling distance from their respective houses.
ARTICLE 8. No profane or ungentlemanly language or disor- derly conduct will be allowed on the part of any member of the Department, when on duty, under penalty of suspension or dis- missal ; and the citizens will be treated by the members in a civil and gentlemanly manner at all times.
ARTICLE 9. The hose must be changed on the reel at least once in three weeks, for which purpose the Foreman will warn the Steward having charge of the same, and if the Steward neglects to change it the Foreman shall cause it to be done at the expense of the Steward.
ARTICLE 10. It shall be the duty of the Foreman to see that the apparatus, and buildings in which the same are deposited, and all things in or belonging to the same, are kept neat and clean and in order for immediate use; and to see that the house is closed at or before 10 o'clock P. M.
ARTICLE 11. No fireman shall sleep in any engine house or hook and ladder house without the consent of the Chief Engineer or one of his Assistant Engineers, and in no case will permission be given to persons not members of the Department to use or occupy beds in the engine, hose or hook and ladder houses.
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ARTICLE 12. The occupant of each bed will be held responsi- ble for the cleanliness of the same, and will be held strictly accountable for any damage to either bed or bed clothing through carelessness. After retiring the occupants will refrain from loud talking, or in any manner disturbing the rest of others, and any member retiring in a state of intoxication shall be reported to the Chief Engineer, whose duty it shall be to recommend such per- son for discharge from the Department.
ARTICLE 13. If a charge of intoxication be preferred and proven against any officer or member of the Department, he shall be reprimanded, suspended, or discharged, at the discretion of the Board of Engineers, and it shall be the duty of any mem- ber of the Department to report any member violating this rule to the Chief Engineer.
ARTICLE 14. No officer or permanent member shall leave the city without first notifying the Chief Engineer, and procuring a substitute to his acceptance; and every other member expecting to be absent twenty-four hours or more, shall be required to pro- cure a substitute to the approval of his Foreman, failing to do which he shall forfeit one month's pay. No member will be allowed a substitute except in case of sickness or absence from the city, and in no instance for a longer period than one month, except in case of sickness.
ARTICLE 15. No Company will be allowed to take their appa- ratus away from the engine house, except in case of fire, without the consent of the Chief Engineer.
ARTICLE 16. If by accident or otherwise, the property of any person in the city is damaged by any Company, it shall be the duty of the officer of said Company causing such damage to report the same immediately to the Chief Engineer.
ARTICLE 17. Hose drivers must not permit persons not con- nected with the Department to ride upon the hose carriage, and not more than two hosemen will be permitted to ride to a fire, the pipemen in all cases to have the preference, and in muddy weather or heavy wheeling, the driver must not permit any one to ride on the carriage when returning from fires.
ARTICLE 18. Any Driver in the Department who carelessly or wilfully comes in collision with a vehicle of any kind, while going
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to or returning from a fire alarm, shall be held responsible for all damages that may occur.
ARTICLE 19. The Foreman or person in command of each Company when in service, shall remain by his Company or apparatus of which he has charge to direct its operations, and all members of the several Companies except when otherwise en- gaged on special duty, will remain at or about the apparatus to which they are attached ; he will also see that the hose is well guarded.
ARTICLE 20. All members arriving early at fires, will assist the first apparatus in getting to work (or until the arrival of their own machine), and no person other than an Engineer or Officer of the Company will be allowed to give any orders when the Foreman is present.
ARTICLE 21. No buildings used by any Company in the Fire Department, shall be opened or occupied on Sunday, except in case of alarm of fire. This rule shall not be construed, however, to prevent employés and those detailed to sleep in the house from occupying them, but the doors of said houses must be kept closed on the Sabbath.
ARTICLE 22. No balls, parties or social gatherings of any de- scription, shall be held in any building, used by the Fire Depart- ment, without the consent of the Chief Engineer.
ARTICLE 23. No subscription papers or books shall be circu- lated under the auspices of any Company, for the purpose of soliciting money from citizens without the consent of the Board of Engineers.
ARTICLE 24. When a first alarm of fire is given, all Compa- nies not responding will be governed by telegraphic signals, viz : two blows upon the engine house gongs and alarm bells will be understood as proclaiming the fire extinguished, and the Compa- nies in attendance at liberty to answer other alarms. Three strokes will constitute a general alarm, and all Companies will report immediately. After a first alarm is given, and before the re-call signal is struck, should an alarm be given from another box, all unemployed first and second alarm Companies will re- spond. Should another alarm be given from yet another box
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previous to the re-call signal being given, all unemployed Com- panies will respond.
ARTICLE 25. Any violation of these rules and regulations by any member of the Department will be deemed good cause for his discharge.
Per order of the Board of Engineers,
SIMON E. COMBS, Chief. SAML. H. DAY, Clerk.
In Board of Aldermen, February 15, 1875.
Approved by the Board,
Attest, SAMUEL SMITH, City Clerk.
Approved February 16, 1875.
CLARK JILLSON, Mayor.
A Copy,
Attest, SAMUEL SMITH, City Clerk.
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WORCESTER FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
ESTABLISHED 1871.
.
NUMBER AND LOCATION OF BOXES.
No. 4. City Hall. Key-Police Office.
No. 5. Trumbull Square. Keys-McConville's Drug Store ; S. D. Harring- ton's, Nos. 7 and 8 Gates' Block.
No. 6. Orange Street, opposite Plymouth. Key .- S. V. Stone's, cor. Orange and Plymouth Streets.
No 7. Lamartine Street. Key-Cunningham's store.
No. 12. Cor. Main and Chandler Streets. Keys-Alzirus Brown's, cor. Main and Madison Streets; J. W. Hall's, 17 Chandler Street.
No. 13. New Worcester. Hoppin's store. Keys-A. G. Coes' Counting Room; W. A. Tracy's; Hoppin's store.
No. 14. Cor. Union and School Streets. Keys-N. A. Lombard's Counting Room; A. M. Eaton's store.
No. 15. Cor. Lincoln and Catharine Streets. Keys-Geo. G. Burbank's resi- dence; A. Y. Thompson's residence.
No. 16. Southbridge Street. Sargent Card Shop. Keys-Sargent's Count- ing Room ; Junction Shop Engine Room.
No. 17. Cor. Main and Foster Streets. Keys-W. H. Robinson's store; Waldo House; Foster Street Station; Lincoln House.
No. 21. Cor. Main and May Streets. Keys-C. Hill's Residence, 7 Ham- mond Street ; F. B. Knowles' residence, 842 Main Street.
No. 23. Corner Union and Manchester Streets. Keys-Rice, Barton & Fales' office; C. Baker & Co.'s office.
No 24. Southbridge Street. Chandler & Carr's store; Keys-Chandler & Carr's store; Adriatic Counting Room.
No. 25. Grove Street. R. Ball & Co.'s shop. Keys-R. Ball & Co.'s Count- ing Room; Henry Glazier's residence, Concord Street.
No. 26. Cor. Portland and Madison Streets. Keys-Wm. A. Reynolds' Mar- ket; Dr. Buxton's office, Portland Street.
No. 27. Corner Pleasant and West Streets. Keys-C. G. Parker's store; Gerry Hutchinson's.
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No. 31. Cor. Main and Richards Streets, opposite Beaver. Keys-E. T. Mar- .
ble's, Beaver Street ; H. J. Howland's, 973 Main Street.
No. 32. Cor. Exchange and Union Streets. Keys-L. W. Pond's shop; Mer- rifield's Engine room.
No. 34. Green Street. Fox's Mill. Keys-At the Counting Room; Cromp- ton's Loom Works.
No. 35. Corner Winthrop and Vernon Streets. Keys-Thos. Doon's ; and O. L. Hatch's residence.
No. 36. Cor. Front and Spring Streets. Keys-J. G. Lawton's; Geo. Sessions'. No. 37. Cor. Highland and North Ashland Streets. Key-Chas. A. Keyes', corner North Ashland and Highland Streets.
No. 41. Cor. Thomas and Summer Streets. Keys-Dutton & Austin's store; W. F. Wheeler's Counting Room.
No. 42. Cor. Cambridge and Southbridge Streets. Keys-E. J. Forbush's, 504 Southbridge Street; Crompton's Carpet Mill.
No. 43. Quinsigamond Wire Mill. Key-At Counting Room.
No. 45. Cor. Shrewsbury and Cross Streets. Key-Lawrence Henry's store. No. 46. Grafton Street. Earle's Card Factory. Keys-Earle's Counting Room; Office, Rolling Mill; Washburn's Foundry.
No. 47. Cor. Belmont Street and Oak Avenue. Key-H. Rice, cor. Belmont and Liberty Streets.
No. 51. Lincoln Square. Salisbury Block. Keys-Harrington & Allen's store; Exchange Hotel.
No. 52. Prescott Street. A. P. Richardson's shop. Keys-At Counting Room; Warren Thread Co.'s Office; Ames Plow Co.'s Office.
No. 53. Cor. Providence and Harrison Streets. Keys-S. A. Arnold's; James McFarland's.
No. 54. Cor. Austin and Newbury Streets. Keys-S. N. Curtis' store; E. A. Morse's, 111 Austin Street; A. G. Walker's, 130 Austin Street.
No. 56. Cor. William and Chestnut Streets. Keys-Benj. Walker's; Gen. A. B. R. Sprague's.
No. 57. Hermon Street. Taylor & Farley's shop. Keys-Taylor & Farley's ; J. S. Wheeler & Co.'s.
No. 61. Tainter's shop. Keys-at office ; John Mahoney's store, Canterbury Street.
No. 62. Cor. Laurel and Edward Streets. Keys-L. W. Pond's residence; J. L. Baker's stable ; Thomas Baird's.
No. 63. Washington Square. Weatherbee's store. Keys-Weatherbee's Drug Store; B. & A. R. R. Station.
No. 64. Cor. Grafton and Barclay Streets. Keys-Smith and Crockett's store; Avery Davis', 171 Grafton Street.
No. 65. Elm Street, opposite Linden. Keys-P. C. Bacon's; Joseph Mason's residence.
No. 67. Cor. Pleasant and Mason Streets. Keys-Benj. Eames' Store; Jalaam Gates' residence.
No. 71. Cor. Main and Central Streets. Keys-Charles B. Fellman's ; Au- gustus Marrs' store; Bay State House.
INSTRUCTIONS TO KEY-HOLDERS.
1. Alarms should be given from the box nearest the location of the fire.
2. Upon the discovery or positive information of a fire, you will unlock the box, pull down the slide or hook, once only, and let go. This gives the desired alarm all over the city, repeating itself four times.
3. Each box contains a small bell, which, if heard before you pull the hook, indicates that the alarm has been previously given from another box ; in such cases do not pull the hook until you are sure the alarm has been completed.
4. Never signal for a fire seen at a distance; never touch the hook except to give an alarm of fire. Give an alarm for no cause other than actual fire. Be sure and close the door on leaving the box.
5. For a fire near box 4, the bells will be struck four times, two and one-half seconds apart ; then, after a pause of twenty seconds, four times again, and so on. For a fire near box 45, the bells will give four strokes (for the tens), and after a pause of seven seconds, five strokes, to be repeated at intervals of twenty seconds.
6. Never pull the hook twice for the same fire; if a second alarm is necessary, an engineer will give it.
7. Never let the key go out of your possession unless called for by the Chief Engineer. If you change your residence or place of busi- ness where the key is kept, return it to this office.
OFFICE NO. 80, FRONT STREET. Office hours from 9 to 10 A. M., from 2 to 3 P. M.
AN ORDINANCE
CONCERNING THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF WORCESTER.
Be it ordained by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of Worcester, in City Council assembled, as follows :
SEC. 1. The Fire Department of the City of Worcester shall consist of a Chief Engineer, four Assistant Engineers, and of as many engine men, hose men, hook and ladder men, and other persons, to be divided into companies, as the number of engines and the number and quantity of other fire apparatus in service belonging to the City, shall from time to time require.
SEC. 2. The Engineers shall, on or before the first Monday of January, in each year, organize themselves as a Board of Engineers by choosing a Clerk by ballot. They shall, at such times as they may by their by-laws determine, hold such meetings as may be necessary for the prompt transaction of all busi- ness coming before them, and a majority of the whole Board shall be necessa- ry to constitute a quorum. They may make such rules and orders for their government, as a Board of Engineers, as they may see fit, and make such rules and regulations in addition to this ordinance for the better government, disci- pline, and good order of the Department and for the extinguishment of fires, as they may from time to time think expedient, the same not being repugnant to the laws of the Commonwealth, or to any ordinance of the city, and being subject to the approval of the Mayor and Aldermen, and to amendment or re- peal by said Engineers at any time, subject to such approval.
SEC. 3. It shall be the duty of said Engineers, whenever a fire shall break out in the City, immediately to repair to the place of such fire, and to carry with them a suitable badge of their office; to take proper measures that the several engines and other apparatus be arranged in the most advantageous situations, and duly worked for the effectual extinguishment of the fire; to require and compel assistance from all persons, as well as members of the department, in extinguishing the fire, removing the furniture, goods, or other merchandise from any building on fire, or in danger thereof, and to appoint guards to secure the same ; and to suppress all tumults and disorders. It shall also be their duty to cause order to be preserved in going to or returning from fires, and at all times when companies attached to the department are on duty.
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SEC. 4. Whenever it shall be adjudged, at any fire, by three or more of the Engineers, of whom the Chief, if he be present, shall be one, to be necessary, in order to prevent the further spreading of the fire, to pull down or other- wise demolish any building, the same may be done.
SEC. 5. It shall be the duty of the Engineers to enquire for and examine into all shops and other places where shavings or other combustible materials may be collected and deposited, and at all times be vigilant in taking care of the removal of the same, whenever, in the opinion of any two of them, the same may be dangerous to the security of the city from fires, and to direct the tenant or occupant of said shops or other places, to remove the same; and in case such tenant or occupant shall neglect or refuse so to do, to cause the same to be removed at the expense of such tenant or occupant.
SEC. 6. It shall also be the duty of said Engineers to take cognizance of all buildings in the city in which steam engines are used, and of all buildings in the city in process of erection or alteration, and to make a record of such thereof as in their judgment may, from any cause, be danger- ous, and report the same to the Mayor and Aldermen forthwith. It shall also be the duty of said Engineers to cause prosecutions to be instituted in all cases of violation of the laws in relation to the erection of wooden buildings, or of any other law or ordinance in relation to the Fire Department, and for the prevention of fire within the limits of the city.
SEC. 7. Engineers upon complaint to them, or upon their knowledge of any defective chimney or hearth, within the city of Worcester, shall cause the same to be examined, and shall order the same either to be repaired or taken down, as they shall deem expedient; and if the owner or owners of any such chimney or hearth shall wilfully neglect to repair or take down the same, after having been notified by the Clerk of the Board of Engineers, it shall be the duty of the Board of Engineers, and they shall have full authority to cause such defective chimney or hearth to be repaired or taken down, and the owner or owners of the same shall pay the whole expense of repairing or taking down such chimney or hearth.
SEC. 8. The Engineers, officers and members of the several companies regu- larly appointed, shall wear such caps, badges, or insignia of office, when on duty, as the Board of Engineers may from time to time direct, and no others, to be furnished at the expense of the city ; and no other person or persons shall wear the same at any time, except under such restrictions and regulations as the said Engineers may direct.
SEc. 9. Whenever any fire occurs out of the city it shall be the duty of only such and so many of said Engineers to repair thither as shall have been designated for such purpose by the Chief Engineer.
SEC. 10. The Board of Engineers, notwithstanding the provisions herein contained, may with the approval of the Mayor, grant to any officer or mem- ber of the Fire Department, if they shall think it compatible with the interests of the Department, a vacation not exceeding two weeks in any one year, upon such terms as they shall think expedient. And the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Board of Aldermen, may, if he sees fit, whenever any officer or member of the Fire Department shall not by reason of such vacation, or sickness, or otherwise, attend to his duties in the department, appoint a
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substitute to act in his place during his absence, and such substitute shall be entitled to the pay of the person absent while he shall thus act.
SEC. 11. The Chief Engineer shall have the sole command at fires, over all other Engineers, and all officers and members of the Fire Department, and all other persons who may be present at fires; and shall direct all proper meas- ures for extinguishment of fires, protection of property, preservation of order and observance of laws, ordinances, and regulations respecting fires. And it shall be the duty of said Chief Engineer to examine into the condition of the engines and all other fire apparatus, and of the Engine and otherhouses, and the reservoirs belonging to the city, and used by the Fire Department, and of the companies attached to the said Department, as often as circum- stances may render it expedient, or whenever directed so to do by the Mayor and Aldermen, or by the committee on the Fire Department, and annually to report the same to the City Council, and oftener if requested. Also to cause a full description of the same, together with the names, ages, and residence of the officers and members of the Department, to be published annually, in such a manner as the City Council shall direct ; and whenever the engines or other fire apparatus, engine or other houses, used by the Department require al- terations, additions, or repairs, the said Chief Engineer, under the direction of the Joint Standing Committee on the Fire Department, shall cause the same to be made. And it shall be, moreover, the duty of the Chief Engineer to place on file all returns of officers, members, and fire apparatus, made by the respective companies, as hereinafter prescribed, and all other communica- tions relating to the affairs of the Fire Department; to keep, or cause to be kept, fair and exact rolls of the respective companies, specifying time of ad- mission and discharge of each member, and also a record of all accidents by fire, which may happen within the city, with the causes thereof, as well as can be ascertained, and the number and description of the buildings destroyed or injured, the amount of insurance upon the same, together with the names of the owners or occupants, and report the same once in each year, to the City Coun- cil. He shall have the superintendence and control of all the engine and other houses used for the purposes of the Fire Department, and of all the furniture and apparatus thereto belonging, and of the horses, engines and all other fire apparatus belonging to the City, and over all the officers and mem- bers of the several companies attached to the Fire Department. He shall be responsible for the discipline, good order, and proper conduct of the whole Department, both officers and men, and for the care of all houses, engines, hose carriages, hook and ladder carriages, furniture, and apparatus thereto belonging.
SEC. 12. The Chief Engineer shall have power to suspend any officer or member of the Department for insubordination or disorderly conduct, for such length of time as he may deem proper, provided, that such suspension shall be reported by him to the Mayor and Aldermen at their next meeting after said suspension, unless such officer or member shall have been previously rein- stated by said Chief Engineer.
SEC. 13. All supplies for the use of the Department shall be drawn on requisition upon the Chief Engineer ; and it is hereby made the duty of the Foreman of each and every company to see that all necessary supplies are
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kept constantly on hand, to secure the proper working of the apparatus in their charge, and all supplies shall be drawn by the Foreman of the several companies.
SEC. 14. It shall be the duty of the Chief Engineer or the Assistant En- gineer in command, to order from the ground all fire associations or fire com- panies not belonging to the Fire Department. And no such fire association or fire company, or any member thereof, shall act at any fire in said city as a fire company or as a fireman. Provided, however, that the foregoing provision shall not apply to fire companies belonging to other Fire Departments.
Sec. 15. In the absence of the Chief, the Assistant Engineer next in rank shall act with full powers, and their seniority in rank, and all questions rela- tive thereto, shall be determined by the Mayor and Aldermen.
SEC. 16. The clerk of the Board of Engineers shall perform such duties as the Mayor and Aldermen or Chief Engineer may from time to time direct; and also such other duties as the Board of Engineers by their rules and orders may from time to time determine. He shall have the care and custody of all books, records, papers and documents belonging to the Board; and he shall deliver the same to his successor in office.
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