USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Cincinnati, the Queen City, 1788-1912, Volume II > Part 7
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Thomas Looken became chief of police soon after Kiefer's appointment as the latter was in office but a brief time. In the latter part of 1853 a riot oc- curred in which a policeman was shot, whereupon the chief ordered his men to use their clubs. Several men were injured and one died shortly afterward. This occurrence, though entirely justifiable, aroused bitter feeling against the police, and the mayor was obliged to dismiss Chief Looken, who had done noth- ing more than his duty.
David Hoke became chief of police. During the Know-Nothing riot April, 1855, Hoke summoned his police and after a turbulent experience dispersed the mob.
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After this election in 1855 Edward H. Hopkins became chief of police, with Benjamin Ertel, William S. Hudson, Lawrence M. Hazen, L. Parker and G. W. Rose as lieutenants.
The famous chief of detectives Hazen appears thus for the first time on the police force of Cincinnati.
In 1856 there were seventy-two watchmen besides the keepers of the watch houses at the Ninth, Pearl and Hammond station houses.
In 1857, James L. Ruffin became chief of police. The police force was at this date reduced to ninety men.
March 14, 1859, the legislature passed an act constituting a board of police commissioners. Four men were to be appointed by the mayor, police judge and city auditor, and these four with the mayor were to form the board.
This board, without salary, was to appoint the chief of police, lieutenants, watchmen and keepers of the station houses.
The marshalship was dispensed with, and the chief of police was to assume these duties and to receive fifteen hundred dollars from the city and five hun- dred dollars from the county as salary.
In 1859. Lewis Wilson became chief of police. Colonel John W. Dudley became chief of police in 1861. He was succeeded by Lawrence Hazen. On account of an attack made by Morgan's men, the police force of Cincinnati was organized as a battalion of infantry.
In 1863 James L. Ruffin again became chief. The mayor, Harris, was a noted disciplinarian and the influence of his work with the police force has re- mained until this day. The police were drilled in a military manner, and politics was taken out of the police department.
In 1867 Robert Megrue became chief. James L. Ruffin succeeded him, and remained chief until 1871, when David M. Bleaks was chosen to this office.
The legislature in 1873 again changed the police department, arranging for a commission of four men to be chosen at the spring election. Wesley M. Cam- eron, Gustav Hof, Henry Kessler and Hugh Campbell were elected on this commission.
About this time the title superintendent of police was substituted for that of chief, and Jeremiah Kiersted was chosen superintendent, and served, except for a brief interval, until February, 1875.
In 1874 the mayor again took charge of police affairs, the board of police commissioners having been done away with. In February, 1875, the mayor appointed Thomas E. Snelbaker as superintendent. In 1877, Jacob Johnson succeeded to this position.
In that year the legislature reestablished the Board of police commissioners. Ira Wood became chief, but died in 1878 and George Ziegler was made super- intendent.
Charles Jacob, Jr., in 1879, was appointed superintendent of police.
In 1881 Jacob Gessert was appointed but resigned in a few weeks, and was followed by M. F. Reilly.
A new board of police commissioners, with salaries of fifteen hundred dol- lars each, was established in 1885, the members to be appointed by the board of public works.
CITY HALL
CINCINNATI WORK HOUSE
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Colonel Edwin Hudson was appointed superintendent. Charles Wappen- stein was made chief of detectives. James Dunn was appointed inspector. Shortly afterward, Lieutenant Thomas Weaver was appointed inspector and Captain Grannon was made chief of detectives. Later, Michael Mullen was made inspector.
On account of charges brought before him, the governor of Ohio dismissed the board of police commissioners.
The legislature on March 30, 1886, passed a bill with a view to taking the police entirely out of politics. It was provided that all police affairs should rest with the mayor and four police commissioners, not more than two of whom should belong to the same party. The commissioners were to be appointed by the governor.
The mayor was to have the appointment of policemen and officers of police, with approval of the board. Appointments were to be made from a strictly non-partisan standpoint.
The governor appointed as members of the commission Robert J. Morgan, George R. Topp, republicans, and Milo G. Dodds and Dr. Thomas C. Minor, democrats.
Robert J. Morgan was chosen president and James S. Gordon as clerk. Samuel B. Warren shortly afterward became clerk.
In 1887 Morgan left the commission, when James Boyle succeeded him. In 1888 George R. Topp resigned and his place was taken by Louis Werner.
Dr. Minor was president of the board during 1887. Topp was president until August, 1888. Mr. Milo G. Dodds followed him in the presidency.
Under the new arrangement, Arthur G. Moore was the first superintendent of police. After serving about two months, he was succeeded by Philip H. Deitsch, who remained superintendent until his death, a period of about seven- teen years. Paul M. Millikin then became superintendent of police.
In 1854 there came into being the beginnings of the detective department. But the separate organization was made in 1886.
Philip Rittweger was the first man at the head of this bureau. He held this position only about half a year, when Ralph A. Crawford was appointed.
About the beginning of 1887, Colonel Lawrence Hazen became head of the detective bureau.
In 1903 the police department was put in charge of the Board of Public Safety, appointed by the Mayor.
The police force of this city has an admirable and well-equipped gymnasium, work in which is compulsory. It is popular with the entire force and has been of great service.
There is also a school of instruction for the police force. Here they are taught such things as bear upon their duties, something as to laws, national and state, city ordinances, their duties and powers, the topography of Cincinnati, etc.
Since 1902 the police department has been under civil service rules.
The Police Relief Association, organized in 1876, is for the relief of sick or disabled policemen and their families.
The Policemen's Benevolent Association is organized on the assessment plan for the families of deceased policemen.
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The patrol wagon service was established in 1881.
The police department includes a "Rogues' Gallery" and Bertillon room, simi- lar to those in other large cities.
Mrs. Frederick H. Alms has provided for the presentation of a medal for bravery to such policemen as signalize their faithfulness to duty in times of peril.
The "Roll of Honor" is a record of names of the policemen who have distin- guished themselves by brave deeds, and a place on this list is much coveted.
A gold medal, value fifty dollars, was for years annually given by Robert J. Morgan to the policeman who had proved most efficient in his duties during the year. John McGramm in 1887 was the first to receive this medal; nine others at the same time received honorable mention. The Nicholas Longworth medal is now given under the same conditions.
The Wing Medal and the Henshaw Medal are also given for bravery.
Night Chief Corbin was injured fatally by falling over a hose at the great Chamber of Commerce fire in January, 1911, and died a few days later. Lieuten- ant Krumpe was appointed in his place.
The organization of the police department consists now of: chief, I; in- spectors, 3; lieutenants, 21; sergeants, 32; corporals, 10; patrolmen, 457; station house keepers, 36; drivers, 30 ; matrons, 4; detectives, 7; acting detectives, 17; court officers, 9; total, 627.
The new patrol house No. I, a modern building, has been completed.
The automobile patrol located at police headquarters has proved of invaluable service.
The new District No. 2, now in contemplation, will put the down town dis- tricts of this department in very good shape.
The police inspectors devote much time to the supervision of the discipline, efficiency and general appearance of the men, together with the inspection and general superintendence of the buildings and other property of the department.
They make frequent tours of inspection of the various districts and visit the station houses and patrol houses at irregular intervals, and when such visits are unexpected. They attend all large fires and public demonstrations of importance ; preside over various classes convened for the purpose of instruction in drill, calis- thenics, target shooting, and the general duties of policemen, and endeavor to maintain and promote the discipline and efficiency of the department.
The uniformed members of the department are divided into companies, troops and squads. The military organization thus formed comprises ten permanent and three provisional companies, a mounted troop and recruit squad, each under command of competent officers. They are required to attend drill and target practice once a week for a period of three months, unless excused on account of sickness or official duty.
The gymnasium is kept open during the entire year for all members desiring to avail themselves of the use of the apparatus and baths, which are at their dis- posal at any time, provided such use does not interfere with regular class work. The men are required to attend class exercises once a week, except during the season devoted to drill and the extremely hot weather in midsummer.
Certain new buildings are needed and the remodelling of old ones is impera- tive and these are in contemplation and will soon be under way.
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The old armory in the City hall has been remodeled, transformed into a garage, an auto-patrol wagon has been installed for emergency calls and for rapidly conveying policemen to the scene of an accident, fire or other occasion re- quiring the immediate presence of several policemen, and as a relay in relieving the suburban patrol wagons by meeting them on their route to the hospital and transferring the injured.
The Police Telephone and Signal Service is of the most modern and effective kind. In one year there were handled a total of messages and connections of 1,081,922.
The Police Library contains 1,800 volumes. 718 volumes were given out the last year to members of the department.
There was a total of attendance in class exercises at the gymnasium of 4,961.
The city has real and personal property for police purposes $296,450, in station and patrol houses, real estate and personal property.
The relief fund disbursed in 1909 for pensions to members, widows and minor children, sick benefits to members, death benefits and funeral expenses, salary of secretary and incidental expenses, $45,754.
In very marked contrast with the simple early days of the few volunteer watchmen are the police and other officials of today with their automobiles.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Incendiary fires during 1800 aroused the inhabitants of the then village of about eight hundred people to the necessity of protection against fires.
They found themselves ill equipped to contend with this peril, and still further fires having occurred, the citizens in 1801 held a meeting to discuss the possibility of procuring a fire engine. This movement came to nothing. unless it was to start an agitation which later might bring results.
But when the town was chartered in 1802, another public meeting for fire protection was called. This was held July 14th in the newly erected courthouse, at Walnut and Fifth streets. The citizens recommended that the council spend twelve dollars for six fire-ladders and twelve dollars for six fire-hooks. This was the first fire equipment of Cincinnati, and it served the village until 1808.
The Spy, December 19th, 1801, published the summons to the public to meet to consider the purchase of a fire engine.
In 1802, it was enacted that "Every freeholder and every person being a householder and paying an annual rent as high as thirty-six dollars must be pro- vided with a black-jack and leather bucket of a capacity of two and one-half gallons and contribute the use of it and his own physical exertions whenever he should hear a cry of fire. Every male between sixteen and fifty years of age had to serve. Such was the first step for fire protection in that Cincinnati that was to produce the first fire engine to be operated by steam-a blessing that the entire world now appreciates."
Cincinnati was then a very compact settlement, on account of fear of the Indians. The water supply was small. The region round about was full of dry and dead wood.
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The fires that were declared to be incendiary were blamed upon the soldiers of the garrison. No one knows the truth of this matter, but it was asserted that after the garrison was transplanted to the other side of the river there were fewer fires.
In 1808 a fire engine was procured, doubtless a very poor one, such as was used in those days. This might be hauled either by horses or by men. The gen- eral fashion was to have a long rope attached to the pole, so that a company of men and boys might haul it from place to place.
Mr. L'Hommedieu, in his recollections, going back to 1810, does not speak of this engine. He states that "every one able to labor was required to be on hand with his long leather fire bucket, and form in line to the river, to pass buckets with water to the fire. Every householder was required to keep one of these hung up, marked and ready for instant use."
Dr. Drake in 1815 declared the fire protection inefficient, and said the or- dinance in regard to fire buckets was generally disregarded. He declared that the order requiring every male citizen between fifteen and fifty years of age to answer the cry of fire was a "Provision finely calculated, if enforced, to aug- ment the rabble which infest such places." He said bonfires and all other burn- ings in the village were "expressly but not successfully forbidden."
The ordinances also required that when a fire broke out each drayman in the place must provide at least two barrels of water.
A newspaper in commenting upon Dr. Drake's book issued in 1816 said, "in the event of a fire on the hill there is no resource but to tug away at the windlass or wait the arrival of the draymen from the river."
The Union Fire Company was formed in 1808. Nearly all the men and grown boys in the village were members of this association. But this organization soon went to pieces. From 1813 to 1815 it did not hold a meeting.
July, 1808, there was organized the Cincinnati Fire Bucket Company. For its work it had a huge willow basket set on a four-wheeled truck, and within this receptacle the fire buckets were placed.
It was required that every householder have two of these buckets and that they should be kept on his premises in such position that they could readily be found and used.
This company occupied quarters on Fourth street, opposite the St. Paul building.
There is now preserved in the quarters of the fire department the fire drum, which was used from 1808 until 1824 to notify the people of the breaking out of fires. The drum heads are five feet and four inches in diameter. This drum was placed on the roof of a low frame building, used as a carpenter shop, so that it could be reached by any one to announce a fire. The roof could be gained by means of a ladder at the rear.
The successor of this drum, as the city grew beyond the scope of its sound, was the bell of the First Presbyterian church. This was used as a fire alarm until 1845.
The Washington company, number one, was organized in 1810.
In 1813 the council authorized the purchase of a fire engine, which was pro-
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cured in 1816. This engine was bought by General John S. Gano. Relief Fire Company, number two, took charge of it.
February 12th, 1815, a fire took place at the Davis Embree brewery, and this event awakened the public mind to the need of better preparation to fight fires. "Liberty Hall" said: "On this subject a reform is indeed indispensable. An- other and better engine should be procured, rival companies should be organized, and their officers invested with power to press into active service or disperse the mob of knaves, fools and gentlemen who generally press round our fires and look up with the smiling and idiot gaze which they would bestow on a flight of rockets."
Mr. Embree, however, published his thanks to all who had helped bring the fire under control, and declared that "on this occasion they evinced conduct which would do credit to the best organized fire companies."
In the directory of 1819, we read: "There are two engines owned by the corporation, but strange as it may appear, neither of them are kept in proper repair. A most unpardonable apathy on this subject pervades our citizens gen- erally. Almost destitute of ladders, fire-hooks, buckets (or even water in most parts of the city,) should the fiery element assail us in a dry and windy season, the denouement of the awful tragedy would be a general devastation of our now flourishing city. The most practicable means ought immediately to be taken for creating a supply of water, the number of engines increased and put in work- ing condition, and every other apparatus procured which can be of service in restricting the ravages of this powerful destroyer. Otherwise the "good easy man," who retires to his couch meditating on the competency of his fortune, may stalk forth a beggar in the morning."
A fire ordinance was passed October 2, 1819 in order to put the department on a better basis. The Cincinnati Fire Wardens Association was soon organized.
November 15th, 1819, the Independent Fire Company, Number Three, was organized at the shop of Thomas Tucker on Main street. Eighteen members enlisted for service. This company's first engine was called "Constitution ;" water was supplied for it by a line of buckets reaching to a cistern or the river or some other source.
This company later added the engine "Liberty" and the hose-reel "Veteran." Still another engine, one called "Independence," was purchased in 1820 and re- placed the old one.
The Independence Fire Company, No. 3, later bought ground on Fourth street, between Walnut and Vine streets, the site for many years of the Robert Clarke company's bookstore, and there put up an engine house.
Once, in 1822, the city's chief engineer issued an order to this fire company to take their engines to the river, but they declined, stating they were under no obligation to obey the city officers. The council declared the chief engineer had acted within his rights, but the fire company continued to insist on its inde- pendence.
In May 1820, Fire Engine Company, Number Four, began regular opera- tions. Its engine, one with fire buckets, was called the "Nereide." The quarters of this company were on Sycamore street near Lower Market. This company changed its location in 1824 to Sycamore and Third streets, and later to Ham-
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mond and Third streets. The name of the company afterward became Eagle Fire Company, Number Four.
An organization was formed in 1820 known as the Protection Company, Number One, with the object of saving lives and property and guarding against robberies during fires.
An ordinance was passed in 1821 giving fire wardens authority to operate in any wards of the city. The same act ordered the fire marshal to see that fire buckets were at hand in all homes and other buildings. A fine of $3.50 was to be imposed on such as were found negligent in this respect.
July 5, 1821, an ordinance was passed authorizing the Council to appoint yearly three persons in each ward as fire wardens. These men were to carry speaking trumpets and wear badges indicating their office. They were given power to have lumber, fences and other inflammable materials removed where . they appeared to be possible sources of danger. When three of these men were agreed as to the necessity of such a measure they could have any house or build- ing removed. They were authorized to bid capable men to join the fire forces in an emergency, to carry water or to take any part in fighting the fire apart from exposure to real danger.
"Chief engineer" was the title given the head of this department. The de- partment was further authorized to organize companies of volunteer firemen. Such companies could choose their own foreman and secretary. One man, in each company, was to see to it that the fire buckets were taken to fires, and he was re- sponsible for their return, after being washed, to their proper places.
Each householder was ordered to keep at hand leather fire buckets and the number of these was to be according to the largeness or smallness of his dwelling. The regulations enjoined upon householders great care to avoid the perils of fires. A fine was imposed if a chimney caught on fire because of negligence in not having it cleaned. No one was permitted to set fire to his chimneys to clean them save in daylight, and then only when it was raining or snow lay on the roof. It was unlawful to set fire to shavings on the streets. It was forbidden to keep stacked grain within one hundred yards of any building in the city.
It was forbidden that any one should keep on hand more than a limited amount of gunpowder. Marshals and fire wardens had the right to search all houses to see if this regulation was being violated. No one was permitted to carry a light in a stable, unless it were enclosed in a lantern.
These eminently sensible precautionary measures doubtless reduced greatly the number of fires, but it was not to be expected that these or any other rules could do away entirely with the perils of fire. In fact, a number of serious fires did occur at this period.
Conditions in respect to fire protection had bettered considerably by 1825. The department then "consisted of four engine companies, one hose company, one hook and ladder company, a bucket company and a protection society." Thomas Tucker was the chief engineer and Jeremiah Kiersted was his assistant. The Directory states, "There are one hundred and fifty-five firemen and sixteen fire wardens. The utensils of the fire department are in first rate repair, and the companies well organized and ready on the first notice to do their duty."
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Each engine company consisted of about twenty-five men, and the foreman of each was called captain. There were twenty-five men in the hose company, in charge of eighteen hundred feet of hose. The hook and ladder company con- sisted of thirty men. The special business of the bucket company was to look after and keep in order the fire buckets. There were fifty members of the Pro- tection society, many of the chief citizens of the community being of the number.
An observer in 1826 declared that the firemen "keep the engines in excellent order, and in cases of fire were prompt, active and persevering." The City Council had at this time completed five brick cisterns, in different parts of the city, each containing five thousand gallons of water.
In 1826 Fire Engine Company, No. 4, became the Eagle Fire Company, Num- ber Four, as a regular addition to the department. Moses Lyon was foreman. Jeremiah Kiersted was chief engineer.
In 1829 Fire Company Number Five was organized. It occupied quarters on Vine and Canal streets for a time, but later removed to Vine between Court and Canal. Its engines "Fame" and "Jefferson" were built in this city by Jeffrey Sey- mour. This company had in its membership three men who became mayor and a number of other leading citizens.
By 1829 the fire department had nine regular companies. Fire Warden Company, No. I, John L. Avery, president, Moses Brooks, secretary, and twenty members. Fire Engine Company, No. I, Hugh Galbreath, foreman, S. R. Teal, assistant with thirty-five members. Fire Engine Company, No. 2, A. G. Dodd, foreman, J. S. Ross assistant, with thirty-five members. Fire Engine Company, No. 3, William Brown foreman, thirty-five members. Fire Engine Company, No. 4, Thomas Barwise foreman, John Morris, assistant, thirty-five members. Hose Company No. I, thirty-five members. Protection Society, Joseph Gest president, William Mills vice president, David Churchill secretary, Stephen Burrows treas- urer, seven directors, fifty members with the privilege of extending membership to one hundred. This society was composed chiefly of leading citizens. Fire bucket company, A. M. Ferguson, foreman, Nathaniel Reeder assistant.
Two more cisterns, of capacity of five thousand gallons each, had now been constructed, making seven in all at this time. Water was piped to these from the water works. Of the two cisterns built in 1828, one was at the intersection of Main and Eighth streets, and the other at Fourth and Sycamore streets.
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