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H  ISTOR  Y 


OF    I1II-: 


FIRE     DEPARTMENT 


OI"      THE 


CITY    OF    XKW    BEDFORD 


MASSACHUSETTS 


1  7  7  2—1  (S9() 


m' 


LlCONAKI)     I^OLLES    ElLIS 


NKW    I'.KIJFORD: 
Pkintku  lOK  THE  AiTHiiK  nv  E.  An  I  MON^■  i"<;  Sons, 

i8yo. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1890,  bj" 

Leonard  B.  Ellis,  in  the  Ofifice  of  the  Librarian 

of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


HI3     /^i'^'' 


SP.  COL 


PREFACE, 


This  history  could  not  have  been  written  but  for  tlie  kindh" 
aid  rendered  bv  some  of  niv  fellow  citizens  who  have  been  at 
different  times  connected  with  our  Fire  Department.  To  all 
who  have  in  an\'  \va\-  contributed  material  for  my  use  I  tender 
mv  sfrateful  thanks. 

The  meagre  and  fra<£mentarN-  records  of  the  earlier  vears  of 
the  Fire  Department  make  it  impossible  to  give  a  complete  list 
of  all  who  have  belonged  to  it.  Consequently  I  have  decided 
to  give  complete  membership  rolls  for  the  following  years 
alone:  1834.  1S44,  iS^6,  1S67,  1876,  1884,  1890.  The  names 
of  persons  who  joined  and  retired  from  the  Department  during 


the  interveninof  vears  are  not  o-iven. 


L.    B.    E. 


TO    MY    HONORED 

FATHER 

1    DEDICATE   THIS    BOOK! 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I.— Pages  1-14. 

Independence,  Xo.  i,  first  engine  owned  in  Bedford  village,  built  by  News- 
ham,  London,  1772;  Company  rolls,  1820-34;  Citizen,  No.  2,  purchased  in 
1802,  and  Phoenix,  No.  4,  in  1808;  List  of  firewards,  1 796-1802;  Oxford, 
No.  2,  Fairhaven,  purchased  1805;  List  of  subscribers  and  members;  Flood, 
No.  I,  Fairhaven,  purchased  about  1801;  Company  rolls,  1837-50;  Colum- 
bian, No.  3,  Fairhaven,  built  1836;  A  cool  Fairhaven  citizen;  Bedford  Fire 
Society  formed,  1807;  Its  rules  and  regulations;  Jahaziel  Jenney's  summer 
sleigh  ride;   ( ieorge  Lecain  in  Newport;    List  of  firewards,  1802-9. 

CHAPTER  IL— Pages  15-24. 

List  of  hrewards,  1809-21 ;  Benj.  Lindsey's  printing  office  fire,  181 1;  Wil- 
liam Meader's  cold  water  experience;  The  lost  baby;  Hunneman  engines, 
Nos.  3  and  4,  purchased  181 9;  First  great  tire  in  Bedford  village,  1820; 
Novel  use  for  fire  buckets;  List  of  firewards,  1822-30;  Mechanic,  No.  6, 
purchased  in  1821;  Company  roll  for  1826;  Battering  rams,  1821;  Burning  of 
Abm.  Russell's  barn,  1824;  Columbian,  No.  5,  purchased  1826;  First  engine 
stationed  at  Head-of-the-River,  1821;    Foreman  Pierce  tests  its  lifting  power, 

and  Mr. its  drenching  qualifications;   Citizen,  No.   2,   and    Hancock, 

No.  9,  located  at  Head-of-the-River. 

CHAPTER  III.— Pages  25-37. 

Ark  riot,  1826;  That  Quaker  gun;  Fire  in  Elm  street  M.  E.  church,  1829; 
Ark  riot,  1829;  Important  town  meeting,  1830;  Vigilance  committee  formed 
— the  parent  organization  of  the  Protecting  Society. 

CHAPTER  IV.— Pages  38-53. 

List  of  firewards,  1830-34;  Second  great  fire,  Allen  house,  July  25,  1830; 
Clanging  bells;  Curious  stranger;  Burning  of  Prussian-blue  works,  1833; 
How  a  citizen  had  his  house  painted  without  expense;  Destructive  fire  on 
South  Water  street,  1834;  List  of  firewards,  1835-1843;  Purchase  of  Phila- 
delphia, No.  7,  1833,  and  membership  for  1835;  Department  organized  under 
state  act,  1834;  Full  roster  of  Department,  1834;  Novelty,  No.  8,  purchased 
1835  ■'  Why  it  was  called  the  "  Old  Cider  Mill  " ;  Varied  conditions  of  the  De- 
partment during  the  years  1837-39. 


CHAPTER  v.— Pages  54-76. 

Paid  Department,  1S42;  Ripley's  barn  tire;  Pot-pie  story;  Burning  of 
Gammons'  stable;  Purchase  of  Hancock,  No.  9,  and  Franklin,  No.  10,  in 
1843;  How  a  colored  citizen  purchased  membership;  Fire  in  John  C.  Has- 
kell's house;  Incendiary  tires;  List  of  tirewards,  1844;  Burning  of  Leonard's 
candle  works,  1844;  How  Chief  Engineer  Taylor  disposed  of  strikers;  Why 
Franklin,  No.  10,  was  called  "  Elephant";  Parade  and  festival  1844;  Uniforms 
worn  on  this  occasion;  Full  roster  of  Department,  1844-45;  ^^'^'^  °^  hrewards, 
1845-48;  Purchase  of  Oregon,  No.  11,  in  1846,  and  company  roll  for  that 
year;  Great  disturbance  in  Fire  Department,  1847;  Prussian-blue  works  fire, 
Aug  16;  Dudley  Davenport  tire,  1848;  How  Mr.  George  M.  Eddy  earned  a 
new  hat;    No.  6  at  Oxford  Village;  Great  lire  in  Acushnet,  1847. 

CHAPTER    VL— Pages  77-94. 

Board  of  Engineers,  1848-52;  Philadelphias  visit  Nantucket;  Relief  En- 
gine, No.  5,  Oxford  village,  purchased  1849;  Membership  for  that  year; 
Alert,  No.  4,  purchased  in  i860,  and  company  roll  for  that  year;  Name  and 
number  changed  to  Relief,  No.  5;  Tallman's  block  fire,  1850;  Death  of  Tim- 
othy Tallman;  Dog  Wallace;  How  he  captured  a  midnight  thief;  Hand  en- 
gine trial  1 850;  The  theatre  craze  among  the  firemen;  Incendiary  fires,  1851; 
Juvenile  fire  companies;  A  contemplated  visit  to  Fort  Phoenix  interfered  with  by 
the  Corsicans;  Board  of  Engineers,  1853-55;  Purchase  of  the  Ohio,  No.  3; 
Shaw's  looking  glass  manufactory  fire,  1851 ;  Twenty  feet  of  rope  presented  to 
Chief  Delano;  Columbians  disbanded  and  reinstated;  The  Franklins  at  New- 
port; A  preacher's  novel  application  of  an  alarm  of  fire;  Destruction  of  San- 
ford  &  Howland's  oil  works,  1853;  How  Caleb  L.  Ellis'  cooper  shop  was 
saved,  and  how  he  entertained  his  exhausted  friends;  Young  Mechanic  Co., 
No.  6,  organized  1853;  Pearl  street  fire,  Sept.  9,  1853;  Young  Mechanics 
visit  the  Honey  Bees  in  Newport;   Novel  use  for  a  coffin. 

CHAPTER  VII.— Pages  95-116 

Arrival  of  Young  Mechanic  Engine,  No.  6,  Sept.  27,  1854;  Reception  and 
trial;  Dirigo  Co.,  No.  8,  of  Portland,  and  Fountain,  No.  8,  of  Nantucket, 
visit  the  city;  Veteran  Firemen's  Association,  1854;  Exciting  days  in  the  fire 
department;  How  Josiah  B.  King  froze  out  his  friend  John  Baylies;  Colum- 
bian Co.,  No.  5,  disbanded  and  reinstated;  Bible  reading;  arrival  of  Colum- 
bian, No.  5;    Reception  and  trial;    Fire  companies  attend  church. 

CHAPTER  VIII.— Pages  11 7-1 28. 

H.  A.  Kempton's  lumber  yard  fire,  1854;  Death  of  Jethro  Hillman;  Pur- 
chase of  Young  America  Engine,  No.  8;  Liberty  Hall  fire,  1854;  Anti- 
slavery  reminiscences;    Midnight  bell-ringing. 


CHAPTER  IX.— Pages  129-140. 

Hook  and  Lailder  truck  in  the  early  clays;  Engine  trials  in  the  fifties;  Full 
roster  of  Fire  Department,  1856. 

CHAPTER  X.— Pages  141-155. 
Howland   street  riot,    Apl.    19,     1856;    Mechanics  lane  fire,  April  18,  1859; 
North  Water  street  fire,  Aug.  29,  1859. 

CHAPTER  XL— Pages  156-174. 

Advent  of  steam;  The  first  steamer,  Onward,  No.  I,  purchased  i860;  Ex- 
citing contest  between  the  old  and  new  methods;  Phoenix,  No.  4,  in  San 
Francisco;  Recognition  of  an  old  friend;  Progress  Engine,  No.  2;  Fish  Is- 
land fire,  1861;  Charles  Taber  fire,  1862;  Death  of  Henry  C.  Kelley;  De- 
struction of  Liberty  Hall,  1864;  Rurning  of  W.  G.  Blackler's  barn,  and  some 
things  that  happened  that  night;  Excelsior,  No.  3,  purchased  in  1864;  Con- 
test, No.  3,  purchased  by  the  town  of  P'airhaven,  1865. 

CHAPTER  XIL— Pages  175-199. 

Roster  of  Fire  Department  for  1867;  Cornelius  Howland,  No.  4,  placed  in 
commission;  Intelligent  horses;  X.  B.  Oil  Co.  fire,  eight  tanks,  holding  one 
thousand  gallons  of  oil  each,  destroyed;  Samuel  Peckham's  pipe;  T.  P. 
Tompkins  retires  from  active  service;  Fire  alarm  introduced;  Board  of  Engi- 
neers for  1871-74;  Franklin  Hose  carriage  put  in  service;  Excelsior  Co., 
N^o.  3,  visits  Taunton;  Cornelius  Howland,  No.  4,  visits  Fall  River;  Concert 
Hall  fire;  Firemen's  Mutual  Aid  Society  organized;.  Board  of  Engineers, 
1874-76;    Second  grand  parade;    Roster  of  the  Fire  Department,  1876-77. 

CHAPTER  XIIL— Pages   200-216. 

Board  of  Engineers,  1877-84;  P.  H.  Raymond  Co.,  of  Cambridgeport,  visit 
the  city;  Cornelius  Howlanfl  Co.,  No.  4,  visit  Cambridgeport;  Frederick 
Macv,  No.  6,  put  in  commission;  Roster  of  Fire  Department  for  1884-85; 
New  engines  purchased  for  Cornelius  Howland  Co.,  X^o.  4,  and  Progress  Co., 
N'o.  2;  Haskell  c\:  Tripp  tire,  1884;  Roster  of  Plre  Department,  1889 -90; 
Roster  of  Fairhaven  Fire  Department  for  1890. 

CHAPTER  XIV.— Pages  217-233. 

Hand  engine  trial,  July  4,  1890:  Roster  of  the  firemen  who  took  part; 
Death  of  George  B.  Russell;  Visit  of  Z.  L.  Bicknell  Co,  No.  2,  of  East 
Weymouth;  Steamer  No.  7  put  in  commission,  Sept.  i,  1890;  Muster  Day, 
Oct.  15,  1890;    Death   of  Edward  C.  Spooner. 

CHAPTER  XV.— Pages  234-239. 
New  Bedford    Veteran   Firemen's    Association,  1890;    Fire  losses,  1877-89; 
Present  efficiency  of  the  Department. 


ILLUSTRATIONS, 


Page. 

Frontispiece 

Independence,  No.  i i 

Flood,  No.  I 7 

James  Arnold 19 

James  Durfee 22 

The  Ark,  1826 26 

Location  of  Ark  • 29 

Samuel  Rodman 35 

Edmund  Gardner 38 

John  Avery  Parker 44 

William  Durfee 50 

George  G.  Gififord 51 

Henry  H.  Grapo 54 

William  H.  Taylor 59 

George  Howland,  Jr 64 

Novelty,  No,  8 68 

Ambrose  \'^incent 72 

Zachariah  Ilillman 76 

Ezra  K.  Delano 82 

Juvenile  Engine,  No.  12 84 

Joshua  B.  Ashley 87 

Caleb  L.  Ellis 92 

James  B.  Congdon • 95 

Nathan  Barker 97 

Purchase  street,  1855 100 

Young  Mechanic,  No.  6 100 

Columbian,  No.  5 107 

John  B.  Hyde 109 

Citizen,  No.  2 133 

Tillinghast  P.  Tompkins 141 

John  Mathews • 153 

Henry  C.  Kelley 169 

Charles  S.  Paisler 172 

Henry  H.  Fisher 175 

Cornelius  Howland,  Jr 180 

Hook  and  Ladder  Truck,  No.  i 182 


XI 

Page. 

Amoskeag  steam  engine 185 

Charles  S.  Kelley 190 

Samuel  C.  Hart 191 

David  VV.  Howland 202 

Frederick  Macy 210 

Loring  T.  Parlow 210 

Pliny  B.  Sherman •  210 

Augustus  A.  Wood 210 

Hugh  McDonald ■ 210 

Luther  G.  Hewins,  Jr 210 

Gaspee  engine,  No.  9 223 

Allen  W.  Tinkham 226 

George  M.  Crapo 226 

James  J.  Donaghy 226 

Charles  C.  Giftord 226 

CJeorge  W.  Parker 226 

Samuel  C.  France •    ■ 226 

Charles  T.  Maxheld 228 

Lysander  W.  Davis 228 

Daniel  D.  Briggs 228 

Joseph  Dawson 228 

Henry  W.  Kenyon 228 

John  A.  Russell 228 

F^dward  C.  Spooner • 231 


CHAPTER    I. 


Wtrarl"-''- 


INDEPENDENCE,   NO.   1. 
(  Drawn  from  a  pencil  sketch  by  Mr.  Elisha  C.  Leonard. ) 

5^NE  hundred  and  eighteen  years  ago,  In  177^1  ^  fii'e  en- 
<M^  gine  was  built  in  London  by  Richard  Newsham.  It  was 
bought  bv  Joseph  Rotch,  one  of  the  original  settlers  of  Bedford 
village,  and  was  the  first  engine  ever  owned  here  for  the  ex- 
tinguishing of  fires.  It  was  named  "  Independence,  No.  i.," 
and  was  located  on  the  north  side  of  William  street,  where  now 
stands  the  building  of  the  New  Bedford  Safe  Deposit  and  Trust 
Co.  This  engine  w^as  supplied  with  double  pumps,  worked  by 
side-brakes.  The  water  supply  was  from  buckets,  which  every 
citizen  was  expected  to  have  in  the  house.  Generally  they  were 
hung  in  a  convenient  position  in  the  front  hall,  in  readiness  for 
immediate  use.  These  expectations  were  not  always  realized, 
for  these  buckets  frequentlv  became-.the  receptacles  for  all  sorts 
of  things.  Tradition  savs  that  one  citizen  made  his  the  depositoiy 
for  beans  ;  and  on  one  occasion  the  engine  was  made  useless 
because  this  individual,  in  his  undue  haste,  emptied  a  quart  of 
them  into  the  pumps. 

At  a  fire  the  engine  was  taken  close  to  the  building,  and 
water  was  thrown  through  a  flexible  pipe  attached  to  a  tower 
placed  over  the  pumps.      Hose  had  not  been  invented  in  those 


3  HISTORY    OF    THE 

primitive  days.  This  engine  was  in  active  service  in  1S14  ;  for 
in  that  year  Mr.  James  Durfee,  then  a  hid  of  1 1  vears,  remem- 
bered very  well  the  engine  being  brought  for  repairs  to  his 
father's  blacksmith  shop,  then  located  on  North  Second 
street,  on  the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  building  of  Messrs. 
Geo.  A.  Bourne  &  Son,  directly  north  of  the  Institution  for 
Savings.  Mr.  Durfee  assisted  his  father  in  the  repairs  and 
found  a  plate  on  the  inside  of  the  tower  with  the  maker's 
name  and  the  date. 

I  have  found  a  record  book  that  gives  the  names  of  members 
of  Independence,  No.  i,  from  1820  to  1S34,  "vvhen  the  fire  de- 
partment was  organized  under  a  State  act.  The  list  for  1S20 
was  approbated  by  the  Selectmen,  Eli  Haskell  and  Roger 
Haskell : 

ft 

Captain — Charles  Ricketson. 

Lieutenant — Zebedee  Booth, 

Clerk — Isaac  Packard. 
Henry  Ricketson,  Watson  Ellis, 

Oliver  Crocker,  Benjamin  T.  Sanford, 

Enoch  Norton,  Pardon  Winslow, 

W.  H.  Leonard,  Elihu  Mosher, 

Jeremiah  Macomber,  James  Delano, 

Samuel  Little,  Bezaleel  Washburn, 

Joshua  Doane,  John  Foster, 

Charles  Haffords. 

1821. 
Isaac  Packard,  Thomas  Nash, 

Lewis  Ellis,  Lemuel  Tobey, 

Joshua  Doane,  Phineas  Kenney, 

John  Macomber,  Samuel  Bonney,  Jr., 

Bethuel  Penniman. 

1822. 
Peleg  Clark,  Samuel  James, 

Stephen  Freeman,  Ezra  S.  Kempton, 

Humphrey  Alden. 

1823. 
William  A.  Wall,  Edward  T.  Wilson, 

Jonathan  Russell. 

1824. 
John  H.  Chapman,  George  Freeman, 

John  Shaw,  Andrew  Brownell. 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


3 


Joshua  Richmond, 
Jonathan  Rowland, 


1825, 


Edward  Dillingham, 
William  Cook, 


William  H.  Jenney. 
1826. 


Nathan  Reed, 


Charles  Hitch, 
Josiah  S.  Bonney, 
George  Heath, 
Charles  Sanford, 


1827. 


Ephraim  Lake. 


Hardy  Hitch, 
Ichabod  Handy, 
Sylvanus  G.  Nye, 
Henry  Brownell, 


Asa  R.  Gifford, 


Thomas  Joiivett, 
Edward  T.  Sherman, 
Henry  Munroe, 
Samuel  Ricketson, 
Austin  Whitehead, 
William  Carver, 
John  S.  Smith, 


Samuel  W.  Hammond 

1828. 
Henry  Burbank. 

1829. 

Isaac  Bliss 
1830. 


Charles  Gushing, 


Jeremiah  Bailey, 
William  H  Stowell, 
William  Cole, 
James  M.  Gelette, 
Thomas  Whiting, 
Samuel  Whiting, 
Samuel  Watson. 


Samuel  Bailev, 


1831. 


Edward  Luce, 
Alfred  C.  Briofors. 


*&&" 


Walter  Heyer, 
Lsaac  D.  Hall, 
William  A.  Munroe, 


Shubael  Coffin, 
Lansing  Heyer, 
Benj.  T.  Ricketson, 
Joseph  E.  Reed,  Jr., 
Henry  Mandell, 

W.  G.  E.  Pope, 


1832. 


1833. 


James  H.  Munroe, 
James  M.  Cook, 
Jonathan  Bourne,  Jr. 

William  H.  Manchester, 
Asahel  Policy, 
Benjamin  T.  Meader, 
E.  L.  Goddard, 
Freeman  Snow. 


1834. 
Reuben  Nye. 


Alexander  Wall, 


4  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Newsham  built  in  1730  two  engines  for  the  old  Dutch 
burghers  of  New  York.     These  were  operated  by  a  crank. 

The  next  engine,  Citizen,  No.  2,  was  built  by  Philip 
Mason,  of  Philadelphia,  in  iSo3,  and  was  purchased  by  the 
subscriptions  of  property  owners  and  presented  to  the  town. 
At  the  following  town  meeting  the  sum  of  $32^  was  asked 
for  to  build  accommodations  for  the  new  engine  and  also  for 
the  hooks,  ladders,  etc..  used  in  the  fire  service.  This  propo- 
sition was  voted  down  as  a  '*"  bad  precedent"  to  increase  taxes. 
The  engine  was,  however,  located  in  a  building  on  the  land 
now  occupied  by  the  Custom  House. 

In  1S08  an  English  engine,  built  by  Richard  Newsham,  of 
London,  was  bought  in  Boston.  It  had  been  attached  to  a 
ropewalk  at  the  North  end,  and  was  called  the  "  Jollv  Rope- 
maker."  When  brought  to  Bedford  villasre  it  was  named 
Phoenix,  No.  4,  and  located  on  the  south  side  of  William  street, 
near  Acushnet  avenue.  At  this  time  the  watch-house  was 
located  on  the  northwest  corner  of  William  and  North  Second 
streets.  The  town  was  under  the  care  of  a  volunteer  night 
watch,  who  carried  lanterns  and  announced  with  stentorian 
voice  the  hours  of  the  night  :   "  12  o'clock  and  all  is  well." 

The  first  fire-wards  were  appointed  by  the  town  in  1796. 
William  Rotch,  Jr.,  Thomas  Hazard,  John  Howland,  Manas- 
seh  Kempton,  with  Jeremiah  Mayhew  and  Abraham  Smith, 
served  in  that  capacity  until  1S02. 

In  iSo^  Oxford  Village,  Fairhaven,  then  a  part  of  this 
township,  purchased  an  engine  ( Oxford,  No.  2  )  of  Philip 
Mason,  of  Philadelphia.  The  funds  were  raised  by  subscrip- 
tion.     I  give  here  an  exact  copy  of  the  bill : 

Philadelphia,  Sept  16,  1805. 
Capt.  Constant  Norton, 

To  Philip  Mason,  Dr., 
To  a  third-rate  lire  engine  for  Oxford,  New  Bedford,  $360. 

Received  payment  in  full, 

PHILIP  MASON. 

It  w^as  located  at  first  on  Samuel  Borden's  land,  opposite  the 


XEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPART.MEXT.  5 

old  academy,  and  at  a  later  period  was  moved  to  Oxford 
village.  I  present  an  accurate  list  of  the  subscribers  and  the 
amounts  eiven  : 


Reuben  Jenne, 

$10.00 

Allen  Crowell, 

$5.00 

Richard  Wood, 

15.00 

Ellery  Tompkins, 

3.00 

Luther  Wilson, 

10.00 

Seth  Allen, 

3.00 

Gilbert  Tripp, 

10.00 

Jacob  Taber, 

5.00 

Caleb  Wood, 

5.00 

Thomas  Nye, 

10.00 

Constant  Norton, 

15.00 

Job  Swift, 

4.00 

Seth  Spooner  &  Son, 

15.00 

Josiah  Jenne, 

3.00 

WMlham  Severance, 

7.00 

Thomas  Nye,  Jr., 

20.00 

Joshua  Hitch, 

3.00 

Joseph  Terry, 

•6.00 

Seth  Mitchell, 

5  00 

Jabez  Sherman, 

3.00 

Cornell  Wilkey, 

10.00 

Rowland  Gibbs, 

30.00 

Benjamin  Sisson, 

15.00 

Thaddeus  Pickens, 

15.00 

John  Taber,  2d, 

6  00 

Samuel  Borden, 

30.00 

Bartholomew  Taber, 

5.00 

W^eston  Jenne, 

5.00 

Nicholas  Taber, 

7.00 

Mayhew  Luce, 

5.00 

Eleazer  Allen, 

7.00 

Alden  C.  Cushman, 

5.00 

Zebdiel  Sampson, 

5.00 

Abner  Pease, 

5.00 

Joseph  Bates, 

15.00 

Joshua  Rowland, 

5.00 

David  Clark, 

10.00 

Isaac  Bates, 

3.00 

Robert   Bennett, 

20.00 

William  Taber, 

4.00 

John  Crowell, 

5.00 

Joseph  Hathaway, 

12  00 

The  following  men  were  chosen  members  of  the  engine 
company,  and  the  list  was  "  approbated  "  by  the  selectmen, 
Bartholomew  Aiken  and  James  Taber,  Oct.  ist,  1805  : 


Bartholomew  Taber, 
Reuben  Jenne, 
Bartlett  Allen, 
Seth  Allen, 
Henrv  Parie, 
Noah  Spooner, 
Ellery  Tompkins, 


Elisha  Taber, 
William  Severance, 
Josiah  Jenne, 
Seth  .Mitchell, 
Timothy  Taber, 
John  Crowell, 
Allen  Crowell, 


Weston  Jenne. 

Land  was  given  by  Rowland  Gibbs  for  the  engine  house  on 
condition  that  it  be  removed  at  "his  pleasure."  Whether  he 
ever  exercised  his  rights  in  the  matter  is  not  on  record,  but  the 
engine  itself  was  moved  one  day  in  great  haste  and  secrecy. 
In  the  records  for  Sept.  15th,  1S14,  I  find  the  following 
item  : 


6  HISTORY    OF    THE 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  Oxford  engine,  held  at 
Nicholas  Taber's  home,  it  was  voted  "  that  the  engine  be  removed  for 
'safety/'"  and  it  was  done  without  delay. 

The  cause  of  this  mysterious  action  was  this  :  the  English 
sloop-of-war,  "The  Nimrod,"  was  in  the  bay,  and  the  inhabi- 
tants were  quaking  with  fear  that  the  British  might  land  and 
loot  the  town.  The  people  hid  their  valuable  household 
goods  far  away  in  the  woods  and  in  other  out-of-the-way 
places.  Hence  this  precaution  in  moving  the  engine  where  it 
might  be  safely  kept. 

George  H.  Taber,  Esq.,  vividly  remembers  this  occurrence. 
He  savs  "  I  was  at  that  time  but  six  years  of  ag^e  and  of  course 
easily  partook  of  the  terror  that  prevailed  through  the  town 
of  the  probable  attack  of  the  English.  The  cry  '  The  Brit- 
ishers are  coming,'  would  have  created  a  panic  and  would  have 
driven  everv  man,  woman  and  child  to  the  ^voods.  M}'  father's 
wagon  stood  in  front  of  the  house  (where  I  have  lived  all  my 
life)  loaded  with  the  most  iinportant  of  our  goods,  ready  for  a 
rapid  move  on  the  day  of  the  anticipated  raid.  You  can  well 
imagine  my  fright  when  I  saw  this  engine,  drawn  with  noise- 
less tread,  pass  our  house  to  the  barn  of  our  neighbor  How- 
land,  where  it  \vas  stowed  away.  However,  the  British  didn't 
raid  the  town  but  landed  at  Wareham  where,  after  seizing 
several  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  and  placing  them  before 
their  boats  on  the  shore  to  protect  them  from  being  fired  upon, 
they  proceeded  to  burn  several  ships  on  the  stocks  besides 
committing  other  depredations." 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


FLOOD  NO.  1— Fairhaven  Lower  Village. 

(  From  sketch  by  Charles  H.  Gifford.) 

The  first  enofine  owned  in  the  lower  villaofe  of  Fairhaven 
was  the  Flood,  No.  i.  It  was  probably  bought  by  the 
tow^n  as  early  as  1801,  for  Mr.  Edward  West  has  in  his  pos- 
session a  bucket  with  number  and  date  painted  on  its  side.  It 
was  a  bucket  engine,  with  double  pumps  and  end  brakes,  and 
was  a  valuable  machine  in  its  day.  I  present  lists  of  members 
for  several  years,  taken  from  an  original  record  book  : 

May,  1837. 

Foreman — Charles  Damon. 

First  Assistant — Marshall  Wilbur. 

Second  Assistant — John  Alden,  Jr. 

Clerk  and  Treasurer — John  Terry. 
Ellis  Robinson,  Benj.  R.  Gifford, 

Alden  G.  Bourne,  Benj.  Hammond, 

Nafl  S.  Higgins,  Kelley  M.  Huttlestone, 

T.  G.  Bradford,  Charles  C.  Allen, 

Franklyn  Taber,  Ira  Gerrish, 

Asa  Allen,  Henry  J.  Grinnell, 

Richard  S.  Parlow,  Josiah  R.  Howland, 

Ebenezer  Hitch,  .,  George  H.  Stevens, 

Charles  Tobey,  John  Damon, 

Joseph  Damon,  2d,  Frederick  Williams, 

Alexander  Tripp,  Asa  H.  Kelley, 

Hiram  Higgins. 

May,  1842. 

Foreman — Nathaniel  S.  Howard. 
Clerk  and  Treasurer — William  L.  Tilley. 
First  Assistant  Foreman — Amos  S.  Pierce. 
Second  Assistant  Foreman — Lemuel  Martin. 


8 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Axemen — Levi  Wing,  Moses  H.  Delano. 
Torchmen — Jabez  H.  Wing,  Philip  A.  Bradford. 
Hosemen — Franklin  Taber,  Charles  F.  Morton. 

May,  1845. 

Foreman — Ira  Lakey. 
Clerk  and  Treasurer — Tucker  Damon,  Jr. 
First  Assistant — Lemuel  Martin. 
Second  Assistant — Charles  H.  Taber. 
Axemen — Elisha  Fish,  Moses  H.  Delano. 
Torchmen — George  Sawin,  George  Wing. 

Officers  chosen  May,  1 845-1 846. 

Foreman — Moses  H.  Delano. 
Clerk  and  Treasurer — George  W.  Sawin. 
First  Assistant  Foreman — Lemuel  Martin. 
Second  Assistant  Foreman — Amos  T,  Pierce. 
Axemen — James  Maxfield,  Henry  D.  Scott. 
Torchmen — James  F.  Swain,  William  Bowen. 
Hosemen — John  Gurney,  Eleazer  H.  Wing. 

June  9th  the  company  procured  uniforms  for  twenty-two 
men,  and  on  the  coming  Fourth  they  joined  in  the  celebration 
in  our  city.  The  records  give  expressions  of  thanks  for  their 
kind  reception.  The  following  list  of  officers  was  chosen  May 
II,    I S49  : 

Foreman — James  L  Maxfield. 

Clerk  and  Treasurer — Charles  H.  Thompson. 

Pipeman — Lemuel  Martin. 

Assistant  Pipeman — Ebenezer  Grinneli. 

Hoseman — Timothy  W.  Sanford. 

Assistant  Hosemen — Alden  Burgess,  Alden  Booth,  Benjamin  Beetle. 

Axemen — Isaac  H.  Berry,  George  Miller. 

Torchmen — George  Bradford,  John  B.  Eldridge. 

May,  1850. 

Foreman — Ebenezer  Grinneli. 
Clerk — Alden  Burgess. 
Pipeman — John  Sampson. 
Assistant  Pipeman — William  Burgess. 
Hosemen — William  Webb,  Frederick  Gushing. 
Assistant  Hosemen — Henry  Taber,  Eli  Sherman. 
Axemen — George  Miller,  Steven  Leavitt. 
Torchmen — Sylvester  Parlow,  Daniel  Eldred. 

In  1S36  Messrs.  Dyer  and  Richmond,  of  this  city,   built   foi 
the  town  of  Fairhaven  the  first  suction  engine,  the    Columbia, 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  9 

No.  3,  at  a  cost  of  about  $1500.  It  proved  to  be  a  serviceable 
machine,  and  with  the  No.  i  and  the  Oxford  engine  furnished 
ample  protection  for  many  years,  in  ordinary  fires  ;  but  when 
large  conflagrations  occurred  on  either  side  of  the  river,  all 
the  eno^ines  were  broug^ht  into  service. 

It  was  a  great  feat  when  either  party  could  get  "  first  water" 
on  their  neighbor's  fire.  This  proved  especially  true  of  the 
Lindsev  fire  in  181 1  when  the  Oxford  engine  came  over  from 
Fairhaven  and  played  "  first  water."  It  has  been  bragged  about 
ever  since.  It's  all  right  to  keep  it  in  remembrance  for  a  reason- 
able period,  but  seventy-nine  years  have  passed  away  since  the 
event,  and  still  the  story  has  a  lively  existence  in  the  memory  of 
our  Oxford  friends.  One  would  think  they  would  have  for- 
gotten it  bv  this  time. 

The  presence  of  this  engine  and  the  No.  3  at  Oxford  brought 
a  feeling  of  safety  and  reliance,  as  a  story  told  me  by 
Mr.  George  H.  Taber  illustrates.  It  shows  also  that  there  is 
no  real  necessitv  for  a  man  to  lose  his  head  at  a  fire.  Mr. 
Taber's  father  was  walking  past  a  neighbor's  house  and  discov- 
ered a  fire  on  the  roof  of  his  barn,  occasioned  by  the 
burning  wad  from  a  gun  in  the  hands  of  a  lad  who  had 
been  shooting  squirrels.  He  rushed  in,  found  the  owner  walk- 
ing leisurely  about  w^ith  his  hands  in  his  pockets,  and  a  calm, 
placid  expression  on  his  countenance,  and  said  "William! 
William  !  Your  barn  is  on  fire  ! "  "I  knowed  it !  I  knowed  it ! 
John's  gone  for  the  ingin."  Mr.  Taber,  seizing  a  pail  of 
water,  put  the  fire  out  in  a  moment.  It  really  hadn't  occured  to 
the  owner  that  he  could  have  done  it  himself,  but  he  sent  his  son 
John  for  the  "  ingin."  We  must  admit  he  had  a  strong  appre- 
ciation of  the  fire  department. 

The  Bedford  Fire  Society  was  formed  March  4th,  1807,  with 
Joseph  Ricketson  moderator  and  Abraham  Shearman,  Jr., 
clerk.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  form  rules  and  regula- 
tions, and  these  were  adopted  : 


lO  HISTORY    OF    THE 

RULES  AND  REGULATIONS  OF  THE  NEW  BEDFORD 

FIRE  SOCIETY. 

We,  the  subscribers,  considering  the  danger  to  which  our  property  is 
exposed  by  fire,  do  agree  to  form  ourselves  into  a  society  by  the  name 
of  "The  Bedford  Fire  Society."  for  the  purpose  of  assisting,  not  only 
each  other  when  in  danger,  but  the  citizens  at  large  as  far  as  circum- 
stances will  admit,  and  do  agree  to  be  governed  by  the  following  arti- 
cles : 

Art.  I.  That  this  society  shall  consist  of  a  number  not  exceeding 
thirty,  and  shall  meet  on  the  Second  Day  in  the  first,  fourth,  seventh 
and  tenth  months,  at  such  time  and  place  as  the  clerk  shall  appoint ; 
and  twelve  members  shall  form  a  quorum. 

Art.  2.  A  moderator  shall  be  chosen  by  a  hand  vote  at  each  meet- 
ing, whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  preserve  order  ;  and  if  any  member  has 
anything  to  ofTer  to  the  consideration  of  the  society  he  shall  address 
himself  to  the  moderator.  While  proceeding  on  business,  silence 
shall  be  observed  by  every  member  except  the  one  speaking. 

Art.  3.  A  clerk  shall  be  chosen  annually  by  ballot  at  the  meeting  in 
the  first  month,  who  shall  serve  till  another  be  chosen,  and  shall  re- 
ceive such  compensation  for  his  services  as  the  society  may  judge  ad- 
equate. 

Art.  4.  The  duty  of  the  clerk  shall  be  to  transcribe  these  articles  in- 
to a  suitable  book  for  the  use  of  the  society,  in  order  that  each  mem- 
ber may  sign  the  same  in  token  of  his  free  consent  to  be  governed  by 
them.  In  this  book  he  is  to  keep  a  fair  record  of  the  proceedings  of 
the  society.  He  is  to  notify  every  member  of  each  meeting  by  leaving 
or  causing  to  be  left  at  his  dwelling-house,  shop  or  store  a  notification, 
on  the  back  of  which  shall  be  noted  the  sum,  if  any,  such  member  owes 
to  the  society.  He  shall  have  power  to  demand  and  receive  all  fines 
and  assessments,  and  to  call  a  special  meeting  upon  the  application  of 
six  members  in  writine^.  He  shall  call  the  list  in  half  an  hour  after 
the  time  fixed  for  the  meeting,  and  if  any  member  be  then  absent,  he 
shall  pay  a  fine  of  twenty-five  cents  ;  and  if  absent  the  whole  evening 
or  period  of  evening,  shall  pay  twenty-five  cents  in  addition  thereto, 
unless  he  shall  be  necessarily  absent  from  town  or  confined  by  sickness. 
He  shall  read  the  laws  to  the  societv  at  each  meeting,  and  at  the  end  of 
the  year  he  shall  deliver  to  his  successor  the  records  and  papers  ot  the 
society,  together  with  such  moneys  as  may  then  be  on  hand  belonging 
to  the  society. 

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  niember,  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.  Angi  if  the  clerk 
shall  neglect  his  duty  in  this  or  in  any  of  the  articles  mentioned  or  here- 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT.  11 

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  iftTW^  dwelling  house,  under  penalty  of 
fifty  cents  for  each  deficiency,  tw-^eather  buckets  and  two  bags ;  the 
buckets  to  be  painted  confo'rmabh^ftp  the  orders  of  the  society ;  the 
bags  to  be  one  yard  and  a  half  in  %ii^^  and  three-quarters  of  a  yard 
in  breadth,  with  strings  to  draw  thefu^ulx.  The  buckets  and  bags  shall 
be  marked  with  the  owner's  name,  under  Dpnalty  of  twenty-five  cents 
for  each  bucket  and  bag.  '^^#. 

Art.  7.  At  the  alarm  of  fire  each  one^S^«Liinmediately  repair,  with 
his  buckets  and  bags,  to  the  dwelling-hous^^jlfeppi'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  b-e  admitted  to  the 
society's  meetings. 

Art'  1 1 .  Anv  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  wdio  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  wdio  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 
m  time  of  fire,  w-hich  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  Rowland, 

James  Allen,  2d,  Joseph  Maxfield, 

Simpson  Hart,  William  Ross, 

Cornelius  Rowland,  Gilbert  Rowland, 

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  Rowland, 

Peter  Barney. 

From  a  perusal  of  the  records,  faithfully  and  systematically 
kept,  to  the  final  dissolution  of  the  society  in  October,  18 16, 
it  seems  that  the  members  were  under  strict  discipline.  I 
make  a  few  extracts  wdiich  may  possibly  prove  of  interest : 

loth  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. 

1st  mo.,  II,  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. 

nth  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  35  cents.  He  was  one  of  the  characters 
of  the  day,  of  whom  many  amusing  stories  are  told.      One  day 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  1 3 

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.,  vou  can't  have  it  now ;  but  I  will  give 
you  a  sleigh  ride  next  Fourth  of  July."  When  Independence 
dav  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  tire  department,  but  relates  how 
*' George  was  fired  out  of  Newport."  He  was  a  noisy,  loud- 
inouthed  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.  II,  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. 

loth  mo.  8,  18 10. — Peleg  Hovvland'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. 

1st  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  330  buckets  in  the  town,  about  enough  to  serve 
efficiently  one  lane  of  400  feet. 


14  HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  final  meeting  was  held  loth  mo.,  1816,  and  I  copy  the 
record  verbatim  : 

loth  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  wuth  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  Rowland. 

Southeast  District  (Fairhaven). 

Jethro  Allen,  Nicholas  Taber, 

Noah  Stoddard,  Joseph  Bates. 

These,  with  Isaac  Sherman  and  Thomas  Nye,  Jr.,  served 
till  1809. 


CHAPTER    TI. 

^^j^^HE  board  of  firewards  for  1S09  were  Caleb  Congdoii, 
t|&  Cornelius  Rowland,  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  Howdand,  2d, 
Samuel  West,  Benjamin  Lincoln,  James  Arnold,  Charles 
Church,  Zacharlah  HUlman,  Andrew  Robeson,  Reuben  Rus- 
sell, John  Ruggles,  Joslah  Wood,  William  James,  Edward 
Wing,  Ichabod  Clapp,  Nathaniel  Nelson,  Levi  Standlsh,  Jos- 
eph Bourne  and  Benjamin  Howland  served  from  1815  to  1821. 
In  181 1  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.  Llnd- 
sey,  who  celebrated  his  83d  birthday  In  1888,  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 
Falrhaven,  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 


l6  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 
quietlv  in  its  cradle  in  Peleg  Rowland'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  w^as 
in  the  cradle,  but  piling  on  it  the  above  mentioned  articles  had 
taken  "cradle,  baby  and  all"  to  its  place  of  safety. 

Jan.  23,  1 8 19,  two  tub  engines,  Nos.  3  and  4,  were  purchased 
of  Hunneinan  &  Co.,  Roxbury,  for  $900,  the  purchase  being 
made  by  the  following  committee  :  James  Rowland,  2d,  Tim- 
othy Delano,  Gideon  Rowland,  Jr.,  John  Coggeshall,  Jr., 
John  A.  Parker.  The  department  now^  consisted  of  five  en- 
gines, Nos.  I,  2,  3  and  4  and  the  "Jolly  Rope  Maker.'* 
When  the  first  large  fire  took  place  on  Centre  street,  Sept.  6, 
1820,  George  R.  Taber  dares  to  assert  that  the  Oxford  engine 
came  over  and  played  the  first  water,  but  James  Durfee  dis- 
puted it  with  vigor.  Re  modestl}-  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  Mej'cury  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 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT.  I/ 

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 w^as  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 
w^as  finally  subdued.  Just  as  it  was  communicating  to  the  store 
of  Peter  Barnev  on  the  south  east  and  the  dwelling  house, 
owned  by  Gilbert  Russell,  on  the  west.  Had  either  of  these 
buildings  been  permanenth'  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.  W'illiam  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  ot 
$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 
w^hich  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  thev  are  much 
more  costh*  than  wood,  beside  the  expense  of  insurance  is 
abundantlv  less  on  a  brick  or  stone  buildinof  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 Rowland,  Jr.,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  was  in 
ofreat  danger.  It  was  barely  saved  bv  the  stead v  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  1S30: 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 


19 


Jonathan  Swift, 
William  Hathaway, 
Sturgis  Phinney  (22), 
Eli  Haskell, 

William  T.  Russell  (23), 
Samuel  Rodman, 
Richard  Williams, 
Timothy  G.  Coffin  (24), 
Charles  W.  Morgan, 
Jireh  Swift  (25). 
Benjamin  Rodman, 
Haydon  Coggeshall, 
Elisha  Dunbar, 


Lemuel  Williams,  Jr.  (26), 
Isaac  Case, 
Lysander  Washburn, 
Dudley  Davenport, 
Charles  W.  W^arren, 
Gideon  Howland, 
William  W.  Swain  (27), 

William , 

John  Price, 
Elkanah  Tallman, 
Zachariah  Hill  man, 
William  H.  Allen, 
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  w^as  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.,  $1,360.00 

Freight  on  same,  15.00 


$1,375.00 
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  imj^ortant  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,  1S26  : 

Timothy  Delano,  John  Paun, 

Stevens  M.  Burbank,  Joseph  Bramhall, 

Charles  M.  Pierce,  Thomas  Peckham, 

Gibbs  Taber,  David  Padelford, 

Gamaliel  Taber,  Joshua  V.  Himes, 

Lyman  Allen,  Christopher  Roifer, 

Benjamin  Beetle,  Edward  Russell, 

Pardon  Potter,  2d,  David  Chase, 

Samuel  Bonney,  Jr.,  Stephen  Parker, 

Frederick  Underwood,  Nathaniel  Crandall, 

Charles  V.  Card,  Obadiah  Burgess, 

Alfred  Leonard,  Jonathan  Hathaway, 

Christopher  Slocum,  Gilford  Taber, 

Charles  P.  Maxfield,  William  Crosley, 

Marshall  Waklron,  Humphrey  Wood, 

Humphrey  Manchester,  David  Peckham, 

Joseph  Congdon. 


NEW    BEDFORD    P^IRE    DEPARTMENT.  21 

In  1 82 1,  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  1S24  a  fire  occurred,  Nov.  17,  an  account  of  which  I  take 
from  the  JSIerciiry  of  Nov.  18:  "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  w^ere  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  afiair.  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 


HISTORY    OP^    THE 


JAMES  DURFEE. 
(One  of  the  builders  of  Columbian,  No.  5.) 


Columbian,  No.  5,  was  accepted  by  the  town  Feb.  zSth, 
1827,  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 
thev  never  could  have  stood  the  wear  and  tear  of  the  "  runs 
and  races"  of  the  coming  vears.  As  thev  were  located  in  the 
same  house  on  Purchase  street,  conditions  of  rivalry  arose  that 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT.  23 

became  more  vioforous  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  yerses  of  a  resident  clergyman  : 

Away  the\'  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  tlie  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 
1S21  or  1822.  It  was  a  bucket  macliine  and  operated  with 
a  flexible  pipe  from  the  tower,  the  same  as  described  of 
Independence,  No.  i .  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  inanner  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  seryice  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  enofine  was  drag-ofed  to  the  conflag'ration  with  horses  and 
in  some  inysterious  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  3'ears  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  vyhen  the  pipemen  turned 
the  stream  from  factory  to  shed.  He  indeed  presented  a  sorry 
siofht  to  his  friends  when  he  emerged  from  the  buildingf.  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 
inuch  of  an  accident  as  the  "smash  up"  alluded  to  above. 

TJie  No.  3  was  eventually  sold  to  the  town  of  Fairhaven  for 
$ic^o  and  located  just  across  the  river.  A  company  was  organ- 
ized and  continued  in  existence  until  Acushnet  was  set  ofi^  as  a 
separate  town.  The  engine  remained  there  for  several  years 
afterward,  and  was  finally  sold  and  broken  up  by  Mr.  John 
McCullough. 

The  Citizen,  No.  2,  also  did  long  service  at  the  Head  of  the 
River,  and  v^^as  replaced  June  8,  i860,  by  Hancock,  No.  9. 
This  engine  is  still  in  commission,  and  is  the  only  ready  pro- 
tection of  that  very  important  section  of  our  city. 


CHAPTER   III. 


3       -^ 


N  1826,  one  August  day,  our  village  was  greatly  agitated  by 
^  the  rumor  that  the  dead  body  of  a  man  had  been  found  in 
the  w^oods,  near  a  notorious  neighborhood  called  "  Hard  Dig," 
on  Kempton  street,  just  west  of  what  is  now  the  base  ball 
park.  A  company  of  boys,  who  were  picking  huckleberries, 
made  the  ghastly  discovery  and  hastened  into  town  with  the 
report.  Several  citizens  went  out,  taking  the  lads  with  them 
for  guides.  When  they  reached  the  spot,  the  body  had  been 
removed,  though  they  discovered  unmistakable  evidence  that 
the  story  of  the  boys  was  true.  The  fact  of  the  mysterious 
disappearance  of  a  ship  carpenter  at  this  time  (from  whom 
no  tidings  were  ever  received) ,  gave  color  to  the  report  of 
murder.  "Hard  Dig"  was  occupied  by  the  dangerous  and 
vicious  classes,  and  was  a  constant  menace  to  good  order. 
It  was  unsafe  to  travel  in  that  vicinity  after  dark. 

The  report  of  this  murder  soon  came  to  the  knowledge  of 
the  whole  town  and  caused  great  excitement  among  the  peo- 
ple. While  the  law-abiding  citizens  would  have  had  this  in- 
iquity crushed  out  by  legal  measures,  others  concluded  to  take 
the  law  in  their  own  hands.  A  mob  was  organized  that 
evening  at  Kempton  street  corner,  and,  after  maturing  plans,  it 
proceeded  in  full  force  to  its  work.  The  first  house  pulled 
do^vn  w^as  that  of  Jake  Peterson,  a  leader  of  the  place.  Then 
other  buildings  were  quickly  demolished  and  set  on  fire.  In 
two  hours'  time  the  mob  had  eftect-uallv  cleaned  out  the  whole 
nuisance. 

Mr.  David  B.  Kempton  lived  at  that  time  on  County  street ; 
and,  standing  in  his  yard  that  evening,  he  distinctly  heard  the 
shouts  of  the  mob  and  the  blows  of  the  axes. 

Wild  with  their  success,  the  proposition  to  raid  the  Ark  was 
received  with  enthusiasm  by  the  mob.  It  ,was  agreed,  how- 
ever, to  postpone  it  till  the  next  night. 


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NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  2^ 

To  more  clearly  understand  the  Ark  riots,  our  readers  must 
understand  that  the  river  front  at  the  foot  of  High  street,  at  this 
period,  was  about  two  hundred  feet  east  of  North  Second  street, 
where  there  was  a  sort  of  cove,  the  south  side  of  which  ran 
due  east  to  the  bridge.  The  Ark  stood  upon  the  shore  as  far 
as  the  high  tide  would  permit,  and  was  blocked  under  the  keel 
to  keep  it  in  a  hrm  position.  The  exact  position  was  just 
where  Charles  S.  Paisler's  brick  building  on  Water  street  is 
now  located.  The  Ark  was  the  hull  of  the  old  whaler  Cam- 
illus,  with  a  house  built  on  and  entirely  covering  the  deck.  A 
portico  or  walk  about  four  feet  wide  was  built  outside,  running 
the  entire  length  on  both  sides  of  the  vessel,  and  was  reached 
by  steps  from  the  shore. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  mention  how  the  name  "The  Ark  " 
came  to  be  siven  to  this  infamous  vessel.  A  whaler  named 
"  The  Ark"  was  owned  and  sailed  from  Nantucket  in  1S19. 
She  made  several  voyages  and  was  finally  brought  to  this 
port  to  be  broken  up.  Mr.  Joseph  Wilcox,  Jr.  remembers 
when  she  arrived  here,  and  that  she  was  taken  to  Rotch's 
wharf,  where  she  lay  for  some  time  before  being  demolished. 
The  stern  board  with  this  name  "The  Ark"  was  secured  and 
mounted  on  the  upper  deck  of  the  hull  in  a  conspicuous  place, 
and  so  this  bark  was  called  "The  Ark."  The  craft  was  at 
first  occupied  by  respectable  families  in  moderate  circum- 
stances, but  soon  came  to  a  baser  use  and  finally  was  a  brothel 
of  the  worst  character.  Its  existence  was  a  moral  offence  to 
the  community,  and  its  removal  was  earnestly  desired  by  good 
citizens.  It  must  not  be  understood  that  they  encouraged 
riotous  proceedings,  however  much  satisfaction  they  may  have 
felt  at  the  results.     And  now  for  the  storv  of  Ark  Riot  No.  1. 

The  inmates  had  learned  during  the  day  of  the  proposed 
raid  and,  with  their  sympathizers,  had  gathered  during  the  day 
a  plentiful  supply  of  stones  and  other  missiles,  including  bottles 
of  scalding  hot  water.  After  dark  the  crowds  began  to  gather 
and  matters  looked  ominous.  Soon  Mr.  Timothy  G.  Coffin 
appeared  and  attemped  to  read  the  riot  act,  and  probably  did 


28  HISTORY    OF    THE 

SO,  though  it  is  said  he  was  marched  off  the  ground.  Men  ap- 
peared with  hooks  and  ladders,  and  the  attack  commenced  in 
good  earnest.  Stones  flew  in  all  directions  and  so  did  bottles 
of  hot  water,  but  the  besieged  still  held  the  fort  till  a  ship's 
gun  had  been  brought  into  position,  loaded — all  made  ready  to 
fire.  Then  they  succumbed  and  offered  to  march  out.  They 
were  allowed  to  do  so.  Then  the  Ark  was  torn  to  pieces  with 
axe  and  crow-bar,  and  was  then  burned.  Now  this  formidable 
gun  was  in  fact  a  "  Qiiaker."  When  found  on  an  adjoining 
wharf  it  was  actually  filled  with  mud.  Its  use  never  was  se- 
riously contemplated.  After  being  drawn  in  position  before 
the  Ark,  an  imao-inary  cartridgfe  was  rammed  home  with  a 
stick  and  the  match  about  to  be  applied,  when  the  surrender 
was  made.  The  fire  of  course  called  out  the  engines,  but 
their  work  principally  was  to  protect  the  surrounding  build- 
ings. 

The  above  facts  have  been  given  me  by  Capt.  Joseph  Wil- 
cox, Jr.,  W'ho  was  present,  but  not  a  rioter,  and  who  remembers 
very  clearly  the  whole  proceedings.  Possibly  a  deeper  impres- 
sion was  made  on  him,  because  he  was  hit  on  the  shin  with  a 
large  stone  thrown  from  the  Ark.  Some  fifty  citizens  were 
afterward  subpoenaed  before  the  court  at  Taunton,  to  give  testi- 
mony of  the  riot,  but  they  all  proved  genuine  Know  Nothings, 
and  so  the  matter  was  dropped. 

A  second  Ark  soon  appeared  that  became  a  terror  indeed. 
The  hull  of  this  craft  w^as  the  ship  Indian  Chief;  and  it  \vas  lo- 
cated further  west  than  the  first,  and  about  fifty  feet  southeast 
of  the  red  house  on  the  south  side  of  Ark  lane.  It  was  occu- 
pied b}'  the  worst  classes  and  was  the  abode  of  debauchery 
and  evil  doing.  Citizens  were  in  daily  fear,  not  only  of  their 
property  but  of  their  lives.  Any  attempt  to  banish  the 
scourge  failed,  and  it  soon  became  apparent  that  law  w^as  held 
in  effectual  defiance. 

In  the  Spring  of  1829  the  Elm  street  JM.  E.  church  was  set 
on  fire,  on  a  Saturday  evening.  The  lower  story  of  the  build- 
ing was  stored  full  of  casks  of  oil.      The    fire   was   discovered 


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30  HISTORY    OF    THE 

about  1 1  o'clock,  just  in  time  to  prevent  a  serious  conflagration  ; 
for  it  was  thought  that  had  the  great  quantity  of  oil  taken  fire, 
it  would  have  destroyed  all  the  buildings  east  of  it  to  the  river, 
as  the  running  oil  must  have  spread  quickly  down  the  steep 
hill,  carrying  destruction  in  its  path.  The  audience  room  w^as 
uninjured,  and  the  pastor,  Rev.  Timothy  Merritt,  preached  a 
sermon  on  Sunday  from  the  text,  "Except  the  Lord  keep  the 
city,  the  watchman  waketh  in  vain."  The  general  feeling  in 
the  community  was  that  some  of  the  desperate  characters  from 
the  Ark  set  the  church  on  fire.  For  this  incident  I  am  indebted 
to  Mrs.  Josiah  Richmond. 

The  reign  of  terror  continued  till  Aug.  29th,  when  the  sec- 
ond Ark  riot  occurred.  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  James  Durfee, 
Henry  R.  Wilcox,  Rodolphus  Beetle,  David  B.  Kempton, 
Joseph  Wilcox,  Jr.,  and  others,  for  valuable  material  concern- 
ing this  incident. 

The  Ark  was  kept  bv  a  notoriously  bad  character  named 
Titus  Peck,  a  bully  and  desperado.  He  and  his  associates 
were  a  menace  to  the  whole  town.  So  strong  was  their  power 
it  was  said  the  selectmen  were  afraid  to  interfere  with  their 
riotings.  For  days  before  the  outbreak  the  streets  and  work- 
shops resounded  Avith  the  mysterious  words  " Jerr},"  "Jerry 
keep  dark  north  end,"  "Keep  dark  south  end,"  "Jerry  is  in 
town."  What  did  all  this  mean  ?  \vas  the  inquiry  on  every 
lip.  Rumor  followed  rumor  in  quick  succession  ;  then  it  be- 
came vaguely  understood  that  there  was  to  be  a  meeting  of 
citizens  in  the  tovs^n  hall  (now  Central  Police  Station)  on  the 
following  Saturday  evening.  To  the  surprise  of  everybody, 
everybody  else  was  there.  The  hall  was  packed  lull,  more 
than  two  hundred  men  being  in  and  about  the  building.  While 
there  seemed  to  be  no  organization,  it  was  evident  that  well- 
developed  plans  were  laid.  The  respectable  and  influential 
citizens,  among  whom  were  Gideon  Howland,  Samuel  Rod- 
man, Thomas  Mandell,  J.  A.  Parker,  Jethro  Hillman,  Zach- 
ariah  Hillman,  Francis  Taber  and  Barne}'  Taber,  used  their 
utmost  influence  to    prevent    an    outbreak.     The  riot  act  was 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT.  3I 

read  by  Timothy  G.  Coffin,  but  when  the  9  o'clock  bell  on  Dr. 
Dewey's  church  rang  out,  a  shout  from  many  throats  went  up 
"  Jerry  is  in  town.  Hurrah  for  the  Ark,"  and  pell-mell  went 
everybody  to  the  yicinity  of  Ark  lane.  Here  was  found  the 
hook  and  ladder  truck,  brought  there  by  unknown  hands. 
Then  suddenly  appeared  a  company  of  masked  men,  dressed 
in  coats  turned  inside  out,  trousers  covered  with  white  canvas 
at  the  knees,  slouched  hats,  etc.  On  the  best  authority  there 
were  twenty-five  of  these  uniformed  rioters.  The  truck  was 
rapidly  stripped  of  its  ladders  and  hooks,  and  the  destruction 
of  the  Ark  commenced. 

Mr.  Coffin,  with  a  lighted  lantern  in  his  hand,  appeared  in 
the  dense  crowd  s"athered  near  the  corner  of  Middle  and  Sec- 
ond  streets.  Somebody  paid  his  respects  to  the  lantern,  and 
darkness  came  suddenly  on.  He  was  good-naturedly  hustled 
about,  and  it  is  said  to  be  a  fact  that  he  was  passed  over  the 
heads  of  the  crowd  and  safely  landed  where  he  had  more  room 
for  himself. 

The  work  of  destruction  completed,  most  of  the  people  went 
home  at  midnight,  but  soon  were  called  out  by  flames  stream- 
ing from  the  ill-fated  craft,  for  the  torch  was  not  applied  till 
12  o'clock.  The  Ark  was  burned  to  the  water's  edge,  and 
when  morning  broke  naught  was  left  but  smoking  timbers  of 
this  dreaded  floating  hell.  Sev^eral  small  houses  were  burned 
in  the  conflagration.  The  fire  department  was  on  hand,  and 
its  services  were  distinfjuished  for  what  it  didn't  do.  The  Me- 
chanic.  No.  6,  took  water  at  the  foot  of  Middle  street,  but 
the  leading  hose  did  not  reach  the  fire  by  fifty  feet.  After  long 
delay,  the  position  of  the  engine  v?as  changed  to  Beetle's  spar 
yard,  where  an  incident  occurred  of  which  it  is  not  necessary 
to  speak  here,  but  let  it  suffice  to  say  that  the  vaulted  ambition 
of  several  firemen  was  fully  satisfied.  I  give  now  the  account 
published  in  the  New  Bedford  Mercury^  Aug.  28,  1829: 
"What  happened  three  years  ago  has  within  the  last  week 
been  reenacted,  with  little  variance  of  mode  or  circumstance. 
From    the    ashes    of    the    old   Ark,    demolished    and    burned 


32  HISTORY    OF    THE 

August,  1S26,  has  arisen  Phoenix-like,  it  would  seem.  Ark  the 
second,  transcending  as  a  den  of  abominations  anvthinof  that 
tradition  has  to  relate  of  Ark  the  first.  On  Saturday  night  last, 
it  met  the  doom  of  its  ill-omened  progenitor,  was  razed  to  the 
ground  and  consumed  by  fire.  We  would  not  be  understood 
as  favoring  or  advocating  in  the  slightest  degree  the  adoption 
of  forcible  measures  by  lawless  assemblages.  It  is  altogether 
a  thing  to  be  deprecated  and  discountenanced  ;  but  there  cer- 
tainly is  a  difference  between  the  riotous  outbreaking-s  of  a 
turbulent  spirit,  impelling  to  promiscuous  outrage  and  violence, 
and  operations,  although  unsanctioned  by  law,  which  tend  to  a 
specific  purpose  at  least  imagined  good,  and  are  characterized 
in  the  process  by  as  much  order  and  regard  for  decorum  as 
marked  those  of  Saturday  evening.  We  think  that  in  justice 
to  the  character  of  our  town  this  destruction  in  the  case  before 
us  ought  to  be  made.  The  wanton  recklessness  and  profligacy 
which  gives  to  a  riotous  mob  its  most  hideous  features  was  not 
discernable  on  this  occasion.  Still  it  does  not  do  to  say  in  such 
an  affair  that  the  end  can  justify  the  means,  as  who  can  predict 
of  lawless  measures  what  the  end  shall  be.^  And  in  this  very 
instance,  \vhether  the  fire  w^as  applied  to  the  materials  of  which 
the  Ark  was  composed  by  the  hand  that  demolished  it  or  not, 
it  was  a  direct  and  immediate  consequence  of  the  act  of  de- 
molition, and  came  near  spreading  the  calamity  to  an  extent 
truly  appalling.  Nothing  but  the  favorable  state  of  the  wind 
and  the  admirable  management  of  the  firemen  prevented  a  con- 
flagration which  might  very  speedily  have  extended  itself  over 
a  good  part  of  the  village.  As  it  w^as,  houses  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  quiet,  peaceful  citizens,  who  could  ill  afford  to  sustain 
the  loss,  were  most  unfortunately  included  in  its  ravaofes. 
Here,  then,  is  a  solemn  warning  against  all  attempts  at  correct- 
ing abuses  by  violent  and  lawless  means  ;  and  as  such  it  ought 
to  be  seriously  regarded.  The  truth  undoubtedly  is  that  the 
early  and  efficacious  application  of  the  arm  of  the  civil  author- 
ity to  abate  the  nuisance  would  have  obviated  all  the  evils  of 
which  it  has  been  so  fruitful  a  source.     We  are  glad   to  learn 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT.  33 

that  energetic  measures  are  now  In  train  for  the  suppression  of 
other  establishments  of  a  like  odious  and  demoralizing  descrip- 
tion. As  with  other  maritime  places,  there  is  a  degraded 
class  of  population  brought  within  our  borders,  which  can  only 
be  kept  within  the  bounds  of  decency  by  vigorous  police  regu- 
lations. As  the  navigation  of  the  port  increases,  the  necessity 
for  such  regulations  becomes  the  more  apparent,  and  we  have 
not  the  least  doubt  but  that,  perceiving  the  need,  there  will  be 
found  both  the  disposition  and  ability  in  those  unto  whom  it 
legally  appertains  to  second  the  general  wish  by  adopting  ade- 
quate measures  of  prevention  in  a  matter  of  such  growing  im- 
portance to  the  community." 

The  Howard  House,  on  North  Second  Street,  was  soon 
marked  as  a  victim  by  the  riotous  elements.  It  bore  a  reputa- 
tion similar  to  the  Arks.  Mr.  Benjamin  Rodman,  one  of  the 
selectmen,  hearing  of  the  proposed  raid,  notified  the  people, 
and  when  the  mob  came  to  do  their  work  they  were  informed 
in  a  speech  made  by  Mr.  Rodman  that  the  house  was  vacated. 
They  saluted  him  with  three  heartv  cheers.  ''There  are 
eleven  of  us,"  they  said  as  they  vanished  in  the  darkness. 
What  the  significance  of  this  saying  was  is  unknown.  I  am 
indebted  to  Mr.  Thomas  R.  Rodman  for  this  incident. 

On  June  30^  1830,  a  town  meeting  was  held  to  "  see  if  the 
town  will  take  into  consideration  the  expediency  of  adopting 
measures  to  prevent  the  further  destruction  of  property  by 
riotous  assemblages,  and  also  to  see  if  the  town  will  think  it 
proper  to  take  any  further  measures  to  secure  the  safety  of  the 
town,  in  consequence  of  the  recent  b^n-nings  of  dwelling  houses 
in  the  vicinity,  agreeable  to  petition  of  J.  A.  Parker  and  ten 
others."  Samuel  Rodman,  Jos.  Ricketson,  D.  Davenport, 
John  Howland,  Jr.,  Nathan  Hathaway,  James  B.  Congdon, 
Timothy  I.  Dyer,  Benjamin  Rodman,  Seth  Russell  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  take  into  consideration  the  subject 
proposed. 

The  committee  made  report:   "  Your  committee   are   of  the 
opinion    that    it  is  highly  necessary  that   measures    should  be 


34  HISTORY    OF    THE 

taken  by  the  town  in  its  corporate  capacity  to  indicate  its  deejD 
reprobation  and  abhorrence  of  the  riotous  proceedings  and 
their  attendant  crimes,  which  have  recently  taken  place  in  this 
vicinity.  Your  committee  believe  that  a  direct  participation 
in  said  unlawful  acts  was  confined  to  a  comparatively  small 
number  of  persons,  but  that  these  were  countenanced  and  en- 
couraged by  a  much  greater  number  of  the  young,  ignorant  and 
the  thoughtless  who  w^ere  present,  and  who  perhaps  supposed 
they  had  an  apology  for  their  unwarrantable  forbearance  in 
omitting  to  suppress  the  disturbance  in  the  degraded  character 
of  its  victims,  which  cut  them  oft'  from  general  sympathy. 
These  and  all  others  ought  to  know  that  the  institution  of 
civil  government  is  designed  to  protect  every  individual  in  his 
rights,  and  especially  to  guard  the  weak  and  defenceless  against 
the  aggressions  of  the  unprincipled  and  the  strong.  To  the 
culprit  even  it  guarantees  by  scrupulous  formalities  an  im- 
partial investigation  of  the  charges  alleged  against  him  before 
it  visits  upon  him  the  penalty  afiixed  to  his  crime.  Subversive 
then  of  all  order,  of  all  safety  of  projDerty  and  life,  not  only  to 
the  class  which  have  novs^  been  the  sufferers,  but  to  all,  in  the 
spirit  of  aggression  and  crime,  which  marks  the  late  proceed- 
ings ;  and  while  they  stamp  the  perpetrators  as  criminals  of  a 
flagrant  character,  on  whom  if  convicted  the  law^  would  visit 
its  heaviest  penalties,  all  who  encourage  them  by  their  presence 
or  otherwise  are  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor  against  the  peace 
and  good  order  of  society,  which  admits  of  but  slight  extenu- 
uation  from  the  plea  of  ignorance  or  levity.  To  guard  the  fu- 
ture against  a  repetition  of  such  atrocious  scenes  as  have  on 
this  and  other  occasions  disgraced  our  town  and  vicinity, 
the  resolution  appended  to  this  report  is  herewith  respectfully 
submitted  to  the  consideration  of  the  town." 


Voted,  To  accept  said  report  with  the  resolution  appended  ;  to    wit  • 

Voted,  That  a  large  committee  be  appointed,   to  consist  of  person s 

resident  in  the  different  sections  of  the  town,  which  committee  shall  be 

called  "The  Committee  of  Vigilance  ;''  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 

committee  to  communicate  to  the  selectmen  any  information  which  may 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 


35 


come  to  their  knowledge  of  any  design  on  the  part  of  evil  disposed 
persons  to  injure  or  destroy  the  property  of  any  citizen,  and  to  be  in 
readiness  promptly  to  act,  under  the  direction  of  the  municipal  author- 
ities, to  prevent  any  threatened  outrage  ;  and  it  shall  be  the  further 
duty  of  the  committee  to  communicate  to  the  selectmen  any  informa- 
tion of  which  the  may  become  possessed,  which  may  render  increased 
vigilance  necessary  in  order  to  secure  the  safety  of  the  town. 


SAMUEL   RODMAN. 

(  One  of  the  founders  of  the  Protecting  Society.) 


36 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


The  following  were  chosen  a  committee  of  vigilance  : 


William  H.  Allen, 
James  Arnold, 
Ivory  H.  Bartlett, 
Joseph  Brownell, 
Paul  Barney, 
Joshua  Barker, 
Thomas  B.  Bush, 
John  Coggeshall, 
E.  N.  Chaddock, 
Oliver  Crocker, 
T.  G.  Coffin, 
Peleg  Clarke, 
Ichabod  Clapp, 
Zacheus  Cushman, 
Thomas  Cook, 
James  B.  Congdon, 
Latham  Cross, 
Charles  Grinnell, 
Edmund  Gardner, 
Benj.  Gage, 
Cornelius  Grinnell,  Jr., 
Moses  Gibbs, 
Hallett  Gifford, 
William  Gordon,  Jr., 
Ephraim  Kempton, 
Manasseh  Kempton, 
Robt.  Luscomb, 
E.  S.  Kempton, 
Warren  Maxfield, 
Stephen  Merrihew, 
Chas.  W.  Morgan, 
Howard  Nichols, 
Thos.  Pope, 
J.  A.  Parker, 
Nat.  Perry, 
C.  M.  Pierce, 
David  Pierce, 
Joseph  Ricketson, 
Thomas  Riddell, 
Jireh  Perry, 

Anthony  B.  Richmond, 
Mark  B'.  Palmer, 
George  Randall, 
Samuel  Rodman, 
W.  T.  Russell, 
Williams  Reed, 
Wing  Russell, 


Billings  Corey, 
Robt.  Hillman, 
Zach.  Hillman, 
Isaac  Hathaway, 
Nathaniel  Hathaway, 
Jas.  H.  Howland,  2d, 
Eli  Haskell, 
Cornelius  S.  Howland, 
George  Howland, 
Ichabod  Handy, 
T.  I.  Dyer, 
Elisha  Dunbar, 
D.  Davenport, 
Paul  Ewef, 
Alfred  Gibbs, 
Allerton  Delano, 
Abraham  Gifford, 
Alfred  Woddell, 
Robert  S.  Smith, 
Pardon  Tillinghast, 
James  D.  Thompson, 
Charles  H.  Warren, 
George  Tyson, 
Phineas  Burgess, 
Gamaliel  Taber, 
Richard  Williams, 
John  P.  West, 
Lemuel  Williams, 
Jonathan  R.  Ward, 
Leonard  Macomber, 
Bezaleel  Washburne, 
Comfort  Whiting, 
Bethuel  Penniman, 
John  Woddell, 
Dennis  Wood, 
David  R.  Greene, 
Seth  Russell, 
Marshall  Waldron, 
James  Wheaton, 
James  Moores, 
Martin  Pierce, 
Allen  Potter, 
William  P.  Grinnell, 
Frederick  Reed, 
Andrew  Robeson, 
William  Phillips, 
Frederick  Parker, 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT.  37 

Richard  Luscomb,  William  R.  West, 

Gideon  T.  Sawyer,  Alex.  H.  Campbell, 

Warren  Mosher,  Benjamin  Rodman, 
William  W.  Swain,  no  men. 

Voted,  That  it  shall  be  considered  by  said  committee  as  a  special 
part  of  their  duty  to  detect  any  individuals  who  have  been  connected, 
directly  or  indirectly,  with  the  late  outrages,  and,  if  such  disgraceful 
scenes  shall  be  repeated,  that  the  committee  shall  leave  no  means  un- 
tried to  enforce  upon  the  criminals  the  penalty  of  the  law. 

A  reward  of  $500  was  offered  for  conviction. 

KILLEY  ELDREDGE,  Town  Clerk. 

This  vigilance  committee,  organized  for  the  specific  object  of 
protecting  the  town  from  mob  violence,  was  the  parent  organiza- 
tion of  our  present  efficient  Protecting  Society,  which  has  had 
an  uninterrupted  career  of  sixty  years,  and  is  the  oldest  part  of 
the  Fire  Department.  It  Is  a  misfortune  that  the  early  records 
cannot  be  found,  for  no  doubt  they  would  reveal  much  that  Is 
interesting,  as  this  organization  has  always  been  one  of  the 
most  important  branches  of  the  fire  ser\"ice. 


EDMUND  GARDNER. 
(  Chief  of  the  Board  of  Firewards,  1830.) 

CHAPTER    IV. 


ROM  1S30  to  1835   the  following  citizens   served  on  the 
board  of  firewards  : 


1 


Edmund  Gardner, 
Stephen  Alerrihew, 
Obed  Nye, 
Silas  Stetson, 
Jethro  Hillman, 
Joseph  Dunbar, 
Philip  T.  Davis, 
George  Tyson, 
Wing  Russell,  j 

Charles  Coggeshall,  j 


}>i830. 


1 


^1831, 


E.  N.  Chadwick,  1832. 
Bethuel  Penniman,  1833 
Thomas  S.  Hathaway, 
David  R.  Greene, 
Thomas  Mandell, 
Jonathan  R.  Ward,       )>  1834. 
Charles  Covill, 
James  B.  Congdon, 
James  D.  Thompson,  j 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT.  39 

On  July  2!^th,  1S30,  occurred  what  may  properly  be  termed 
"  the  second  great  fire."  I  present  the  account  as  vividly  por- 
trayed in  the  New  Bedford  Mercury : 

"  On  Sunday  morning  last  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  were  alarmed 
by  the  cry  of  fire,  which  proved  to  be  the  dwelling  house  of  William 
H.  Allen  (now  southeast  corner  of  School  and  Seventh  streets)  and 
owing  to  the  combustible  material,  after  a  long  spell  of  dry  weather, 
and  the  citizens  being  collected  in  the  several  churches  at  distant 
points,  before  effective  aid  could  be  obtained  the  whole  building  was 
enveloped  in  flames.  The  dwelling  house  of  Mr.  Gideon  Allen  adjoin- 
ing was  almost  immediately  on  fire  and  entirely  consumed.  As  the 
wind  was  strong  from  the  west  and  the  position  elev'ated,  cinders  were 
wafted  from  the  burning  mass  in  great  quantities,  threatening  destruction 
to  all  wuthin  their  range.  The  large  carpenter's  shop  of  Dudley  Daven- 
port, as  also  a  boat  builder's  shop  belonging  to  Mr.  Jethro  Cofiin,  both 
considerably  removed  from  where  the  fire  originated,  the  latter  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  at  least,  were  set  on  fire  by  these  floating  flakes  of 
fire  and  consumed  to  the  earth  with  the  rapidity  of  magic. 

"  For  a  time  the  aspect  of  affairs  was  truly  appalling.  Several  build- 
ings narrowly  escaped,  which  in  their  destruction  would  necessarily 
have  involved  a  widely  spread  conflagration.  But  through  the  untir- 
ing and  judicious  efforts  of  the  fire  department  and  the  citizens  gener- 
ally, the  further  progress  of  the  devouring  element  was  happily  arrested. 
The  loss  of  property  is  very  considerable,  and  it  has  fallen  upon  citi- 
zens eminently  distinguished  for  worth  and  enterprise.  Besides  the 
above  enumerated,  a  barn  belonging  to  Tilson  B.  Denham,  and  a  quan- 
tity of  oil  owned  by  Abraham  Barker,  Esq.,  in  the  cellar  of  Mr. 
Davenport's  shop  were  consumed,  the  latter  insured.  Mr.  Davenport's 
loss  is  estimated  at  not  less  than  $10,000,  being  perhaps  one-half  of  the 
whole  amount  sustained. 

"The  efficacy  of  the  newly  organized  Protecting  Society  was  very 
strikingly  shown  on  this  occasion.  Much  property  was  rescued  from 
destruction  and  much  preserved  from  injury  through  the  well  directed 
exertions  of  this  association.  It  was  an  occasion  which  loudly  called  for 
the  best  efforts  of  every  one  ;  and  to  the  backward  in  exertion,  if  such 
there  were,  the  conduct  of  the  softer  sex  (ladies  were  actually  seen 
passing  w^ater  and  furnishing  refreshments  to  the  exhausted  firemen) 
must  have  proved  an  effectual  monition? 

"There  is  no  doubt  that  this  fire  was  occasioned  by  a  lad's  inadver- 
tently dropping  coals  from  a  shovel.  This  should  be  a  caution  to 
every  one  to  provide  them.selves  with  a  covered  shovel  made  for  the  pur- 
pose of  carrying  fire,  which  may  be  had  at  a  small  expense,  and  is  per- 
fectly secure. 

"We  have  heard  the  interminable  ringing  of  bells  in  cases  of  fire  justly 
complained  of.  After  the  alarm  is  effectually  given,  surely  no  possible 
advantage  can  result  from  keeping  up  a  ringing  for  hours,  and  it  may  be 
seriously  injurious  to  the  sick  as  well  as  annoying  to  near  dwellers." 


40  HISTORY    OF    THE 

This  criticism  reminds  me  of  a  stor}'  told  me  bv  Mr.  William 
G.  Baker,  of  a  gentleman  visiting  this  town,  who,  hearing  the 
fierce  ringing  of  the  bells,  rnshed  into  the  street,  and  seeing  the 
people  running  quietly  in  one  direction  (for  it  was  the  prevail- 
ing custom  to  depend  on  the  clanging  bells,  rather  than  on  the 
boisterous  cr}^  of  fire)  was  led  to  inquire  of  a  passer-bv,  what 
w^as  the  inatter. 

"  A  fire,"  was  the  response. 

"A  fire.^  A  fire?  My  dear  sir,  do  they  have  private  fires 
in  this  town.?"  The  fact  that  he  heard  no  voices  crving  fire 
led  the  stranger  to  ask  this  question. 

At  this  fire,  at  the  Allen  house,  one  citizen,  anxious  to  do 
what  he  could  to  save  property,  rushed  up  stairs  eagerly  and 
seized  a  chair,  but  seeing  a  table  of  more  value,  dropped  the 
first,  took  up  the  second,  changed  that  for  another  article,  and 
so  on,  till  he  actually  came  out  of  the  house  empty  handed. 
Mr.  Frederick  S.  Allen  told  me  this  storv  of  himself. 

In  I  S3 3  several  reservoirs  were  built,  and  in  1S33-4,  the 
Purchase  street  engine  house  v^^as  erected. 

In  1833,  Perrv  Russell's  Prussian-blue  works,  then  located 
on  the  northwest  corner  of  William  and  Sixth  streets,  took  fire 
in  the  night  and  burned  to  the  ground.  The  house  re- 
cently torn  down  by  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  was  in  great  danger,  and 
would  have  been  consumed  but  for  the  vigorous  eftbrts  of  the 
firemen.  One  of  these,  Capt.  Humphrey  W.  Seabury,  helped 
drag  one  of  the  engines  into  the  yard,  and,  finding  the  well  had 
given  out,  took  the  contents  of  one  of  the  vats  to  supply  the 
engine.  The  owner  of  the  house  had  the  satisfaction  next 
morning  of  seeing  his  house  saved  from  the  flames,  and  of 
finding  it  blossomed  out  with  a  ne\v  color — a  beautiful  blue. 
His  feelinofs  were  somevs^hat  of  the  same  shade  ^vhen  he  saw 
how  hastily  and  freely  it  had  been  applied. 

On  Wednesday,  Nov.  9,  1S34,  occurred  a  destructive  fire,  an 
account  of  which  I  take  from  the  ^lerciiry : 


XEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT.  4I 

"  Yesterday  morning  at  an  early  hour  a  fire  broke  out  in  the  build- 
ing on  Water  street  partly  owned  (and  occupied  on  the  lower  floor)  by 
James  Wady,  as  a  boot  and  shoe  store.  The  fire  had  previously  made 
such  progress  that  the  building  was  almost  immediately  enveloped  in 
flames,  and  notwithstanding  that  our  firemen  and  citizens  repaired  to 
the  spot  with  accustomed  alacrity,  their  elTorts  to  subdue  it  proved  una- 
vailing until  after  several  buildings  in  the  vicinity  were  entirely  con- 
sumed. A  violent  gale  from  the  east  prevailed  at  the  time,  and  such 
was  the  power  to  accelerate  and  extend  the  flames  that  the  scene  pre- 
sented at  one  time  was  truly  appalling.  Fortunately  a  rain  during  the 
night  assisted  to  prevent  the  destruction  which  would  otherwise  have 
inevitably  ensued. 

"  The  following  is  an  enumeration  of  the  buildings  destroyed:  On 
Water  street  (west  side)  a  valuable  dwelling  house,  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  Capt.  William  Blackmer. 

"A  two  story  building  adjoining  on  the  south,  also  owned  by  Capt. 
Blackmer,  and  occupied  as  a  millinery  on  the  lower  floor,  and  by  a 
family  in  the  chambers. 

"A  three  story  building  also  adjoining  on  the  north,  owned  by  Capt. 
Isaac  Vincent  and  occupied  as  a  dwelling  by  several  families,  and  in  the 
basement  as  a  victualling  establishment  by  James  Carver. 

"On  the  east  side,  the  shop  of  James  Wady,  with  a  stock  in  trade 
valued  at  about  $7000,  and  heavy  outstanding  accounts. 

"  A  building  owned  by  J.  &  J.  Howland  and  occupied  as  a  bakery  by 
Messrs.  Sayer  &  Dunham. 

"  A  building  owned  by  John  Easton  and  occupied  by  him  as  a  store 
house  for  casks,  etc. 

"A  building  owned  by  Mr.  Thomas  Howland  and  improved  as  a 
dwelling  house. 

"On  First  street  (in  the  rear  of  Mr.  Vincent's  building)  a  dwelling 
house,  owned  and  occupied  by  Capt.  Eph.  Hathaway. 

"  Two  small  tenements  owned  by  Mr.  Richard  Johnson,  and  occu- 
pied by  families ;  and  also  another  building  occupied  as  a  dwelling 
house. 

"We  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  with  correctness  the  amount  of 
property  destroyed.  It  cannot,  however,  be  estimated  at  less  than 
$20,000.  Insurance  on  a  part  of  the  property  had  been  effected  as  fol- 
lows :  At  the  Bristol  Co.  Mutual  Ins.  Co.,  by  Capt.  Blackmer,  on 
dwelling  house,  $2700;  Joseph  Wady,  on  building,  $1100;  J.&J. 
Howland,  on  bakehouse,  $2100 ;  at  Manufacturer's  office,  Boston,  by 
James  Wady,  on  stock,  $2000;  Isaac  Vincent,  on  building,  $2000;  W. 
Blackmer,  on  furniture,  $1000;  Thomas  Howland,  on  building,  $600. 
None  of  the  properties  were  fully  insured  and  the  loss  by  several  of 
the  sufferers  will  be  felt  with  severity.  To  such  we  hope  the  benevo- 
lence of  our  citizens  will  be  cheerfully  extended. 

Some  ditBcLilty  was  experienced  in  removing  a  piano  from 
one  of  the  burning  houses.  The  problem  was  solved  by  saw- 
ing oft' the  legs  in  order  to  more  easily^  get  tlie   piano   through 


42  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  door  and  down  the  stairway.     It   did   not   occur  to   these 
enthusiastic  firemen  that  the  legs  could  be  unscrewed. 

From  1835  to  1843  the  following  citizens  served  the  fire  de- 
partment as  firewards : 

Andrew  Robeson,  Thomas  Mandell, 

C.  W.  Morgan,  Stephen  Merrihew, 

William  H.  Taylor,  James  D.  Thompson, 

James  B.  Congtlon,  Edward  Gardner, 

William  W.  Swain,  E.  N.  Chaddock, 

Dudley  Davenport,  Thomas  S.  Hathaway, 

David  R.  Green,  Alex  H.  Campbell, 

Geo.  Howland,  Jr.,  Jeremiah  G.  Harris, 

John  Baylies,  Sampson  Perkins, 

Peleg  Butts. 

1836. 
William  Phillips,  Henry  H.  Crapo, 

Joseph  Grinnell. 

1837. 
Calvin  Staples,  George  B.  Worth, 

Abraham  H.  Howland. 

1838. 
James  Durfee. 

1839. 
Shubael  H.  Gilford,  Z.  Hillman, 

A.  D.  Richmond. 

1840. 
Timothy  G.  Coffin. 

1841. 
Edward  Merrill,  Matthew  Luce, 

Samuel  W^atson. 

1842. 
Jonathan  Smith,  William  Durfee, 

Thomas  M.  Bush,  Gamaliel  Taber, 

Slocum  Allen. 

1843. 
William  W.  Jenney. 

Philadelphia,  No.  7,  was  ordered  by  the  selectmen  Dec.  17, 
1833,  and  Mr.  William  Durfee  was  sent  to  Philadelphia  to 
make  the  contract,  the  selectmen  deeming  his   experience  and 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


43 


advice  very  important.  Through  him  a  contract  was  made 
with  Messrs.  Merrick  &  Agnew,  and  in  March,  1S34,  ^^^^  ^^''^~ 
chine  was  received.  It  was  built  of  mahogany,  double  cham- 
ber, 6^-  inch  diameter,  patent  pumps,  constructed  on  the  lifting 
and  forcing  principle,  well  equipped  with  pipes,  nozzles  and 
suction  hose,  at  a  cost  of  $750.  The  new  engine  was  sta- 
tioned on  Fourlh  street,  and  the  company  formerly  attached  to 
Independence,  No.  i,  took  charge  of  it,  while  the  latter  engine, 
after  being  repaired,  was  held  as  a  reserve. 
The  first  companv  on  record  is  for  1835  : 


Foreman, 

E.  L.  Goddard, 
W.  H.  Stowell, 
Alex.  Wall, 
William  Wilkins, 
John  Parkhurst, 
Peter  Brownell, 

F.  W.  Russell, 
Nathan  Norcross, 
Henry  Mills, 

M.  E'.  Bartlett, 
William  H.  Jenney, 
I.  C.  Parmenter, 
Benjamin  Irish, 
M.  G.  Sears, 

G.  W.  Church, 
William  H.  Pratt, 
William  Gushing, 
F.  S.  Dole, 
William  M.  Allen, 
Joseph  L.  Burrows, 
William  C.  Taber, 
George  C.  Coffin, 
H.  H.  Sowle, 
John  A.  Lewis, 
Paul  Ewer, 
Elisha  Jennings, 
Channing  Russell, 
James  Munroe, 

B.  S.  Perkins, 


Samuel  Watson. 


William  Cannon, 
John  H.  Watson, 
Luther  Simmons, 
George  Raymond, 
Thomas  Nelson, 
W.  H.  Manchester, 
T.  R.  Ricketson, 
Charles  Hitch, 
Clement  Webster, 
William  Hall, 
James  Dunnell, 
George  W.  Chaplin, 
Edward  S.  Cannon, 
Daniel  Pert, 
James  L.  Barrows, 
Robert  Luscomb,  Jr., 
Seth  Martin, 
Tilson  Wood, 
Joseph  Devol, 
Seabury  Pierce, 
Philip  Bailey, 
James  H.  Perkins, 
William  Wrightington, 
George  Wilson, 
Ellery  Remington, 
Nathaniel  Shepherd, 
Hezekiah  Coleman, 
William  B.  Russell, 
David  B.  Wilcox. 


An  act  to  establish  a  fire  department  in  the  town  of  New 
Bedford  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  on  Jan.  30th,  1834.  It 
was  perhaps  the  first  formal  organization,  and  though  it  seems 


44 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


simple  in  form  and  of  limited  scope,  in  the  light  of  the  present 
thoroughness  of  system,  it  \vas  a  great  advance  from  the  chaotic 
condition  of  previous  years.  The  governing  power  was  vested 
in  the  board  of  firew^ards,  who  elected  three  engineers.  This 
board  consisted  of  eighteen  members,  wnth  full  power  to  ap- 
point engine  men,  to  control  apparatus,  to  establish  rules  as  to 
carrying  of  fire,  fire  brands,  lights,  matches,  etc.  To  be  chos- 
en a  member  of  this  board  was  deemed  a  great  honor,  and 
the  long  list  of  distinguished  names  that  appear  from  time 
to  time  emphasizes  this  statement.  Confident  that  the  list  ol 
the  entire  department  at  this  stage  of  its  history  will  be  in- 
teresting, I  present  it  in  full  : 


-'- 

^  ^^ 

4 

■^ 

^^ 

A 

'■  ■ 

^m 

■ 

Ih 

■  J 

Hlk 

f^fJUXriffSjaUf'UlS-' 


liisnt'i^  t".>''fi,s^^ti4'*iff'^Ji(if"'« 


JOHN    AVERY  PARKER.     (Chief  Engineer,  1834.) 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


45 


Engineers- 


-John  A.  Parker,  Andrew  Robeson,  Stephen  Merrihew. 


James  Arnold, 
William  W.  Swain, 
Edmund  Gardner, 
Thomas  Alandell, 
Charles  W.  Morgan, 
Timothy  G.  Coffin, 
Ivory  H.  Bartlett, 
Dudley  Davenport, 

Clerk  of  Board, 


William  H.  Taylor, 
Ebenezer  N.  Chaddock, 
Thomas  S.  Hathaway, 
David  R.  Greene, 
Jonathan  R.  W^ard, 
Charles  Covell, 
James  D.  Thompson, 
James  B.  Congdon. 

Killey  Eldredge. 


Independence,  No.  i. 


Captai 
Clerk, 

Charles  Sanford, 
Samuel  Watson, 
William  H.  Jenney, 
Nathan  Reed, 
Isaac  Bliss, 
Samuel  Ricketson, 
Aldred  C.  Briggs, 
Jonathan  Bourne,  Jr., 
William  Manchester, 
Benj.  T.  Ricketson, 
Asahel  Polly, 
Isaac  D.  Hall, 
Harvey  Mandell, 
E.  L.  Goddard, 
William  H.  Stowell, 
Freeman  Snow, 
Benjamin  Wilson, 
Henry  B.  Smith, 
Isaac  Irish, 
Nathan  Northrop, 
Charles  Evans, 
William  H.  Holmes, 
Elisha  D.  Bearse, 
Benjamin  C.  Watson, 


n,  Charles  H affords. 
Joshua  Richmond. 

John  H.  Watson, 
William  H.  Hills, 
Charles  Hitch, 
Thomas  Jouvette, 
Shubael  Coffin, 
Sylvanus  G.  Nye, 
James  H.  Cook, 
Henry  Mills, 
Walter  D.  Swan, 
Horatio  Bly, 
Richard  Rau, 
Reuben  Nye, 
William  Howland, 
James  H.  Perkins, 
John  Parkhurst, 
James  L.  Barrows, 
Henry  Bonney, 
Thomas  Tobey, 
William  Pope, 
Alexander  Wade, 
Asa  Gififord, 
Samuel  C.  Bishop, 
Avory  T.  Harris, 
-^  Benjamin  Irish. 


Citizen,  No.  2. 

Captain,  Anthony  D.  Richmond. 
Cleik,  Edward  Munroe. 

Edward  Cannon,  W.  A.  Munroe, 

Peleg  Butts,  A.  S.  Davis, 

Edward  P.  Freeman,  A.  L.  Luce, 

Philip  Groves,  W.  B.  Taber, 

Alonzo  Cory,  D.  E.  Payson, 


David  Weaver, 


Isaac  C.  Taber, 


46 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


James  H.  Tallman, 
John  Wood, 
William  Watkins, 
W.  B.  Thurston, 
Marshall  Gilbert, 
William  Tucker,  Jr., 
George  F.  Barker, 
James  M.  Staples, 
Charles  S.  Macomber, 
Seth  K.  Aikin, 
Edward  S.  Wilcox, 
Francis  M.  Taylor, 
J.  B.  King, 
P.  Haskins, 
Paul  Ewer, 
Nicholas  Davis, 
James  Simmons,  Jr., 
Joseph  Seabury, 
John  H.  Thompson, 
Samuel  Bonney, 
Josiah  S.  Bonney, 
Albert  D.  Hatch', 
George  Love, 
Daniel  S.  Cobb, 
S.  E.  Nye. 

Engine  No.  3    (Head-of-the-River). 

Captain,  Shubael  H.  GiiTord. 
Clerk,  Jireh  Swift,  Jr. 

Philip  T.  Davis,  William  Spooner,  Jr., 

Isaiah  Parlow,  Erastus  Merrick, 

Thaddeus  M.  Perry,  Obed  Nye, 

B.  Harlow,  Isaac  Ten-y, 

Thomas  P.  Terry,  Obed  Gifford, 

Samuel  Spooner,  R.  B.  Smith, 

Mark  Snow,  Levi  Hawes, 

James  Spooner,  Silas  Stetson. 

Phcenix,  No.  4. 


Henry  Walker, 
Arphaxed  Simmons, 
John  W.  Folger, 
Geo.  W.  Bos  worth, 
Thomas  R.  Robinson, 
Joseph  M.  Shiverick, 
Albert  Tobey, 
Edward  Howland, 
Andrew  G.  Hayes, 
George  Perry, 
A.  S.  Cleaveland, 
Ichabod  S.  Holmes, 
James  Dole, 
William  D.  Burgess, 
Sampson  Shearman, 
A.  B.  Brownell, 
Henry  C.  Kelley, 
Gordon  A.  Cannon, 
William  Coffin,  Jr., 
John  Coffin, 
Willard  Nve, 
I.  H.  Cheeney, 
George  Macomber, 
Peleg  Hall, 
W.  B.  Burdick, 


Captain,  Slocum 
Clerk,  Benjamin 

John  B.  Taber, 
Benjamin  Lindsey, 
W.  A.  Cranston, 
Alfred  Woddell, 
Zephaniah  Pease, 
Franklin  Tobey, 
Samuel  Southgate, 
Allen  Case, 


Allen. 

T.  Congdon. 

Perry  Brownell, 
James  Brown, 
Robert  C.  Topham, 
Richard  Williams,  Jr. 
Francis  Hart, 
Benjamin  Swain, 
James  L.  Butler, 
Zephaniah  S.  Butler, 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


47 


Alanson  Williston, 
Arnold  Carr, 
T.  Howland, 
Edmund  Woddell, 
Samuel  E.  King, 
Charles  D.  Capen, 
Simpson  Hart, 
William  F.  Bryant, 


Wright  Brownell. 

Columbian,  No.  5. 

Captain,  Zachariah  Hillman. 
Clerk,  Luther  G.  Hewins. 


Levi  N.  Goff, 
George  B.  Williams, 
Benjamin  Popple, 
Hiram  M.  Hammond, 
Abner  Durfee, 
David  S.  Bradlee, 
Andrew  J.  Bennett, 
Harvey  Josselyn, 


Thomas  R.  Bryant, 
Francis  Bowman, 
Joseph  Clark, 
Elisha  W.  Kempton, 
John  Wrightington, 
W'illiam  C.  Cannon, 
James  Foster, 
Silas  Swift, 
Peleg  Potter, 
Job  Bryant, 
Ezra  Dyre, 
Josiah  Johnson, 
Joseph  R.  Dunham, 
Isaac  M.  Richardson, 
John  S.  Chadwick, 
John  D.  Handy, 
Benjamin  F.  Spooner, 
Merritt  Bates, 
Ebenezer  Tirrell, 
Humphrey  Shaw, 
James  L.  Martin, 
Enoch  Burroughs, 
Jonathan  Smith, 
Dennis  Smith, 
Ellery  Willcox, 
Leander  H.  Taber, 
Samuel  Damon, 
Benjamin  B.  Covell, 
Pardon  Potter,  Jr., 
Uriah  P.  Allen, 
Nathaniel  S.  Purrington, 
Nathaniel  Stetson, 
John  G.  Harden, 


Henry  Sanford, 
Fred  P.  Shaw, 
John  P.  Dunham, 
Perry  Cornell, 
Jonathan  D.  Howland, 
Edward  H.  Potter, 
Nathan  Cary, 
John  Bryant, 
Samuel  Simmons, 
Wilson  Drake, 
Hezekiah  Coleman, 
Braddock  D.  Hathaway, 
Henry  N.  Dean, 
Alden  G.  Snell, 
Arvin  Smith, 
Henry  Robinson, 
William  Dyre, 
Smith  Jenney, 
Ellery  Records, 
James  M.  Snow, 
Thomas  M.  Weaver, 
James  Davis, 
Franklin  Gifford, 
James  Drew, 
James  S.  Davis, 
James  Tripp, 
Charles  Parker, 
Henry  Trowbridge, 
Lewis  Farewell, 
Alonzo  Hill, 
William  Whitcomb, 
Isaiah  Potter, 
Alvin  Coleman, 


48 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Mechanic,  No.  6. 

Captain,  James  Durfee. 
Clerk,  Gamaliel  Taber. 


William  Durfee, 
O.  B.  Burgess, 
Stephen  Parker, 
Gifford  Taber, 
P.  B.  Brownell, 
Wing  Russell, 
Ezra  K.  Delano, 
William  Bain, 
R.  H.  Gififord, 
Corbin  B.  Lucas, 
Anthony  Hathaway, 
Daniel  Pease, 
Job  Sisson,  Jr., 
Benjamin  Maxfield, 
J.  A.  Westcott, 
Allen  Taber, 
W.  L.  Edwards, 
Joseph  Allen,  Jr., 
Isaiah  Ellis, 
Otis  Manchester, 
Daniel  Wardsworth, 
S.  G.  Edwards, 
George  Ainslee, 
Anthony  Gardner, 
Micah  Eldred, 
John  Bailey, 
George  G.  Gifford, 
Jona.  Devoll, 
Henry  K.  Davis, 
William  G.  White, 
Otis  N.  Pierce, 
Geo.  W.  Gushing, 


W.  H.  Burgess. 


Protecting  Society. 

Captain,  George  Randall. 
Secretary,  John  R.  Thornton. 


Michael  Hathaway,  2d, 
Ambrose  Vincent, 
W.  H.  Seabury, 

C.  C.  P.  Tobey, 
James  Davis, 
W.  Francis,  Jr., 
John  E.  Cornall, 
Alden  Braley, 
Hillard  Sawver, 

D.  M.  Baker, 

0.  G.  Pierce, 
Caleb  L.  Ellis, 
Joseph  H.  Wade, 
Levi  Nye, 

Benj.  Thompson, 
W.  H.  Shaw, 
Benj.  C.  Watson, 
Charles  AL  Pierce, 
Joseph  Hicks, 
Isaac  Kempton, 
Othniel  Moulton, 
John  Whitford, 
Lemuel  T.  Pope, 
C.  A.  Davis, 
John  M.  Taber, 
A.  W.  Wlnslow, 
Leonard  Taber, 
Hervey  B.  Keene, 
C.  C.  Munroe, 

1.  B.  King, 
Timothy  Weston, 
William  Noyes, 


James  Cannon, 
W.  T.  Hawes, 
Zach.  Cushman, 
Joseph  H.  Allen, 
Robert  Bennett, 
Alfred  Gibbs, 
Thomas  Nickerson, 
Wm.  Howe, 


Timothy  Ingraham, 
Robert  Gibbs, 
Asa  Wood, 
Lemuel  Kollock, 
David  Silvester, 
Mark  B.  Palmer, 
Benj.  Russell, 
Samuel  Little, 


NEW    BEDFOIil)    FIRE     DEPARTMENT.  49 

Thomas  Cook,  Simeon  Bailey. 

Henry  P.  Willis,  Jacob  Parker, 

Francis  Taber,  Jr.,  Caleb  S.  Tobey, 

W.  T.  Cook,  Geo.  Russell, 

B.  Thompson,  Jr.,  William  Knights, 

W.  A.  Wall,  Stephen  Potter,  2d, 

B.  D.  Almy,  Jona.  P\iller, 

Oliver  Swain,  Joseph  Taber, 

Wm.  Swift,  Alex.  H.  Campbell, 

Henry  Cannon,  James  H.  Howland, 

James  H.  Collins,  W.  R.  Taber, 

J.  H.  Crocker,  Wm.  Little, 

P.  Davenport,  Geo.  F.  Hussey, 

Geo.  G.  Randall,  Joshua  E.  Gage, 

Wing  Russell,  Dennis  Wood, 

L.  W.  Hawes. 

Hook  and  Ladder  Company. 

Robert  Tripp,  Afred  Leonard, 

A.  Tompkins,  John  Little, 

Henry  Dedrick,  Charles  P.  Maxfield, 

Timothy  D.  Cook. 

The  first  general  celebration  of  the  glorious  Fourth  of  July 
occurred  in  183^,  in  which  the  fire  department  appeared  for 
the  first  time  in  parade. 

The  Novelty,  No.  S,  was  built  by  Mr.  William  Durfee, 
and  purchased  by  the  town  March  33,  1835,  for  $450. 
It  was  furnished  with  rotary  pumps,  worked  like  the  cap- 
stan of  a  ship,  the  men  pushing  the  bars  having  a  jolly 
*'walk  around."  This  was  fine  exercise  on  a  cold  night,  but 
it  must  have  been  wearisome  in  the  warm  sinnmer  days.  This 
was  a  powerful  machine,  one  of  the  most  useful  in  its  day-. 
While  its  power  of  throwing  water  was  moderate,  its  drawing 
qualities  were  immense,  and  the  machine  was  often  used  to 
fiu'nish  the  water  for  the  other  engines. 

Whv  was  this  engine  called  the  "  Old  Cider  Mill.? "  Well, 
I  will  tell  y^ou  ;  and  in  explaining  why  this  undignified  name 
was  given,  1  must  again  allude  to  those  dreadful  Corsicans 
across  the  river,  for  to  them  belongs  the  credit.  Mr.  George 
G.  Giftbrd,  who  was  captain  at  the  time,  is  my  authority 
for  the  story-. 


50 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


One  night  a  fire  occurred  at  Oxford  village,  on  the  east  side 
of  the  main  road,  too  far  from  the  shore  for  the  Fairhaven 
engine  to  draw  water.  So  the  Novelty  was  placed  on  the 
river  bank  and  furnished  the  water  supply,  wdiile  the  Fairhaven 
engine  was  stationed  on  the  main  road,  near  the  conflagration. 


WILLIAM  DURFEE. 

(  Builder  of  Novelty,  No.  8.) 


Now  Capt.  G.  happened  to  hear  one  of  the  Oxford  firemen 
ask,  rather  contemptuously,,  "  What  thing  that  was  trving  to 
supply  water,  but  which  couldn't  '  run  her  over.' "  He  quietly 
walked  down  to  the   Novelty,  held   some   private   conversation 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 


51 


with  his  men,  and  strolled  leisurely  back.  Pretty  soon  the 
water  came  lively,  and  in  spite  of  all  eflbrts  their  engine  was 
deluged.  The  boys  were  in  sad  need  of  rubber  boots,  which 
thev  didn't  have,  and  so  to  keep  out  of  the  impromptu  river, 
thev  pulled  down  a  fence  and  built  a  platform  to  stand  upon. 


'A- 


GEORGE  G.  GIFFORD. 

(  Captain  of  Novelty,  No.  8.) 


Finalh",  one  more  curious  than  the  rest,  went  down  to  the 
river,  and  soon  returned  with  his  eyes  protruding  like  those  of 
a  lobster,  exclaiming,  "Good  gracious,  boys,  they've  got  an 
old  cider  mill  down  there  that's  doing  this  Inisiness."     And  so 


52  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ever  after  the  Novelty  was  known  bv  that  name,  which  was  a 
novelty  indeed,  only  paralleled  bv  the  name  given  to  the  Jolly 
Rope  Maker. 

In  1S37,  ^^^^  interest  of  the  citizens  began  to  wane,  and  the 
apathy  became  so  alarming  as  to  call  for  special  action  on  the 
part  of  the  fire  wards.  It  was  difficult  to  obtain  members 
enough  to  man  the  engines.  A  full  complement  of  the  fire 
department  called  for  490  men,  but  the  whole  number  enrolled 
was  but  200.  At  a  meeting  of  the  fire  wards,  April  15,  1837, 
it  was  voted  "  That  George  Rowland,  Jr.,  and  Thomas  Man- 
dell  be  a  committee  who  shall,  through  the  medium  of  the 
newspapers,  acquaint  the  public  with  the  present  alarming  de- 
ficiency in  the  number  of  men  attached  to  our  engines,  and 
with  the  necessitv  which  exists  that  immediate  and  vigforous 
measures  be  taken  to  fill  up  the  ranks  of  the  different  compan- 
ies, and  that  said  committee  be  instructed  to  accept  the  services 
of  any  of  the  citizens  who  mav  volunteer  their  aid,  in  the  pre- 
sent emergency,  until  the  results  of  the  efforts  for  filling  up  the 
ranks  of  the  companies  shall  have  been  determined.  William 
H.  Tavlor,  chairman:  Henry  H.  Crapo,  clerk,  Board  of  Fire- 
wards."  This  action  produced  good  effects,  and  the  rolls  for 
the  following  year  showed  a  marked  increase  of  membership  ; 
and  in  1S39  the  department  had  a  full  complement  of  men. 

In  1840  the  annual  report  of  the  board  of  firewards  speaks 
in  satisfactory  terms  of  its  condition.  At  this  time  there  were 
15  public  reservoirs  so  situated  as  to  be  available  in  whatever 
quarter  of  the  village  a  fire  might  break  out.  An  apparatus 
was  provided  for  using  powder  in  blowing  up  buildings,  should 
occasion  require. 

In  1 841  the  hook  and  ladder  company  had  dwindled  in  num- 
bers to  such  an  extent  as  to  compel  the  firewards  to  furnish 
horses  in  dragging  the  apparatus  to  a  fire.  The  ladders,  hooks, 
etc.,  were  so  large  and  unwieldly,  the  weight  of  the  loaded 
carriage  so  heavy,  that  it  made  the  boys  tired,  and  so  they  left. 
For  a  year  there  was  no  organized  company  for  the  hooks  and 
ladders.     This  was  but  a  foreshadowing   of  what    became   an 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT.  53 

alarming  condition  of  the  whole  department,  for  it  soon  be- 
came thoroughly  demoralized.  It  became  difficult  to  get  men 
to  hold  membership  in  anv  of  the  companies.  In  the  annual 
report  of  1841  this  was  the  statement  of  the  board  of  tirewatds  : 
"  That  the  New  Bedford  fire  department  as  at  present  organ- 
ized has  failed  to  accomplish  the  design  for  which  it  was 
established." 


CHAPTER   V. 

N  April,  1842,  the  fire  department  was  reorganized  with  a 
force  of  37S  men,  each  entitled  to  $10  a  year  for  his  ser- 
vices. This  plan  was  favorably  received  and  its  wisdom  was 
soon  manifest,  for  in  a  short  time  each  company  had  a  full 
roll. 


HENRY  H.   CRAPO. 

(  Clerk  of  Board  of  Firewards  from  1834  to  1847.) 


During  this  year  a  fire  occurred  on  Elm  street,  in  Ripley's 
barn.  A  funny  incident  happened  at  this  conflagration,  re- 
lated to  me  by  Rev.  vSamuel  Fox,  for  many  years  chaplain  at 
our  Seamen's  Bethel. 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  ^^ 

On  Elm  street,  just  above  Second  street,  and  on  the  southern 
side,  there  was  a  livery  stable,  a  low,  one-story  affair,  with  a 
shallow  mow  for  hay.  The  ha}'  in  the  mow  was  discovered 
to  be  on  fire  about  4  p.  m.  The  horses  were  safelv  got  out. 
The  flames  quickly  burned  through  the  roof  and  ignited  the 
walls  of  a  two-story  dwelling  house  that  stood  near  bv.  In 
the  lower  tenement  a  ladv  and  her  adult  dauofhter  were  entertain- 
ing  other  ladies  who  were  expected  to  stay  to  tea.  The  conver- 
sation had  turned  upon  cookery  and  various  dishes  had  been 
commented  on,  among  others  apple  pot-pie,  of  which  the  visit- 
ors expressed  themselves  remarkably  fond.  To  please  and  sur- 
prise them,  one  of  the  young  ladies  had  slipped  awav  to  the 
cellar  kitchen  and  commenced  the  preparation  of  the  pot-pie. 
With  wondrous  promptness  the  fire  department  subdued  the 
flames.  Order  measurably  restored,  ordinary  matters  again 
came  to  the  surface,  but  where  was  that  pot-pie.^  The 
concoctor  said  she  had  left  it  on  the  crane — it  was  the  old  fash- 
ioned fire-place.  Surely  no  one  would  take  it.  However, 
there  was  no  help  for  it.  Pot  and  pie  were  gone,  so  other  tea 
preparations  must  be  made.  Just  before  sitting  down  to  tea, 
there  was  a  knock  at  the  door.  The  damselwho  was  to  have 
cooked  the  favored  dish  answered  the  door  call,  and  there  stood 
a  man  with  the  pot  in  hand  who  calmly  said  :  ''Here  is  your 
pot-pie." 

''Why,  where  did  you  find  it?     What  does  this  mean  I" 

"My  dear  young  lady,"  was  the  reply,  "I  did  not  find  it; 
you  ran  into  the  street  with  it,  and  thrusting  it  into  my  hands, 
you  said  'For  pity's  sake,  Mr.  ,  take  care  of  that.'" 

The  mystery  was  solved,  but  doubtless  the  pie  was  spoiled. 

July  31,  a  scorching  fire  occurred  at  Alanson  Gammons' 
stable  on  Elm  street.  It  was  very  disastrous,  several  valuable 
horses  perishing  in  the  flames.  During  this  year  many  fires 
took  place,  and  the  condition  of  matters  became  so  alarming 
that  the  selectmen  increased  the  number  of  patrolling  watch- 
men and  issued  a  communication  to  the  board  of  firewards 
recommending  them  to  increase   the   number  of  fire   engines, 


56 


HISTORY    OF    TPIE 


etc.      It  received  their    imniediate  attention,    and   at   the  town 
meeting  $3000  w^as  appropriated. 

The  Philadelphia,  No.  7,  built  by  Messrs.  Merrick  &  Ag- 
new  had  proved  so  satisfactory  that  two  of  their  engines  were 
contracted  for,  and  in  1843  Hancock,  No.  9,  and  Franklin, 
No.  10,  were  received  and  placed  in  commission.  I  give  the 
roll  of  their  first  organizations  : 

Hancock,  No.  9. 

Foreman,  George  Perry. 
First  Assistant,  Daniel  B.  Croacher. 
Second  Assistant,  William  L.  Edwards. 
Clerk,  Arphaxed  Simmons. 


Arvin  Smith, 
Ansel  Landers, 
John  Wrightington, 
Rodolphus  Beetle, 
Stephen  D.  Haskins, 
Willard  Shaw, 
Allen  Case, 
Shubael  G.  Edwards, 
Hattil  Kelley, 
Lewis  Hathaway, 
James  C.  Tripp, 
Israel  F.  Bryant, 
John  C.  Taber, 
Peter  Peters, 
William  Bates,  2d, 
Wing  Spooner, 
Lazarus  Moulton, 
James  Drew, 
Thomas  Sowle, 
Asa  Gifford, 
Tillinghast  Tompkins, 
Nathaniel  S.  Purrington, 
Henry  A.  Purrington, 
Charles  Simmons, 
Corban  B.  Lucas, 
John  C.  Hervey, 
Caleb  T.  Jenney, 


Horatio  T.  Bly, 
Sam'l  McKenzie, 
Henry  M.  Smith, 
Joseph  Wing, 
Jabez  iM.  Pierce, 
P'rederick  P.  Howland, 
Levi  Salisbury, 
Henry  P.  Nye, 
David  B.  Kempton,  Jr. 
William  P.  Taylor, 
Joseph  Swift, 
Borden  Hathaw^ay, 
Edmund  A.  Tallman. 
William  M.  Gifford, 
Laban  P.  Chambers, 
William  Bly, 
Eli  Manchester, 
Davis  Landers, 
Hiram  Sherman, 
James  Marble, 
Nathaniel  Andrews, 
Sampson  Sherman, 
\\\  R.  Barker, 
Joseph  Sherman, 
Joseph  Wheaton, 
E.  L.  Foster, 
Robert  S.  Dodge, 


Nathan  Phinney. 

Franklin,  No.  10. 

Organized  in  Grove  School-house,  May  3,  1843. 

Foreman,  Tillson  Wood. 

First  Assistant,  Oliver  M.  Brownell. 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT.  57 

Second  assistant,  Alanson  Williston. 
Clerk,  Wanton  T.  Drew. 

Lorenzo  Pierce,  Sylvanus  Churchill, 

John  Pierce,  Jacob  Polly, 

Amos  Bosworth,  William  B.  Winslow, 
Charles  Grant,                              __      Bradford  G.  Hathaway, 
David  Nye,                                     '      Peter  Brotherson, 

Henry  F.  Davis,  George  M.  Mosher, 

Robert  C.  Topham,  L.  S.  Jennings, 

Seabury  Pierce,  Benjamin  Durfee, 

Albert  Reed,  Henry  M.  Allen, 

Samuel  Leonard,  Jr.,  David  Pierce, 

Oliver  Harding,  Benjamin  Popple, 

Franklin  Perry,  Abijah  Cook, 

Thomas  Albert,  George  Jennings, 

Henry  Parker,  John  Butts, 

Thomas  Murphy,  Alex.  Bliss, 

C.  D.  Hathaway,  Benj.  W.  Spooner, 

Caleb  Miller,  Gustavus  Delano, 

Solomon  Chadwick,  Hiram  Wheeler, 

Jeremiah  Crapo,  N.  S.  Booth, 

Thomas  Nve,  Charles  Briggs, 

William  Gibbs,  A.  C.  Wilbor, 

Elihu  Briggs,  Benjamin  Davis, 

Samuel  Fellows,  Robert  Sherman. 

Membership  in  these  companies  was  eagerly  sought,  and 
among  the  applicants  was  a  colored  man,  who  desired  very 
much  to  belonof  to  No.  lo.  So  much  did  he  w^ish  it  that  he 
offered  Mr. a  box  of  soap  if  he  would  secure  his  elec- 
tion. His  name  was  duly  proposed  and  he  was  elected. 
When  the  company  found  out  that  their  new  member  was  a 
colored  man  a  general  row  ensued,  and  it  was  made  very  un- 
comfortable for  Mr.  .  The  prejudice  against  the  col- 
ored people  in  those  days  was  very  strong,  socially,  notwith- 
standing the  reputation  of  our  cit\^  as  a  hot-bed  of  anti-slav^ery 
ideas.  Mr.  ,  finding  himself  responsible  for  such  a  com- 
motion, and  being  willing  to  make  some  sacrifice  in  the  mat- 
ter, waited  upon  the  colored  gentleman  and  offered  him  half  a 
box  of  soap  to  withdraw  his  name.  The  offer  was  good,  but 
whether  it  was  accepted  or  not  I  am  unable  to  say. 

March  19th,  1844,  a  fire  occurred  in  John  C.  Haskell's 
house,  northeast  corner  of  County  and  Bush    streets.      One  of 


58  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  rooms  in  the  house  was  finished  oft  as  an  aviary,  and  con- 
tained over  one  hundred  beauttful  birds,  all  of  which  were 
smothered. 

Incendiary  fires  at  this  period  were  of  freqnent  occurrence. 
Among  these  were  the  William  street  school-house  and  Charles 
W.  Morgan's  barn.  At  these  fires  the  hose  was  maliciously 
cut,  thus  renderino^  the  ens^ines  useless.  The  situation  was 
truly  alarming,  and  the  Selectmen  were  urged  by  the  citizens 
to  offer  a  large  reward  for  conviction.  This  had  a  salutarv 
effect,  for  the  trouble  ceased  verv  soon. 

There  was  a  great  deal  of  fun  in  '43,  between  the  No.  7  and 
No.  10.  Several  trials  of  these  engines  took  place  to  test 
their  powers,  and  these  were  quite  sure  to  be  followed  bv  a 
supper  or  a  picnic.  I  copy  from  No.  lo's  records  the  follow- 
ing: 

The  company  met  at  their  engine  house  at  10  o'clock,  dressed  in  un- 
iform, proceeded  to  the  house  of  Company  7,  and  being  joined  by  that 
company,  preceded  by  the  firewards,  A.  H.  Rowland,  Thos.  B.  Bush 
and  James  B.  Congdon,  escorted  by  a  detachment  from  the  New  Bed- 
ford Brass  Band,  through  many  of  the  principal  streets  to  Blackmer's 
Grove,  where  the  company  amused  themselves  with  foot  ball  and  other 
games,  etc.  They  then  partook  of  an  excellent  chowder,  after  which 
the  companies  again  formed  and  returned  to  town  [Think  of  it,  Black- 
mer's Grove  was  located  exactly  whei^e  the  Grove  street  school  house 
now  stands !]  well  pleased  with  their  entertainment. 

July  31,  1843. — A  silver  trumpet  was  presented  b\'  the 
Philadelphia,  No.  7,  to  their  foreman  Capt.  Seth  Russell. 

July  31. — The  Tremont  Engine  Co.,  of  Roxbury,  visited 
the  town. 

Oct.  20. — Philadelphia,  No.  7,  visited  Taunton. 

In  1844,  the  following  composed  the  board  of  firewards: 

Chief  Engineer,  William  H.  Taylor. 

Zachariah  Hillman,  (ieorge  Rowland,  Jr., 

James  Durfee,  Abraham  R.  Rowland, 

A.  D.  Richmond,  Gamaliel  Tabor, 

Dudley  Davenport,  (ieorge  Perry, 

Slocum  Allen,  W.  R.  Jenney, 

Samuel  Watson,  George  G.  Gilford, 

Edward  Merrill,  Jireh  Swift,  Jr., 

David  R.  Greene,  '               Thomas  B.  Bush. 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTIVIENT. 


59 


Jan.  30th,  1S44,  a  fire  broke  out  at  6  o'clock  a.m.,  in  Sam- 
uel Leonard's  oil  works,  destroying  all  the  buildings  and  a 
large  quantity  of  oil — one  of  the  most  destructive  fires,  the 
loss  being  estimated  between  $50,000  and  $70,000.  It  was 
bitterly  cold  weather.      Some  of  the  engines  froze  up,  and  the 


WILLIAM    H.   TAYLOR. 

(  Chief  Engineer,  1844.) 

whole  department  was  much  hampered  by  ice.  The  Fairhaven 
engines  came  across  the  river  on  the  ice,  which  was  frozen  to  a 
great  thickness.  Men  were  urged  by  offers  of  liberal  wages  to 
help  save  the  large  quantity  of  oil ;  but  they  refused,  unless  paid 
a  dollar  an   hour.      Chief  Engineer   William    H.   Taylor  vs'as 


6o  HISTORY    OF    THE 

highly  indignant  at  these  fellows  and  drove  them  from  the 
premises.  He  completely  demolished  his  staff  of  office  on 
their  heads  and  backs  as  they  retreated.  The  vigor  of  the 
chief  was  quite  as  much  a  surprise  to  his  friends  as  it  was  to 
the  objects  of  his  wrath.  Several  leading  citizens  offered  their 
services  gratuitously  under  the  circumstances,  and  much  prop- 
ertv  was  saved. 

The  Franklin,  No.  lo,  was  the  first  to  reach  this  fire,  and 
would  ha\'e  taken  first  water,  but  the  engine  was  unfortu- 
natelv  out  of  order,  and  all  efforts  to  make  it  \vork  \vere  un- 
a\'ailing.  The  final  attempt  to  make  it  take  water  was  to  turn 
up  the  suction  hose  and  pour  in  the  water,  but  even  this  was 
not  a  success.  A  small  boy  observed  the  novel  proceed- 
ing, and  noticing  the  movement  of  the  upturned  suction  hose, 
yelled  ''  Elephant,"  and  from  that  time  onward  Franklin,  No. 
lo,  was  called  "  The  Elephant." 

The  first  great  parade  and  festival  of  the  New  Bedford  Fire 
Department  occurred  in  September,  1844.  -'■  take  the  follow- 
ing description  from  the  Evening  Bulletin  : 

"  The  different  engines  of  the  town  met  at  the  Town  Hall,  each 
dressed  in  a  holiday  suit  of  wreaths,  banners,  etc.,  and  drawn  by  four 
horses.  The  procession  was  formed  and  under  the  direction  of  Wil- 
liam H.  Taylor  and  Zachariah  Hillman,  Esqs.,  after  marching  through 
the  principal  streets,  reached  the  lot  on  County  street,  where  a  good 
chowder  was  served  up.  After  passing  an  hour  in  social  conversation, 
the  torches  were  brought,  and  the  procession  reforming,  commenced 
its  march  through  the  principal  streets.  The  spectacle  now  was  ex- 
ceedingly brilliant ;  an  array  of  several  hundred  torches,  blowing  in 
the  night  air,  had  a  most  imposing  appearance,  and  was  the  theme  of 
universal  admiration.  After  the  parade  the  procession  marched  to  the 
Town  Hall,  where  addresses  were  delivered  by  Thomas  Dawes  Eliot, 
Esq.,  and  James  B.  Congdon,  Esq.,  and  an  original  song,  written  by  a 
gentleman  of  New  Bedford,  was  sung  by  Mr.  Bird,  the  conductor  on 
the  railroad,  to  the  tune  '  King  and  Countryman  v 

Since  here  we\'e  met  in  our  beautiful  hall, 
Give  ear  to  my  story,  ye  citizens  all. 
I  sing  the  bold  fireman,  wOiose  true  sturdy  stroke 
Always  turns  every  fire  which  we  have  into  smoke. 

Number  One  takes  the  lead  with  her  jolly  young  band, 
She's  never  caught  napping,  but  always  on  hand  ; 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPART.MFIXT.  6l 

Though  engine  and  crew  you  may  think  rather  small. 
You  will  find  she's  a  pretty  great  squirt  after  all. 

And  the  next  on  the  list,  sirs,  is  old  Number  Two, 
Somewhat  stricken  in  years,  but  still  great  and  true. 
"'Always  ready"  her  motto,  always  ready  her  men. 
She  has  often  won  the  prize  and  shall  win  it  again. 

Number  Three,  out  of  town,  I  can't  say  much  about  her, 
We  have  managed  to  do  pretty  well  without  her. 
She  was  one  of  our  line  along  Number  Four, 
She  might  do  as  well,  but  she  could  do  no  more. 

Number  Four  is  the  I^ioenix,  she  makes  no  great  show, 
With  calmness  and  skill  to  the  fire  doth  she  go. 
And  just  let  the  "Cider  Mill"  fill  her  with  water, 
To  the  fiend  conflagration  she'll  show  little  quarter. 

-Number  Five,  the  Columbia,  and  worthy  the  name. 
With  a  crew  who  ne'er  flinch  at  the  smoke  or  the  flame, 
By  our  brave  mechanics  constructed  and  manned 
Number  Five  to  the  rescue  is  always  on  hand. 

Number  Six,  the  Mechanic,  as  firm  as  a  rock. 

With  her  red  jacket  boys  boldly  breasts  every  shock, 

Aloft  she  hangs  out  her  flag  of  defiance  ; 

In  seasons  of  danijer  the  town's  self  reliance. 

Number  Seven,  Philadelphia,  is  never  behind. 
Not  a  more  gallant  crew  in  the  ranks  you  will  find ; 
And  she  leaves  not  a  doubt  while  the  fire  she  is  routing. 
She  can  beat  e'en  a  member  of  Congress  at  spouting. 

And  now  comes  the  Novelty,  plain  and  home  made. 
She  will  grind  at  a  grist  with  the  best  of  the  trade. 
She's  a  queer  one  indeed,  but  yet  early  or  late, 
You  can  depend  upon  staunch  Number  Eight. 

And  next  see  approach  Number  Nine  of  the  north. 
When  the  fight  rages  thickest  to  plunge  nothing  loath. 
Like  her  namesake,  that  sterling  brave  Yankee  of  old. 
Ever  firm  as  a  rock  you'll  our  Hancock  behold. 

And  now  last,  but  not  least,  comes  along  Number  Ten, 
Most  w^orthy  the  name  of  our  glorious  old  Ben  ; 
Here's  good  luck  to  the  Franklin  and  all  her  brave  crew, 
Whose  hearts,  like  their  shirts,  are  always  true  blue. 

Let  a  peep  at  the  past,  a  moment  engage 

When  the  "Jolly  Rope  Maker"  appeared  on  the  stage ; 


62  HISTORY    OP'    THE 

Though  christened  the  Phoenix,*  and  robbed  of  her  tail. 
If  you  filled  up  her  tub  she  would  spout  like  a  whale. 

But  we  must  not  forget  the  vanguard  of  our  line, 
With  bags,  buckets  and  bed-screws  in  order  so  fine ; 
All  armed  and  equipped,  see  them  rush  through  the  flame, 
'  Protection  '  their  motto,  protection  their  aim. 

And  now,  as  I  close,  just  a  word  I  would  say 
Of  the  corps,  the  rear  guard  of  our  gallant  array : 
With  their  axes  and  ladders  and  hooks  at  command. 
To  strike  a  bold  stroke  they  are  always  on  hand. 

Thus,  fellow  townsmen,  before  you  displayed. 
The  thrice  gallant  band  for  your  safety  arrayed ; 
With  such  bold  protectors  no  fear  will  w'e  feel, 
With  their  arms  all  untiring,  and  hearts  true  as  steel. 

I  take  the  following  from  No.  7's  records  : 

July  25,  1845. — Took  our  engine  to  the  North  Christian  Church 
for  the  purpose  of  playing  with  No.  10.  We  played  ten  feet  over  the 
vane  above  the  spire  (so  said  Messrs.  James  Uurfee  and  Willard  Sears), 
Avhile  the  No.  10  played  just  to  the  vane. 

To  offset  this,  I  quote  from  from  No.  lo's  records  for  June 
6,  1843,  soon  after  the  engine  was  received  from  its  makers  : 

A  trial  of  the  power  of  our  engine  with  Philadelphia,  No.  7,  took 
place  to-day  at  the  Custom  House  reservoir,  where  it  was  proved  that 
No.  10  beat  No.  7,  both  in  throwing  more  water  and  at  a  greater 
distance. 

October  2d,  1845. — Citizen,  No.  2,  Phoenix,  No.  4,  and  Philadelphia, 
No.  7,  had  a  grand  parade,  with  the  New  Bedford  Brass  Band,  and  with 
the  firewards  and  other  invited  guests,  visited  Fairhaven  and  partook 
of  a  chowder.  Amused  themselves  during  the  afternoon  with  foot-ball 
and  other  games.  After  dark  they  took  up  the  line  of  march  through 
the  principal  streets  of  Fairhaven  and  New  Bedford.  The  procession 
was  liberally  supplied  with  flaming  torches  and  made  a  fine  display. 

At  this  great  parade  the  department  was  in  imiform  for  the 
first  time.  It  would  be  more  satisfactory  could  a  complete  de- 
scription of  their  uniforms  be  given.  It  is  imjDossible  to  do  so,  for 
until  1853  there  are  no  records  of  Companies  Nos.  2,  3,  4.  5,  6, 


*The  old  Phoenix,  now  defunct,  had,  it  is  said,  a    suction,  which,  as  its  purpose  was  not 
known,  was  cut  off. 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT.  63 

and  9,  and  all  I  mav  give  in  relation  to  them  is  wholly  tradi- 
tional. I  am  indebted  to  Messrs.  James  Taylor,  George  G.  Gif- 
ford,  William  R.  Palmer,  Joshua  B.  Ashley  and  Robert  C. 
Topham  for  what  I  am  able  to  present. 

Independence,  No.  i. — Blue  frocks,  trimmed  with  white; 
red  trousers  with  black  leggings,  close-fitting  cap  with  adjust- 
able cape. 

Citizen,  No.  2.  —  Highland  shirts,  black  trousers,  belts, 
caps,  etc. 

Head  of  River,  No.  3. — White  shirts,  red  belts,  dark  trou- 
sers, etc. 

Phoenix,  No.  4. — Scotch  plaid  shirts,  with  Highland  scarf 
and  black  trousers. 

Columbian,  No.  5. — White  flannel  shirts,  trimmed  with  blue* 
black  trousers,  blue  caps,  visor,  with  figure  v 

Mechanic,  No.  6. — Red  shirts,  black  trousers,  belts,  caps,  etc. 

Philadelphia,  No.  7. — Red  shirt  with  large  collar  to  turn 
over  ten  inches,  wristbands  four  inches  w  ide,  duck  trousers 
without  suspenders,  belt  of  l:)lack  leather.  Hat  with  round 
top,  broad  brim,  wide  on  the  back,  narrow  (mi  the  front,  with 
"  Philadelphia  "  painted  around  the  crown  in  gilt,  with  the 
figure  seven  in  front. 

Novelty,  No.  8.-  -Green  jackets,  velvet  collars,  blue  trousers, 
yellow  stripes  trimmed  with  fringe,  glazed  cap,  gilt  figure  8. 

Hancock,  No.  9, — Red  shirts,  dark  trousers,  belts,  tarpau- 
lin hats. 

Franklin,  No.  10. — Blue  shirts,  trimmed  with  white,  dark 
trousers,  white  suspenders,  forming  the  letter  X,  on  the  back, 
tarpaulin  hats. 

Hook  and  Ladder  Co. — Shirts,  dark  trousers  with  double 
and  diagonal  stripes  at  the  sides,  forming  a   ladder. 

I  now  present  the  full  register  of  our  Fire  Department  for 
1 844-1 845.  It  is  my  purpose  to  publish  the  ofiicial  mem- 
bership for  every  ten  years.  Of  course  many  names  will  not 
appear  of  those  whose  terms  of  service  mav  liave  ceased  dur- 
ing these  periods. 


64 


HISTORY    0¥    THE 


GEORGE  HOWLAND,  JR. 

(  first  Assistant  Engineer,  1844-45.  ) 


1844-1845. 

Chief  Engineer,  William  H.  Taylor. 

Assistant  Engineers,  (icorge  Howland.  Jr..  Zachariah  Hillman. 

FlREWARDS. 

James  Durfee,  (jcorge  Perr}-, 

Jonathan  Smith,  E.  W.   Kempton. 

George  (j.  Gitford,  (jamaliel  Taber, 

Abraham  H.  Rowland,  Tilson  Wood. 

Seth  Russell,  Dudley  Davenport, 

W.  H.  Jenney, 
Jireh  Swift.  Jr., 
Edward  Merrill, 
Edward  Cannon. 


Ezra  K.  Delano. 
Slocum  Allen, 
Philip  (Proves, 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT, 


65 


A  red  staff  was  the  distinguishing  badge  of  the  engineers. 
The  other  firewards  carried  trumpets  painted  red,  with  the 
word  ^'Fireward"  in  gilt  letters  upon  a  black  ground,  placed 
on  the  bowls. 


Independence,  No.   i.   (100  North  Second  street.) 

Foreman,  Joseph  H.  Fuller. 
Pipeman,  Charles  M.  Spooner. 
Assistant  Pipeman.  (jcorge  D.  Davis. 
Clerk,  Edward  I).  Reed. 

Alban  Crowell,  Edward  Blandell, 

Horatio  A.  Bralev,  Daniel  Chappell, 

Riifus  Randall,    '  W.  H.  Pullen, 

John  E.  Brown.  Charles  Davis. 

Charles  F.  Paine,  William  Champlin, 

John  Burke,  Charles  B.  Russell, 

William  Bosworth,  (ieorge  Underwood, 

Cieorge  Taylor,  Moses  ().  Davis. 

Citizen,  No.  2.  (65  Purcha.se  street.) 

Foreman,  Philip  (iroves. 

Assistant  Foremen,  Edward  S.  Wilcox,  (ieorge  Hinckley 

Clerk,  (jeorge  C.  (jibbs. 


Charles  C.  Moore, 
Albert  R.  Paulding, 
John  N.  Barrows, 
Peleg  Allen, 
Lewis  (t.  Carpenter, 
John  Matthews, 
Perez  Jenkins, 
Frederick  Underwood, 
Benjamin  Gage, 
Chas.  H.  Underwood, 
George  W.  Brockman, 
John  Waldron, 
James  D.  Driggs, 
Samuel  P.  Ravmond, 
John  P.  Nash; 
Peter  M.  Vaughn. 
Charles  Wilcox, 
Richard  Curtis, 
Benjamin  F.  Spooner, 
Charles  R.  Tobey, 
William  H.  Cook. 
B.  Penniman,  Jr., 

Isaac  N 


Nathaniel  Milliken, 
Henry  Bates, 

Joseph  M.  Shiverick, 
John  A.  Ruggles, 
Henry  R.  Stewart, 
Alfred  Briggs, 
Stephen  Wing, 
James  S.  Browning, 
(ieorge  Youno^, 
C.  O'rChurclnll, 
C.  M.  Vaughn, 
Zenas  Knapp, 
Gamaliel  Wardworth, 
S.  W.  Reed, 
Oliver  N.  Wing, 
Charles  H.  Walker. 
W^illiam  Nutter, 
William  H.  Sherman, 
Israel  B    Bolles, 
Alden  Pope, 
Isaac  Sherman, 
Elihu  Allen, 
Vauirhn. 


66 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Engine  No,  3.   (Head  of  Acushnet.) 

Foreman,  Thomas  P.  Potter. 
Clerk.  Silas  Stetson. 


Mark  Snow, 
Amos  P5raley, 
Philip  T.  Davis, 
Silas  Braley, 
Augustus  Harrington. 
A.  B.  (irinnell. 
Peter  Taber, 
Simeon  Hawes. 
Lemuel  Terr}', 
Nathaniel  Spooner 
Cieorge  T 


Russell, 


A,  B.  Richardson, 
Charles  McArthur, 
Edwin  Payson, 
Levi  Shorey, 
Borden  Spencer. 
Bartholomew  Lund, 
Warren  Parker, 
Rufus  Williams, 
John  Mansfield, 
Joseph  Spooner, 
W.  R.  Caswell, 


James  Wilbor. 


PHa:Nix,  No.  4.   (42  Fourth  street.) 

Foreman,  Robert  C.  Topham. 
Assistant  Foreman,  Benjamin  Durfee, 
Edwin  R.  Russell. 


Clerk 

Franklin  Tobey, 
Francis  Vinal, 
C.  P.  lALaxfield, 
Ebenezer  Parlow.  Jr.. 
S.  A.  Eupolen. 
C.  U.  Macomber, 
Benjamin  C.  Munroe, 
Isaac  Brownell, 
Isaac  Sherman. 
John  (L  (jorham, 
Fred.  H.  Mnal. 


(ieorge  Young, 
(leorge  Tynan, 
William  Holmes, 
Doane  Damon, 
Samuel  (iabriel, 
Solomon  L.  Damon, 
Joseph  Taber, 
Ciideon  \^inal, 
William  White, 
Ezra  Bisbee, 
Abraham  Taber. 


Columbian,  No.   5.    ( 102  North  Second  street.) 

Foreman,  Henry  R.  Wilcox. 

Assistant   P^oremen,   Ebenezer  Tirrell,    Samuel    Damon,    Israel  T. 
Bryant. 

Clerk,  Rodolphus  Beetle. 


Peleg  Potter, 
Ezra  Dyer, 
Benjamin  Hayes. 
Joseph  W.  Cornell, 
W.  J.  Spooner, 
Andrew  G.  Hayes, 
John  W.  Spooner, 
Richmond  B.  Wood, 
Henry  Walker, 
John  W.  Nickerson, 
Samuel  S.  Paine. 


James  Foster, 
Loring  (L  Hayes, 
Harrv  J.  Leach, 
T.  R.  Bryant, 
Joseph  Bowman, 
Joseph  D.  Hall, 
Jabez  Ciibbs, 
Isaiah  D.  Foster, 
William  Walker, 
John  D,  Hillman, 
Nathaniel  Jenney, 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT, 


John  Warren, 
John  A.  Sawyer, 
Henry  N.  Dean, 
Ebenezer  Keen, 
H.  S.  Tower, 
Philip  Simmons, 
William  Whitcomb, 
Allen  Stoddard, 
Nathan  Adams, 
Henrv  Peirce, 
John 'I).  Childs, 
Elihu  H.  (iiftord, 
Artemas  Redland, 
Thomas  W.  Sowle, 
John  Hoxie, 
H.  F.  Ripley, 


Hattil  Kellev 


David  C.  Hathaway, 
Thaddeus  Burgess, 
James  Drew, 
William  B.  Pierce, 
(iiles  S.  Fales, 
Charles  D.  Hathaway, 
William  (iates, 
Daniel  T.  Daggett, 
Josiah  C.  Burbank, 
Michael  Hathaway, 
Consider  Smith, 
James  M.  Cranston. 
William  Bly, 
William  Hersey, 
William  Bisbee, 
Edward  Spooner, 


Mechanic,  No.  6.   (6i  Purchase  street.) 


Foreman,  Ezra  K.  Delano. 
Assistant  Foremen,  Joseph 
Clerk,  Henry  F.  Thomas. 

Levi  Nye, 
Thomas  C.  Allen. 
Nathan  Barker, 
John  Wooden, 
Jeremiah  M.  Morris, 
William  F.  Nye, 
George  Y.  Nickerson, 
George  Howland,  3d, 
Hiram  Shearman, 
Stephen  Parker, 
Alex.  P.  Dyer, 
Caleb  L.  Ellis, 
William  Wilbour, 
J.  R.  Rogers, 
George  Warren, 
Walter  H.  Thomas, 
Wellington  Bucklin, 
Obediah  Keene, 
Peleg  B.  Clark, 
Stephen  Waite, 
William  Hammond, 
Isaac  Sanford,  Jr., 
R.  W.  Raymond. 
Isaac  McFarlin, 
William  M.  Cowen, 
David  C.  Gifford, 
Oliver  Peckham, 
Uriah  Mavo, 


Hammond,  John  P.  Crosby. 

Benjamin  Besse, 
John  H.  Davis, 

A.  J.  Vaughn, 
John  Wright, 
William  Sowle, 
Jona.  W.  Whitney, 
Edwin  Luce, 
Chas.  H.  Taber, 
Shipley  W.  Bumpus, 
John  Lowe, 
William  James, 
Charles  E.  Brownell, 
Whitman  Vinal, 
John  H.  Young, 
Ebenezer  Kempton, 
Charles  Kempton, 
Bowers  Hathaway, 
W.  H.  Farrington, 
John  A.  Smith, 
Ezra  Pope, 

Henry  Palmer, 
James  H affords. 
Job  Almy, 
John  Burrill, 

B.  C.  Wards  worth. 
Freeman  C.  Luce, 
Hervey  Hammond, 
George  James. 


68 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Philadelphia,  No.  7.   (40  Fourth  street.) 

Foreman,  Seth  Russell. 

Assistant  Foremen,  George  Wilson,  Edward  S.  Taber 

Clerk,  Freeman  P.  Bartlett. 


James  T.  Paul, 
Charles  H.  Leach, 
Marshall  B.  Bird, 
John  S.  Davis, 
Chauncey  Russell, 
T.  B.  Denham, 
John  F.  Vinal, 
O.  T.  Sherman, 
H.  M.  C.  Denham, 
Rodney  Howland, 
John  O.  Wilmarth, 
E.  S.  Corson, 
Wing  Russell, 
S.  G.  Ricketson. 
H.  K.  Oliver, 
Stephen  A.  Tripp, 
N.  T.  Brownell, 
George  Barney, 
William  F.  Brown, 
H.  M.  Jackson, 
Silas  T.  Sears, 
W.  H.  F.  Clapp, 
Seth  Hathawav, 


Josiah  Coggeshall, 
Cvrus  W.  Chapman, 
Wm.  H.  Willis, 
Nath'l  Shepherd, 
Charles  Parker, 
Gideon  Cornell, 
John  H.  Thompson, 
Albert  Brightman, 
S.  P.  Chamberlain, 
Joseph  Swift, 
David  S.  Robinson, 
William  M.  Howard, 
John  Britnell, 
Asa  L.  Smith, 
Peter  Y.  Flynn, 
Martin  Haskins, 
Abm.  S.  Taber, 
John  H.  Webster, 
N.  C.  Lewis, 
Darius  Bosworth, 
Edw^  S locum, 
R.  H.  McLaughlin, 
Benj.  R.  Watson. 


NOVELTY,    NO.   8. 

Novelty,  No.  8.   (Mechanics  Lane.) 

Foreman,  (xeorge  G.  Gilford. 
Assistant  Foreman,  Joseph  Allen.  Jr. 
Clerk,  James  Bates. 


C.  C.  P. 

Joseph  ( 
Silas  N. 
William  Durfee, 
John  Russell, 


Tobey, 
.  Dean, 
Richards, 


W.  P.  Newell, 
Charles  M.  Pierce, 
George  Gooding, 
Phineas  T.  Drew, 
Otis  Manchester, 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


69 


Leonard  Doir, 
Thomas  P.  Swift, 
Andrew  Wilbour, 
Isaiah  C.  Gage, 
Joel  L.  Burrell, 
Fred.  Brownell, 
Lot  Tripp,  Jr., 
Seth  Bryant, 
Benj.  Manchester, 
James  S.  Chase, 
Samuel  Amsden. 
Ephraim  H.  Wade, 
G.  N.  Carpenter, 


Enoch  Bearse, 
Josiah  Johnson, 
Samuel  Small, 
Robert  Luscomb, 
Rufus  Russell, 
Ira  C.  Pierce, 
Willard  Tripp, 
M.  C.  Swift, 
Richard  Luscomb,  Jr. 
Abram  1\I.  Gilford, 
Job  Wilcox,  Jr., 
Pembroke  Rich, 
James  Porter, 
Joseph  S.  Taber. 


Hancock,  No.  9.   (Foster  street,  near  North.) 

Foreman,  George  Perry. 

Assistant  Foremen,  D.  B.  Croacher,  L.  Hathaway,  S.  G.  Edwards. 

Clerk,  Arphaxed  Simmons. 


Arvin  Smith, 
Ansel  Landers, 
Caleb  T.  Jenney, 
Horatio  Bly, 
John  Wrightington, 
Stephen  Haskins, 
Willard  Shaw, 
Allen  Case, 
James  C.  Tripp, 
John  C.  Taber, 
Peter  Peters, 
Lazarus  Moulton, 
Tillinghast  Tompkins, 
H.  A.  Purrington, 
N.  S.  Purrington, 
S.  McKenzie, 
H.  W.  Smith, 
Fred.  P.  Howland, 
Levi  Salisbury, 
William  Giftbrd, 
James  Marble, 
W.  R.  Barker, 


10 


Franklin,  No 

Foreman,  William  M. 
Assistant  Foremen,  O 
Clerk,  James  Taylor. 

George  W.  Jennings, 
Thomas  Albert, 


Charles  Simmons, 
Joseph  Wheaton, 
Corban  B.  Lucas, 
John  C.  Hervey, 
Nathan  Phinney, 
E.  L.  Foster, 
Henry  C.  Hathaway, 
Nathaniel  Moulton, 
Horace  French, 
I.  H.  Mandell, 
Isaiah  Potter, 
Thomas  Croacher, 
George  A.  Cornell, 
Francis  W.  Heath, 
Joseph  M.  Hatch, 
Aaron  Davis, 
Newell  Raymond,' 
Otis  Leach, 
Robt.  Croacher, 
-     John  Gilford, 
John  K.  Potter, 
Benjamin  Covell, 
Joshua  Shearman. 

(Third  street,  head  of  Griffin.) 

Allen. 
M.  Brownell,  Isaiah  W.  Churchill. 


L.  S.  Jennings, 
Thomas  Lowe, 


70 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Charles  Briggs, 
Moses  H.  Bliss, 
Isaac  Bliss, 
Sylvanus  Churchill, 
Solomon  Chadwick, 
Zenas  F.  Chadwick, 
Ezra  B.  Chase, 
Nathan  Chapman, 
Alonzo  L.  Cory, 
Fred.  A.  Chace, 
Kdw.  Cavenaugh, 
Henry  T.  Davis, 
Benjamin  Davis, 
Nathan  S.  Davis, 
L.  R.  Eldridge, 
C.  D.  Foster. 
William  Gibbs, 
C.  L.  Watkins, 
F.  Halfords, 

F.  Gifford, 

G.  Hathaway, 


T 

C 

B 


Caleb  Miller, 
Thomas  S.  Nye, 
David  P.  Pierce, 
Benjamin  F.  Popple, 
Henry  Parker, 
Daniel  Pollock, 
Jos.  M.  Robinson, 
R.  A.  Sherman, 
M.  G.  Sears, 
H.  R.  Tripp, 
Barton  Wilbour, 
Hiram  L.  Wheeler, 
Alex.  C.  W^ilbour, 
Elbridge  G.  Wood, 
Holmes  Winslow, 
Watson  Thomas, 
Elihu  Briggs, 
Gilbert  Wordell, 
Abiel  Westgate, 
Martin  L.  Wheeler, 
James  McKenny. 


Hook  and  Ladder  Co.    (63  Purchase  street.) 


Foreman,  Benj 
Clerk,  William 

Ambrose  Vincent, 
P.  B.  Brownell, 
Thomas  R.  Pierce, 
William  Chambers, 
Edmund  Doty, 
William  Earl, 
David  Thomas, 
Jethro  Daggett, 
Watson  Thomas, 
William  H.  Pitman, 
Alex.  O.  Nelson, 
Rodolphus  Mosher, 
J.  H.  Leonard, 

Joshua  A 


amin  Tripp. 
Davenport. 

James  K.  Robertson, 
Wm.  F.  Hayes, 
Hadley  Brownell. 
Nathan  Stetson, 
Ephraim  Landers, 
Alfred  Weaver, 
George  Morse, 
G.  E.  S.  Bly, 
George  W.  Howland, 
Henry  Peets, 
Edw\  Williams, 
Stephen  SkiiT, 
William  G.  Allen, 


shley. 
Protecting  Society. 

Place  of  meeting.  Town  Hall. 
Annual  meeting.  Third  Monday  in  October. 
President,  William  Hathaway. 
Vice-President,  Joshua  Richmond. 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Reuben  Nye. 

Directors, 
George  O.  Crocker,  Dennis  Wood, 

John  A.  Standish,  Asa  R.  Nye, 


NEW    KEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


V 


W.  p.  S.  Cadwell, 
George  A.  Bourne, 
James  H.  Howland, 
Henry  P.  Willis, 
William  T.  Cook, 
William  A.  Wall, 
Pardon  Tillinghast, 
William  P.  Field, 
Ferdinand  Vassault, 
John  Kehew, 
Edward  D.  Mandell, 
Francis  L.  Parker, 
William  C.  Pierce, 
Francis  Taber,  Jr., 
Horace  Gushee, 
Charles  Taber, 
George  H.  Dunbar, 
Joseph  T.  Hunter, 
Josias  H.  Coggeshall, 
Andreas  T.  Thorup, 
Joseph  F.  Dearborn, 

Charles  O, 


Loum  Snow, 
Charles  D.  Swift, 
Samuel  G.  Hudson, 
Jonathan  Bourne,  Jr., 
Samuel  Southgate, 
Sylvanus  G.  Nye, 
J.  B.  King, 
H.  G.  O.  Gwyneth, 
Charles  S.  Randall, 
Edward  S.  Taber, 
Augustus  J.  Eaton, 
Edmund  Rodman, 
Henry  C.  Kelley, 
Edward  Russell, 
Revilo  A.  Swain, 
George  F.  Barker, 
Charles  D.  Cushman, 
Isaac  C.  Woods, 
Charles  Chandler, 
John  Hopkins, 
William  L.  Gerrish, 
Wilson. 


Engine  company  No.  i,  twenty  men;  No.  3,  fifty;  No.  3, 
twenty-five  ;  No.  4,  twenty-five  ;  No.  6,  sixty  ;  No.  7,  fifty  ; 
No.  8,  forty  ;  No.  9,  fifty  ;  No.  10,  fifty  ;  Hook  and  Ladder 
Company,  thirty  ;   Protecting  Society,  fifty. 

The  following  citizens  served  as  firewards  from  1S45  ^" 
1848: 

William   H.  Taylor,  Ezra  K.  Delano, 


Z.  Hillman, 
James  Durfee, 
George  Perry, 
Jonathan  Swift, 
£.  W.  Kempton, 
George  G.  Gilford, 
Gamaliel  Taber, 


Joseph  Allen,  Jr., 
O.  M.  Brownell, 


Shubael  H.  Gilford, 
Dudley  Davenport, 


W.  H.  Jenney, 
Slocum  Allen, 
Jireh  Swift,  Jr., 
Edward  Cannon, 
Philip  Groves, 
Edward  D.  Mandell, 
Geo.  Howland,  Jr., 
A.  H.  Howland. 

1846. 

Robert  C.  Topham, 
Nathaniel  Kelley, 
J.  H.  Mendall. 

1847. 

Edward  J.  Wilcox, 
Samuel  Watson, 
Ambrose  Vincent. 


1848. — Sampson  Perkins. 


72 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


AMBROSE  VINCENT. 

(  Member  of  the  Board  of  Firewards,  1847.) 


In  1846,  Oregon,  No.  ii,  was  ordered  of  Merrick  &  Ag- 
new.  This  was  a  fine  engine,  and  was  of  about  the  same 
capacity  and  power  as  No.  7.  This  engine  was  located  on 
the  south  side  of  Middle,  just  above  County  street,  and  was 
entered  in  the  fire  department  for  1847,  with  the  following 
company,  organized  under  the  direction  of  Fireward  i\mbrose 
Vincent : 


Gibbs  Taber, 
Isaac  Brownell, 
Ambrose  E.  Luce, 
Otis  Manchester, 


Gideon  Sherman, 
P.  B.  Brownell, 
W.  D.  James, 
A.  Merrick, 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


73 


Lewis  (j.  Carpenter, 
Israel  iiolles, 
William  Gifford, 
William  Davenport. 
Nathan  Gifford, 
George  A.  Wilson,  Jr. 
Simeon  Webb, 
Tillinghast  Kirby, 
Benj.  Maxfield, 
Jesse  W.  Dver, 
W.  C.  Rowland, 
David  E.  Chase, 
Edward  Manchester, 
Jonathan  Devoll, 
Thomas  P.  Swift, 
W.  B.  Cole, 
A.  A.  Thomas, 
James  Taber, 
Stephen  McFarlin. 
Gifford  Taber, 
Silas  C.  Sherman. 


Charles  Searell, 
John  H.  Chapman, 
Chas.  Simmons, 
Cieorge  Allen, 
Job  Wilcox, 
Ezra  Dyer, 
Seth  Bryant, 
Francis  H.  Vinal, 
R.  W.  Raymond, 
Samuel  Johnson, 
Charles  B.  Gifford, 
George  Gooding, 
N.  W.  P.  Cobb, 
Calvin  A.  Paine, 
Henry  S.  Little, 
Isaac  S.  Thomas, 
George  Lee, 
William  Cox, 
C.  P.  Russell, 
Daniel  P.  Devoll, 
Lewis  Manchester. 


Sept.  12,  1S46,  the  Independence  Co.,  No.  i,  on  invitation 
of  Capt.  Philip  Davis  and  other  citizens  of  Acushnet  village, 
visited  that  place  and  had  a  jollv  time.  Thev  were  accom- 
panied by  the  Citizens'  Band.  Thev  were  served  with  a  fine 
collation  and,  as  their  record  says,  were  received  with  great 
kindness.  After  passing  the  afternoon  in  an  agreeable  man- 
ner, they  marched  through  the  village  during  the  evening  in 
torchlight  procession,  returning  home  at  9  o'clock,  well  paid 
for  their  visit.  For  these  acts  of  kindness  the  inhabitants  of 
Acushnet  village  will  never  be  forgotten  by  Independence  Co., 
No.  I. 

Records  of  Independence,  No.  i,  Sept.  26,  1S46  : 

The  Independence,  No.  i,  with  the  Fairhaven  Engine  Co.,  No.  i, 
accompanied  by  the  New  Bedford  Brass  Band,  went  to  Holmes'  Hole 
on  an  excursion,  where  they  received  many  courtesies.  The  people  of 
Edgartown  extended  an  invitation  to  visit  their  town,  but  they  were 
obliged  to  decline. 

The  records  of  this  company  as  kept  by  the  clerks,  Messrs. 
Edward  D.  Reed,  George  P.  Underwood,  Southward  Potter, 
2d,  Gideon  B.  Spooner  and  E.  J.   Richmond,   are  models  of 


74  HISTORY    OF    THE 

neatness  and  are  interesting  for  the   information   they  give  of 
all  matters  connected  with  the  company. 

The  town  became  a  city  April  29,  1S47,  '^^''ifl  great  rejoic- 
ings on  inauguration  evening.  The  event  of  the  birth  of  the 
new  city  was  signalized  with  the  usual  demonstrations  of  pub- 
lic joy,  such  as  national  music  by  the  Citizens'  Band,  ringing 
of  bells  and  firing  salutes. 

Dissatisfaction  with  the  amount  of  annual  payment  of  the 
firemen  became  manifest,  and  soon  developed  into  a  fierce  dis- 
cussion in  the  Citv  Government.  It  resulted  in  the  voluntary 
disbandment  of  the  companies,  August  7th,  attached  to  Nos. 
4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  10,  II,  and  the  Hook  and  Ladder  Co.  The  prac- 
tical result  of  this  action  was  that  the  fire  department  became 
thoroughly  paralyzed,  and  the  city  was  left  improtected  for  a 
time.  Soon,  however,  ne^v  companies  were  obtained  for  Nos. 
7,  10  and  II,  and  finally  the  whole  department  was  reorgan- 
ized, the  dissatisfied  members  withdrawing  from  membership. 
During  the  interim  occurred  a  fire  at  the  Prussian-blue  works, 
on  Court  street,  August  i6th.  The  condition  of  aftkirs  in  the 
city  may  be  seen  from  the  account  published  in  the  ]\Iercnry  Rt 
the  time  : 

"The  fire  department  was  on  hand,  all  but  No.  6.  Many  of  our  ven- 
erable citizens  were  seen  'swinging  at  the  brakes'  like  veterans.  Among 
them  we  noticed  our  deservedly  esteemed  member  of  Congress,  Mr. 
Joseph  Grinnell,  who  proved  himself,  as  he  has  often  done  in  the  House 
of  Representatives,  'a  good  spouter.'"' 

May  18,  1848,  occurred  the  Dudley  Davenport  fire,  which  de- 
stroyed about  $30,000  worth  of  property.  The  fire  commenced 
about  10  o'clock  in  the  evening  and  was  one  of  the  fiercest 
ever  experienced  in  our  histor3\  Mr.  Davenport's  steam  plan- 
ing mill,  lumber  yard,  grocery  store,  dwelling  house  belong- 
ing to  William  Rotch,  and  other  buildings  were  burned.  A 
vast  amount  of  property^  in  the  vicinity^,  including  the  candle 
works,  oil,  etc.,  was  rescued  from  destruction  only  by  the 
spirited  and  hearty  exertions  of  the  firemen  and  citizens.   Sev- 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRP:    DEPARTMENT.  75 

eral  of  the  engfines  were  worked  for  five  hours  without  inter- 
mission.  A  more  severe  or  more  satisfactory  test  of  the  cap- 
abilities and  efficiency  of  the  fire  department  as  then  consti- 
tuted can  hardh  l)c  imagined.  The  firewards  furnished  a  fine 
breakfast  for  the  department  when  the  flames  were  finally 
subdued. 

Amono-  the  buildinj^s  saved  from  destruction  was  one  owned 
by  Matthew  Luce.  Mr.  George  M.  Eddy  found  in  the  upper 
story  a  barrel  of  lime,  and,  using  his  broadbrimmed  hat  for  want 
of  a  shovel,  he  spread  it  freely  upon  the  roof,  and  by  this  novel 
means  was  successful  in  keeping  the  fire  fiend  at  bay.  His 
services  were  gratefully  recognized  the  next  da\  by  Capt. 
Luce  bv  the  presentation  of  a  new  hat. 

At  this  time  a  fire  occured  in  Oxford  Village  that  furnished 
an  opportunity  for  sweet  revenge.  The  Mechanic,  No.  6^ 
went  over  and  pla\ed  first  water.  ^Villiam  IL  vSherman  held 
the  pipe  and  proud  he  was,  and  is  to-day,  of  the  event.  This 
balanced  the  first  water  of  the  Oxford  engine  at  the  Centre 
street  fire  in  1S20. 

June  9,  1847,  occurred  a  large  fire  at  the.Head-of-the-River, 
destroying  hotel,  bowling  alley,  stable  and  several  dwelling 
houses.  The  bowling  allev  and  appendages  were  regarded  in 
the  community  as  a  nuisance.  The  origin  of  the  fire  was  con- 
sidered not  wholly  accidental,  as  the  Mercury  intimated  in  its 
notice  of  the  event.  The  firemen  of  our  city  repaired  to,  the 
scene,  and  their  exertions  were  highly  commended.  There  was 
a  ofreat  scarcity  of  food  the  next  day,  for  the  hungry  firemen 
were  liberally  fed  by  the  grateful  citizens. 

The  next  day  at  3  p.  m.  a  dwelling  house  on  the  farm  of 
Mr.  Gideon  Nve,  Jr.,  was  burned.  One  of  the  victims  of  the 
fire  on  the  day  before,  Mrs.  Margaret  Hathaway,  had  moved 
into  it  with  what  household  goods  she  had  been  able  to  save, 
only  to   have  them  all  destroyed  in  the  second  fire. 


ZACHARIAH   HILLMAN. 

( Chief  Engineer,  1848-1850.) 

CHAPTER    VI. 


^^j^HE  following"  citizens  C(jmposed  the  Board    of    Engineers 
W  for  the  year  184S  : 

Zachariah  HiUman,  Ambrose  Vincent, 

William  H.  Taylor,  Samuel  Watson, 

Edmund  Gardner,  Oliver  M.  Brownell, 

Sampson  Perkins. 


NEW    BPZDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


11 


Zachariah  Hillman, 
\Vm.  H.  Jenney, 
O.  M.  Brownell, 
Philip  S.  Davis, 
Robert  C.  Tophani, 
Caleb  L.  Ellis, 


1849. 


Benj.  I).  Co  veil, 
Samuel  Watson, 
Ceorge  Perry, 
Alanson  Williston, 
Ezra  K.  Delano, 
Philip  Croves. 


1850. 


Z.  Hillman, 

C.  L.  Ellis, 

E.  K.  Delano, 

T.  B.  Denham, 

W.  H.  Jenney, 

Joshua  B.  Ashley, 

George  Wilson, 

Thomas  P,  Potter, 

George  Perry, 

Tilson  Wood, 

B.  B.  Covell, 

i8;i-2. 

Asa  R.  Nye. 

Ezra  K.  Delano, 
Z.  Hillman, 
Robert  C.  Topham, 


George  Perry, 
Elisha  W.  Kempton. 
Tilson  Wood. 


July  4,  1847,  the  Phihidelphias  made  an  excursion  to  Nan- 
tucket and  had  a  i>rand  reception  on  their  return.  If  I  glean 
more  frequently  from  the  records  of  Nos.  7  and  10  than  from 
those  of  other  companies,  it  is  for  the  reason  that  they  were 
kept  ^vith  great  care,  and  everything  of  interest  found  mention 
in  their  pages  at  this  time. 

The  Relief  engine,  No.  5,  built  by  John  Agnew,  of  Phila- 
delphia, was  received  in  Oxford  Village,  Fairhaven,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1849,  '^^^^'^  ^^^  following  company  was  organized  that 
year  : 

Captam,  Benjamin  D.  Coombs. 
First  Assistant,  Paschal  Allen. 
Second  Assistant,  William  H.  Davis. 
Clerk  and  Treasurer^  W^illiam  H.  Hoeg. 
Hosemen,  Elisha  B.  Stevens,  A.  K.  Bowen. 


John  P.  Winslow, 
James  M.  Allen, 
Squire  S.  Stevens, 
Oliver  Wilcox, 
James  A.  Cannon, 
Andrew  Wilcox, 
Charles  Savery, 
William  H.  Hoeg,  Jr., 
Thomas  W.  Nye, 


Frank  Bates,  Jr., 
John  W.  Smith, 
E.  K. Jenney, 
John  Law  ton, 
Ebenezer  Aiken,  Jr., 
Timothy  Sanford, 
Davis  Landers, 
Charles  Coombs, 
Ebenezer  (j.  Grinnell, 


78 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Dexter  Jenney, 
William  Burgess, 
George  P".  Neil, 

D.  K.  Hathaway, 

E.  S.  Jenney,  Jr., 
James  Braley, 
Isaiah  West, 
Joseph  N.  Peck, 
Edward  Winslow, 
Ezra  B.  Briggs, 
Watson  Nickerson, 
Edward  West, 
Robert  Bennett, 
John  Kendrick, 
Alden  Davis, 
Jeremiah  West, 


George  Davis, 
Benj.  Drew, 
Amos  Rogers, 
Ansel  D.  Bom^ne, 
John  A.  Peck, 
Eli  Sherman, 
John  West, 
Loring  Boomer, 
Elihu  W^ood,  Jr., 
Joseph  H.  Burgess, 
James  H.  Taber, 
William  H.  Davis, 
Jason  Spooner, 
Asa  West, 
Andrew  W.  Hart, 
Philip  Wilcox. 


The  company,  arrayed  in  uniform  caps  and  mourning 
badges,  joined  the  procession  In  New  Bedford  on  the  occasion 
of  the  obseciuies  of  President  Tavlor,  in  August,  1S50. 

The  Relief,  Xo.  5,  continued  in  effective  service  until  1879, 
when  it  was  condemned  and  retired.  It  was  succeeded  by 
the  Alert,  Xo.  4,  of  Taunton,  built  by  Button,  of  Waterford? 
N.  Y.  The  old  name  and  ninnber,  Relief,  No.  ^,  was  re- 
tained, and  this  engine  continued  in  service  until  1886,  when 
it  was  taken  out  of  commission.  The  following  company 
was  attached  to  it  at  this  time  : 


Foreman,  Marcellus  P.  Whitfield. 
First  Assistant,  Joseph  C.  Jenney. 
Second  Assistant,  James  K.  Paull. 
Clerk.  Charles  P.  Alaxfield. 


Amos  Rogers, 
Wm.  H.  Bates, 
W^m.  H.  Norris, 
Charles  Coombs, 
Wm.  H.  Eldred, 
Thomas  Wrightington. 
James  M.  Allen,  Jr., 
Charles  H.  Coombs,  Jr., 
Henry  Wilson, 
Robert  Campbell, 
Edw.  L.  Besse, 


Geo.  Carpenter, 
Oliver  H .  Wilcox, 
Edgar  C.  Taber, 
Lorenzo  F.  Wilde, 
Wm.  K.  Rogers, 
Oliver  S.  Gurney, 
Seth  Shaw, 
Albert  Charey, 
Thomas  W.  Nye, 
Albert  Eldred,' 
Henr\   B.  (rififord. 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT.  79 

James  Cannon,  H.  T.  Wilde, 

Wm.  H.  Dunham,  Edward  C.  Earley, 

James  A.  Gammons,  Fred.  J.  Vaughn, 

James  C.  Chapman,  Arthur  Harrington, 

Benj.  W.  Kempton.  Stilman  Ryder, 

Herman  H.  Hathaway,  Courtland  Shaw, 

John  J.  Hammond,  Nathaniel  Dunn, 

WUliam  Aston. 

For  a  "•  used- lip  cui^ine,"  the  Relief  made  a  surprisinj^^  exhi- 
bition in  the  hand-en<jine  trial,  July  4,  1S90.  Of  this  perform- 
ance  I  shall  speak  attain. 

On  Jan.  28,  1S50,  a  disastrous  tire  occurred  in  Tallman's 
l)lock,  on  Union  street,  Messrs.  Georji'c  M.  Eddv  &  Co.  beino- 
burned  out.  A  sad  event  at  this  conflagration  was  the  death 
of  Mr.  Timothy  Tallman,  an  aged  and  well  known  citizen. 
He  occupied  a  room  in  tlie  upper  story,  and  was  smothered  bv 
the  dense  smoke.  Messrs.  William  Neal  and  William  H. 
Sherman  were  the  first  to  enter  the  room  and  rescue  the 
body;  but  life  was  extinct.  A  favorite  dog,  "Wallace,"  be- 
longing to  Mr.  Eddy,  met  the  same  fate.  He  was  a  powerful 
mastifl'  and  a  valuable  watch  do©-. 

Wallace  had  a  fine  reputation,  gained  principally  through 
an  incident  which  I  will  relate.  In  the  yard  of  the  house 
was  kept  a  swill  l:)arrel,  which  was  regularly  emptied  b}- 
a  poor  neighbor,  rich  in  pig  stock.  Much  to  his  annoyance,  it 
was  frequently  found  empty  when  he  made  his  regular  calls. 
These  occurrences  came  so  often  that  a  sharp  lookout  was  kept, 
but  without  success.  It  was  concluded  finally  to  let  Wallace 
take  a  part  in  the  investigation,  and  so  he  was  left  out  of  doors 
for  the  night.  The  family  retired  at  the  usual  time,  but  before 
sleep  had  come  to  the  eyelids  the  short,  sharp,  significant 
growl  of  Wallace  was  heard  on  the  night  air.  Mr.  Eddy  con- 
cluded not  to  get  up  :  for  if  anybody  was  in  the  yard  not  intent 
on  mischief,  the  dog  would  do  him  no  harm.  Should  it  happen 
that  any  person  was  on  the  premises  engaged  in  unlawful  pur- 
suits, he  was  confident  that  W^allace  would  attend  to  the  busi- 
ness faithfully.      In  the  morning  the  barrel  was  found  lying  on 


So  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  bilge,  and  the  dog",  with  his  head  close  to  the  open  end, 
was  comfortably  taking  his  ease.  On  close  investigation  a 
a  plump,  good-sized  colored  bov  was  found  in  the  barrel  with 
his  head  toward  the  lower  end.  Wallace  was  sent  into  the 
house  to  partake  of  his  morning  meal,  and  the  lad  crawled 
out.  He  acknowledg'ed  that  he  was  the  thief.  On  beino- 
asked  to  explain  matters,  he  said  that  he  had  turned  down  the 
barrel  to  scoop  out  the  contents  when  he  heard  the  dog  com- 
ing. Becoming  suddenly  frightened  at  the  situation,  he 
crawled  in  for  safety's  sake,  and  the  dog  coolly  lay  down 
and  looked  at  him  in  calm  contemplation.  Any  movement 
looking  like  a  desire  to  depart  was  greeted  with  a  sugges- 
tive growl.  No  doubt  it  was  an  edifying  spectacle  for  the  dog. 
As  to  the  boy,  he  concluded  to  stay  all  night,  as  his  parents 
wouldn't  be  very  anxious  about  him.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  the 
regular  scavenger  had  no  iurther  trouble  in  getting  the 
weekly  supj^ly  for  his  pigs. 

The  Philadelphia  records  give  this  item  for  July  4,  iS^o: 

"The  engine  was  taken  to  Market  square,  drawn  by  a  pair  of  beau- 
tiful black  horses,  provided  by  Mr.  N.  O.  Tripp,  a  member  of  the  com- 
pany. We  then  had  a  trial  with  Nos.  5,  6,  9,  10,  11,  and  the  No.  5,  of 
Fairhaven.     It  was  admitted  by  everybody  that  No.  7  'beat  the  crowd.' " 

I  hnd  the  following  "  Song  to  the  Firemen  "  among  the  re- 
cords of  the  Philadelphia,  No.  7,  and  I  presume  the  poet 
was  inspired  to  write  it  in  praise  of  this  engine.  It  is  written 
to  the  tune  of  ''  Lucy  Lons::" 

Now  comrades  pay  attention 

While  1  rehearse  the  fame 
Of  a  pretty  little  engine 

We  always  love  to  name. 

Chorus. 

O,  break  her  down,  my  hearties, 
My  hearties,  stout  and  strong, 

O,  crack  her  down,  my  hearties, 
To  the  tune  of  "  Lucy  Long." 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  8 1 


This  little  one's  a  snorter, 

A  hardened  case  indeed, 
And  the  way  she  throws  the  water 

Is  a  caution  to  the  breed. 

Chorus. 

Her  lungs  are  made  of  copper 
And  her  limbs  are  clothed  in  brass, 

And  she  runs,  the  young  jade  hopper, 
Like  a  snake  among  the  grass. 

Chorus. 

She's  no  rum  soaking  sinner, 

Her  drink  is  from  the  wells. 
And  you'd  think  the  deuce  was  in  her 

When  she  hears  the  ringing  bells. 

Chorus. 

The  saucy  little  vixen 

Is  fire's  deadliest  foe, 
And  the  way  she  puts  the  licks  in 

When  she  comes  to  the  scratch  ain't  slow. 

Chorus. 

The  strife  she's  ever  after, 

She  always  holds  out  game, 
So  long  as  smokes  a  rafter. 

So  long  as  flares  a  flame. 


'&. 


Chorus. 


Where'er  the  fire  is  hottest 

You'll  find  her  on  the  spot. 
Then  toast  the  saucy  varmint 

In  cups  of  ."  coffee  hot." 

Chorus. 

On  July  4th,  1S51,  engine  companies  Nos.  5,  7,  9  and  10 
spent  the  dav  in  Providence,  participating  in  the  grand  parade 
in  that  city. 

The  rivalry  between  the  fire  companies  at  this  period  took  a 
most  singular  turn.  Among  the  j^erformers  belonging  to  the 
Forbes  Dramatic  Co.,  of  Providence,  then  playing  in  Libert} 
Hall  (the  old  wooden  structure,  burned  Nov.  loth,  1S54),  ^'^^^^'^ 
two  talented  actresses,  Miss  Evangeline  Hathaway  and  Miss 
Kate  Newton.  These  ladies  were  very  popular  with  the  fire- 
men. Miss  Hathaway  being  the  favorite  of  Nos.  5  and   7,   and 


82 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Miss  Newton  of  Nos.  6  and  1 1 .  How  this  sort  of  thing- 
came  about  nobody  knows,  but  all  the  enthusiasm  of  the  rivalry 
was  fully  developed  in  this  mad  craze.  Everv  benefit  nighty 
(and  they  occurred  almost  weekly  in  the  season)  the  compan- 
ies would  parade  in  uniform,  accompanied  by  music,  and  at- 
tend the  performances  of  these  actresses,  showering  upon  them 


EZRA   K.   DELANO. 

(  Chief  Engineer,  1851-1852.) 

wreaths,  bouquets  of  flowers,  and  purses  liberally  filled  with 
money.  "  Anything  to  beat  Grant,"  seemed  to  be  the  spirit 
underlying  this  whole  transaction,  and  the  greatest  wonder  is 
that  this  foolishness  continued  as  long  as  it  did. 

The  year  iS^i  developed  a  strange   and   alarming   condition 


NEW    BEDFORD    PMKE    DEPARTMENT.  S3 

of  things,  that  spread  ahirni  among  our  citizens.  The  fre- 
qiiencv  of  incendiary  fires  was  disturbing  enough,  but  the  fire 
apparatus  was  tampered  with,  the  liose  was  cut,  and  other 
malicious  acts  were  committed.  The  Xo.  6  was  mutihited, 
and  also  No.  3.  vSeveral  large  rewards  for  conviction 
were  ofiered  bv  the  Board  of  Firewards. 

The  interest  in  the  Fire  Department  at  this  time  was  simply 
wonderful.  Every  one  had  his  favorite  company.  He  was  a 
weak-minded  youth  or  a  comparatively  new  resident  in  the 
town  who  had  attained  the  age  of  eight  or  ten  years,  and  didn't 
*'blow"  for  Nos.  ^  or  7,  or  Nos.  6  or  11.  vSo  contagious  be- 
came the  racing  spirit  that  it  was  a  common  sight  during  the 
summer  evenings  to  see  boy  companies  with  miniature  engines, 
built  from  large  shoe  boxes,  mounted  on  a  set  of  condemned 
wheels,  bought  at  a  close  bargain  from  some  block-maker. 
The  sides  of  these  elegant  creations  would  be  covered  with 
hieroglyphics  containing  the  information  that  it  was  No.  5  or  6 
or  7  ;  that  it  was  *• 'Always  ready,"  that  it  "Strives  to  conquer," 
or  "  Our  duty  done  our  aim  accomplished." 

With  these  instruments  of  fun  the  boys  w^ould  have  race 
after  race,  night  after  night,  unless  good  fortune  broke  the 
spell  with  the  frequent  false  alarms  calling  out  the  bigger  boys 
with  their  apparatus.  What  days  they  were  I  Let  the  reader 
be  gentle  in  his  criticism  of  this  sport,  and  remember  that 
we  w^ere  boys  then,  with  boyish  fancies,  boyish  aspirations, 
and  brimful  of  enthusiasm  for  that  which  our  lathers  were 
identified  with  and  preferred  ;  and  so  we  lifted  our  voices  and 
shouts  in  praise  of  our  favorite. 

I  wonder  if  anv  of  my  readers  remember  the  Juvenile  En- 
gine Co.,  No.  13,  of  which  Charlie  Collins  and  Henry  Howe 
were  captains.  Among  the  members  were  Zach.  Cushman, 
Nathan  D.  Maxfield,  Gen.  George  Worth,  Fred.  Wood,  Wil- 
liam Howland,  John  D.  Howland  and  others,  making  about 
twenty-five  in  number — all  scholars  at  Bush  street  school.  We 
had  for  an  engine  a  tiny  garden  machine,  with  end  brakes. 
It  belonged  to  Edward  S.  Taber,  Esq.,  who  kindly  loaned  it  to 


84 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


the  boys,  and  it  is  still  in  Mr.  Taber's  possession.  He  was  for 
five  years  a  member  of  Oregon,  No.  ii,  and  was  captain  of  the 
company  when  he  w^ithdrew  from  membership,  in  18^4.  He 
was  presented  with  a  silver  trnmpet  during  his  term  of  service, 
the  presentation  being  made  by  Mr.  William  G.  Taber,  in  be- 
half of  the  Oreofons. 

Our  uniform  consisted  of  white  shirts,  red  stripes  on 
our  trousers  and  bright  bands  on  our  caps.  What  grand 
parades  we  used  to  have  on  Saturdavs !  Bright,  happv 
days  they  v^^ere ;  that  is,  most  of  them.  One  lovely  sum- 
mer day  our  company  started  out  with  drums  beating  and 
banners  flying  for  an  excursion  to  Fort  Phoenix.  We  paraded 
through  our  own  streets  first,  dragging  our  little  engine,  beau- 


JUVENILE  ENGINE,   NO.   12. 

tifuUv  decorated  with  flowers,  wreaths,  and  gaily  colored 
ribbons.  After  permitting  ourselves  to  be  admired  by  our 
own  citizens  first,  w^e  took  passage  in  the  staunch  ferryboat 
Union,  bound  for  Fairhaven.  We  had  a  delightful  passage, 
and  landed  in  safety  and  in  good  health.  None  w^ere  seasick, 
but  all  were  homesick  before  the  day  was  over.  We  marched 
into  the  town  with  great  pomp,  and  we  received  a  warm  re- 
ception from  the  youth  of  the  village ;  very  warm  indeed. 
Before  we  had  reached  the  centre  of  the  town  every  native- 
born  had  "scented  the  battle  from  afar."  And  we  were  soon 
surrounded  with  a  large  and  enthusiastic  follow^ing.  They  be- 
came very  demonstrative,  they  became  close  friends,  too  close 
for  comfort,  they  did  their  best  to  amuse  us  by  tossing  pebbles 


NEW     BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  S^ 

at  US.  Thev  hustled  us  about  good  and  ill  naturedly.  They 
wanted  very  much  to  see  how  our  enghie  looked  bottom  side 
up.  Now  all  this  didn't  furnish  any  real  fun  for  us,  and  so 
boy-like  we  got  mad  and,  singular  as  it  may  seem,  that  made 
fun  for  them. 

This  sort  of  entertainment  continued  until  we  got  tired. 
The  fact  was  there  was  too  much  of  it  and  too  long  continued 
to  be  thoroughh'  enjoyed.  Fort  Phcenix  seemed  to  be  far, 
far  away,  and  the  day  was  passing  so  rapidly  that  we  finally 
concluded  to  gfo  home.  They  generously  furnished  us  escort. 
When  we  turned  down  the  street  and  had  a  straight  course, 
we  took  a  double  quick  and  went  on  board  the  ferryboat  as  if 
we  had  been  shot  from  a  mortar.  Pleasant  social  remarks 
passed  between  us  as  we  sailed  out  upon  the  river. 

There  used  to  be  a  little  ditty,  familiar  to  all  in  those  days, 
which  we  might  have  sung  on  this  occasion  : 

Corsica  jigs  put  on  your  wigs. 

And  oyer  to  Bedford  come  : 
New  Bedford  boys  put  on  your  hats, 

And  make  the  Corsicans  run. 

If  I  remember  correctly,  our  future  excursions  were  confined 
to  Rowland's  Grove  and  Clark's  Point,  which  were  much  pre- 
ferred to  Fort  Phoenix  because  of  better  protection  from  vio- 
lent winds  and  sudden  storms. 

At  this  time  there  was  a  juvenile  company.  No.  13,  Captain 
Records,  at  the  north  part  of  the  city.  The  company  had  uni- 
forms and  appeared  frequently  on  the  streets  in  parade.  They 
made  almost  as  fine  an  appearance  as  the  No.  12s,  but  they 
couldn't  put  on  such  airs  as  we  did,  for  they  hadn't  been  to  Fair- 
haven.  Besides,  the  No.  12s  had  the  distinguished  honor  of 
actually  joining  in  the  torchlight  procession  with  Franklin,  No. 
10,  on  the  evening  of  Oct.  4,  185 1.  The  occasion  was  the 
escorting  of  Columbian,  No.  5,  and  Philadelphia,  No.  7,  from 
the  station  on  their  return  from  a  visit  to  the  Protectors,  of 
North  Bridge  water. 


86  HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  Active,  Xo.  2,  was  a  little  bucket  machine  belonging  to 
Mr.  George  M.  Eddv,  on  Third  street  It  had  an  organized 
compan^ ,  and  among  the  boys  were  Abram  T.  Eddy,  George 
M.  Eddy,  Jr.,  Fred.  vSmith,  Rodman  Tripp,  William  Cobb, 
Frank  Taber,  William  Bryant,  Charley  Knights,  "General" 
George  W^orth  (he  must  have  been  an  enthusiast,  for  he  also 
belonged  to  No.  12),  Fred.  Barker,  Jake  Johnson  and  others. 
In  their  parades  the  dog  Wallace  appeared  with  a  blanket 
suitably  adorned. 

The  Board  of  Engineers  from  1853  till  Aug.  21,  1854: 

(leorge  Wilson,  Chief. 

George  G.  Gifford.  Caleb  L.  Ellis, 

Benjamin  B.  Covell,  Tilson  B.  Denham. 

1854. 

Joshua  B.  Ashley,  Chief. 

Oliver  M.  Brownell,  Tillinghast  P.  Tompkins, 

.  Israel  T.  Bryant,  George  Hinckley. 

1855. 

Zachariah  Hillman,  Chief. 

James  Durfee,  George  Perry, 

George  G.  (iififord,  Robert  C.  Topham. 

The  Ohio,  No.  3,  was  received  from  its  builders,  the  Ag- 
news,  of  Philadelphia,  earlv  in  1S50,  and  placed  in  the  North 
Second  street  eno-ine-house.  It  was  esteemed  a  valuable  and 
powerful  addition  to  our  fire  apparatus  and  gave  satisfaction 
to  the  authorities.  Their  pleasure  took  the  form  of  compli- 
mentarv  resolutions,  passed  bv  the  Board  of  Firewards,  speak- 
ing in  flattering  terms  of  all  engines  built  bv  the  Agnews  for 
our  city.  The  resolutions  were  spread  upon  the  records  and 
published  in  the  newspapers. 

Singular  as  it  may  seem,  more  than  six  months  passed  before 
anv  attempt  was  made  to  provide  a  compan^•  for  the  new  en- 
gine. Then  ]Mr.  Henrv  R.  Wilcox  took  the  matter  in  hand 
and  completed  the  organization  with  the  following  officers  : 

Foreman,  Henry  R.  Wilcox. 
First  Assistant,  Nathan  Johnson. 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 


§7 


Second  Assistant,  Frederick  F.  Chase. 
Clerk,  George  W.  Paine. 

A  substantial  brick  house  was  built  on    Purchase  street,  just 
north    of  Maxfield.    and   the   en2:ine   was   nioved  to    the    new 


JOSHUA  B.  ASHLEY. 
(  Chief  Engineer,  1854.) 


quarters  Jan.  3,  1855,  The  compau}-  made  a  i:)arade  through 
North  Second,  Union  and  Purchase  streets  to  the  house, 
where  the  ensfine  was  worked,  taking^  water  from  the  cistern 
under  the  new  buildins". 


88 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


I  give  mv  readers  the  full  roll  lor  iS^2,  which  we  are  assured 
by  Capt.  Wilcox  is  substantially  the  same  as  when  organized 
In  18^0  : 

Ohio  Engine  Co.,  No.  3.     (North  Second  street.) 

Foreman,  Henry  R.  Wilcox. 
First  Assistant,  Nathan  Johnson. 
Second  Assistant,  Frederick  P.  Chase. 
Clerk,  George  W.  Paine. 


Josiah  Cos^geshall, 
W.  F.  H.Xlapp, 
James  C.  Devine, 
James  McKenney, 
Samuel  Johnson, 
Edward  Hicks, 
James  Durfee,  Jr., 
William  La  vers, 
Joseph  M.  Shiverick, 
Patrick  Mead, 
W.  H.  Damon, 
Michael  Ryan, 
Thomas  Cross, 
Michael  Uevine, 
Patrick  Devine, 
Charles  J .  Place, 
W^  B.  Hathaway, 
Samuel  Haven, 
Lemuel  R.  James, 
Thomas  Cranston, 
James  Warren, 
Maltiab  J.  Bourne, 
Richard  T.  Durfey, 


Enoch  Crocker, 
James  Conway, 
(jorton  Aessey, 
Cornelius  Smith, 
Joseph  Hoyle, 
James  H.  Hood, 
Valentine  Francis, 
Leander  Manchester, 
Bernard  Mc(}urk, 
Michael  H.  Elliot, 
(icorge  G.  Peck, 
Jacob  Moores, 
Benjamin  Tripp, 
George  Young, 
Charles  Westgate, 
Job  Slocum, 
Benjamin  Crocker, 
Ezra  Tew, 
David  P.  Devoll, 
Richmond  M.  Taber, 
Benjamni  R.  Brownell, 
Andrew  Harper, 
Timothy  Blanchard. 


On  the  evening  of  June  30,  1S51,  a  fierce  conflagration  oc- 
curred on  Purchase  street,  in  Albert  Shaw's  looking-glass  and 
picture  frame  manufactory.  The  combustible  nature  of  the 
materials  made  a  fire  of  fearful  intensity,  and  the  entire  struc- 
ture, with  contents,  was  quickly  destroyed.  At  this  fire  an  un- 
pleasantness occurred  between  the  Chief  Engineer  and  Frank- 
lin Co.,  No.  10,  growing  out  of  a  misunderstanding  of  an 
order.  Considerable  feeling  was  stirred  up,  but  the  mat- 
ter soon  subsided  without  any  serious  consequences.  At  this 
fire  the  Ohio,  No.  3,  was  used  for  the  first  time,  Mr.  William 
Durfee  acting  as  pipeman. 


NEW    BEDFOFiD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  89 

In  November,  18^2,  a  serious  difficultv  arose  between  Co- 
lumbian Engine  Co.,  No.  5,  and  the  Board  of  Engineers,  which 
resulted  in  the  disbanding  of  the  Columbians.  The  occurrence 
took  place  at  the  period  when  false  alarms  were  raised,  many 
of  them  no  doubt  to  furnish  an  opportunity  for  a  race.  One 
evening  Nos.  ^  and  6  started  north  on  Purchase  street  at  a 
tearing  pace,  when  the  Chief  appeared  on  the  scene  and  or- 
dered the  No.  ^  to  stop.  In  their  zeal  and  excitement  they 
failed  to  obev  his  command,  and  seizing  the  headrope,  lie  took 
a  turn  around  a  lantern  post.  This  would  have  been  success- 
ful if  a  readv  knife  hadn't  left  some  twenty  feet  in  tiie  hands 
of  the  Chief,  as  the  Columbian  still  pursued  its  course. 
The  affair,  of  course,  resulted  in  an  investigation,  and 
a  demand  was  made  by  the  Board  of  Engineers  that 
the  captain  of  No.  :;  should  furnish  a  list  of  the  names 
of  the  disobedient  members.  This  was  refused  and  the  com- 
panv  disbanded,  onlv  to  be  invited  to  return  to  the  fire  depart- 
ment the  following  year. 

Sept  18,  18^2,  the  Franklin  Engine  Co.,  No.  10,  went  on 
an  excursion  to  Newport.  On  their  arrival  at  Fall  River  thev 
were  met  by  Capt.  Buffington  and  ]Mr.  \\  rightington  of  the 
Niagara,  No.  4.  and  escorted  to  the  Exchange  Hotel,  where 
they  enj'oyed  a  substantial  breakfast,  provided  by  the  Niagaras, 
a  handsome  compliment,  and  one  that  found  due  appreciation 
from  the  Franklins.  (I  find  numerous  instances  on  record 
where  our  fire  companies  were  the  recipients  of  the 
generositv  and  courtesv  of  the  Fall  River  firemen.)  At  9 
o'clock  they  took  passage  on  the  good  steamer  Canonicus, 
arriving  in  Newport  at  11,  where  they  were  cordially  re- 
ceived and  oenerouslv  entertained  bv  Protection  Engine 
Co.,  No.  ^.  After  several  hours  of  enjoyment  in  the 
town,  they  took  a  return  steamer  to  Fall  River.  The 
company  were  again  met  by  the  Niagnras,  and,  after 
being  escorted  through  the  principal  streets,  they  took 
the    train    for    home.       On     their    arri\al     another    agreeable 


90 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


able  surprise  was  in  store  for  them,  for  the  CoUimbian,  No.  5, 
with  lull  ranks,  awaited  them  with  cordial  greeting.  After  a 
short  parade  the  Columbians  escorted  them  to  the  Mansion 
House,  where  a  sumptuous  banquet  was  prepared  and  fully  en- 
joyed. Toasts,  speeches  and  music  followed,  and  the  festivi- 
ties of  the  day  closed  with  their  being  escorted  to  their 
house,  and  the  fun  vyas  over.  Clerk  Charles  D.  Tuell  records 
it  as  being  one  of  the  pleasantest  excursions  ever  had  in 
this  country  or  ''any  other."  A  card  of  thanks  was  prepared 
by  a  committee  consisting  of  Charles  D.  Tuell,  Robert  C. 
Topham,  John  P.  Taylor,  George  R.  Hurlburt,  and  George 
H.  Jennings  and  published  in  the  home  newspapers  and  in 
Fall  River  and  Newport. 

At  this  time  the  rivalry  between  the  engine  companies  de- 
veloped many  false  alarms  of  fire — raised  to  give  an  oppor- 
tunity for  another  race.  Almost  every  evening  found  them 
racing  through  the  streets  as  if  the  fate  of  the  nation  depended 
on  the  result.  An  unusual  smoke  from  some  chimney  was 
sufficient  cause  to  Nell  "fire"  and  raise  the  alarm.  The  record 
books  of  the  companies  show  it  to  have  been  a  common  occur- 
rence to  have  three  or  four  alarms  in  a  week.  A  genuine  fire 
was  a  surprise,  so  frequent  were  these  alarms. 

I  am  tempted  to  give  a  story  bearing  upon  the  subject.  A 
large  congregation  had  assembled  to  hear  a  strange  preacher 
of  some  note.  Soon  after  he  had  introduced  his  subject  the 
cry  of  "  Fire  !  Fire  !  !  "  in  the  street,  very  much  disturbed  the 
congregation,  and  many  were  about  to  retire,  when  an  elderly 
brother  arose  and  said  :  "  If  the  congregation  will  be  composed 
I  will  step  out  and  see  if  there  is  any  fire,  and  report."  The 
congregation  became  composed  and  the  minister  proceeded. 
Taking  advantage  of  the  occurrence,  he  called  attention  to 
a  fire  that  would  consume  the  \yorld,  a  fire  that  would  burn 
forever  in  the  lake  that  is  bottomless  ;  and  had  just  concluded 
a  sentence  of  terrible  import,  and  not  without  manifest  im- 
pression on  his  audience,  when  a  voice  from  the  other  end  of  the 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  9I 

church,  as  if  in  flat  denial  of  all  he  had  said,  bawled  ""'It's  a 
false  alarm."  The  eftbct  was  ludicrous  in  the  extreme.  The 
old  man  had  returned,  but  his  inopportinie  response  spoiled  the 
force  of  the  eloquent  appeal  from  the  pulpit. 

March  28,  iS'^^,  a  destructive  fire  occurred  which  destroyed 
the  oil  and  candle  works  of  Sanford  &  Howland  on  Water 
street,  just  north  of  Middle  street  and  in  the  rear  of  Parker's 
Block.  Owing  to  the  combustible  nature  of  the  material,  the 
extensive  wooden  buildings  were  quicklv  enveloped  in  flames 
and  speedily  destroved.  The  loss  of  propertv  was  about 
$^0,000.  The  fire  communicated  witli  Wilcox's  lumber  yard, 
which,  with  buildings,  was  destroyed,  entailing  a  loss  of 
$20,000.  Engines  were  present  from  Fairhavcn  and  Head-of- 
the-River  and  rendered  valuable  service. 

The  cooper-shop  on  the  east,  belonging  to  Mr.  Caleb  L. 
Ellis,  was  in  constant  danger  and  would  have  been  destroved 
but  for  the  generous  aid  of  a  host  of  citizens,  who,  with  buck- 
ets of  water,  kept  the  fire  from  making  headway,  though  it 
cauofht  on  tiiree  sides  of  the  buildin«;.  The  lofts  were  filled 
with  new  casks,  and  as  there  was  no  insurance  on  them,  the 
loss  would  have  been  a  irrievous  one.  "Therebv  hanofs  a 
tale,"  which  I  cannot  refrain  from  telling.  Grateful  to  his 
friends  for  their  arduous  and  successful  labors  and  knowing 
they  must  feel  exhausted.  Air.  Ellis  requested  one  (^f  his  men 
to  get  hot  coflee  for  them.  The  messenger  returned  after  a 
prolonged  absence,  saying  he  couldn't  find  any  hot  coflee,  nor 
could  he  get  anybody  to  make  it.  He  was  sent  away  the  sec- 
ond time  with  orders  to  o-cf  //,  get  sotnething  hot  anyway,  and 
something  hot  he  did  get.  "Two  buckets  of  whiskey  punch," 
was  what  the  bill  [from  Lindgreen]  said  next  morning.  As 
Mr.  Ellis  was  at  the  time  a  candidate  for  alderman  ow  the 
temperance  ticket,  the  transaction  was  embarrassing,  but  the 
bill  was  paid.  On  questioning  the  messenger  (now  one  of 
our  most  successful  business  men)  how  he  came  to  do  such  a 
thing,  he  replied  that  he  obeyed   orders.      As   he   couldn't  get 


92 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


hot  coffee  he  got  what   was   equally  hot.      The    lecture    he   re- 
ceived on  this  ocasion  was  of  about  the  same  temperature. 

August  II,  1S53,  a  couipauy  was  orgauized  iu  anticipation 
of  the  new  engine.  Young  Mechanic  No.  6,  which  had  been 
ordered  of  John  Agnew,  of  Philadelphia.  The  old  engine  was 
put  in  commission  until  the  new  one  arrived. 


CALEB  L.  ELLIS. 

(  Assistant  Engineer,  1853-54.  ) 

Sept.  9,  18^3,  the  great  fire  on  Pearl  .street,  corner  of  Pur- 
chase, occurred.  It  commenced  in  the  stable  of  Eleazar 
Phillips,  spreading  quicklv  to  the  Franklin  Hou.se,  Farmers' 
and  Mechanics'  Hotel,  a  dwelling  house.  Exchange  Hotel  and 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  93 

stable.       Seven    buildings   were   destroyed   with  $10,000  loss. 
The  Moniliig  Mercury  says  : 

"  The  buildings  destroyed,  though  designated  as  hotels,  were  not 
strictly  such,  but  occupied  for  a  variety  of  purposes,  which  rendered 
their  reputation  rather  doubtful.  Most  of  the  furniture  was  saved.  One 
hundred  barrels  of  liquor,  belonging  to  Mr.  Phillips,  were  consumed 
by— fire  (?).^" 

The  Mechanic,  No.  6.  was  manned  bv  volunteers,  as  the 
company  was  in  Newport  at  the  celebration  of  Perry's  vic- 
tory on  Lake  Erie.  They  had  taken  their  departure  on  the 
8th.  and,  in  passing  through  Fall  Ri\'er,  were  entertained  by 
Niagara  Engine  Co.,  No.  4.  On  their  arrival  at  Newport 
they  were  warmlv  welcomed  bv  their  hosts.  Protection,  No.  ^, 
"The  Honev  Bees,"  and  were  escorted  to  the  Ocean  House, 
where  a  sumptuous  banquet  was  in  preparation.  Three  hun- 
dred plates  were  laid  and  a  most  enjovable  time  followed. 
Music  and  speeches  made  the  occasion  one  long  to  be  re- 
membered bv  ever\-  participant. 

In  the  grand  parade,  on  the  following  dav,  the  companv  was 
assigned  a  prominent  position  and  under  most  favorable  cir- 
cumstances to  sret  the  full  benefit  of  a  tremendous  rain  storm 
that  prevailed  during  the  morning.  Thev  were  the  recipients 
of  many  attentions  from  the  citizens,  and  the  roval  entertain- 
ment pro\ided  by  "The  Honey  Bees  "  was  fully  appreciated. 
We  believe  it  is  traditional  with  the  Mechanics  that  this  New- 
port excursion  was  the  finest  of  any  in  their  historv. 

At  about  this  period  an  incident  occurred  at  a  fire  in  the  sub- 
urbs of  the  city,  the  truthfulness  of  which  is  vouched  for  bv 
one  of  our  veteran  firemen,  whose  statement  would  not  be 
questioned  should  I  mention  his  name.  To  reach  efiectuallv 
the  burning  stable  the  firemen  were  obliged  to  enter  an  adjoin- 
ing dwelling  house  and  fight  the  fire  from  the  attic  windows. 
They  were  appalled  to  find  in  the  upper  story  a  closed  coffin, 
a  ghastly  find  under  any  circumstances,  especiallv  so  in  this  in- 
stance, as  it  was  carefuUv  shoved  under  the  bed  and  in  a  man- 


94  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ner  sugo^estino:  that  it  was  intended  to  be  carefully  secreted. 
Curiosity  finally  overcome  their  fears,  and  throwing  ofi'  the 
cover  they  found  the  coffin,  to  their  agreeable  surprise,  filled 
with  apples.  Apples  ripe,  apples  red,  apples  rosy,  and  like 
Eve  of  old  they  were  tempted.  So  they  helped  themselves 
and  treated  the  crowd  below.  It  was  afterward  ascertained 
that  the  owner  of  the  house  had  lost  a  member  of  his  family, 
and  finding  that  he  could  purchase  two  coffins  much  cheaper 
in  proportion  to  the  price  of  one,  he  invested,  and  stowed 
the  spare  one  in  the  attic  for  future  use,  using  it  in  the  mean- 
time as  an  apple  bin. 


JAMES   B.   CONGDON. 

(Member  of  Board  of  Firewards  in  1835.) 


CHAPTER   VIT. 


c*.  HE  ""red  letter"  dav  for  the  Youii":  Mechanic  Engine 
^J>s  Company,  No.  6,  came  into  existence  much  like  any 
other,  and  to  the  general  world  it  probably  had  no  significant 
features,  but  to  the  enthusiastic  adherents  of  the  "Sixes"  the 
morning  of  Sept.  27,  18^4,  did  seem  to  be  unusually  bright 
and  cheery,  and  the  atmosphere  had  the  exhilarating  effect  of 
a  Fourth  of  Jul  v. 


96  HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  day  had  come,  and  with  it  the  new  machine  from  Phil- 
adelphia. For  twenty  years  the  Agnew  firm  had  furnished 
every  engine  for  our  fire  department,  and  they  had  in  e\'ery 
instance  given  the  highest  satisfaction. 

The  company  met  at  the  engine  house  at  7  o'clock,  arraved 
in  a  new  uniform  of  red  shirts,  faced  and  trimmed  with  blue, 
belts,  blue  caps,  and  black  trousers.  The  New  Bedford  Brass 
Band  put  in  an  early  appearance  and  entertained  the  assem- 
blage with  fine  music,  winding  up  with  "  Auld  Lang  Syne," 
as  the  company,  47  strong,  rolled  the  veteran  machine  from  the 
house.  After  parade  through  our  principal  streets,  they  took 
the  Mechanic  to  the  house  on  North  Second  street,  which  had 
become  a  sort  of  sepulchre  for  the  old  apparatus  of  the  fire  de- 
partment, giving  the  faithful  and  venerable  machine  three 
heartv  cheers  as  a  parting  greeting.  The  line  of  march  was 
then  taken  for  the  freight  depot. 

All  expectations  were  fully  met  when  the  new  engine  was 
drawn  from  the  car  and  brought  to  the  gaze  of  an  admiring 
crowd.  It  was  built  on  the  well  known  model  of  the  Agnew 
make,  S-inch  cylinder,  length  of  stroke  8^  inches,  and  furnished 
with  all  the  modern  appliances  then  known.  The  engine  was 
a  double-decker,  with  extension  brakes,  a  powerful  suction, 
and  seemed  to  have  all  the  qualities  of  a  first-class  engine. 
It  was  elegantly  mounted  with  polished  brass,  and  painted 
in  excellent  taste.  On  either  side  of  the  tower  appeared  the 
name  '•''  Young  Mechanic,"  with  the  motto  of  the  company, 
"Always  Ready,"  and  that  of  the  State,  "  Ense  petit,"  etc., 
handsomely  wrought. 

A  new  hose  carriage  had  been  built  by  Messrs.  Gray  & 
Barker,  the  iron  work  being  done  by  Messrs.  Joseph  Brownell 
&  Co.  It  was  a  fit  companion  for  the  new  engine.  The  ap- 
paratus was  taken  to  the  Pope  street  reservoir  and  then  to  the 
house.  The  company  then  proceeded  with  the  band  to  "  the 
ploughing  match,"  near  Rodman's  farm,  where  they  were 
vs-elcomed  in  a  hearty  speech  by  Hon.  J.  H.  W.  Page.    When 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


97 


the  festivities  of  the  day  were  conchuled  the  company  returned 
to  their  hall  and  were  dismissed. 

The  company's  record  of  the  day  closed  with  these  words, 
"May  the  course  of  the  Young  Mechanic  be  as  glorious  and 
her  end  as  pleasant  as  those  of  its  namesake."  The  price  paid 
for  the  new  engine  was  $1850. 


NATHAN   BARKER. 
(Captain  Young  Mechanic  Engine  Co.,  No.  6,  1853-54.) 


9S 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


I  now  give   the   full   organization    of  the   Young  Mechanic, 
No.  6,  at  this  date  and  for  the  year  1854  : 


Captain,  Nathan  Barker. 
First  Assistant,  Joseph  Hammond. 
Second  Assistant,  Charles  W.  Dyer, 
Third  Assistant,  J.  Augustus  Brownell. 
Fourth  Assistant,  Joseph  W.  Lavers. 
Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Sanford  Almy. 


William  E.  Watson, 
James  D.  Jenkins, 
John  C.  Paul, 
John  D.  Murdoch, 
Warren  G.  Pierce, 
Thomas  C.  Allen, 
Charles  G.  Kempton, 
Freeman  C.  Luce, 
Joseph  R.  Watson, 
William  A.  Church, 
William  McKimm, 
Seth  C.  Chase, 
Thomas  Paul, 
Moses  C.  Vinal, 
Ira  W.  Hathaway, 
Gus.  H.  Cushman, 
Thomas  Dowden, 
Fred.  A.  Plummer, 
William  H.  Sherman, 
George  T.  Sears, 
Fred.  Underwood, 
C.  H.  Underwood, 
Abm.  I.  Davis, 
Roland  W.  Snow, 
Charles  H.  Bourne, 
Jireh  W.  Clifton, 
C.  E.  Wheaton, 
Roland  Crocker, 
Wm.  Ricketson, 
Isaac  Ouinnell,  Jr., 
Leonard  Doty, 
William  Hackett, 
Sylvanus  Baker, 
Calvin  G.  Fisher, 
W'illiam  C.  Nichols, 
Thaddeus  Betz, 
Michael  Kennedy, 
Henry  Koenig, 
John  McCoy, 


John  Nutter, 
Matthias  C.  Pease, 
Jos.  N.  Landers, 
William  Kent, 
George  Devoll, 
Andrew  Lincoln, 
Bradford  Potter, 
Charles  Barnard, 
L.  T.  Manchester, 
Frank  J.  Bourne, 
James  Green, 
William  Crowell, 
Pardon  G.  Thomson, 
Alex.  H.  Sowle, 
Jireh  Tripp, 
Thomas  C.  Allen,  Jr., 
William  H.  Allen, 
John  Francis, 
Jesse  Chase, 
Samuel  Hinckley, 
John  E.  Brown, 
G.  N.  xMaxfield, 
John  B,  GifFord, 
Horatio  N.  Durfee, 
H.  O.  Brown, 
Clarfaus  Vansant, 
John  P.  Noble, 
Edwin  Betz, 
Christian  Betz, 
M.  H.  Elliot, 
Peter  Donley, 
Thomas  Cranston, 
Nath'l  R.  Pierce, 
James  Champion, 
James  Hemenway, 
David  Chadwick, 
James  Dooley, 
Henr}-  Stowe, 
Hiram  Randall, 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT.  99 

Henry  Klads,  Jesse  Allen, 

John'C.  Jones,  J.  J.  P.  Zettick, 

Fred.  Weyler,  B.  F.  Hinckley, 

Charles  A.  W.  Oesting,  Warren  W.  Parker, 

Richard  Luce. 

Henry  Hazzard,    >  ^^      ,    , 

T         '    1  ij    T-n-      }  lorch-boys. 

Leonard  B.  Ellis,  ) 

The  supreme  satisfaction  at  first  manifested  soon  became 
modified  and  grew  gradually  into  a  positive  dissatisfaction  with 
the  new  machine.  When  put  to  the  regular  work  it  failed  to 
accomplish  what  was  expected  and  promised  bv  the  builders. 
Finally  Mr.  Agnew  visited  the  city  May  21st,  1856,  and,  after 
an  examination,  the  company  worked  the  engine  under  his 
instruction.  His  verdict  was,  "  all  right  at  all  points,"  and 
that  settled  the  matter  so  for  as  the  builders  were  concerned. 

Not  so  with  the  Board  of  Engineers,  however,  nor  with  the 
company.  The  dissatisfaction  was  kept  at  a  boiling  heat.  The 
boj^s  finally,  Aug.  7,  1S56,  petitioned  the  Board  to  return 
them  the  old  engine  they  had  laid  away  with  such  imposing 
obsequies.  The  petition  was  laid  on  the  table  ;  but  prompt 
action  was  taken  by  the  authorities,  and  a  contract  was  made 
with  William  Jefters  &  Co.,  of  Pawtucket,  to  put  new  works 
in  the  engine.  The  old  engine  had  been  put  in  thorough  re- 
pair and  christened  with  a  new  title,  ''  The  Veteran,  No.  i," 
and  was  held  as  a  reserve  engine.  It  was  placed  in  commis- 
sion in  the  hands  of  its  old  friends,  and  did  service  till  the  re- 
modelled machine  was  received,  March  4,  1S5S.  When  this 
arrived  it  was  taken  to  the  reservoir  near  the  Custom  House  and 
subjected  to  a  most  rigid  test,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Jef- 
fers,  and  in  the  presence  ot  the  full  Board  of  Engineers — Til- 
linghast  Tompkins,  Chief;  John  Mathews,  Moses  H.  Bliss, 
George  Hinckley,  Thomas  P.  Swift,  Assistant  Engineers. 
The  result  of  the  trial,  which  proved  satisfactory  to  all  con- 
cerned, was  as  follows  : 

I  stream,  i  inch  nozzle,  100  feet  hose,  185  feet. 
I  stream,  i  1-4  inch  nozzle,  300  feet  hose,  146  feet. 

1  stream,  7-8  inch  nozzle,  300  feet  hose.  171  feet. 

2  streams,  7-8  inch  nozzle,  300  feet  hose,  140  feet. 


YOUNG   MECHANIC,   NO.   6, 

(On  Purchase  street,  returning  from  a  fire,  1855.) 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  lOI 

The  verdict  pronounced  ^vas  that  Jeffers  Sc  Co.  had  ful- 
filled their  asfreement  and  had  made  of  the  ensfine  a  first  class 
machine.  It  was  put  at  once  in  commission.  At  a  trial,  Aug. 
I,  1858,  it  played  210  feet  through  one  inch  nozzle  and  100 feet 
hose,  and  192  feet  through  i^  nozzle. 

July  10,  1S55,  our  city  was  visited  by  the  Dirigo  Engine 
Co.,  No.  8,  of  Portland,  accompanied  by  the  magnificent 
Chandler's  Brass  Band,  of  the  same  city.  The  company  num- 
bered 40  men  and  were  arrayed  in  undress  military  suit  with 
white  stripes.  Their  caps  were  very  handsome.  The  company 
inade  a  good  appearance  in  parade  and  were  a  fine  looking 
bodv  of  men,  splendid  representatives  of  the  Pine  Tree  State. 
Thev  were  received  at  the  station  bv  the  Voung  Mechanic, 
No.  6,  Capt.  Nathan  Barker,  and  Capt.  Robert  C.  Topham  of 
the  Board  of  Engineers.  The  "Sixes"  were  accompanied 
by  the  East  Stoughton  Band,  then  deemed  one  of  the  best  in 
the  state.  Cordial  greetings  w^ere  exchanged  with  the  visitors, 
then  the  line  of  march  was  taken  up,  and  a  parade  was  made 
through  the  princij^al  streets.  At  an  early  hour  in  the  evening 
a  banquet  was  served  in  Sears  Hall.  After  this  was  disposed 
of,  song,  speech  and  sentiment  ruled  the  hour.  This  part  of 
the  entertainment  opened  w^ith  a  selection  by  the  "Harmon- 
ions,"  an  organization  of  gentlemen  whose  reputation  for  fine 
singing  was  of  the  best.  This  was  followed  by  a  duet  by 
Messrs.  Thurston  and  Shaw,  of  the  Casco  Glee  Club.  The 
Standa^'d  said  :  "The  rich,  musical  voices  added  a  rare  fea- 
ture to  the  occasion.  It  is  seldom  our  good  fortune  to  hear 
better  singing."  Speeches  were  made  by  Chief  Engineer 
Davidson,  of  Portland,  and  by  otiiers  of  that  and  of  our  own 
city.  Music  was  rendered  by  the  Chandler  and  East  Stough- 
ton bands.  The  next  day  the  firemen  took  an  excursion  to 
Holmes  Hole,  in  which  occasion  the  Ohio,  No.  3,  participated  ; 
and  the  festivities  concluded  with  a  grand  ball  in  Mechanics 
Hall. 

During  the  "fifties"  the  Young  Mechanics  had  a  fine  excur- 
sion to  Nantucket,  and  were  entertained  bv  the   Fountain   En- 


I03 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


gine  Co.,  No.  8,  Capt.  Mitchell.  This  visit  was  returned  at 
a  later  period,  and  the  Nantucket  firemen  received  the  cordial 
attention  of  the  Young  Mechanics  and  Oregons,  on  a  Fourth 
of  July  celebration.  The  Young  Mechanics  also  entertained 
the  Protection,  No.  5,  of  Newport,  and  Niagaras,  of  Fall 
River,  during  these  years. 

The  old  engine,  the  "Mechanic,"  which  had  done  such  long 
and  faithful  service,  was  stationed  in  the  North  Second  street 
house,  and  an  organization  was  formed,  Dec.  21,  1854,  called 
the  Veteran  Association  of  Firemen.  It  was  composed  en- 
tirely of  fireman  who  had  seen  five  years  of  service  in  our 
fire  department.  They  were  attached  to  this  engine,  the  name 
of  which  had  been  changed  to  the  Veteran,  No.  i.  I  give 
below  the  complete  membership,  for  which  I  am  indebted  to 
Mr.  Charles  S.  Paisler : 


Wm.  H.  Taylor, 
Samuel  Watson, 
W.  L.  Edwards, 
James  B.  Congdon, 
Thomas  Sanford, 
George  Rowland,  Jr., 
Ambrose  Vincent, 
John  Mathews, 
Peleg  Potter, 
James  Wheaton, 
Ebenezer  Keen, 
Gideon  T.  Sawyer, 
Wright  Brownell, 
E.  E.  Shepardson, 
Arvin  Smith, 
Wm.  H.  Jenney, 
E.  W.  Kempton, 
Oliver  P.  Brightman, 
Simpson  Hart, 
George  G.  Gifford, 
Wm.  H.  Knights, 
Benj.  C.  Ward, 
Otis  N.  Pierce, 
Charles  W.  Morgan, 
Pardon  Potter,  Jr., 
Asa  R.  Nve, 
David  B.  Kempton, 


Zacharaiah  HiHman, 
George  Wilson, 
Edward  S.  Taber, 
Ezra  K.  Delano, 
Nathn  Kelley, 
Jos.  Allen,  Jr., 
Abraham  Delano^ 
Jos.  Chase, 
Thomas  N.  Allen, 
Jolin  N.  Barrows, 
John  H.  Chapman, 
Moses  H.  Bliss, 
Caleb  T.  Jenney, 
Tilson  B.  Denham, 
Allen  Case, 
Ebenezer  Ryder, 
Isaiah  Wood, 
Squire  Sanford, 
Chas.  M.  Pierce,  Jr. 
John  Wrightington, 
W\  H.  Willis, 
Wm.  Whitton,  Jr., 
David  E.  Chase, 
Andrew  G.  Pierce, 
James  Durfee, 
Rodolphus  Beetle, 
Caleb  L.  Ellis, 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  I03 

Nathan  P.  Brightman,  Phineas  White,  Jr., 

Peleg  Butts,  Wm.  G.  Taber, 

A.  D.  Richmond,  Benj.  B.  Covell, 

Levi  H.  Sturtevant,  Charles  C.  Tobey, 

Bethuel  Penniman,  Jr.,  James  Drew, 

J.  B.  Hadlev,  Charles  H.  Leach, 

Frederick  Homer,  Henry  V.  Davis, 

Ellery  Records,  Gamaliel  Taber, 

Benj.  Gage,  James  H.  Mendell, 

Martin  Pierce,  Lazarus  S.  Moulton, 

Willard  Shaw,'  Lsaiah  H.  Potter, 

Charles  Sanford,  Joseph  G.  Dean, 

Charles  M.  Pierce,  Francis  W.  Hatch, 

Nicholas  Davis. 


The  intervening  vears  between  the  reception  of  the  remod- 
elled machine  and  the  date  of  the  disbanding  of  the  company, 
Oct.  8,  1S60,  were  distingnished  b}'  intense  strife  with  their 
neighbors,  the  Columbians,  this  competition  often  assum- 
ing phases  neither  orderly  nor  creditable.  As  a  rule,  how- 
ever, it  was  of  a  good  natured  sort.  A  few  extracts  from  the 
records  of  No.  6  will  reveal  the  nature  of  this  emulation  : 

No.  6  Records. 

Oct.  21,  1854. — Alarm  of  fire  at  8.30  p.  m.  Burning  of  bushes  at 
Head-of-the-River.  Six  out  first,  with  Five  close  after  her.  Went  as  far 
as  our  limits  to  give  our  neighbors  a  good  chance  to  go  ahead  of  us,  if 
they  could.     Five  stopped  first  two  squares  behind. 

Feb.  5,  1855. — Fire  at  6.30  p.  m,  from  the  North  Christian  Church, 
opposite  the  Parker  House.  Damage  slight.  Six  out  first  and  first 
water. 

June  4,  1855. — Fire  at  piano  manufactory  on  William  street.  Six  out 
first  and  Five  first  water. 

July  3. — Fire  at  10.30  p.  m..  North  Christian  Church.  Five  out  first. 
Six  first  water. 

Aug.  25. — Fire  at  Mountain  Brow,  Perry's  Neck.  Five  out  first.  Six 
passed  her  and  led  more  than  two  squares  in  going  to  Rodman's  farm. 

loth  mo.,  15th,  1854. — Alarm,  caused  by  burning  of  a  barn  near  the 
railroad  crossing.  Six  out  first,  but  being  stopped  by  the  Chief  Engi- 
neer, Five  passed  us.  Upon  the  Chief  being  convinced  that  there  was 
a  fire,  he  gave  word  to  go  ahead.  Went  up  Purchase  street  in  good 
style  and  passed  No.  9  (she  showing  fair  play)  ;  overtook  No.  5.  The 
men  holding  the  tongue  seemed  to  be  laboring  under  some  complaint 
that  caused  a  dizziness  in  the  head  to  judge  by  the  way  they  managed 


I04  HISTORY    OF    THE 

their  engine  ;  for,  though  the  Six  came  nearly  alongside  two  separate 
times  on  two  separate  sides,  we  .were  unable  to  pass  her,  as  they  mean- 
dered in  most  beautiful  style  from  one  curbstone  to  the  other. 

Oct.  II,  1855. — F^ii"^  3,t  Kempton's  lumber  yard,  Foster  street.  Five 
out  first  and  first  water. 

Nov.  30. — Met  this  morning  at  9.30  o'clock  for  a  trial  at  Custom 
House  reservoir,  with  Ohio,  No.  3,  and  we  got  most  woefully  beaten, 
considering  the  size  and  capacity  of  our  engine. 

April  30,  1855. — Donated  to  the  Dorcas  Society  and  Ladies'  Aid 
Society  each  $37.66. 

July  22,  1859. — False  alarm  of  fire  at  9.30  o'clock  p.  m.  Five  out 
first,  Six  passed  her  on  Fifth  street.  Five,  in  attempting  to  pass  the 
Six,  locked  wheels,  so  that  she  was  under  the  necessity  of  taking  off 
one  of  her  wheels  to  get  out  of  the  mess. 

Oct.  30. — False  alarm  of  fire  at  7  p.  m.  Five  out  first,  with  full  com- 
plement of  men  on  the  drag  ropes — bound  to  keep  ahead  or  burst. 


I  frankly  admit  that  all  this  was  undig-nified — that  it  was 
boys'  play.  I  don't  pretend  to  defend  all  that  occurred  in  those 
palmy  days  of  the  hand-engine  ;  but  it  was  fun  for  the  boys, 
and  even  our  elders  were  not  altogether  disinterested  as  to 
which  got  f^rst  water  or  won  the  race.  When,  however,  the 
common  enemy  took  hold  upon  the  homes  and  property  of  our 
citizens,  then  to  the  credit  of  the  tiremen  be  it  said  that  all 
animosity  was  laid  quickly  aside,  and  harmoniously  they 
worked  together  in  conquering  the  fire  fiend.  Earlv  and  late 
they  strove  to  stay  the  progress  of  its  devastation. 

Speaking  of  late  hours  gives  me  an  opportunity  to  relate 
a  story  told  me  by  my  friend,  James  Taylor.  Few  citi- 
zens were  better  known  in  their  day  than  Col.  John  Baylies 
and  Joshua  B.  King,  both  noted  wits  and  famous  story  tellers. 
Their  homes  were  close  together  at  the  head  of  Bedford  street ; 
they  were  warm  friends  and  sought  constantly  each  other's 
society.  It  was  their  custom  to  go  down  town  together  even- 
ings to  the  post  office,  and  sauntering  homeward,  the}'  would 
stand  in  front  of  the  colonel's  gate  and  chat  till  a  late  hour. 
This  became  very  annoying  to  Mrs.  B.,  and  the  colonel  pre- 
tended that  he  also  disliked  to  be  kept  from  his  rest  by  the 
loquacious  tongue  of  his  friend. 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  10=^ 

One  afternoon  in  early  winter  the  colonel  came  home  and 
asked  his  wife  to  lav  out  for  him  his  heaviest  underclothes,  an 
extra  pair  of  stockings,  his  gloves,  and  a  muffler.  He  proposed 
to  give  his  friend  King  all  the  time  he  wanted  that  night  and 
see  if  he  couldn't  freeze  him  out.  So,  dressing  himself  through- 
out with  a  double  suit  of  clothing,  he  put  himself  in  condition 
to  be  warm  enough  to  spend  a  season  in  the  Arctic.  Meeting 
his  friend  down  town,  the  two  went  to  the  post  office,  and  called 
at  the  Eagle  Hotel  (then  situated  where  now  stands  Ricketson 
Block),  to  hear  the  news.  Starting  homeward,  they  ar- 
rived at  the  colonel's  gate  soon  after  9  o'clock.  It  was  a  bitterly 
cold  night,  and  Mrs.  Baylies  flattered  herself  that  the  colonel 
would  come  in  at  an  early  hour.  Alas  for  human  expectations  ! 
10  o'clock  ;  II  o'clock;  iitj  o'clock;  12  o'clock, — it  was  well 
past  that  hour  before  the  colonel  came  into  the  house. 

"Almost  sorry  I  came  in,"  was  the  response  to  the  tender 
inquiries  of  his  wife. 

"Whv  so?"   she  gently  inquired. 

"  Old  King  had  just  commenced  a  new  story,"  was  his 
answer. 

The  winter  clothing:  w^as  laid  away  for  a  more  inclement 
season. 

After  the  difficulty  with  the  Board  of  Engineers  had  been 
settled  by  the  disbanding  of  the  Columbian  Engine  Com- 
pany, No.  ^,  Oct.  25,  1 85 2,  the  Ex-Five  Association  was 
formed  Nov.  i,  with  the  same  officers,  and  held  meetings  in  a 
room  in  the  rear  of  the  Columbian  Club  room,  in  the  second 
story  of  the  Nathan  Chase  building,  recently  removed  from  the 
lot  now  occupied  by  the  Wing  building  on  Purchase  street. 
The  organization  continued  in  vigorous  existence  till  May  21, 
1853,  when  the  members  were  invited  to  resume  their  places 
in  the  fire  department.  At  the  meeting  when  the  company 
voted  to  accept  the  invitation,  the  discussion  gav^e  rise  to  many 
spirited  remarks  by  Messrs.  Cook,  Hyde,  Palmer,  Weaver, 
"Friend"  Perez  Jenkins,  and  Sanford.     The  last  named  gentle- 


io6 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


man  wound  up  his  eloquent  speech  with  the   following   quota- 
tion altered  to  fit  the  occasion  : 

"This  was  the  winter  of  our  discontent 
Made  o^lorious  summer  by  late  events, 
And  all  the  clouds  that  o'er  the  exiles  frowned, 
Were  in  the  bosom  of  ocean  drowned/' 

In  1853  the  Columbians  accepted  an  invitation  to  visit  the 
Atlantic  Engine  Co.,  No.  10,  of  Providence.  Clerk  Fales,  in 
his  report,  said  : 

*'  We  were  hospitably  received  and  made  welcome.  As  firemen  they 
know  how  to  greet  their  friends  and  brothers  who  toil  for  the  public 
good." 

Nov.  28,  1853,  the  Columbians"  presented  a  nice  chandelier 
to  the  Cannonville  church.  The  g"ift  was  "■ratefullv  received 
and  acknowledged  in  a  courteous  letter  from  the  pastor,  Rev. 
Mr.  Greenwood. 

The  Columbian,  No.  5,  was  reorganized  May  28,  1853,  with 
the  followinof  officers  : 


"t> 


Foreman,  Israel  T.  Bryant. 
First  Assistant,  George  Hinckley. 
Second  Assistant,  John  B.  Hyde. 
Clerk,  Giles  Fales. 

June  27,  Mr.  William  Brownell  presented  the  company  with 
an  elegant  copy  of  the  Bible,  and  a  vote  was  passed  that  one 
chapter  should  be  read  from  it  at  the  opening  of  each  meeting. 
This  was  done  regularly  for  many  vears,  the  clerk,  Mr.  Fales, 
performing  the  duty.  It  is  fair  to  suppose  that  the  mem- 
bers listened  carefully  and  attentively.  And  yet  it  is  said  that 
Mr.  Fales  read  the  same  chapter  for  thirteen  consecutive  meet- 
ings without  having  the  fact  discovered.  Mr.  Perez  Jenkins, 
a  good  Methodist  brother,  "  caught  on"  to  the  situation  and 
suggested  that  for  variety's  sake  it  would  be  well  for  Mr.  Fales 
to  make  other  selections.  The  Bible  readins:  continued  with  a 
more  extended  choice  of  chapters. 


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Io8  HISTORY    OF    THE 

In  1854  Capt.  Israel  T.  Bryant  resigned  the  command,  hav- 
ing been  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Engineers.  He 
was  succeeded  by  James  I.  Borland,  who  soon  resigned  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health.  John  B.  Hyde  was  elected  captain,  and 
held  that  position  till  1861  ;  and  I  think  that  his  officers, 
Messrs.  Sherman,  Weaver,  Hart  and  Fales,  were  associated 
with  him  during  this  long  term  of  office.  Capt.  Hyde  was 
very  popular  with  his  command,  and  this  may  be  said  of  all 
the  officers. 

Feb.  15,  18^5,  the  Board  of  Engineers  voted  to  contract,  for 
the  sum  of  $161^0,  with  Messrs.  L.  Button  &  Co.,  Waterford, 
N.  Y.,  for  a  first  class  fire  engine  and  hose  carriage  for  Com- 
pany No.  5,  the  engine  to  be  "32  man  power,"  and  of  the  fol- 
lowinof  dimensions  and  finish  : 

"  The  engine  box  to  be  built  of  mahogany  and  hung  on  half  elliptic 
springs,  with  wheels  43  inches  in  diameter  forward,  and  45  inches  be- 
hind. A  crane  neck,  so  that  the  wheels  can  turn  completely  under, 
pumps  10  inches  in  diameter,  with  a  stroke  varying  from  5  to  9  inches ; 
three  outlets  for  as  many  streams,  with  three  discharge  pipes  and  eleven 
nozzles ;  brass  corners  to  the  box,  and  cut-offs  to  the  outlets,  with  29 
feet  suction  hose,  21  feet  of  it  to  be  carried  in  a  tube  over  the  engine. 
The  brakes  to  be  22  1-2  feet  long,  all  the  iron  work,  including  the 
scrolls  and  crane  work  to  be  polished.  A  bell,  weighing  18  pounds,  to 
be  suspended  to  the  tube  by  a  handsome  scroll.  The  w^hole  to  be  fin- 
ished, painted,  varnished,  and  all  the  brass  work  silver-plated."" 

This  description  I  have  copied  from  the  records  of  the  Board 
of  Engineers. 

The  engine  was  warranted  to  throw  a  stream,  one  inch  noz- 
zle, 180  feet.  The  company  agreed  to  furnish  a  substantial 
hose  cart,  without  silver  plating.  How  well  the  builders  ful- 
filled their  contract  was  soon  tested,  for  the  engine  arrived  in 
town  on  the  morning  of  July"  20,  1855.  The  company^, 
dressed  in  a  new  uniform,  turned  out  in  the  afternoon  to  re- 
ceive the  new  machine,  accompanied  by  the  New  Bedford 
Brass  Band.  The  full  membership  for  1855,  as  taken  from 
the  records  of  the  company,  is  appended  : 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT, 


109 


JOHN   B.   HYDE. 

(Captain  of  Columbian,  No.  5,  1854-1861.) 


Foreman,  John  B.  Hyde. 
First  Assistant,  Pliny  B.  Sherman. 
Second  Assistant,  Benjamin  Weaver. 
Clerk,  Giles  S.  Fales. 


George  D.  Bisbee, 
Charles  W.  Keen, 
Samuel  C.  Hart, 
Thomas  Cross, 
Horace  King, 
John  F.  Wood, 
Eugene  GifFord, 
Charles  Morgridge, 
Perez  Jenkins, 


Thomas  W.  Cook, 
Thomas  Hilliard, 
Otis  Wilcox, 
William  A.  Russell, 
Charles  H.  Bisbee, 
Nathan  D.  Maxfield, 
Benj.  F.  Hayden, 
Henry  A.  Wilcox, 
George  T.  Sears, 


no 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Francis  T.  Tiiite, 
Henry  B.  Covell, 
Thomas  Garvy, 
Alfred  Wordell, 
Edwin  Gage, 
George  Gifford, 
Frederick  Morse, 
Edward  S.  Jenkins, 
Stephen  H.  Shepherd, 
Joseph  Gififord, 
John  Harity, 
Judson  Tozier, 
William  S.  Maxfield, 
James  F.  Chase, 
Adoniram  Myrick, 
Henry  Morse, 
Seth  Wilcox, 
David  L.  Hathaway, 
James  L.  Wilbur, 
James  H.  Hood, 
Hiram  A.  Davis, 
Charles  Gififord, 
William  Gammell, 
Christal  Licht, 


Robert  N.  B.  Doane, 
Seth  R.  Thomas, 
Robert  N.  Wing, 
Charles  H.  Booth, 
Peter  Gobell, 
Henry  I.  Strong, 
William  H.  Holmes, 
George  Hinckley, 
Andrew  T.  Wood, 
Allen  Raymond, 
James  Smith, 
William  Peckham, 
William  Love, 
John  Dufify, 
Caleb  A.  Thomas, 
Joel  B.  Arnold, 
George  R.  Maxfield, 
Israel  T.  Bryant, 
Silas  Wordell, 
Daniel  Catternach, 
Charles  M.  Corson, 
James  O.  Thompson, 
Luthan  J.  Greene, 
Benjamin  P.  Crocker. 


During  the  parade,  made  before  proceeding  to  the  station  to 
receive  the  new  engine,  the  boys  honored  May^or  Rodney- 
French  with  a  round  of  hearty  cheers  as  they  passed  his  resi- 
dence. The  same  compliment  w^as  extended  to  the  newspaper 
offices.  The  new  engine  fully  met  the  fondest  expectations 
of  the  company.  Built  on  so  different  a  model  from  the  Ag- 
new  machine,  which  for  a  generation  had  been  the  only  styde 
bought  for  our  city,  its  appearance  w^as  a  genuine  surprise, 
and  a  gratify-ing  one  at  that.  To  be  sure  the  jealous  boys  gave 
it  the  title  of  ''the  hay^  cart,"  because  of  the  long  upturned 
side  brakes,  which  made  an  outline  suggestive  of  that  useful 
farmer's  wagon ;  but  all  acknowledged  the  engine  to  be  of 
graceful  form  and  beautiful  in  finish.  The  Columbians  were 
deservedlv  proud  of  the  machine,  and  when  they  manned  the 
ropes,  and,  preceded  by  the  band,  marched  down  town,  they" 
presented  a  fine  appearance,  which  won  them  the  plaudits  of 
the  crowds  lining  the  streets.  The  engine  was  taken  to  the 
School  street  reservoir   and    submitted  to   its  first  trial,  which 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  Ill 

gave  general  satisfaction.  It  played  i6S  feet,  though  hampered 
by  the  foliage.  It  then  played  through  675  feet  of  hose,  up 
School  street,  115  feet,  and,  through  the  same  hose,  20  feet 
above  the  observatory.  The  steep  elevation  of  School  street 
made  this  trial  a  very  gratifying  exhibition  of  the  power 
of  throwing  w^ater.  The  last  trial  was  to  send  three  good 
streams  over  the  steeple  of  the  Trinitarian  church.  The  next 
day  the  new  engine  played  a  solid  stream  of  186  feet.  The 
following  is  taken  from  the  Evening  Standard^  of  the  21st: 

After  the  trial  the  company,  with  a  few  invited  guests,  sat  down  to 
an  elegant  dinner  at  the  Parker  House.  Messrs.  Blaisdell  and  Wing 
furnished  all  that  could  be  desired  and  illustrated  their  excellent  practi- 
cal knowledge  in  the  gastronomic  department. 

Mr.  William  A.  Russell  furnishes  me  with  a  copy  of  the 
bill  of  fare  on  this  occasion.  It  is  a  double-paged  circular, 
elegantly  printed  in  gold  and  highly  decorated.  I  am  .sure 
that  many  of  the  "Fives"  will  enjoy  seeing  a  list  of  the 
viands  discussed  that  dav  : 

Dinner  for  the  Columbian  Engine  Co.,  No.  ^,  at  the  Parker 
House,  July,  185^  : 

BILL  OF  FARE. 

SOUP. 

Oyster. 

FISH. 

Salmon,  with  Anchovy  Sauce. 

BOILED. 

Leg  of  Mutton  and  Caper  Sauce. 
Corned  Beef.  Chicken  and  Pork.  Corned  Tongue. 

ENTREES. 

Stewed  Oysters.  xMacaroni  a  la  Creme. 

Sword  Fish  Fried  in  Crumbs. 

Rice  Croquettes.  Lobster.  Potted  Pigeon. 

ROAST. 

Beef.  Ham,  Champagne  Sauce.  Chicken. 

Lamb,  Mint  Sauce.  Duck.  Mongrel  Goose. 

Veal,  Stuffed.  Turkev. 


112  HISTORY    OF    THE 

VEGETABLES. 

New  Potatoes.  Turnips.  Mashed  Potatoes. 

Squash.  String  Beans.  Beets. 

Green  Peas.       Onions.         Cucumbers. 

PUDDINGS    AND    PASTRY. 

Bread  Pudding. 
Apple  Pie.  Custard  Pie.  Berry  Pie. 

DESSERT. 

Almonds.  English  Walnuts.  Raisins. 

Pine  Apple.  Ice  Cream. 

The  Evening  Standard  says  : 

"The  admirable  justice  which  was  done  to  the  eatables  by  the  com- 
pany was  the  most  flattering  encomium  that  could  have  been  bestowed 
upon  the  banquet.  Short,  neat,  spicy  and  telling  speeches  were  made, 
and  sentiments  offered  at  the  table  by  Hon.  Rodney  French,  L.  Button, 
Esq.,  manufacturer  of  the  engine,  R.  C.  Topham,  Esq.,  of  the  Board 
of  Engineers,  J.  B.  Ashley,  Esq.,  ex-Chief  Engineer,  iMr.  Foreman 
John  B.  Hyde,  Mr.  Assistant  Benjamin  Weaver,  Mr.  M.  A.  Covell, 
C.  W.  Brown  and  others.  An  extremely  pleasant  half  hour  was  spent 
in  this  species  of  'playing  away,'  when  the  company  retired  with  three 
cheers  for  the  New  Bedford  Fire  Department,  for  the  builder  of  the 
new  machine,  Mr.  Button,  for  the  band,  for  the  Parker  House,  and  for 
the  ladies  '  who  were  obliged  to  wait  for  their  tea'  until  the  company 
had  got  through  their  dinner. 

In  the  evening  as  large,  happy  and  merry  a  company  assembled  at 
city  hall  as  was  ever  gathered  within  its  walls.  There  was  as  bright  an 
array  of  beauty  as  the  most  cynical  old  bachelor  could  have  wished  to 
look  upon,  and  the  whole  affair  passed  off  in  such  a  way  as  to  reflect 
the  highest  credit  upon  the  Columbians,  by  whom  the  ball  was  given  in 
compliment  to  their  friends.  The  management  was  admirable,  and  no 
effort  was  omitted  by  the  ''  Fives  "'  to  contribute  to  the  happiness  of 
their  guests.  No  pleasanter,  more  social  or  better  managed  party  was 
ever  g-iven  in  our  citv.  The  dancing  was  continued  into  the  small 
hours,  when  the  party  separated,  satisfied  that  in  all  which  constitutes 
genuine  hospitality,  courtesy,  and  gentlemanly  bearing,  the  Columbians 
cannot  be  surpassed  The  music  was  by  Smith  &  H awes'  Band,  and 
was,  as  usual,  excellent.  The  supper  was  got  up  in  good  style  by 
Tilden.  We  heard  many  encomiums  passed  upon  the  company  during 
the  parade  in  the  afternoon.  Everybody  concurred  in  the  opinion  that 
it  was  as  handsome  a  turnout  of  firemen  as  ever  occurred  in  this  city, 
and  that  the  purchase  of  so  handsome  a  machine  for  so  good  an  organ- 
ization 'served  'em  right.'"' 

I  give  a  song,  dedicated  to  the  Columbian  Engine  Co.,  No.  5, 
by  Frank  Easy-  -the  noni  de  plume  of  Air.  Mayhew  A.  Covell : 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMExNT.  JI3 

When  flames  so  bright  ilkime  the  night, 

Or  shame  the  lustrous  day, 
Our  duty  calls  where  falling  walls 

And  cracklino^  embers  lav. 
But  naught  we  fear,  how^ever  drear 

And  desolate  the  night, 
We  ne'er  forsake  the  engine\s  brakes, 

But  work  with  all  our  might. 

Chorus. 
Then  Wake  her  !  Wake  her  !  !    Now  my  boys  ! 

As  through  the  streets  we  fly. 
And  when  we  reach  the  fire,  my  boys, 

Then  "  break  her  down ''  "s  the  cry. 

And  since  our  "  tub"  has  given  the  rub 

To  others  once  so  bold. 
We'll  swell  the  fame  of  "  Button's"  name 

And  feel  we've  not  been  sold. 
For  she,  our  pet,  can  throw  her  jet 

As  far  as  the  eye  can  see  ; 
And  all  do  say  that  none  can  play 

And  claim  a  rivalry. 

And  she's  our  pride,  both  far  and  wide. 

We'll  sound  her  praise  abroad, 
The  name  she  bears  a  charm  it  wears. 

To  nerve  the  listless  crowd. 
Then  let  us  strive  that  Number  Five 

May  never  disgrace  her  name, 
And  let  us  stand,  a  fearless  band, 

To  fight  the  raging  flame. 

Our  Foreman's  plan  is  :    Every  man 
'  Shall  at  his  post  be  found. 

His  heart  is  stirred  whene'er  he's  heard 

"  We're  first  upon  the  ground." 
Then  as  we  rear  our  standard  here, 

O,  may  we  ever  thrive, 
And  while  we  live  we'll- ever  give 

"Three  cheers  for  Number  Five." 

Sept.  25th,  1856,  the  Columbians  went  on  an  excursion  to 
Salem,  where  they  were  received  by  the  Adams  Engine  Co., 
No.  10,  of  that  place.  They  took  their  new  machine  with 
them  ;  and  what  was  done  on  that  occasion  is  well  told  by  the 
Salem  Register' ^  in  its  mention  of  the  visit  and  performances 
of  the  Columbian  Engine  Co.,  No.  v      It  said  : 


114  HISTORY    OF    THE 

'*  On  Friday,  in  Chestnut  street,  the  engine  threw  an  inch  stream 
horizontally  193  feet  and  perpendicularly  over  the  vane  of  the  South 
Church  steeple,  about  170  feet.  The  steeple  stands  166  feet  high,  and 
the  position  of  the  engine  was  in  the  street,  near  the  cistern,  consider- 
erably  lower  than  the  base  of  the  steeple.  The  band  meanwhile  struck 
up  '  Pop  Goes  the  Weasel,'  and  as  the  stream  mounted  higher  and  higher 
under  the  force  applied,  the  gratified  spectators  cheered  the  successful 
efforts  of  the  company  to  the  echo.  The  power  of  the  engine  and  the 
skill  of  the  company  were  well  tested  and  gave  great  satisfaction  to  all 
who  witnessed  the  exhibition.  We  take  pleasure  in  noticing  the  order- 
ly and  commendable  deportment  of  the  Columbians,  which  was  gener- 
ally observed  and  appreciated.  They  were  not  only  a  remarkably  fine 
looking  body  of  young  men,  but  their  courteous  demeanor  on  parade  in 
the  public  streets  and  in  the  stores  elicited  many  compliments,  and  was 
so  marked  as  to  attract  more  than  ordinary  observation.  Our  New 
Bedford  friends  have  not  only  gained  credit  for  themselves  by  this 
course,  but  also  for  the  department  with  which  they  are  connected, 
and  for  their  beautiful  and  enterprising  city  ;  and  they  have  thereby  given 
to  this  community  great  pleasure  by  their  visit.  The  Columbians 
numbered  50  men  and  were  officered  as  follows  : 

Foreman,  John  B.  Hyde. 
First  Assistant,  Pliny  B.  Sherman. 
Second  Assistant,  Benjamin  Weaver. 
ThuTJ  Assistant,  Samuel  C.  Hart. 
Clerk,  pro  tern,  Albert  A.  BoUes." 

On  their  return  home  the  men  were  welcomed  by  the  Hook 
&  Ladder  Co.,  Capt.  R.  A.  Dilling-ham,  who  had  prepared  an 
elegant  collation  for  them. 

On  the  evening-  of  Sept.  5,  18^7,  a  beautiful  silver  trumpet 
was  presented  to  Capt.  Hyde  by  the  company  as  a  token  of  the 
esteem  in  which  he  was  held.  He  has  it  still  in  his  possession, 
and  it  occupies  a  prominent  place  in  his  home  in  New  York 
city. 

The  firemen  occasionally  attended  church  by  companies,  and 
during  the  great  revival  of  1857-S  I  find  record  where  several 
of  the  companies  attended  divine  service  on  the  Sabbath.  The 
Columbians  in  1858  attended,  by  invitation  of  the  Trinitarian 
Church,  ^vith  other  firemen,  a  service  specially  prepared  for 
them.  A  discourse  was  delivered  by  Rev.  Wheelock  Craisf, 
one  of  the  purest  and  kindest  of  men,  who  is  still  held  in  pre- 
cious  memory  by    many    of  our    citizens.      The    Columbians' 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  115 

records  of  the  event  speak  in  highly  respectful  terms  of  the 
service  and  of  the  preacher.  During  the  same  year  the  Phil- 
adelphia, No.  7,  attended  a  service  at  the  Elm  Street  Meth- 
odist Church,  Rev.  H.  S.  White,  pastor. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  in  1859,  ^^^-  Cril^s  S  Fales,  the 
much  respected  clerk  of  the  company,  who  had  performed 
long  and  faithful  service,  resigned  his  position.  He  had  been 
a  member  of  the  department  since  1834,  when  he  served  in 
the  capacity  of  torch  boy.  He  was  succeeded  in  office  by  Mr. 
Robert  H.  Taber. 

On  the  evening  of  Jan.  17,  1859,  there  was  a  large  assem- 
blage at  the  Columbians'  hall,  on  the  occasion  of  a  presen- 
tation of  an  American  standard  by  the  lady  friends  of  the 
companv.  The  address  was  made  by  Miss  Mary  A.  Raymond, 
and  was  well  delivered.  Capt.  Hyde  responded  in  a  good 
speech.  Brief  addresses  were  made  by  Hon.  Rodney  French 
and  others,  interspersed  with  music.     A  collation  followed. 

A  large  frame  containing  the  photographs  of  the  fifty  volun- 
teer members  was  presented  by  them  to  the  company,  Mr. 
Eugene  Giftbrd  making  the  speech  for  the  givers.  The  in- 
scription will  tell  the  story  :  "  Presented  to  Columbian  Engine 
Co.,  No.  5,  by  the  volunteers,  Feb.  14,  1859." 

The  continued  difficulty  with  the  city  government  finallv  led 
the  Columbians  to  disband  Sept.  24,  i860.  A  new  company 
was  formed  Oct.  i,  i860,  with  the  following: 

Foreman,  L.  W.  Davis. 
First  Assistant,  Allen  Almy. 
Second  Assistant,  John  Colwell. 
Clerk,  Charles  H.  Bisbee. 

Sylvester  Paul,  William  R.  Pahner, 

John  W.  Footman,  William  H.  Welch, 

George  W.  Hunt,  Robert  C.  Topham, 

Clarfaus  Vansant,  Charles  Thomas, 

Edwin  Dugan,  •  Frederick  B.  Davis, 

Alfred  Weaver,  Isaac  H.  Barrows, 

James  H,  Hood,  Nathan  Brooks, 

Charles  Brightman,  George  M.  Ennis, 

Charles  Parker,  Lewis  H.  Coble, 

W.  F.  Howland,  John  W.  Ennis, 


Il6  HISTORY    OF    THE 

John  DiifFy,  Edwin  Cavenor, 

Rufus  Randall,  Daniel  B.  Standish, 

Peter  Gobell,  David  Pollock, 

Patrick  McDonald,  Allen  G.  Ashley, 

Hugh  McDonald,  James  F.  McKenney, 

John  E.  Bowen,  Alonzo  B.  Tripp, 

Richmond  M.  Taber,  Alvin  C.  Smith, 

Patrick  Carroll,  George  W.  Farnum, 

Patrick  Murphy,  W.  G.  Reynolds, 

Barney  Kenney,  Michael  Dugan, 

Joseph  Vincent,  John  Coote, 

Luther  Brownell,  James  O'Brien, 

Jesse  V.  Lake,  John  Butman, 

Giles  G.  Barker,  William  S.  Wilcox, 

Thomas  F.  Clarke,  Charles  W.  Hunt, 

Henry  Stephens,  Peleg  R.  Thurston, 

Benjamin  Sowle,  Simeon  Bailey. 

The  ex-Fives  Association  continued  its  existence  for  many 
years,  the  annual  meeting  consisting  of  a  reunion  celebration, 
with  a  grand  dinner. 

The  relations  between  the  Columbian,  No.  5,  and  the 
Young  Mechanic,  No.  6,  were  of  such  a  character  as  to  de- 
velope  a  rivalry,  intense  and  uncompromising.  Alike  ambi- 
tious to  be  ahead  of  the  other,  either  in  getting  first  water  or 
winning  the  race  at  a  false  alarm,  this  rivalry  resulted  often  in 
considerable  ill  feeling,  kindred  to  that  shown  in  the  political 
strife  of  the  day.  As  citizens,  how^ever,  the  members  were 
among  the  most  energetic  and  prominent,  and  were  harmon- 
ious and  progressive  in  all  that  advanced  the  interests  of  our 
city.  When  the  city  was  threatened  with  a  riot  the  authorities 
were  glad  to  fall  back  upon  the  firemen  as  a  reserve  force. 
Qiiickly  did  they  respond  to  the  call,  and  they  were  sworn  in 
ready  for  dutv.  Our  readers  may  judge  from  this  confidence 
that  the  firemen  were  in  more  ways  than  one  the  protectors  of 
our  city. 

The    new    company    attached    to    the    Columbian,    No.    5, 
continued    in     service    till    Feb.     28,    1S66,   when   it  was   dis- 
banded by  the  Board  of  Engineers,  and  the   engine   taken   out 
of  commission.     It  was  soon  afterwards  sold  to  the  town  of 
Galesburg,  Hlinois. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

,^^  EVERAL  fires  have  occurred  in  our  city  where  the  loss 
^^'^  of  property  was  far  greater  than  that  of  Horatio  A. 
Kempton's  lumber  yard  on  the  night  of  Oct.  i8,  1854,  but 
never  in  our  history  one  that  created  such  terror  and  constern- 
ation. To  fully  comprehend  this  great  conflagration,  our 
readers  must  understand  the  location  and  its  surroundings. 
The  entire  section  lying  between  North  and  Hillman,  Foster 
and  Pleasant  streets,  was  occupied  as  a  lumber  yard,  with  the 
exception  of  the  north  side  of  North  street,  \vhich  was  lined 
with  dwellings.  Situated  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  with  all  in- 
tersecting streets  densely  occupied  with  wooden  structures, 
the  yard  itself  was  lined  on  its  outer  edges  by  immense  piles  of 
lumber  that  skirted  in  unbroken  line  the  Foster  and  Hillman 
street  fronts,  the  Pleasant  street  side  being  occupied  with  a 
long  shed  filled  with  dry  and  therefore  highly  inflammable 
building  material.  Within  the  enclosure  were  two  wooden 
buildings,  one  a  carpenter  shop,  occupied  by  Mr.  John  K.  Gush- 
ing, the  other  as  an  office  by  Mr.  Kempton,  and  both  situated 
near  the  Pleasant  street  entrance.  In  the  central  portion  of  the 
yard  wxre  hugh  piles  of  flooring  timber,  here  a  mass  of 
joists,  there  piles  of  laths  and  floor  boards,  staked  with  air 
spaces  between  them,  while  the  unoccupied  ground  was  lit- 
tered with  shavings  and  refuse  timber.  The  engine  located  at 
the  nearest  point  on  Foster  street,  Hancock,  No.  9,  had  been 
taken  apart  for  rejoairs  only  a  few  days  before,  and  on  this 
night  was  still  in  pieces.  Surely  there  were  favorable  condi- 
tions for  a  fierce  conflagration.  So  thought  the  incendiary,  no 
doubt,  as  he  secretly  entered  the  premises  and  applied  the 
torch,  which  soon  brought  such  terrible  results.  He  was  seen 
emerging  from  the  yard  half  an  hour  before  the  flames  burst 
forth. 


ii8 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


The  alarm  rang  out  at  1 1  o'clock,  and  soon  the  whole  city 
was  brilliantly  illuminated  from  the  burning  timber.  It  seemed 
to  ignite  in  a  moment,  for  when  the  engines  arrived  the  whole 
mass  was  in  flames,  and,  aided  by  a  strong  southwest  wind, 
was  quickly  transformed  into  a  seething  furnace,  sending  out 
intense  heat  and  making  it  an  impossibility  for  the  firemen  in 
any  way  to  control  it.  All  efforts  to  check  the  raging  element 
"was  unavailing,  and  though  the  surrounding  streets  had  be- 
come well  nigh  impassable  the  firemen  turned  their  efforts  to 
save  the  houses.  But  the  merciless  flames  soon  crossed  the 
streets,  and,  one  after  another,  the  buildings  on  Pleasant  and 
Hillman  streets  were  burned.  At  this  moment  it  looked  as  if 
the  whole  north  section  of  the  citv  must  be  destroyed.  The 
stores  on  Purchase  street  and  the  dwellings  at  the  northeast 
were  being  emptied  of  their  stock  and  goods.  To  add  to  the 
intense  apprehensions,  the  water  gave  out  in  the  reservoirs  one 
after  another  in  quick  succession,  leaving,  for  a  time,  the  en- 
gines without  supplv.  This  was,  however,  partly  remedied 
by  sending  an  engine  to  the  river,  which  pumped  into  another 
and  thus  gave  a  limited  supph  of  water.  The  Wilcox  Build- 
ing, on  the  northwest  corner  of  Foster  and  Hillman  streets, 
was  miraculouslv  saved  by  the  use  of  wet  blankets  and  carpets, 
as  was  the  house  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Pleasant  and  Hill- 
man streets.  Had  this  building  been  burned  it  would  proba- 
bly have  led  to  a  greater  destruction  of  property,  for  the  fire 
would  have  passed  beyond  control.  As  it  was  the  follow- 
ing persons  were  burned  out  on  Pleasant  street :  Two-story 
house  southeast  corner  of  Hillman  and  Pleasant  streets,  occu- 
pied by  Gilbert  Howland  and  Andrew  J.  Dam  :  house  next 
south,  occupied  bv  Captain  Philip  Sherman  and  Andrew 
Hayes  ;  house  next  south,  occupied  by  Thomas  A.  Howland 
and  Mrs.  Edward  Howland.  While  these  houses  were  being 
destroyed,  the  flames  communicated  to  the  building  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  Hillman  and  Pleasant  streets,  occupied  by 
Robert  Hillman,  then  to  house    next   west,    occupied  by   Mrs. 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  II9 

Mary  West  and  Mrs.  Kempton,  and  next  to  house  on  northeast 
corner  of  Foster  street,  occupied  by  Mr.  Aaron  Upjohn.  The 
estimated  loss  was  $40,000. 

It  was  a  sad  spectacle  that  greeted  the  eyes  of  our  citizens 
the  next  morning,  when  the  whole  immense  area  was  a  mass 
of  smouldering  ruins  and  falling  chimneys.  The  streets  were 
filled  with  household  furniture,  kitchen  utensils  and  such 
things,  which  told  the  story  of  desolate  homes. 

Ohe  of  the  most  painful  incidents  of  the  great  fire  was  the 
fatal  accident  to  one  of  the  most  useful  and  highly  respected 
citizens  of  his  day,  Mr.  Jethro  Hillman,  a  member  of  the  well 
known  firm  of  ship  builders,  Messrs.  J.  &  Z.  Hillman,  who, 
the  Eve)iing  Sta7tdard  said,  had  constructed  some  of  the  most 
substantial  ships  that  ever  floated.  Their  shipyard  was  located 
on  the  corner  of  Hillman  and  North  Second  streets,  directly  in 
the  range  of  the  fire,  and  the  sky  during  the  night  was  filled 
with  floating:  embers  that  carried  destruction  in  their  course. 
The  brothers  were  engaged  in  throwing  water  upon  the  roof 
of  a  shed  to  prevent  its  taking  fire,  when  he  fell  from  a  ladder, 
striking  his  head  on  a  stick,  breaking  his  skull  and  injuring 
him  in  such  a  manner  that  he  died  the  following  evening  at  9 
o'clock.  His  untimely  death  was  regretted  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends. 

Our  readers  may  well  imagine  that  the  years  1855  and  1856 
were  the  palmy  days  of  our  fire  department.  It  was  during 
these  years  that  the  highest  point  of  interest  was  reached. 
Already  "  steam"  loomed  in  the  distance,  though  subjected  to 
scofl'  and  ridicule,  both  in  and  out  of  the  department.  The 
funeral  of  the  hand  engine  service  commenced  on  the  day  the 
first  steamer  landed  in  the  city.  But  more  of  this  later  on. 
We  are  in  the  midst  of  the  most  exciting  years  of  the  fire  de- 
partment life  and  we  must  make  the  most  of  it,  for  with  them 
v^ent  out  much  of  the  poetry  and  personality  peculiar  to  the 
hand  engine  service.  * 

The  new  engines  for  the  Young  Mechanics  and  Columbians 


I30  HISTORY    OF    THE 

were  now  in  full  commission.  Both  companies  were  at  their 
best,  and  so  were  all  the  other  organizations, — alert,  vigorous^ 
and  full  of  enthusiasm.  Two  more  hand  engines  were  added 
to  the  service,  and  then  the  record  ceases.  Soon  the  depart- 
ment entered  upon  a  new  era. 

The  old  engine,  Columbian,  No.  5,  built  by  Messrs.  Durfee 
&  Delano,  in  1827,  was  put  in  good  repair  and  the  name  and 
number  changed  to  Acushnet,  No.  4.  It  was  stationed  at 
Mount  Pleasant  in  the  Sepulchre,  which  had  been  moved  from 
North  Second  street  to  the  corner  of  Mt.  Pleasant  and  Durfee 
streets. 

A  company  was  formed  Feb.  2,  1857,  ^^  follows: 

Foreman,  Joseph  W.  Cornell. 
First  Assistant,  Peleg  W.  Blake. 
Second  Assistant,  Octavius  C.  Smith. 
Clerk,  George  W.  Maker. 

Gideon  P.  Tripp,  Nathaniel  Manchester, 

James  Beetle,  Sumner  M.  Faunce, 

Charles  F.  Tripp,  Kbenezer  Andrew, 

Samuel  Driscoll,  George  Macomber, 

George  Kennerson,  Luthan  Blake, 

Sylvanus  Gifford,  George  Albro, 

Phineas  Reynolds,  Curtis  T.  Gammons, 

Barjona  D.  Tripp,  Thomas  Childs, 

James  C.  Hathaway,  Benjamin  Reynolds, 

James  M.  Tripp,  John  W.  Manchester, 

Albert  Booth,  Abiathar  Rogers, 

James  S.  Manchester,  Paul  B.  Warren, 

Holder  A.  Brightman,  Isaac  Manchester, 

Benj.  R.  Wordell,  William  Coggeshall, 

Daniel  Hathaway,  Frederick  Collins. 

The  company  continued  in  active  service  till  about  1867, 
when  it  was  disbanded. 

The  spirit  that  thrilled  the  fire  department  animated  the 
youth  of  the  city  ;  and  one  of  the  practical  results  of  this  en- 
thusiasm ^vas  the  organization  of  the  Young  America,  No.  8. 
Accompany  of  young  men,  25  in  number,  raised  among  them- 
selves and  from  some  of  our  public-spirited  citizens  $300  for 
the  purchase  of  a  fire  engine.     Among  the  contributors  were 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  121 

Thomas  Nye,  Jr.,  Samuel  Rodman,  Ivory  H.  Bartlett,  Benja- 
min Rodman,  and  many  others  whose  names  I  do  not  recall. 
An  organization  was  completed,  and  the  company  sent  a  com- 
mittee to  Pawtucket  to  complete  the  purchase  of  the  Young 
America,  No.  S.  No  army  contractor  ever  felt  more  impor- 
tant in  closing  a  contract  than  did  the  committee  in  closing  a 
bargain  with  the  proprietor  of  a  jobbing  wagon  to  drag  our 
engine  to  the  station.  We  were  anxious  to  get  it  to  New- 
Bedford  that  night,  for  the  state,  of  Rhode  Island  wasn't  big 
enough  to  hold  us  and  give  sufficient  breathing  room.  The 
boys  were  well  pleased  with  the  appearance  of  the  machine. 
On  the  test  trial  it  played  140  feet,  through  100  feet  of  hose. 
This  engine  was  of  about  half  the  size  of  the  ordinary  hand  en- 
gine, with  side  brakes,  and  suction  pumps,  and  was  as  well  and 
thoroughly  equipped  for  actual  fire  service  as  the  best  of  them. 

The  board  of  engineers  placed  us  in  the  Second  street  house, 
and  we  entered  upon  our  career  as  a  full-fledged  fire  company. 
We  did  valuable  service  on  many  an  occasion,  often  getting 
first  water.  In  running  to  a  fire  we  frequently  took  our  engine 
on  the  sidewalks,  thus  getting  a  decided  advantage  in  easier 
travel. 

I  give  the  membership  of  the  Young  America  company, 
taken  from  the  original  records.  These  have  been  since  1857 
in  the  possession  of  Mr.  W.  H.  Peacock,  of  Chicago.  Dur- 
ing the  great  fire  in  that  city,  in  1S72,  they  were  packed  in 
his  safe,  which  lay  for  three  days  on  the  bottom  of  the  Chicago 
river.  Mr.  Peacock  has  now  given  these  records  to  our  Fire 
Department : 

Captain,  L.  B.  Ellis. 
First  Assistant,  Matthias  C.  Pease. 
Second  Assistant,  James  W.  Lawrence. 
Third  Assistant,  James  D.  Kent. 
Clerk,  A.  M.  Osgood. 

James  C.  Hitch,  Ephraim  Kempton, 

George  Walden,  Otis  N.  Pierce, 

Alex.  H.  Ellis,  Preserved  Rider, 

William  H.  Peacock,  Barney  Cox, 


123  HISTORY    OF    THE 

B.  F.  Lowden,  Simeon  Potter, 

C.  A.  Perry,  Gideon  Underwood, 
Roland  B.  Murphy,  William  Mann, 
Benj.  F.  Lewis,  Horatio  Bly, 
Edward  B.  Wilson,  Ezra  Rowland, 
Haile  R.  Luther,  C.  E.  Wardsworth, 
William  B.  Allen,  Newton  F.  Barrows, 
Charles  E.  Maxfield,  Joseph  Dean, 
George  W.  Allen,  H.  M.  Snow, 
Joseph  C.  Austin,  John  Davis, 
Edward  T.  Wilson,  Ira  Negus, 

James  A.  Smith,  Philip  Topham, 

George  Homer,  Thomas  Brothei'son, 

Andrew  Hayes,  Benjamin  Hayes, 

Joseph  Knowles. 

A    song,    dedicated    to  Young   America,    No.   8,    of  New 
Bedford,  by  Alexander  H.  Ellis  : 

Come  citizens,  attention  give,  a  story  Til  relate 

About  a  little  engine,  we  call  her  Number  Eight; 

We  keep  her  upon  Second  street,  and  when  duty  may  require, 

You'll  ever  find  us  on  the  ground — playing  on  the  fire. 

Chorus. 

Wake  her,  shake  her,  now  my  boys, 

And  let  us  have  a  sing ; 
We'll  let  you  know  the  Eights  are  'round 

When  the  bells  begin  to  ring. 

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. 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMEXT.  1 2^ 

Our  foreman  and  ofificers  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  Voung"  America  was  in  constant  service  until  1857? 
when  the  company  was  disbanded  and  the  engine  was  sold  to 
the  citv  and  placed  in  reserve.  It  was  subsequently  sold  to 
Hon.  Weston  Rowland,  and  was  in  constant  use  for  18  years 
at  his  Fish  Island  factory. 

The  Evening  Standard  of  Nov.  9,  1854,  contained  the 
followlnof : 


in 


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- 


124  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  Ouinnell,  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  HaskelPs  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  lire 
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  orathered  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)    w^as  given  by  William 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIR?:    DEPARTMENT.  1 25 

Rotch,  in  179^  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  gaye  a  carpenter  a 
quart  of  brandy  to  saw  open  the  pe\y  door.  It  \yas,  howeyer, 
long  before  the  Maine  law  was  projected  and  while  temper- 
ance moyements  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  giyen  by  Thomas 
Pope,  and  the  next  largest  $6.  being  giyen  by  a  colored  man 
named  xVaron  Childs.  It  was  a  bell  of  remarkable  tone  and 
clearness.  In  the  Noyember  fire  it  was  melted  in  the  flames. 
The  metal  was  "■athered  from  the  ruins,  and  seyeral  of  our 
townsmen  had  tea-bells  and  articles  of  ornament  made  from  it, 
w^hich  are  still  held  as  yaluable  relics  of  the  old  liberty  bell. 

During:  the  excitement  that  thrilled  the  nation  following  the 
passage  of  the  infamous  fugitiye  slaye  law,  in  185 1,  and  at  the 
time  Thomas  Simms  was  arrested  and  sent  back  into  slayery 
from  Boston,  a  rumor  became  current  in  that  city  that  the 
United  States  marshals  were  planning  to  yisit  our  little  Qiiaker 
city  by  the  sea  in  J.  H.  Pearson's  brig  Acorn,  accompanied  by 
United  States  marines,  to  recoyer  certain  fugitiye  slayes  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,  v\'ho 
rode  all  night,  arriying  Sunday  niorning  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 
aftrighted  colored  people  that  their  enemy  was  near.  The  im- 
meaiate  cause  for  the  alarm  was  that  a  strange  yessel  was  re- 
ported to  be  in  the  bay,  and  Mr.  Rodney  French  ordered  the 
bell  to  be  rung.      Some  of  our  readers  \yill   yiyidly   remember 


126  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  excitement  that  followed,  for  everyone,  especiallv  the  col- 
ored people,  felt  that  real  danger  was  at  hand.  No  officers, 
however,  made  themselves  known,  and  it  is  not  certain 
wdiether  they  entered  the  citv  or  not.  One  thing  is  sure,  that 
the  reported  presence  or  the  vessel  was  a  mistake.  The  mar- 
shals woidd  have  assuredly  met  with  a  warm  reception  had  the}' 
put  in  an  appearance.  This  is  but  one  of  many  interesting  epi- 
sodes that  occurred  during  those  days  yvhen  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  histor}-  that 
was  pregnant  with  results  affecting  the  extinction  of  slavery  in 
the  L^nited  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,  ^vhen  our  home  orators  were  called 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  1 2^ 

to  the  platform  to  speak  upon  the  vital  Issues  of  the  hour. 
Several  citizens  had  been  through  the  ordeal  when  Charles 
saw  from  the  gallerv  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  storv  about  the  bell.  One  ni"-ht  the  bell-rinofer 
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-ringfer  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. 

*ll^HE  first  hook  and  ladder  truck  belongintr  to  our  fire  ser- 
^X^^  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  w^anted,  it  w^as  sent  for.  There  was  some  economy  in  all 
this,  for  the  unused  apparatus  was  not  subjected  to  the  wear 
and  tear  incident  to  the  averagfe  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  flat  to  the  ground. 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT.  1 29 

I  have  already  eriven  a  list  of  the  members  attached  to  the 
Hook  &  Ladder  Co.  in  1S35.  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  meetinofs  in  the  house  while  it  was  beinsr 
moved  on  the  rollers. 

Jul}- 4,  1S65,  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,  1S72,  the  Pioneer  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  re- 
turned to  their  old   station  at  the   Central   Engine-house.      A 


130  HISTORY    OF    THE 

few  extracts  from  the  records  may  prove  interesting  to  mem- 
bers and  their  friends : 

Nov.  26,  1873. —  fh^  company  made  a  public  parade,  having  the 
Vokmteer  Hook  &  Ladder  Co.,  of  Taunton,  as  guests ;  and  on  Sept.  9, 
1874.  the  Pioneers  made  a  return  visit  to  their  Taunton  friends. 

Tliey  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. — ^^^-  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 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  I3I 

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  &  (irinnell'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  Rowland,  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  II,  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  witli  great  harmony  and  with  the  best  of  feeling. 

The  first  company  that  played  was  the 

Ohio,  No.  3. 
1st  trial — 170  ft.     2d  trial — 170  ft.,  10  in.     3d  trial — 172  ft. 

Young  Mechanic,  No.  6. 
1st  trial — 147  ft.,  2  in.     2d  trial — 133  ft.,  9  in.     3d  trial — not  played. 

Hancock,  No.  9. 
1st  trial — 167  ft.,  8  in.     2d  trial — 168  ft.     3d  trial — 166  ft.,  4  in. 

Franklin,  No.  10. 
1st  trial — 169  ft.      2d  trial — 17-P  ft.     3d  trial — 163  ft. 

Oregon,  No.  11. 
1st  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.  11,  176  feet,  8  inches. 

Ohio,  No.  3,  172     "     4       " 

Franklin,  No.  10,  170     " 

Hancock,  No.  9,  168     " 

Young  Mechanic,  No.  6,  147     "     2       " 


132  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  i3-i6thsof 
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.  11.  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 
oif  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  difiiculty  in  getting  the  machines  to  the  scene. 

Feb.  25,  1856,  occurred  the  fire  at  Gilford  &  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  w^as  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  w^ill  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- 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


133 


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  w^ere 
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    1S56,    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. 


A  fair  picture  of  Citizen,  No.  2. 


Citizen,  No.  2.  (Acushnet  Village.) 

Foreman,  Reuben  Washburn. 
Clerk,  Edward  P.  Lund. 


James  S.  Howard, 
James  Butler, 
Lemuel  A.  Washburn, 
Thomas  S.  Potter, 
Charles  H.  Potter, 
Valentine  Luce, 
Charles  A.  Cushman, 
Rodolphus  S.  Nye, 


James  Terry, 
John  McCagh, 
Howard  Pittsley, 
L.  M.  Emerson, 
George  L.  Hathaway, 
A.  B.  Grinnell, 
Arthur  Ricketson, 
Samuel  P.  Burt, 


134  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Edward  Spooner,  Seth  Howard, 

Francis  Spooner,  B.  Ritter, 

George  Collins,  H.  Matthews, 

Augustus  Hathaway,  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,  Albert  Chadwick, 

Henry  B.  Almy,  Richard  T.  Durfey, 

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,  William  Cower, 

Isaac  H.  Barrows,  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.  Gitford,  William  A.  Russell, 

Charles  A.  Morgridge,  Charles  H.  Bisbee, 

George  T.  S.  Sears,  Nathan  Maxtield, 

Joseph  F.  Gifford,  Benj.  F.  Hayden, 

Perez  Jenkins,  Henry  A.  Wilcox, 

Henry  B.  Covell,  Robert  N.  B.  Doane, 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


135 


Thomas  Garvey, 
Alfred  Wordell, 
Edwin  P.  Gage, 
George  G.  Gifford, 
Thomas  Cross, 
Francis  Tuite, 
Horace  King, 
Frederick  Morse, 
Edward  S.  Jenkins, 
John  Harrity, 
Judson  Tosier, 
James  F.  Chase, 
Adoniram  Myrick, 
Henry  Morse, 
Seth  A.  Wilcox, 
David  L.  Hathaway, 
James  L.  Wilber, 
James  H.  Hood, 


Hiram  A.  Davis, 
Charles  H.  Booth, 
William  (iammell, 
Peter  (jobell, 
Henry  G.  Strong, 
William  H.  Holmes, 
George  Hinckley, 
Andrew  T.  Wood, 
Allen  Raymond, 
James  Smith, 
William  Peckham, 
William  Love, 
John  Duffy, 
Caleb  A.  Thomas, 
Joel  B.  Arnold, 
George  R.  Maxfield, 
Michael  Vhay, 
William  (iifford. 


Young  Mechanic,  No.  6.   (Purchase  street.) 

Foreman,  Nathan  Barker. 
First  Assistant,  Charles  W.  Dyer. 
Second  Assistant,  J.  Augustus  Brownell. 
Third  Assistant,  John  Murdock. 
Clerk  and  Treasurer,  Sanford  Almy. 


William  E.  Watson, 
William  A.  Church, 
Thomas  C.  Allen, 
Thomas  C.  Allen,  Jr., 
Benj.  R.  Watson, 
Joseph  Hammond, 
Thomas  Dowden, 
Jireh  Tripp, 
Jos.  A.  Landers, 
Benj.  F.  Hinckley, 
Roland  R.  Crocker, 
Martin  J.  Lewis, 
Clarfaus  Vansant, 
John  J.  P.  Zettick, 
Charles  H.  Underwood, 
James  M.  Dooley, 
Wm.  H    Sherman, 
David  Chadwick, 
Warren  G.  Peirce, 
Freeman  C.  Luce, 
John  McCoy, 
Wm.  Ricketson, 
Wm.  H.  Allen, 


Fred.  A.  Plummer, 
Thaddeus  Betz, 
Christian  Betz, 
Edwin  Betz, 
Thomas  Paul, 
Wm.  G.  Denham, 
William  McKim, 
James  Patterson, 
Daniel  Ripley, 
Bradford  G,  Potter, 
George  B.  Devoll, 
W^arren  Potter, 
Gustavus  H.  Cushman, 
Fred.  Underwood, 
Wm.  D.  Smith, 
Edwin  R.  Baker, 
Alex.  McKenzie, 
William  Winslow, 
Charles  Perry, 
William  Neal, 
Roland  W.  Snow, 
S.  A.  Pierce, 
Ira  Milliken, 


136 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Henry  Hazard, 
Lorenzo  D.J.  Sears, 
George  M.  Young, 
Moses  C.  Vinal, 
Charles  G.  Kemp  ton, 
Abm.  S.  Davis, 
John  E.  Jones, 
Thomas  A.  Cranston, 
Leander  T.  Manchester, 


James  Munroe, 
Andrew  R.  Lincoln, 
Fred.  Macy, 
Benj.  F.  Soule, 
William  P.  Sowle, 
William  H.  Nichols, 
Isaac  W.  Benjamin, 
Hallett  Hamblin, 
Joseph  H.  Lawrence 


Philadelphia,  No.  7.     (Fourth  street.) 

Foreman,  Thomas  L.  Clark. 
First  Assistant,  Daniel  S.  Eaton. 
Second  Assistant,  Joseph  Burt,  Jr. 
Third  Assistant,  Charles  F.  Brightman. 
Clerk,  George  S.  Bowen. 


Robert  T.  Barker, 
John  C.  Maul, 
Allen  Raymond, 
Thomas  Almy, 
Thos.  S.  Palmer, 
James  Maguire, 
David  W.  Wardrop, 
Nathan  Ellis, 
Cornelius  B.  Tripp, 
Stephen  Robinson, 
Benjamin  Cole, 
Albert  Gray, 
Leander  F.  Pease, 
Wm.  B.  Cook, 
Adam  Brown, 


Holder  R.  Tripp, 
James  A.  Davis, 
George  Baylies, 
John  Sweeney, 
Geo.  H.  Chase, 
Benj.  C.  Warren, 
Daniel  McDonald, 
Charles  G.  Jones, 
Roland  T.  G.  Russe 
Robert  McKay, 
Fred.  N.  Stearns, 
Wilson  Pierce, 
Nathaniel  Pierce, 
Jos.  Allen,  Jr., 
Henry  Russell. 


Hancock,  No.  9.   (Foster  street,  near  North.) 

Foreman,  Tillinghast  P.  Tompkins. 
First  Assistant,  Samuel  H.  Mitchell. 
Second  Assistant,  William  James. 
Clerk,  Lazarus  S.  Moulton. 


George  A.  Pool, 
Joshua  Bowman, 
Amos  F.  Lovejoy, 
Edwin  Luther, 
Joseph  A.  Parker, 
John  P,  Caswell, 
Robert  Luscomb, 
Lot  Tripp, 
Davis  Johnson, 
Nathaniel  Jenney, 


Silas  Taber, 
Henry  Shiverick, 
Wm.  Huddy, 
J.  C.  Haskins, 
Hiram  E.  Small, 
Samuel  White, 
Daniel  Besse, 
Joseph  Hoyle, 
Wm.  F.  James, 
James  Lowther, 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


'37 


Horatio  N.  BIy, 
Charles  Crocker, 
Wm.  C.  Bassett, 
Gilbert  Winslow, 
John  Wrightington, 
Abiel  Winslow, 
William  Card, 
William  Hubbard, 
George  W.  Perry, 
Daniel  D.  Perry, 
Mitchell  Lowther, 


Richmond  Macomber, 
Hervey  H.  Fish, 
Joseph  Lavvton, 
Benj.  Crocker, 
Charles  H.  Luther, 
Allen  Wilcox, 
Richard  Luce, 
Warren  W.  Parker, 
James  H.  Pease, 
Geo.  F.  Lucas, 
Edward  Reed. 


Franklin,  No.   io.   (Third  street,  head  of  Griffin.) 

Foreman,  Marshall  G.  Sears. 
First  Assistant,  George  W.  Jennings. 
vSecond  Assistant,  Andrew  J.  Jennings. 
Clerk,  George  B.  Wilbour. 

William  Gibbs, 


L.  S.  Jennings, 
W.  H.  Eldredge, 
N.  B.  Colyer, 
Robert  S.  Cornell, 
Benj.  F.  Sowle, 
Zach.  Booth, 
Albert  W.  Taber, 
James  M.  Tripp, 
Henry  Moore, 
William  Booth, 
L.  W.  Baker, 
Elias  Tripp, 
Nathan  Sears, 
Job.  W.  Heath, 
B.  R.  Jennings, 
George  Wilson, 
Samuel  Eldredge, 
J.  S.  Conway, 
George  H.  Tripp, 
F.  M.  Chadwick, 
E.  L.  Dexter, 


Francis  McShane, 
Lsaac  C.  Booth, 
W.  H.  Jennings, 
Bradford  Sowle, 
S.  A.  Colyer, 
Stephen  Haskins, 
Charles  H.  Griffin, 
Charles  Russell, 
Jesse  V.  Luke, 
Charles  M.  Dedrick, 
Gamaliel  Moore, 
John  Allen, 
Daniel  Eldredge, 
James  Pike, 
J.  O.  Fisher, 
Charles  Shields, 
Benjamin  W.  Allen, 
Bradford  L.  Church, 
W.  A.  Dunbar, 
S.  H.  Jennings, 
W.  H.  Lothrop, 
George  Burger, 
Gifford  Haskins. 


Oregon,  No.   ii.   (Middle  street.) 

Foreman,  Henry  H.  Fisher. 
First  Assistant,  W.  J.  Chadwick. 
Second  Assistant,  Samuel  S.  Gifford. 
Third  Assistant,  James  S.  Chase. 
Clerk,  Thomas  P.  Swift. 

Gibbs  Taber,  Franklin  Nye, 

Richard  W^  James,  Andrew  Devoll, 


•38 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


William  A.  Weeden, 
Joseph  F.  Roberts, 
John  H.  Gray, 
Daniel  McLaughlin, 
Alden  Lawton, 
George  Shaw, 
David  Shepherd, 
Luther  Lemunion, 
Thomas  Peirce, 
Charles  Dyer, 
James  R.  Chase, 
James  F.  Macomber, 
Matthew  Russell, 
Edward  Lawton, 
John  Linton, 
Frederick  Miller, 
Thomas  Sweet, 
Perrv  G.  Potter, 
David  Potter, 


George  Devoll, 
H.  M.  Kempton, 
Thomas  Manley, 
C.  A.  Richmond, 
(jcorge  Maxfield, 
Horace  Macomber, 
Daniel  Babcock, 
Peleg  Blake, 
John  Tew, 
Charles  C.  Hall, 
Asa  Buffington, 
G.  M.  Maxfield, 
George  Chadwick, 
Edward  Osgood, 
Abel  Snell, 
Abm.  Hathaway, 
Luther  Atwood, 
Alonzo  Tripp, 
William  Hested. 


Pioneer  Hook  and  Ladder  Co.,  No.   i.   (Purchase  street.) 

Foreman,  Robert  A.  Dillingham. 
First  Assistant,  Whitman  Vinal. 
Clerk,  Nathan  B.  Gifford. 


Holder  Brownell, 
David  Hatch, 
Lot  T.  Sears, 
Elias  Knowles, 
James  McKenney, 
Benj.  F.  Fisk, 
Christian  Dantsizen, 
James  A.  Davis, 
John  Hiland, 
George  Hatch, 
George  G.  Peck, 
David  Palmer, 


Stephen  Wilber, 
Frank  Hews, 
Jesse  A.  Palmer, 
Russell  Wood, 
William  Manley, 
B.  F.  King,  Jr., 
Wm.  Goodnow, 
M.  L.  Bufifington, 
G.  W.  Andrews, 
Benj.  Clifton, 
John  Savage, 
Alden  Brightman, 


Young  America,  No.  8.     (North  Second  street.) 

Foreman,  L.  B.  Ellis. 
First  Assistant,  Matthias  C.  Pease. 
Second  Assistant,  James  W.  Lawrence. 
Third  Assistant,  James  Kent. 
Clerk,  Alfred  Osgood. 

James  C.  Hitch,  Haile  R.  Luther, 

George  Walden,  Charles  Bunker, 

Alex.  H.  Ellis,  William  B.  Allen, 

Wm.  H.  Peacock,  Chas.  E.  Maxfield. 

B.  F.  Lowden,  George  Allen, 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  I39 

C.  E.  Perry,  Joseph  C.  Austin, 

R.  W.  Murphy,  Charles  Barnard, 

Benj.  F.  Lewis,  Edward  T.Wilson, 

Edward  B.  Wilson,  James  Smith, 

Alex.  Doty. 

The  Veteran  Association  of  Firemen. 

This  compan^'  was  composed  of  a  number  of  persons  who 
formerly  belonged  to  different  engine  companies  in  the  city, 
and  now  acted  as  a  resevve.  They  had  charge  of  the  engine 
Mechanic,  formerly  belonging  to  company^  No.  6. 

Protecting  Society. 

The  members  were  special  policemen  when  at  fires  or  when 
alarms  of  fire  occurred. 

President,  Henry  P.  Willis. 
Vice-President,  Charles  Chandler. 
Secretary,  William  C.  Macy. 

Directors,  E.  D.  Mandell,  Henry  C.  Kelley,  J.  F.  Dearborn,  William 
Tallman,  Jr.,  Edward  Russell. 

George  F.  Barker,  Sanford  S.  Horton, 

Abm.  Russell,  Abm.  Taber, 

W.  P.  S.  Cadwell,  Nathaniel  S.  Cannon, 

Edmund  Rodman,  F.  L.  Porter, 

Edward  Knights,  Edwin  Munson, 

George  F.  Kingman,  (jilbert  Allen, 

Charles  Almy,  J.  P.  Knowles,  2nd, 

Henry  Childs,  Joseph  Knowles, 

James  P.  Macomber,  William  Leverett, 

Nathan  Lewis,  William  Howe, 

Lemuel  M.  Kollock,  B    F.  T.  Jenney, 

C.  D.  Stickney,  Albert  B.  Corey, 

L.  P.  Ashmead,  J.  W.  Macomber, 
Joshua  C.  Hitch,                          ^         R.  W.  Raymond, 

G.  D.  Gififord,  Dennis  Wood, 

C.  W.  Seabury,  W.  G.  Wood, 

Cornelius  Davenport,  M.  A.  Covell,  -* 

Jos.  Buckminster,  N.  Lincoln,  Jr., 

W.  G.  Baker,  J.  Barrell, 

J.  A.  T.  Eddy,  Charles  H.  Nye, 

Charles  Taber,  C.  B.  H.  Fessenden. 

George  Knights,  W.  H.  Bartlett, 

James  Durfee,  Jr.,  Alden  Wordell, 

Jos.  Plummer,  Charles  E.  Hawes, 


140  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Alfred  Wilson,  Ivory  S.  Cornish, 

Thomas  Russell,  Z.  S.  Durfee, 

George  W.  Choate,  W.  F.  Durfee, 

George  L.  Brownell,  Charles  H.  Gifford, 

Stephen  P.  Haskins,  John  J.  Hicks, 

W.  K.  Tallman,  J.  F.  Delaney, 

George  W.  Rowland,  Reuben  Rowland, 

Taber  Bowles,  Edward  R.  Gardner, 

Ebenezer  Rervey,  L.  H.  Morrill, 

Sylvander  Rutchinson. 

The  apparatus  for  blowing  up  buildings  w^as  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  Board  of  Engineers.  A  red  staff  was  the  distin- 
guishing badge  of  the  engineers. 

In  1856,  the  firemen  were  requested  to  wear  at  all  fires 
badges  made  of  white  metal,  with  the  designating  figure  of  the 
company.  Locks  were  put  on  all  the  engine  houses,  and  each 
member  of  the  department  furnished  with  a  key. 

In  iSt^y,  rules  were  adopted  to  the  effect  that  all  companies 
should  keep  to  the  right  when  going  to  a  fire,  and  no  running 
was  allowed  in  returning. 

In  1858,  the  comj^anies  w^ere  frequently  reminded  from  head- 
quarters to  more  strictly  obey  orders. 

Our  readers  will  see  the  significance  of  the  above  extracts 
from  the  records  of  the  Board  of  Engineers.  They  all  reveal 
the  excitement  that  prevailed. 


TILLINGHAST   P.  TOMPKINS. 

(Chief  Engineer,  1858-1871.) 


CHAPTER    X. 
''fj?HE  Board  of  Engineers  for  18^6  consisted  of; 


Chief  Engineer,  Joshua  B.  Ashley. 

Assistant  Engineers,  Tillinghast  P.  Tompkins,  George  Hinckley, 

Israel    F.   Bryant,  Tilson  Wood. 

Secretary,  J.  Augustus  Brownell. 


142  HISTORY    OF    THE 

1857. 

Chief  Engineer,  Joshua  B.  Ashley. 

Assistant  Engineers,  T.  P.  Tompkins,  Thomas  C.  Allen, 

Moses  H.  Bliss,  John  xMathevvs. 

Secretary,  J.  Augustus  Brownell. 

1858-1859. 

Chief  Engineer,  Tillinghast  P.  Tompkins. 

Assistant  Engineers,  John  Mathews,  Moses  H.  Bliss, 

George  Hinckley,  Thomas  P.  Swift. 

Secretary,  Charles  M.  Pierce,  Jr. 

i860. 

Chief  Engineer,  T.  P.  Tompkins. 

Assistant  Engineers,  John  Mathews,  George  Hinckley, 

Moses  H.  Bliss,  Henry  H.  Fisher. 

Secretary,  C.  M.  Pierce,  Jr. 

On  the  evening  of  April  19th,  18^6,  occurred  the  cele- 
brated Rowland  street  riot,  an  event  that  must  carrv  us  back 
to  the  years  1826  and  1829,  to  find  any  parallel  occurrence. 
It  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  the  conditions  that  brought 
about  the  riot  are  kindred  to  those  of  the  two  riots  above 
mentioned.  Our  readers  will  remember  in  our  description  of 
those  events  that  we  found  certain  sections  of  our  town  in- 
fested with  a  dangerous  class  of  citizens,  occupying  dwellings 
that  w^ere  moral  pest-houses,  and  with  surroundings  detri- 
mental to  the  dignity  and  good  order  of  our  community.  In 
each  case  a  murder  had  been  the  prime  cause  that  brought  into 
existence  the  organized  mob.  In  the  riot  we  are  now  discuss- 
ing we  find  a  simple  repetition  of  the  same  condition  of 
things.  So  that  we  may  have  an  intelligent  knowledge  of  this 
affair,  let  us  take  a  general  survevof  the  place  and  the  peculiar 
circumstances  of  the  event. 

Rowland  street  is  a  short  thoroughfare  in  the  south  part  of 
the  city,  running  east  and  west,  parallel  to  and  situated  between 
Grinnell  and  Griffin  streets,  beginning  at  Acushnet  avenue  and 
running  east  to  the  river  front.  In  the  years  gone  by,  and  es- 
peciallv  at  the  time  of  the  riot,  the  eastern  section  was  a 
noted    resort   for   drunken    sailors   and   evil-disposed   persons. 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  143 

Nor  was  this  confined  to  Howland  street,  for  South  Water  and 
other  intersecting  streets  partook  of  the  generalh'  bad  reputa- 
tion. They  abounded  in  dance  halls,  saloons,  gambling  dens 
and  brothels.  When  our  ships  came  in  from  their  long  voy- 
ages, these  abodes  of  iniquity  were  in  high  carnival,  fights 
and  brawls  were  of  frequent  occurrence,  and  it  was  dangerous 
to  pass  through  this  section  after  nightfall.  It  was  no  uncom- 
mon circumstance  for  persons  to  be  knocked  down  and  robbed 
in  this  vicinity.  Matters  grew  steadily  worse  and  more  un- 
controllable, when  the  climax  was  reached  in  a  murder. 

Earl}-  on  a  Sunday  morning  a  man  coming  out  of  Benj. 
Baker's  fish  market,  then  located  at  the  foot  of  Howland 
street,  discovered  the  body  of  a  man  close  to  the  water's  edge. 
Supposing  that  he  was  drunk,  he  called  the  attention  of  the 
bystanders  to  the  danger  of  the  incoming  tide.  What  was 
their  horror,  on  approaching  the  spot,  to  find 'the  man  dead; 
an  ugly  wound  on  his  head  showed  with  certainty  that  he  had 
been  foully  dealt  with.  The  investigation  that  immediately 
followed,  under  the  direction  of  William  O.  Russell,  coroner, 
revealed  several  startling  facts  :  That  the  man  had  been  mur- 
dered ;  that  the  crushing  blow  on  the  top  of  the  head  was  the 
immediate  cause  of  death  :  that  the  man  had  been  seen  in  the 
house  No.  17  Howland  street  the  night  before  ;  that  the  track 
of  blood  from  the  spot  on  the  shore  wdiere  the  victim  was 
found  was  traced  in  direct  and  unbroken  line  to  this  same 
house.  All  this  W^as  brought  out  clearly  and  positively  ;  but  who 
did  the  deed,  and  under  what  circumstances,  was  never  found 
out,  at  least  by  any  official  investigation.  The  name  of  the 
unfortunate  man  was  Rogers,  and  he  was  a  resident  of  the 
northwest  section  of  the  city. 

Not  long  after  this  event,  another  body  of  a  dead  man  was 
found  in  the  "Long  House,"  and,  though  no  bruises  were  found 
showing  violence,  it  was  deemed  necessary  to  have  an  inquest. 
The  body  was  removed  to  the  boat-builder's  shop  of  R.  C. 
Topham,  where  an  investigation  was  held,  but  without  anv  sat- 


144  HISTORY    OF    THE 

isfactory  results.  My  readers  can  easily  understand  hoys^  in- 
tense the  feeling-  became  after  two  such  tragedies. 

A  thrill  of  terror  went  througli  the  community  as  these 
dreadful  occurrences  became  known,  and  they  became  the  all- 
absorbing  topic  of  conversation.  But  few  days  elapsed  after 
the  fruitless  investigations,  when  the  preliminarv  arrangements 
were  commenced  which  ended  in  a  most  complete  organized 
mob.  Several  meetings  were  held  in  which  the  plans  were 
matured  A  triangular  piece  of  white  paper  pasted  about  the 
city  w^as  recognized  as  a  call  to  these  gatherings.  Whenever 
a  red  paper  was  posted  it  signified  danger.  The  date  first  se- 
lected for  the  demonstration  was  April  5,  but  the  affair  was 
postponed  because  of  the  delay  of  the  engineers  in  moving  the 
old  hook  and  ladder  truck  to  the  Second  street  house.  The  new 
truck,  built  by  Joseph  Brownell  &  Co.,  was  to  be  placed  in 
the  engine  house  on  Market  street. 

Let  it  be  understood  that  the  municipal  authorities,  with  His 
Honor  George  Howland,  Jr.,  at  the  head,  were  not  lax  in 
their  efforts  to  maintain  order  ;  indeed  his  administration  was 
conspicuous  for  the  vigorous  enforcement  of  law.  And  let  me 
say  in  passing  that  the  Howland  street  of  1890  is  not  the  How- 
land  street  of  1S56  ;  far  from  it.  A  stroll  through  this  thor- 
oughfare one  lovely  evening  recently  revealed  another  scene 
than  that  of  early  days.  With  vivid  pictures  in  mind  of  its 
condition  in  the  rioting  days,  when  the  rookeries  and  gin  shops 
were  in  full  blast  and  the  streets  thronged  with  tipsy  sailors 
and  bold  women,  when  the  air  w^as  filled  with  sounds  of  ribald 
jest  and  profanity — deviltry,  degradation  and  dirt  reigning  su- 
preme,— with  this  panorama  of  the  past  before  me,  I  walked 
leisurely  through  this  street.  New  houses,  new  stores,  good 
sidewalks  ;  cleanliness  and  thrift  everywhere ;  well  dressed, 
well  behaved,  courteous  people  all  along  as  I  strolled  dow^n  to 
the  shore,  crossing  Water  street  to  the  noted  "  Marsh,"  where 
Mormon  hall  and  the  lesser  temples  of  vice  held  high  carnival 
in  by-gone  days.     A  group  of  good  natured  boys,   who   were 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  I45 

having  a  jolly  good  time  talking  and  laughing  on  the  street  em- 
phasized the  impression  that  it  is  comparatively  sweet  and 
pure.  To  be  sure,  here  and  there  is  a  saloon  with  its  suspic- 
ious surroundings,  but  even  this  seems  compelled  to  have  an 
air  of  decency  and  good  order. 

Just  east  of  the  house  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Rowland 
and  Second  streets  was  a  small,  two-story  house,  No.  17.  It 
was  here  that  the  murdered  man,  Rogers,  was  last  seen  alive. 
The  occupants  of  the  house  were  of  the  worst  class,  and  the 
place  was  noted  for  being  one  of  the  vilest  on  the  street. 
Through  an  alleyway  on  the  east  of  the  house  and  standing  in 
the  rear  directly  northeast  stood  what  was  known  as  the  Long 
House,  a  large  building  occupied  by  similar  characters  and 
used  for  kindred  purposes.  On  these  two  houses  centred  the 
demonstrations  of  the  mob. 

Several  weeks  before  the  riot  the  streets  were  filled  with  ru- 
mors in  regard  to  something  that  was  going  to  happen.  At 
first  it  v^^as  not  even  hinted  where  or  when.  Not  many  days 
elapsed,  however,  before  Jerry  was  announced  as  having  ar- 
rived in  town.  That  this  character  was  no  myth  was  soon 
demonstrated.  My  information  regarding  him  and  the  organ- 
ization of  which  he  was  the  acknowledged  head  is  of  the  most 
reliable  character,  and  the  facts  relating  to  the  finding  of  the 
murdered  man  on  the  shore  were  told  me  by  the  very  man  who 
made  the  discovery. 

One  morning  our  citizens  were  greeted  with  bits  of  red  pa- 
per, posted  everywhere  through  the  city,  bearing  the  signifi- 
cant words  :  "Fire!  Fire!  On  Rowland  street  I  Paint  your 
faces  and  look  out  for  the  police."  This  was  an  appeal  to  the 
more  than  three  hundred  members  of  the  organization  that  the 
attack  was  to  take  place  on  the  following  Saturday  night,  April 
19th.  They  met  that  evening  on  City  Rail  square,  and,  at  an 
early  hour,  a  party  of  the  rioters  took  the  old  truck  from  the 
Second  street  house,  proceeded  to  Rowland  street,  and  under- 
took to  pull  down  the  house,  No.  17.     Their  efforts  were   un- 


146  HISTORY    OF    THE 

successful,  until  about  9  o'clock,  when  a  false  alarm  of  fire 
^vas  raised  and  brought  the  whole  force  and  an  immense  crowd 
of  people  to  the  scene.  The  rioters  now  were  in  their  great- 
est strength.  They  proceeded  to  the  vicinity  of  the  house, 
quickly  stripped  the  carriage  of  the  long  hooks,  and  the  work 
of  demolition  commenced.  One  of  these  hooks  was  thrust  into 
the  front  window,  another  to  the  roof,  the  rioters  manning  the 
ropes,  and  surging,  with  heavy  strain,  the  house  began  to  come 
down.  The  Long  House,  in  the  rear,  was  the  first  to  be  set 
on  fire,  though  both  w^ere  soon  in  flames,  and  burning 
fiercely,  while  dense  volumes  of  smoke  filled  the  heavens. 
Jerry  mounted  the  ridgepole  of  No.  17  and  directed  the 
operations. 

A  thrilling  episode  occurred  when  this  building  w^as  entirely 
Avrapped  in  smoke  and  flame.  The  roof  fell  in  with  a  tremen- 
dous crash,  carrying  Jerry  with  it,  and  it  w^as  for  some  time 
supposed  he  had  perished  in  the  seething  furnace.  But  he  soon 
put  in  an  appearance  and  continued  to  direct  operations.  The 
fire  soon  spread  to  the  next  building  east,  called  the  Block,  but 
th'e  damage  here  was  slight.  An}'  attempt  on  the  part  of  the 
engines  to  play  on  either  of  the  first  two  buildings  was 
defeated  by  cutting  the  leading  hose.  The  fire  department 
was  promptly  on  hand,  but  its  operations  were  distinguished 
by  its  apparent  stupidity  and  want  of  efliciency. 

The  Franklin,  No.  10,  w-as  the  first  to  arrive.  Singular  as 
it  may  seem  the  engine  stopped  directly  over  the  reservoir 
cover  and  not  a  man  could  find  it.  Nos.  5  and  6  came  tearing 
through  the  streets,  anxious,  of  course,  each  to  beat  the  other 
in  getting  first  water,  shoved  their  suctions  under  No.  10,  got 
w^ater  and  played  on — no  they  didn't  play  on  the  fire,  for  the 
reason  above  stated.  All  the  engines  of  the  department  w^ere 
hindered  from  doing  any  service.  The  only  instance  wdiere 
they  were  at  all  eflective  was  in  putting  out  the  fire  in 
the  Block.  The  crowds  of  people  were  great,  for  the 
papers  of  the  day  mention  the  number  as  at  least   three  thou- 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  I47 

sand.  The  police  were  present,  but  were  helpless  in  prevent- 
ing the  work  of  the  mob  ;  indeed,  the  mischief  had  been  ac- 
complished before  they  were  present  in  any  force. 

The  City  Guards,  Capt.  Timothy  Ingraham,  were  ordered 
out  by  the  mayor,  and  marched  to  the  scene,  fully  armed  and 
equipped  for  serious  work.  They  halted  on  Second  street, 
near  Rowland,  and  awaited  orders.  By  this  time  the  rioters 
had  dispersed,  evidently  satisfied  with  the  work  accomplished^ 
and  the  Guards  were  not  called  upon  for  service.  At  midnight 
the  crowds  of  people  retired,  and  tlius  ended  the  famous  How- 
land  street  riot.  Several  persons  were  arrested,  but  their  cases 
never  came  to  trial.  The  denizens  of  other  notorious  sections 
of  the  city  were  badlv  frightened,  and  during  the  night  outposts 
were  stationed  to  give  the  alarm  should  the  mob  be  seen  ap- 
proaching. The  city  go/ernment  took  vigorous  action  to  pre- 
vent further  demonstrations  of  this  character.  The  military 
were  underarms  for  several  weeks,  and  many  of  the  engine 
companies  were  sworn  in  for  special  duty,  but  fortunately  their 
sen'ices  were  not  required. 

I  clip  several  items  from  the  records  of  the  companies  : 

April  26,  1856.— Oregon,  No.  ii. —  False  alarm  of  fire.  Proceeded 
to  Rowland  street;  found  no  fire  but  plenty  of  police. 

October,  1856. — Franklin,  No.  10. — A  beautiful  pennant  was  pre- 
sented to  the  company  by  Weston  Howland,  Esq.  Resolutions  of 
thanks  were  passed. 

Jan.  21,  1858. — Fire  at  Fairhaven.  Depot  of  the  Fairhaven  &  Bos- 
ton Railroad  Co.  burned.  Engines  5,  7  and  9  went  over  and  rendered 
effective  service. 

April  9,  1858. — William  B.  Cooke>  Esq.,  presented  Philadelphia,  No. 
7,  a  splendid  gold-clasped  Bible.  The  gift  was  received  by  Capt. 
Clark,  who  made  an  appropriate  speech.  The  company  passed  a  vote 
of  thanks  and  also  a  resolution  that  a  chapter  should  be  read  at  every 
regular  meeting.  [The  records  show  diat  this  was  faithfully  carried 
out  at  this  time.  Church  going  seemed  to  be  popular  with  the 
firemen.] 

On  Sunday,  April  11,  1858,  engine  companies  Nos.  i,  3,  5,  6,  7,  9 
and  ID  attended  service  at  the  Elm  Street  M.  E.  church,  and  listened 
to  a  sermon  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  Henry  S.  White. 


I4S  HISTORY    OF    THE 

May  16. — Franklin  Co.,  No.  10,  attended  Trinitarian  church.  Sec- 
ond sermon  preached  to  firemen  by  Rev.  Wheelock  Craig.  The  Frank- 
lins mustered  62  men,  including  their  volunteers.  On  June  loth 
they  went  to  Allen  Street  church  ;  sermon  by  Rev.  John  Howson. 

In  November,  1859,  ^^^  Board  of  Engineers  took  the  hose 
reel  of  the  Franklin,  No.  10,  out  of  service  for  some  slight  re- 
pairs, supplying  them  with  a  spare  reel  for  temporarv  use. 
At  an  alarm  of  fire  on  Nov.  26th  the  engines  responded,  and 
to  the  genuine  surprise  of  the  Franklins  the  Young  Mechanics, 
No.  6,  appeared  wn"th  their  hose  reel.  This  raised  their  ire  ; 
and  on  returning  to  their  house  they  appointed  their  officers  a 
committee  to  wait  on  Acting  Chief  Hincklev  for  an  explanation 
of  the  affair.  They  were  informed  that  as  the  No.  6  reel  was 
off  for  repairs  the  engineers  ordered  the  Franklin  reel  to  be  at- 
tached to  No.  6  ;  and  as  the  service  was  only  a  temporary  one 
they  declined  the  request  of  the  committee  to  make  any  change. 
The  sequel  to  this  affair  is  given  in  the  following  extracts 
from  No.  lo's  records: 

Nov.  27th. — Alarm  of  fire  at  9.30  o'clock  p.  m.,  caused  by  a  fire  in 
the  Market  street  school-house.  Not  much  damage  done.  No.  6,  first 
water.  No.  10  was  on  hand  and  put  down  at  the  corner  of  Union  and 
Fourth  streets.  The  company,  seeing  their  reel  at  the  fire,  took  it  and, 
assisted  by  their  friends,  succeeded  in  taking  it  to  their  engme,  although 
No.  6  tried  their  best,  assisted  by  the  engineers  and  the  Protecting  So- 
ciety, to  prevent  them.  Some  of  the  tallest  specimens  of  pulling  and 
hauling  on  record  was  witnessed  at  this  fire.  The  reel  was  afterwards 
given  up  to  the  engineers  and  placed  again  with  No.  6. 

Nov.  28. — The  company's  hose  reel  was  returned  this  afternoon  and 
placed  with  the  engine. 

At  half  past  one  on  the  morning  of  April  18,  1859,  ^'"^ 
broke  out  in  the  carriagfe  factory  of  William  A.  Nash,  in 
Mechanics  lane.  It  spread  with  great  rapidity  and  the  build- 
ing was  soon  enveloped  in  flames.  The  fire  spread  to  the 
two  stables  of  John  M.  Hathaway  &  Brother,  on  Elm  street, 
thence  to  that  of  Messrs.  Bailey  &  Hathaway.  Our  readers 
may  well  imagine  the  fearful  condition  of  matters  when   these 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT.  1 49 

four  buildings,  filled  with  combustible  materials,  were  in  a  rag- 
ing, uncontrollable  blaze.  The  heat  was  intense  and  almost 
inibearable.  Fortunately  the  horses,  67  in  number,  were  saved 
by  cutting  the  halters  and  driving  them  from  the  buildings. 
Thev  went  prancing  about  town,  free  to  go  at  their  own  pleas- 
ure. Thev  were  corralled  when  their  owners  had  more  leis- 
ure, in  the  morning.  The  fire  worked  rapidly  to  the  west, 
and  Andrew  J.  Dam's  bi.lliard  saloon  and  bowling  alley  on  Elm 
street  was  soon  ablaze,  as  was  also  the  two-story  house  next 
west,  owned  by  Seth  R.  Thomas  ;  also,  Joseph  Linton's  black- 
smith shop,  L.  G.  Carpenter  &  Son's  blacksmith  shop,  and  the 
building  west  occupied  by  the  same  firm,  second  story  by  G. 
Tuckwell  and  Pierce  &  Co. — all  these  on  the  north  side  of 
Mechanics  lane.  On  the  south,  Mechanics  Hall,  occupied  by 
the  City  Guards  and  Union  Boot  &  Shoe  store,  took  fire  and 
was  badly  injured,  though  not  destroved.  The  city  librarv 
was  in  great  danger,  and  the  window  casements  on  the  north 
side  were  badly  burned.  The  granite  walls  of  the  North 
Congregational  church,  on  the  east,  stayed  the  progress  of  the 
fire  in  that  direction.  The  entire  loss  of  property  was  $27,000, 
on  which  there  was  an  insurance  of  $9=^00.  The  conflagra- 
tion was  the  work  of  an  incendiary,  who  chose  a  place  and 
time  for  one  of  the  most  disastrous  fires  our  citv  ever  experi- 
enced. The  combustible  nature  of  the  buildings,  with  their 
contents,  made  favorable  material  for  the  terrible  fire,  and 
the  only  wonder  is  that  the  department  was  able  to  stop  it 
when  it  did  ;  for  at  the  moment  when  the  flames  were  fiercest 
the  reservoir  on  City  Hall  square  gave  out,  and  four  of  the  en- 
gines had  to  be  moved  to  other  points  for  water. 

The  Pioneer  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  did  great  service 
at  this  fire  in  pulling  down  sheds,  (there  were  a  number  that 
connected  the  stables)  and  in  removing  fences.  Thirteen 
buildings  in  all  were  destroyed  in  this  conflagration.  The 
newspapers  of  the  day  speak  in  commendable  terms  of  the 
work  done  by  the  fire  department. 


150  HISTORY    OF    THE 

At  noonday  on  August  24,  1859,  the  greatest  fire  in  our  lo- 
cal history,  involving  an  immense  loss  of  property,  occurred 
on  Water  street,  north  of  Middle.  It  was  past  twelve, 
an  hour  when  the  shops  and  streets  were  deserted,  and 
the  workmen  were  at  dinner,  when  fire  broke  out  suddenly  in 
the  engine  room  of  William  Wilcox's  planing  mill,  on  the  east 
side  of  Water  street,  on  the  same  spot  where  now  stands  Til- 
lino-hast  &  Terrv's  mill.  The  structure  was  of  w^ood  and,  in 
an  instant,  was  enveloped  in  flames.  A  strong  southeast  wind 
was  blowing  at  the  time,  and  the  fire  spread  with  great  rapid- 
ity to  the  buildings  north,  leaped  across  the  street,  even  before 
the  alarm  was  given,  taking  all  the  shops  on  the  west  side  of 
Water  street  clear  to  North  street,  and  worked  its  way  steadily 
westward  to  Second  street. 

Meanwhile,  along  the  wharves  the  flames  made  steady  pro- 
gress, taking  in  their  path  all  the  buildings  and  their  contents. 
Wilcox's  lumber  yard  was  now  one  dense  mass  of  flame,  and 
the  condition  of  things  at  this  time  was  appalling.  But  when 
the  cargoes  of  oil  stored  in  the  vicinity  of  Richmond  & 
Wilcox's  wharf  took  fire,  and  the  ship  John  &  Edward, 
lying  at  the  head  of  the  dock,  was  absorbed  in  the  destruction, 
the  flames  enveloping  the  entire  vessel,  and  leaping  upward  to 
the  top  of  the  masts,  the  scene  was  one  of  awful  impressive- 
ness.  The  oil,  at  this  point,  as  it  ran  from  the  wharf  into  the 
dock,  took  fire,  and  at  one  time  the  water  for  some  distance 
out  into  the  dock  was  covered  with  burning  oil,  forming  liter- 
erally  a  sea  of  fire.  Several  ships  in  this  dock  tied  to  the 
wharf  had  to  be  pushed  out  into  the  river  in  order  to  save 
them  from  destruction.  At  this  juncture  the  writer  took  a  boat 
and  sculled  up  the  river,  through  a  sea  of  oil,  for  the  vast 
numbers  of  oil  casks  had  burst,  and  the  contents  ran  into  the 
river,  covering  it  for  a  long  distance  to  the  depth  of  several 
inches. 

The  spectacle  now  presented  was  one  of  sublime  grandeur. 
At  the  north,  mountains  of  black  smoke  were  rising,  tinged  at 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  15I 

the  lower  edges,  with  the  forked  flames  that  rose  from  the 
burning  oil,  while  in  the  foreground  was  the  burning  ship — at 
this  moment  in  the  last  stage  of  destruction.  At  the  south  the 
burning  lumber  had  reached  its  intensest  heat,  and  solid  masses 
of  flame  shot  high  into  the  heavens.  In  the  intervening  space 
were  the  standing  chimneys,  grim  monuments  of  the  frightful 
disaster,  and  the  burning  ruins  of  what  but  a  few  hours  before 
had  been  hives  of  industrv.  Here  and  there  migfht  be  seen 
groups  of  firemen  at  their  work,  defying  the  danger  that  beset 
them  on  every  hand. 

The  houses  on  Second  street  were  now  in  flames  and  the  fire 
was  spreading  with  fearful  certainty  to  the  north,  promising  to 
cut  a  path  through  the  northwest  section  of  the  city ;  and 
without  doubt  it  would  have  done  so  but  for  the  decision  of  the 
authorities  to  blow  up  the  building  on  the  northwest  corner  of 
Second  and  North  streets.  This  was  quickly  accomplished, 
and  the  stunning  explosion  that  was  heard  in  every  part  of  the 
citv  was  the  announcement  to  the  aflrighted  citizens  that  dan- 
ger  from  that  section  was  over.  On  the  northwest  corner  of 
North  Water  and  North  streets  were  stored  under  seaweed 
14,000  barrels  of  oil,  valued  at  $200,000.  To  save  this  from 
destruction  a  number  of  citizens,  armed  with  big  brooms  made 
of  brush,  thrashed  out  the  burnino-  cinders  as  thev  fell  in  ofreat 
clouds.  The  fearful  heat  made  this  task  almost  unbearable, 
and  yet  pluckily  they  stood  to  the  work  and  saved  this  large 
property.  They  were  aided  by  the  fire  department  who  kept 
the  seaweed  wet. 

The  bursting  of  so  many  oil  casks  sent  rivulets  of  oil  in  all 
directions,  much  of  it  into  the  river,  much  into  everv  sunken 
spot,  and  ponds  of  pure  spermaceti  were  formed  in  many  di- 
rections. When  the  conflagration  was  under  control  the 
gathering  of  this  oil  became  a  lively  business.  Empty  oil 
casks  were  at  a  premium  and  every  sort  of  vessel  that  would 
hold  liquid  was  brought  into  requisition.  "Dipping  ile  "  was 
a  very  profitable  business  and  was   well  followed   for   a   time, 


152  HISTORY    OF    THE 

some  persons  getting  as  much  as  40  barrels.  It  was  subse- 
quently bought  by  the  oil  refining  factories  at  about  2^  cents  a 
gallon. 

At  nightfall  the  fire  had  spent  its  fury  and  apprehensions  of 
any  further  disaster  were  allayed.  Several  engines  were  at  work 
all  night  playing  upon  the  ruins. 

When  the  Daly  building  on  Second  street  was  blown  up, 
Chief  Engineer  Tillinghast  P.  Tompkins  was  struck  on  the 
head  by  a  falling  timber,  that  cut  a  terrible  gash  through  the 
scalp.  It  was  feared  for  a  time  that  the  accident  would  prove 
fatal,  but  Mr.  Tompkins  soon  recovered.  He  still  walks  our 
streets,  vigorous  in  mind,  though  scarcelv  capable  of  standing 
the  fearful  strain  of  an  equal  responsibilitv  to  the  one  of 
that  dreadful  day.  I  le  was  ably  assisted  in  the  arduous  duties 
of  the  day  by  his  assistants,  Messrs.  John  Mathews,  Moses  H. 
Bliss,  George  Hincklev  and  Thomas  P.  Swift.  Our  readers 
can  understand  how  strong  the  wind  was  blowing,  when  I 
mention  the  fact  that  burning  embers  were  found  two  miles 
away  to  the  northwest. 

An  "  oil  dipper"  fell  off  the  floating  logs  at  Beetle's  spar 
yard  and,  as  the  oil  was  several  inches  deep  on  the  surface  of 
the  water,  he  was  pretty  w^ell  "  done  in  oil"  before  he  could 
be  slid  to  a  place  of  safety. 

Ships  Illinois,  Congaree  and  Cowper,  lying  in  the  docks, 
were  slightlv  damaged  by  fire,  but  were  towed  out  of  danger 
by  tugboat  Spray.  The  occasional  explosion  of  the  bomb- 
lances  was  terrific  and  the  reports  were  like  those  of  artillery 
on  the  battle-field. 

The  following  buildings  were  destroyed  :  William  Wilcox's 
steam  planing  mill,  loss  $14,000,  no  insurance  ;  Thomas 
Booth's  sash,  door  and  blind  manufactory,  upper  story,  loss 
$1500,  no  insurance;  Ryder  &  Smith's  building  and  spar 
yard,  totally  destroyed,  loss  $3000,  no  insurance  ;  Thomas 
Booth's  carpenter  shop,  loss  $1000  ;  all  these  were  on  the  east 
side  of  Water  street.     The  flames  now  crossed  the   street  and 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


153 


burned  Hayes  &  Co.'s  mill  for  dressing  staves,  loss  $2500,  no 
insurance  ;  the  second  story  was  occupied  bv  Charles  and  Ed- 
ward Bierstadt,  turning  and  sawing  shop,  loss  $1000,  no  insur- 
ance ;  the  building  next  north  w^as  Warren  Hathaway  &  Son's, 


JOHN    MATHEWS. 

(Assistant  Engineer,  1857-1871.  ) 


manufacturers  of  whaling  apparatus,  mincing  machines,  etc., 
loss  $7000,  insurance  $2600 ;  in  the  rear  was  a  blacksmith 
shop,  entirely  destroyed.  In  these  buildings  was  a  large  lot  of 
bomb-lances  that   exploded   during    the   progress    of  the   fire, 


154  HISTORY    OF    THE 

creating  much  alarm  among  the  people  ;  next  north,  building 
occupied  by  Howland  &  Coggeshall,  storage  of  casks  ;  second 
story,  carpenter's  shop,  G.  &  C.  Brownell,  loss  $400.  The 
flames  then  attacked  the  lumber  yard,  sheds  and  buildings  be- 
longing to  Thomas  Booth,  loss  $8000,  no  insurance  ;  John  D. 
Hursell,  paint  shop,  in  upper  story  of  building,  loss  $1200, 
no  insurance.  Next  in  order  came  the  large  three-storv  build- 
ing on  the  corner  of  North  and  Water  streets,  occupied  by 
Nathaniel  H.  Nye,  ship  chandler;  second  story,  counting 
rooms  of  Messrs.  Wilcox  &  Richmond,  B.  B.  Howard,  Ed- 
mund Maxfield,  Russell  Maxfield  and  David  B.  Kempton ; 
third  story  occupied  by  Charles  Searell,  rigger  ;  loss  on  build- 
ing $3000,  Mr.  Searell  $^00,  no  insurance.  To  the  west  of 
the  machine  shop  of  Messrs.  Hathaway  was  the  cooperage  of 
Howland  &  Coggeshall.  Their  entire  loss  was  $3000,  no  insur- 
surance.  Near  this  were  two  other  small  dwellings  that  were 
destroyed. 

The  fire  still  continued  to  spread  to  the  west.  The  engineers 
blew  up  the  building  on  Second  street  at  1.30  o'clock  belong- 
ing to  Dennis  Daly.  This  effectually  stopped  the  fire  from  go- 
ing southerly.  The  next  building  destroyed  north  of  Daly's 
was  the  house  belonging  to  Stephen  N.  Potter,  loss  $3000,  no 
insurance.  Then  came  the  large  cooperage  of  Hayes  &  Co. 
It  w^as  entirely  destroyed,  loss  $Sooo,  no  insurance.  Following 
this  a  dwelling  house  owned  by  Wilcox  &  Richmond,  loss 
$1200,  no  insurance.  Next,  southeast  corner  of  Second  and 
North  streets,  fish  market  of  Gardner  &  Estes,  loss  $400,  in- 
sured. The  fire  then  extended  to  the  west  side  of  Second 
street  and  destroyed  a  dwelling  owned  by  Mrs.  Ezra  Smith, 
loss  $3000.  Next,  on  the  same  side,  a  house  on  the  southwest 
corner  of  North  and  Second  streets,  owned  b\'  D.  R.  Greene,  loss 
$4000,  insurance  $2200.  At  2  o'clock  the  engineers  blew  up 
the  dwelling  house  of  Mrs.  Joseph  Maxfield  on  northwest 
corner  of  North  and  Second  streets,  loss  $1500. 

The  above,    embracing    about    twenty  buildings,  were   de- 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  ic;^; 

stroyed,  and  a  large  number  of  sheds,  etc.,  and  8000  barrels  of 
oil.  The  entire  loss,  as  recorded  in  the  books  of  the  Board  of 
Engineers  was  $254,575,  with  but  $6975  insurance. 

This  was  the  most  disastrous  conflagration  our  city  ever  ex- 
perienced ;  and  what  made  it  especially  sad  was  that  the  loss 
fell  with  such  terrible  force  upon  a  class  of  our  most  indus- 
trious and  worthy  citizens,  manv  of  whom  saw  all  the  hard 
earnings  of  years  in  a  few  hours  entirely  obliterated.  Some 
not  only  lost  their  business,  but  their  homes  eyen  were  sacri- 
ficed in  the  great  disaster. 

Columbian  Engine  Co.,  No.  5,  was  in  Newport  on  an  ex- 
cursion when  this  fire  took  place. 

Hardly  had  the  embers  died  out  before  there  came  an  imper- 
ative demand  by  the  citizens  for  a  more  adequate  protection  of 
our  cit}'.  The  newspapers  took  up  the  appeal,  and  "steam" 
became  the  popular  cry.  The  hand  engine  service  fought  the 
battle  for  all  it  was  worth,  but  without  avail ;  the  beginning  of 
the  end  had  come.  The  scofls  and  jeers  of  the  multitude  of 
friends  of  the  fire  department  under  the  old  regime  could  not 
stay  the  tide  of  progress.  The  steam  fire  engine  rolled  into 
town  one  day,  only  a  few  months  later.  In  less  than  a  year  fol- 
lowing its  advent,  the  hand  engines  began,  one  after  another, 
to  go  out  of  service,  and  the  number  of  steam  fire  engines 
increased. 


CHAPTER   XI. 

?Mm'E  have  now  reached  the  period  (iS6o)  when  a  new  de- 
^jkD/  parture  was  made,  and  new  methods  introduced,  that 
effectuall}^  overturned  and  displaced  the  service  that  had  been 
held  in  high  esteem,  and  around  which  liad  clustered  the  all- 
absorbing  interest  and  public  spirit  of  generations  :  a  sen'ice 
that  had  brought  within  its  sphere  the  very  best  elements, of  our 
community.  Admitting  all  the  weaknesses  and  blemishes  pe- 
culiar to  the  hand  service,  our  citizens  cannot  but  be  proud  of 
the  record.  Its  history  is  the  history  of  the  personality  of  New 
Bedford.  Mention  the  name  of  anv  citizen  distinsfuished  in 
his  day  for  enterprise,  business  capacitv,  broad  common  sense, 
and  sterling  character,  and  the  chances  are  more  than  even  that 
his  name  will  be  found  recorded  among  the  firemen. 

What  changes  have  taken  place  since  the  primitive  machine, 
built  by  Newsham,  in  London,  in  1772,  was  brought  to  the 
villaofe  of  Bedford !  How  amused  we  are  to  read  of  the 
Bucket  Brigade  ;  but  w^as  it  not  equal  to  the  demands  of  its 
day  .^  Indeed,  has  not  every  improvemant  been  called  into  ex- 
istence by  the  peculiar  demand  of  the  age?  Was  not  the  ap- 
palling conflagration  of  Aug.  24,  1S59,  ^^^^  voice  that  cried 
aloud  for  advance  in  protective  methods?  Did  not  steam  come 
to  the  front  from  the  imperative  demand  of  the  exigencies  of 
that  experience  ? 

In  less  than  ten  days  after  this  awful  calamity  an  order 
passed  the  city  government — not  without  fierce  opposition — 
for  the  purchase  of  the  first  steam  fire  engine,  Onward,  No.  i. 
It  was  built  bv  the  famous  Amoskeag  Mfg.  Co.,  of  Manchester, 
N.  H.  ;  it  had  rotary  pumps  and  was  equipped  with  the  best 
inventions  of  its  day,  but  would  compare  unfavorably  with  the 
machines  of  the  present. 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  157 

A  company  was  organized  Jan.  2,  i860,  as  follows  : 

Foreman,  Tilson  B.  Uenham. 
First  Assistant,  William  H.  Sherman. 
Second  Assistant,  Gideon  Wing. 
Clerk,  Edward  S.  Taber. 

Atwood  Holmes,  Robert  T.  Barker, 

Joseph  G.  Dean,  Lewis  C.  Rodgers, 

Ephraim  Chaney,  Charles  H.  W^ood, 

Caleb  T.  Jenney,  Charles  Burbank, 

W^illiam  Cook,  Thomas  J.  Gifford. 

It  was  arranged,  in  case  of  fire,  to  use  horses  from  the  city 
stables.  The  steamer  arrived  in  February  and  was  placed  in 
the  brick  building  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Pleasant  street 
and  Mechanic's  lane. 

But  a  few  days  following  the  arrival  of  the  Onward,  a  fierce 
fire  broke  out  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Middle  and  North 
Second  streets,  burning  Pollard  &  Myrick's  cooperage  and  sev- 
eral other  buildings,  entailing  a  loss  of  $8400,  with  an  insur- 
ance of  $2200.  The  fire  department  responded  with  its  usual 
promptness.  Much  interest  was  centered  upon  the  Onward, 
which  was  worked  for  the  first  time.  It  was  taken  to  Parker's 
wharf  and,  after  some  delay  in  furnishing  leading  hose,  put  a 
stream  on  the  fire  that  soon  made  havoc  with  the  flames  and 
proved  an  eye-opener  to  many  who  had  heretofore  been  preju- 
diced against  the  new  invention.  The  service  of  the  engine 
was  powerful  and  steady,  revealing  to  a  marked  degree  the 
staying  quality  of  its  work  when  once  in  operation. 

In  October  the  following  permanent  organization  was  com- 
pleted and  entered  into  regular  service  : 

Foreman,  William  H.  Sherman. 
First  Assistant,  Gideon  Wing. 
Second  Assistant,  William  Cook. 
Clerk,  George  Kempton. 
Engineer,  Charles  H.  Wood. 
Hostler,  Benj.  F.  King. 

Thomas  J.  Gifford,  Richard  Bennett, 

Henry  T.  Southwick,  J.  S.  Southwick, 

T.  M.  Grew,  J.  L.  Luce, 


I5S  HISTORY    OF    THE 

C.  W.  Brownell,  W.  O.  Sullivan, 

T.  D.  Dexter,  C.  E.  Doty. 

J.  B.  Tripp,  George  G.  Gifford, 

Robert  T.  Barker. 

On  the  afternoon  of  March  17  the  first  contest  and  trial  be- 
tween hand  and  steam  occurred.  The  Columbian,  No.  5, 
built  by  Button,  and  Young  Mechanic,  No.  6,  built  by  Jeffers, 
were  selected  to  champion  the  hand  engine  service.  The 
steamer  Onward  was  stationed  on  the  wharf  at  the  foot  of 
North  street  and  drew^  \vater  from  the  river.  The  two  hand 
engines  were  placed  at  the  corner  of  North  and  North  Second 
streets.  Two  lines  of  hose,  each  of  500  feet  length,  were  laid 
from  the  steamer,  the  open  butts  being  placed  in  the  hand  en- 
gines.    The  latter  ^^layed  through  i^  Inch  nozzles. 

The  preparations  for  the  struggle  had  been  made  with  great 
care,  both  companies  striking  hands  In  this  competition  to 
bring  victory.  Each  appeared  with  a  full  complement  of  men, 
all  imbued  with  an  earnest  desire  to  beat  their  cominon  enemy. 
At  the  command  of  Chief  Tompkins  the  steamer  commenced 
work,  the  hose  began  to  fill,  and  the  water  began  to  flow. 
The  Columbian  and  Young  Mechanic,  with  their  brakes  filled 
with  their  most  athletic  men,  began  to  "  break  her  down"  in 
good  earnest,  and  the  contest  was  now  under  way.  The 
streets  were  blocked  In  all  directions  with  an  immense  crowd 
of  people,  all  having  an  Intense  interest  in  the  Issue  of  the 
hour.  The  partisans  of  the  Fives  and  Sixes  for  once  united 
their  voices  In  the  common  cause,  and  our  readers  may  well 
imagine  that  matters  were  decldedlv  excItIno\  The  steamer 
let  on  its  jDower  gradually  until  the  fullest  capacit}'  was  entered  ; 
and  such  torrents  of  water  flowed  from  the  butts  as  to  suggest 
a  miniature  Niagara  broken  loose.  The  boys,  meanwhile  w^ere 
paying  strict  attention  to  business,  and  the  rapidity  of  stroke 
increased.  "  Wake  her  !  Shake  her  !  "  was  the  cry.  Wake 
and  shake  her  they  did  to  their  utmost  power.  Could  the 
steamer  vs^ash  both  engines?  was  the  Important  question  to  be 
decided. 


NEW.  BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  1^9 

The  contest  continued  for  30  minutes  without  cessation.  The 
result  was  that  the  Cokunl:)ian  was  washed,  and  while  the 
Young  Mechanic  once  or  twice  drained  the  supply,  yet  the 
struofofle  was  on  the  whole  decidedly  in  favor  of  steam. 

The  next  trial  was  to  place  the  No.  6  on  Purchase  street, 
the  steamer  to  be  supplied  through  iioo  feet  of  hose,  and  the 
Young  Mechanic  to  play  through  500  feet  and  to  use  i^  inch 
nozzle. 

Steamer  and  hand  engine  entered  the  contest  with  vigor, 
which  resulted  in  the  latter  using  up  the  supply  several  times 
ana  then  calling  for  more.  How  the  bo3^s  yelled  with  delight, 
threw  their  hats  in  the  air,  cheered  each  other,  cheered  them- 
selves, and  made  the  \velkin  ring  with  their  noisy  demonstra- 
tions !  The  Fives  were  as  pleased  as  the  Sixes,  and  the  Sixes 
were  wild  with  joy.  After  the  trial  they  took  their  machine  to  the 
Pleasant  street  reservoir  and  played  a  stream  above  the  church 
steeple.  They  cheered  themselves  hoarse  and  took  their  ma- 
chine home,  proud  of  their  achievements.  The  Columbians 
took  their  engine  to  the  Fourth  street  reservoir  and  played 
three  solid  streams  over  Pierian  Hall.  This  performance 
was  deemed  much  more  satisfactory  than  any  previous  trial. 
The  Columbians  rolled  their  machine  home,  more  proud  of  it 
even  than  when  it  made  such  a  splendid  record  in  vSalem. 
Both  companies  were  deservedly  proud  of  their  engines.  They 
were  alike  fine  representatives  of  the  best  manufacturers  in 
the  land. 

But  let  us  turn  our  attention  to  the  second  ringing  of  the  fire 
bell,  and  see  what  was  the  practical  result  of  the  contest  be- 
tween hand  and  steam.  We  found  that  the  Amoskeags  had 
sent  us  an  engine  whose  drawing  and  forcing  powers  were  im- 
mense, surpassing  anything  ever  shown  before  ;  that  under  or- 
dinary demands  it  could  furnish  ample  water  supply  from  the 
river  for  two  engines  easily,  and  drive  it  to  any  part  of  the 
town  :  that  in  doing  this  work  it  didn't  get  tired  ;  only  give  the 
engine  plenty  of  food  of  tlie  right  sort,  and  it  was  good  for  an 


l6o  HISTORY    OF    THE 

unlimited  period  of  service.  Our  citizens  saw  a  fire  apparatus 
that,  had  it  been  available  at  the  Kempton  lumber-vard  hre, 
would  have  furnished  water  in  such  quantitv  as  to  have  saved 
enough  property  from  destruction  on  that  night  alone  to  have 
paid  for  itself  and  all  its  equipments.  They  saw  an  en- 
gine that,  could  it  have  been  in  service  at  the  Mechanics  lane 
fire,  would  have  without  doubt  kej^t  the  conflagration  to  the 
first  four  buildings  destroved.  It  was  easv  to  see  that  this 
steamer  would  not  require  so  large  a  force  of  men,  and  there- 
fore in  its  economical  bearing  the  advantages  were  in  its  favor. 
Slo^vly  but  certainly  the  conviction  fastened  itself  upon  the 
communit}^  that  this  new  method  of  dealing  with  the  fire  fiend 
was  to  be  the  method  of  the  future.  Before  manv  months 
passed  the  boys  themselves  began  to  read  the  hand-writing  on 
the  w^all. 

It  is  a  significant  fact  that  from  the  year  i860,  when  steam 
entered  the  city,  we  have  had  no  extensive  conflagrations  within 
our  limits.  The  experiences  of  1859  have  never  been  repeated. 
Fierce  fires  have  occurrred,  but  they  have  been  in  almost  all 
cases  confined  to  the  limits  of  one  or  two  buildings.  I  do  not 
overlook  the  Wall  street  fire  April  i,  1887,  when  Kirby's  paint 
mill  was  destroved,  when  I  make  this  statement.  There  never 
was  a  grander  exhibition  of  the  power  of  steam  than  at  that 
wild  conflagration. 

June  6,  i860,  occurred  a  stubborn  and  scorching  fire  in  Na- 
than Chase's  building,  141  Union  street,  extending  northeast 
to  building  on  Purchase  street,  occupied  by  Thomas  C.  Allen, 
and  Little  &  Allen. 

Nov.  5,  i860,  the  l)uilding  on  the  corner  of  Union  and  Pur- 
chase streets,  occupied  bv  Thornton  &  Gerrish,  was  partially 
burned.     Loss,  $3000. 

May  21,  i860,  Philadelphia  Engine  Co.,  No.  7,  was  dis- 
banded by  the  Citv  Government,  and  the  machine  withdrawn 
from  service.  It  was  also  ordered  that  the  Columbian,  No.  5, 
should  be  removed  to  the  house   on   Fourth   street,  vacated  by 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  l6l 

the  Philadelphia.      The  company  did  not  relish  this  action,  and 
on  the  evening  of  Sept.  24th  voted  to  disband. 

The  Board  of  Engineers  proposed  to  use  the  Central  House 
for  the  steamers,  arranged  to  remove  Young  Mechanic,  No.  6^ 
to  the  north  of  Maxfield  street  on  Purchase,  to  the  house  of 
Ohio,  No.  3,  and  also  to  change  its  name.  The  latter  was  not 
done,  but  the  company  disbanded  Oct.  ist. 

While  speaking  of  the  hand-engines  I  will  relate  a  true  story 
reofardinCT  one  of  our  old  machines.  In  the  davs  of  the  excite- 
ment  following  the  gold  discovery  in  California  in  1S49,  '"^i^nv 
of  our  citizens  joined  the  great  armv  that  went  from  all  sec- 
tions of  the  countrv  to  the  Land  of  Gold.  I  well  remember  a 
meeting  of  a  partv  of  these  adventurous  spirits  being  held  in 
my  father's  cooper  shop  on  Sixth  street,  one  summer  evening, 
to  make  their  arrangements  to  go  on  the  vovage  round  the 
Horn  in  the  ship  Pleiades.  What  wonderful  stories  they  told 
of  that  marvellous  country  ;  what  visions  of  wealth  possessed 
the  whole  partv  ;  how  easily  fortunes  were  to  be  realized.  As 
I  listened  to  the  discussion,  mv  youthful  imagination  pictured 
their  return  laden  with  nuggets  of  gold  as  big  as  pumpkins. 
It  was  easy  to  believe  that  the  casks  they  were  to  fill  with  bread 
and  meat,  and  the  boxes  packed  with  mining  utensils,  would 
be  returned  filled  with  sparkling  gold.  How  I  wished  that  I 
were  a  man,  that  I  might  join  the  expedition  I  Someho\v  mv 
imagination  didn't  include  a  long,  tedious  voyage,  dreadful  sea- 
sickness, privations  and  want,  bitter  disappointment  at  the  last, 
and  heart-sickness,  that  brought  many  of  these  brave  men  to  a 
final  resting-place  on  the  Pacific  slope.  No,  I  thought  only  of  a 
pleasant  voyage,  smooth  seas,  piles  of  gold  strewn  by  the  way- 
side, a  few  months  away  from  home,  then  to  return  loaded 
down  with  riches.  I  doubt  whether  my  boyish  fancies  were 
much  wilder  than  those  of  the  men  who  gathered  that  evening 
in  the  old  cooper  shop.  But  I  started  out  to  tell  a  story.  One 
evening  a  fire  broke  out  in  the  then  primitive  city  of  San  P'ran- 
cisco,  and  as  every  man  in  those  days  w^as  bound   to   perform 


1 62  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  duties  of  a  fireman,  a  citizen  who  was  from  New  Bedford 
rushed  out  of  his  house  and  took  his  place  on  the  brakes  of  a 
little  hand-engine  that  had  found  its  way  from  the  iVtlantlc 
coast.  After  a  long  spell  at  the  work  it  occurred  to  him  that 
the  working  of  the  machine  seemed  familiar,  and  as  the  flames 
from  the  conflagration  would  occasionally  lighten  up  the  streets, 
it  dawned  upon  him  that  he  had  seen  the  engine  before.  His 
curiosity  prompted  him  to  leave  the  brakes  and  look  at  the  en- 
gine. What  w^as  his  pleasant  surprise  to  read  on  the  tow^er 
"  Phoenix,  No.  4."  Our  old  machine  W'ith  its  tail  cut  oft^,  just 
as  it  had  been  when  a  part  of  the  New  Bedford  Fire  Depart- 
inent ;  and  he  had  been  a  member  of  the  company  before  he 
left  home.  For  Auld  Lang  Syne,  he  took  his  place  again  at 
the  brakes  and  rather  surprised  his  companions  with  the  vim 
he  put  into  his  work  for  a  while.  It  w^as  like  meeting  an  old 
friend. 

The  disbandment  of  these  companies  practically  closed  the 
interesting  career  of  the  hand-engine  service.'  New  compa- 
nies were  formed  in  their  new  locations  for  the  Nos.  5  and  6. 
I  give  the  full  roll  of  membership  when  organized.  With 
Nos.  10  and  11,  they  continued  in  commission  for  a  few  years, 
but  were  retired  w^hen  the  steam  force  became  sufficiently 
strong  to  protect  the  city. 

Columbian  Engine  Co.,  No.  5.      (Fourth  street.) 

Foreman,  Lysander  W.  Davis. 
First  Assistant,  Allen  Almy. 
Second  Assistant,  John  Colwell. 
Clerk,  Charles  H.  Bisbee. 

Sylvester  Paul,  John  W.  Footman, 

George  W.  Hunt,  Clarfaus  Vansant, 

Edward  Dugan,  Alfred  Weaver, 

James  H.  Hood,  Charles  Brightman, 

Daniel  Pollock,  Rufus  Randall, 

Patrick  McDonald,  John  E.  Brown, 

Patrick  Carroll,  Barney  Kenney, 

Luther  S.  Brownell,  Charles  Parker, 

William  P.  Howland,  Robert  C.  Topham, 

Charles  Thomas,  Frederick  B.  Davis, 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


163 


Isaac  H.  Barrows, 
George  M.  Ennis, 
John  W.  Ennis, 
Davis  Standish, 
Peter  Gobell, 
Richmond  M.  Taber, 
Joseph  Vincent, 


Nathan  Brooks, 
Lewis  H.  Cable, 
Edward  Cavanagh, 
John  Duffy, 
Hugh  McDonald, 
Patrick  Murphy, 
Jesse  V.  Lake. 


The  company  continued  in  active  service  until  June  19, 
1866,  when  it  was  disbanded.  The  engine  was  afterwards  sold, 
and  is  now  in  Galesburg,  111. 

Young  Mechanic  Engine  Co.,  No.  6.      (Purchase  street,  north  of 

Maxfield.) 

Foreman,  George  W.  Paine. 
First  Assistant,  John  A.  Gifford. 
Second  Assistant,  William  H.  Dammon. 
Third  Assistant,  Job  H.  Gifford. 
Clerk,  George  P.  Reed. 


Alexander  C.  James, 
Robert  Allan, 
Alonzo  Whitney, 
Joseph  Haffords, 
Isaac  Jennings, 
James  Thompson, 
Charles  H.  Booth, 
Edward  J.  Thomas, 
J.  H.  Wilcox, 
George  T.  Haskins, 
Gideon  L.  Taber, 
Ephraim  G.  Kempton, 
Andrew  Donahue, 
Nathaniel  Baker,  Jr., 
John  demons, 
William  T.  King, 
Clark  Leavitt, 
William  Gifford, 
James  G.  Harding, 
Philip  H.  King, 
Thomas  S.  Pierce, 
Sabin  P.  Chamberlain, 
Cyrus  Taber, 


Stephen  E.  Parker, 
Robert  McKay, 
Corban  B.  Lucas, 
S.  E.  Gabriel, 
Henry  Watson, 
James  Chase, 
Fred.  A.  Mickel, 
Samuel  H.  Mitchell, 
A.  McDonald. 
James  L.  Warren, 
Palmer  Brown, 
David  D.  Almy, 
Thomas  L.  Bryant, 
Samuel  Barker, 
Michael  Sheehy, 
James  Duddy, 
Benjamin  Hillman, 
William  James, 
Philip  Tripp, 
Henry  B.  Almy, 
Robert  Nelson, 
Davis  Kelley, 
John  Sawyer, 


Bradford  Sherman. 

The  new  organization  continued  in  service  till  Feb.  i,  1866, 
wdien  the  company  was  disbanded  by  the  Board  of  Engineers, 


164  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  the  Mechanic  taken  out  of  commission.  It  was  soon  after 
sold  to  the  town  of  Middleborough,  and  at  the  present  time  is 
owned  in  Mattapoisett. 

Progress  Steam  Fire  Engine,  No.  3,  was  soon  ordered,  and 
a  company  was  organized  Oct.  27,  1S60,  as  follows  : 

Foreman,  Joseph  Hammond. 

First  Assistant,  James  Dwyer. 

Second  Assistant,  Francis  Currier. 

Clerk,  Leonard  B.  Ellis. 

Engineer,  Lewis  Rogers. 

Fireman,  David  W.  Rowland. 

Hostler,  Charles  F.  Allen. 

Driver,  George  W.  Jenkins. 

Torchmen,  Stephen  Hammond,  John  Fuller. 

John  E.  Brown,  Charles  A.  Washburn, 

Martin  J.  Lewis,  Benjamin  F.  Lewis, 

William  P.  Sowle,  Warren  W.  Parker, 

James  P.  Prior. 

The  Onward  and  Progress  were  placed  in  full  commission — 
in  the  Central  engine-house — at  the  close  of  the  year  1S60, 
and  the  beginning  of  the  age  of  steam  commenced.  Its 
growth  was  rapid  and  but  few  years  elapsed  before  the  force 
was  ample  to  protect  the  city  thoroughly  in  an}^  emergency. 
The  remnants  of  the  hand  seixice  soon  disappeared  and  yan- 
ished  foreyer.  But  for  the  presence  of  Hancock,  No.  9,  in 
our  Fourth  of  July  processions,  the  present  generation  would 
haye  little  to  remind  them  of  that  most  interesting  period  in 
our  local  history,  wdien  the  hand  engine  service  was  in  its 
greatest  glory. 

During  the  year  185S  the  department  was  called  out  79 
times  ;  there  were  42  fires  ;  37  false  alarms. 

1859 — Called  out  72  times  ;  33  fires  ;  38  false  alarms  ;  3  fires 
out  of  the  city. 

1S60 — Called  out  87  times;  51  fires;  36  false  alarms;  10 
fires  out  of  the  city. 

1861 — Called  out  29  times  ;   26  fires  ;  3  false  alarms. 

1862 — Called  out  31  times  ;   29  fires  ;   2  false  alarms. 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT.  1 65 

1863-  -Called  out  23  times  ;   23  fires  ;  no  false  alarms. 

1864 — Called  out  32  times  ;  30  fires  ;   2  false  alarms. 

The  above  statistics,  taken  from  the  official  records  of  the 
Board  of  Engineers,  are  very  significant,  and  tell  their  ow^n 
story.  My  readers  will  see  how  rapidly  the  ^^•hole  fire  service 
merged  into  another  atmosphere  from  that  which  had  charac- 
terized it  under  the  old  regime.  Business  methods  at  the  very 
outset  were  put  in  operation,  and  were  improved  upon  as  time 
advanced,  until  the  svstem  was  quite  as  perfect  as  that  of  any 
of  the  important  business  corporations  of  our  city. 

The  Board  of  Engineers  for  1861  consisted  of: 

Chief  Engineer,  Tillinghast  P.  Tompkins. 

Assistant  Engineers,  John  Mathews,  Moses  H.  Bliss, 

Henry  H.  Fisher,  William  Cook. 

Clerk,  Charles  M.  Peirce,  Jr. 

1861-63. 
The  same,  with  William  H.  Mathews,  Clerk. 

1864-65-66-67. 

Chief  Engineer,  Tillinghast  P.  Tompkins. 
Assistant  Engineers,  John  Mathews,  Moses  H.  Bliss, 
Henry  H.  Fisher,  Frederick  Macy. 
Clerk,  Charles  M.  Peirce,  Jr. 

Jan.  18,  1861,  Hancock,  No.  9,  was  transferred  to  the  Head 
of  the  River,  and  the  Citizen,  No.  2,  that  had  done  service  in 
this  part  of  the  town,  w^as  w^ithdrawn  and  sold. 

Late' in  the  afternoon  of  Jan.  3,  the  city  was  startled  by  a 
terrific  explosion,  soon  follow^ed  by  the  cry  of  "fire"  and  ring- 
ing of  bells.  From  Fish  Island  arose  dense  clouds  of  smoke 
and  fiame  that  proceeded  from  the  buildings  of  the  Petroleum 
Oil  Co.,  which  were  totally  destroyed.  A  sad  feature  of  this 
conflagration  was  the  tragic  death  of  two  of  the  employes — 
David  Welch  and  Michael  Downey,  and  the  injuring  of  sev- 
eral others.  One  of  these  inen  was  lighting  the  factory  and 
passed  through  one  room  into  the  other  leaving  the  door  open. 
At  this  moment  naphtha  was  being  run  from  the   stills,   and  it 


1 66 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


is  supposed  that  a  draft  of  air  brought  gas  in  contact  with  his 
Hght,  and  the  explosion  took  place,  blowing  up  the  buildings^ 
and  setting  everything  instantly  in  flames.  The  bodies  of  the 
victims  were  found  terribly  burned.    The  loss  of  property  was 

$5350. 

May  18,  about  quarter  past  eight  in  the  evening,  the  carriage 
sheds  of  the  Friends'  meeting-house  were  set  on  fire.  Damaofe 
slight.      No.  10,  first  water. 

At  6  o'clock,  July  4,  1861,  a  trial  took  place  on  Market 
square  between  Franklin,  No.  10,  and  Oregon,  No.  11.  Each 
played  through  150  feet  of  hose  with  the  following  result : 
Franklin,  No.  10,  180  feet,  10  inches:  185  feet,  9  inches;  170 
feet,  4  inches;  Oregon,  No.  11,  166  feet,  ^  inches;  165  feet; 
164  feet,  8  inches.     A  large  crowd  witnessed  the  trial. 

Sept.  21,  a  big  blaze  took  place  in  East  Fairhaven,  near  the 
railroad,  in  which  the  Keystone  oil  works  were  destroyed. 

The  records  of  the  fire  department  during  this  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  show  many  withdrawals  of  members  who  enlisted 
in  the  armv  for  the  war  of  the  rebellion. 

Jan.  29,  1S62,  a  large  fire  broke  out  in  the  building  iii 
Union  street,  occupied  bv  Almv  &  Swain,  hardware  dealers, 
and  Warren  W.  Parker,  sheet  iron  worker.  The  flames  ex- 
tended to  the  next  building  west,  occupied  bv  Joseph  Hicks' 
clothing  store,  the  building  at  the  east,  occupied  by  Israel  F. 
Parsons'  book  store  and  printing  office,  Davenport  &  Ma- 
son's express  and  Peleg  Rowland's  hardware  store.  Loss, 
$16,380;   insurance  $12,880. 

April  3,  1862,  a  fire  broke  out  at  twenty  minutes  of  five  in 
the  morning  in  Nathan  Chase's  building,  on  Purchase  street, 
opposite  the  Stone  church.  It  originated  in  the  armory, 
on  the  third  floor  and  burned  down  into  the  dressmaking 
rooms  of  Miss  Cordelia  Ra\mond.  The  rooms  in  the  second 
story,  occupied  by  Dr.  C.  L.  Spencer  and  Charles  E.  Fales, 
ambrotypist,  were  deluged  with  water,  as  were  the  stores  on 
the  first  floor,  occupied  bv  B.  W.  Pierce,  books  and  stationery, 
E.  Wilson,  confectioner,  and  H.  Wilkinson,  auctioneer. 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  167 

vSunday  afternoon,  April  6,  1S62,  Simeon  Doane's  house,  on 
the  Point  road,  was  destroyed.  At  this  fire  the  hand  eno-ines 
Nos.  10,  6  and  11  rendered  the  only  service.  Capt.  George 
Wilson,  of  the  Franklin,  who  was  on  his  way  to  church  when 
the  alarm  was  given,  lost  his  best  suit  of  broadcloth  because  of 
his  plucky  action  in  performing  service  that  one  of  his  officers 
hesitated  to  do.  Capt.  Wilson  was  thoroughly  drenched  with 
water  and  ruined  his  best  clothes. 

Several  funny  things  happened  at  this  fire  that  may  be  told 
now.  Among  the  neighbors  who  responded  to  the  call  for  as- 
sistance w^as  Mr.  Nathan  S.  Ellis,  an  old  fireman,  for  many 
years  a  member  and  clerk  of  Philadelphia,  No.  7,  an  enthusi- 
astic citizen  and  kind  neighbor.  At  this  fire  he  paid  especial 
attention  to  details  in  removing  the  goods.  Some  of  his  acts 
served  as  a  permanent  subject  for  joke  for  many  years,  and  are 
not  laid  entirely  on  the  shelf  to-day.  Mr.  E.  rushed  into  the 
pantry,  carefully  emptied  a  number  of  earthen  dishes  filled  to 
the  brim  with  milk,  and  threw  every  one  of  them  out  of  the 
window,  each  being  broken  in  its  fall  ;  but  the  milk  was  saved 
anyhow\  In  the  front  hall  stood  a  massive  hall  rack,  built  of 
iron,  so  solid  that  it  would  have  required  the  intense  heat  of 
the  furnace  to  melt  it.  Among  the  many  pieces  of  valuable 
furniture  he  was  instrumental  in  saving  from  destruction,  Mr. 
E.  didn't  neglect  this  rack,  but  heroically  tugged  it  across  the 
lawn  to  a  place  of  safety.  None  would  laugh  more  heartily 
over  these  episodes  than  did  neighbor  Nathan.  The  family 
cat,  a  great  favorite  with  the  children,  was  thrust  hastily  into  a 
capacious  apron,  the  ends  gathered  up,  and  was  transported  in 
quick  time  to  a  neighbor's.  No  catastrophe  happened  to  that  cat. 

April  7th,  1862,  a  fire  in  the  brick  building  of  the  Cordage 
Co.  on  Court  street.     Loss,  $4000.     Insured. 

There  w^ere  eight  fires  during  the  month  of  April, — three  of 
them  of  incendiary  origin. 

Oct.  5th,  1862,  at  I  o'clock  A.  M.,  a  fierce  fire  occurred  on 
Purchase   street  just  north  of  Middle,  in  William   G.  White's 


1 68  HISTORY    OF    THE 

carriage  factor}',  which  was  destroyed,  with  Jnmes  M.  Tripp's 
blacksmith  shop.  Several  other  buildings  were  partially 
burned.  There  was  a  strong  gale  from  the  southw^est  blowing 
at  the  time,  and  but  for  a  heavy  rainfall  the  conflao;-ration  would 
have  been  much  more  disastrous. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  Oct.  24th,  1862,  a  fire  broke  out  in 
the  clothing  house  of  John  Cunningham,  45  Union  street, 
spreading  rapidly  to  the  adjoining  buildings  on  the  west,  occu- 
pied by  Charles  Taber  &  Co.  The  inflammable  character  of 
the  buildings  made  an  intensely  hot  fire,  and  the  upper  stories 
were  quickly  destroyed.  A  most  distressing  accident  occurred, 
resulting  in  the  death  of  a  well-known  citizen  and  in  the  injury 
of  several  others.  A  number  of  the  members  of  the  Protect- 
ing Society  were  engaged  in  the  removal  of  goods  from  one  of 
the  upper  rooms  in  the  Taber  building,  vs^hen  without  warning 
the  blazing  roof  and  the  attic  floors  fell  in  with  a  crash.  In  a 
moment  the  whole  kindled  into  a  seething  mass  of  flames.  It 
is  a  marvel  how  any  of  the  firemen  were  able  to  clear  them- 
selves from  this  frightful  situation,  but  all  escaped  without  se- 
rious injury  except  Mr.  Henry  C.  Kelley,  vice-president  of  the 
Protecting  Society,  who  was  rescued  in  a  most  appalling  con- 
dition, his  face  and  hands  being  burned  in  a  frightful  manner, 
besides  internal  injuries.  He  was  at  once  removed  to  his 
home,  and  everything  done  to  alleviate  his  suflerings.  He 
lingered  for  two  weeks,  and  died  on  Nov.  9th.  The  Protect- 
ing Society  furnished  a  corps  of  watchers,  made  generous  gifts 
of  a  practical  nature,  and  performed  many  acts  of  kindness  that 
were  highly  creditable  to  themselves.  Mr.  Kelley  was  father 
of  the  present  president  of  the  society,  Mr.  Charles  S.  Kelley. 
He. was  held  in  high  esteem  and  respect  by  all  who  knew  him, 
and  his  untimely  death  was  regretted  by  the  entire  community. 

The  year  1863  v^as  an  unfortunate  one  for  the  soap  manufac- 
tories, two  being  burned  ;  one  on  May  14th,  belonging  to 
Richard  Wilson,  af  Jesseville,  with  a  loss  of  $3550  ;  insurance 
$3200.  On  Sept.  15th,  Burgess'  soap  works,  on  Ray  street, 
were  destroyed,  with  a  loss  of  $5500 ;   insurance,  $4000. 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT, 


169 


This  year  was  remarkably  free  from  serious  conflagrations, 
the  entire  loss  being  but  $14,985,  with  an  insurance  of 
$10,950. 

At  1.30  A.  M.,  on  Feb.  10,  1S64,  fire  was  discovered  in  the 
west  end  of  Liberty  Hall,    which   was  quickly  communicated 


HENRY  C.   KELLEY. 

(Vice-President  of  the  Protecting  Society.     Died  from  injuries  received  at 
C.  Taber  &  Co.'s  fire,  Oct.  24,  1862.) 

to  every  part  of  the  building,  and  the  interior  was  quickly 
destroyed,  with  all  the  hall  furniture,  scenic  properties,  etc. 
The  occupants  of  the  stores,  which  were  all  burned  out,  were  : 
Peleg  Allen,  merchant  tailor  ;  William    Little,   carpet   dealer ; 


170  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Hathaway  &  Keith,  eating  house;  B.  G.  Wilson,  undertaker; 
City  liquor  agency  ;  Edward  Wing,  restaurant ;  Chas.  Dehn, 
billiard  rooms.  In  the  third  story,  Messrs.  Eaton  &  Smith, 
architects ;  William  B.  Topham,  albumen  paper  manufac- 
turer. The  entire  loss  w^as  $32,190;  insurance  $25,000.  The 
fire  raged  with  great  fierceness  and,  at  one  time,  promised  to 
spread  to  the  surrounding  buildings.  Immense  clouds  of 
smoke,  flame  and  burning  cinders  rose  into  the  sky,  and  illu- 
minated the  heavens  for  miles  around.  It  was  a  stubborn  fire 
and  required  consummate  skill  and  pluck  on  the  part  of  the 
fire  department  to  keep  it  within  the  limits  of  the  building. 
The  wooden  building  on  the  southeast  corner  of  William  and 
Purchase  streets  took  fire  on  the  front  cornices  and  would  have 
been  quickly  in  flames,  but  for  the  prompt  service  of  Mr.  Geo. 
S.  Hoyt,  late  local  manager  of  the  Western  Union  Telegraph 
Co.,  who  climbed  to  the  roof  and  put  it  out  himself.  The 
steamers  w^ere  kept  in  continual  service  for  twenty  hours  before 
the  fire  was  pronounced  out.  There  is  no  question  but  the 
services  of  the  steamers  Onward  and  Progress  at  this  confla- 
gration saved  a  vast  amount  of  property  from  destruction. 

Hardly  had  the  firemen  rested  from  the  exhausting  labors  of 
this  fire,  wdien  the  alarm  sounded  at  2.30  o'clock  on  the  morn- 
ing of  Feb.  13th.  William  G.  Biackler's  barn  on  Anthony 
street  had  caught  fire,  and  was  speedily  destroyed.  The  con- 
flagration promised  to  be  a  serious  one,  for  the  flames  spread 
to  the  barn  of  ex-Gov.  John  H.  Cliflbrd.  The  fire  was  soon 
under  control,  though  the  latter  building  was  much  injured. 
The  spacious  dwelling  was  in  great  danger  from  burning  cin- 
ders which  were  carried  from  the  burning  barns. 

I  shall  be  pardoned  if  I  relate  an  incident  that  occurred  at 
this  conflagration.  It  so  happened  that  a  masquerade  party 
was  being  held  that  night  at  ex-Gov.  Clifford's,  in  honor  of  one 
of  his  sons,  who  was  at  home  for  a  few  days  from  college.  A 
number  of  his  student  friends  w'ere  present  at  the  entertain 
ment.     When  the  fierce  conflagration  broke  out  the  festivities 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  17I 

were  suddenly  brought  to  a  stop,  and  all  lent  their  willing  aid 
to  save  the  building  from  the  flames.  The  exigencies  of  the 
hour  called  for  prompt  service,  and  there  was  no  time  for 
change  of  raiment.  So  thev  were  soon  carrvino-  water  to  the 
roof,  and  laying  wet  blankets  on  the  most  exposed  portions  of 
the  building.  There  were  devils  in  red,  devils  in  black,  devils 
with  forked  tails,  devils  with  horns,  demons  and  hobgoblins, 
witches  and  spirits  of  the  night,  all  eagerly  at  work.  Here 
one  with  a  pail  of  water  mounted  the  ladder,  passed  it  to  a 
goblin,  who  threw  its  contents  on  the  burning  roof  and  then 
tossed  the  empty  vessel  to  the  ground,  only  to  be  caught  on 
the  fly  by  a  mysterious  witch,  filled  again  by  a  red  devil  and 
returned.  There  may  have  been  seen  a  partv  of  goblins  and 
witches  tugging  with  a  carpet,  which  they  soon  spread  over 
the  roof,  furnishing  more  work  for  the  mvsterious  water  car- 
riers to  keep  it  wet.  Now  look  and  see  a  troop  of  these  wild 
masqueraders,  who,  leaping  into  an  open  window,  appear  sud- 
denly on  the  roof,  prancing  and  dancing  about  as  if  the  carni- 
val were  prepared  purposelv  for  their  enjoyment.  The  bright 
flames  from  the  raging  fire  were  throwing  their  brilliancy  upon 
the  scene,  giving  it  a  supernatural  eflect,  and  suggesting  a 
glimpse  of  the  infernal  regions.  It  had  this  eflect  upon  Clerk 
Paisler,  of  the  steamer  Onward,  wdio,  running  along  Cottage 
street,  passed  the  residence  of  Capt.  J.  C.  Delano,  which  in 
those  days  was  surrounded  by  a  high  fence,  back  of  which  was 
a  tall  and  almost  impenetrable  hedge.  This  shielded  from  his 
view  the  vividness  of  the  flames,  till  he  suddenlv  emerged  from 
under  the  hedge  into  open  space.  Here  before  him  were  roll- 
ing clouds  of  flame  and  smoke,  mounting  high  into  the  heav- 
ens, below  them  the  burning  buildings,  now  one  solid  mass  of 
fire.  To  the  sound  of  crackling  timbers  and  falling  walls,  the 
fantastic  group  of  hobgoblins,  witches  and  devils,  were  cavort- 
ing about  the  roofs  of  the  Cliflbrd  mansion.  The  scene, — 
weird,  wild  and  wanton, — was  too  much  for  our  friend,  though 
his  education  had  been  among  the   mysticisms  of  German  folk 


172 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


lore.  He  brought  himself  to  a  sudden  stop  and  involuntarily 
exclaimed,  "Gracious  Heaven,  I've  run  myself  into  sheol  !  " 
(This  word  was  not  in  use  in  those  davs,  and  so  he  used  its 
equivalent.)       Slowly     he    recovered    from   his   surprise;    the 


CHARLES  S.   PAISLER. 
(  State  Commissioner  of  Firemen's  Relief  Fund,  1890.) 


approach  of  the  Onward  brought  him  fully  to  himself,  and,  as 
he  said,  he  entered  into  the  duties  of  the  hour  and  soon  mingled 
with  devils,  demons  and  watches  of  the  night,  with  as  much 
familiarity  as  though  thev  were  kindred  spirits. 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRP:    DEPARTMENT.  I  73 

In  1864  the  Excelsior  steam  engine,  No.  3,  was  ordered,  and 
held  as  a  reserve  for  some  time.  The  Young  Mechanic  Co., 
No.  6,  was  disbanded  Jan.  29,  1865,  and  a  company  for  the 
Excelsior  was  formed  from  her  ranks. 

Foreman,  Joseph  Hafford. 
First  Assistant,  Job  H.  Gifford. 
Second  Assistant,  William  T.  King. 
Clerk,  George  P.  Reed. 

John  C.  Damon,  Samuel  Thompson, 

John  W.  Walker,  Martin  Blanchard,  Jr., 

Henry  K.  Paine,  Joseph  T.  Hafiford, 

Isaiah  Wilcox,  Henry  M.  Gifford. 

The  brick  buildings  formerly  occupied  by  Oregon,  No.  11, 
and  Young  Mechanic,  No.  6,  were  taken  down,  and  the  mate- 
rial was  used  in  the  new  building  and  stable  for  the  Excelsior 
on  the  northwest  corner  of  County  and  Hillman  streets. 

April  23,  1864,  a  disastrous  fire  occurred  in  Fairhaven,  the 
paint  shop  of  Messrs.  Purrington  &  Taber,  and  some  twenty 
other  buildings,  being  wholly  or  partially^  destroyed,  the  loss 
amounting  to  about  $10,000.  Many  yaluable  volumes  of  the 
early  town  records  were  burned  in  this  fire. 

Dec.  10,  a  large  fire  occurred  on  Cheapside,  corner  of  Wil- 
liam street,  buildings  owned  by  the  Cummings  estate. 

Nov.  10,  another  large  fire  occurred  in  Snell's  Bakery, 
northwest  corner  of  Water  and  William  streets. 

The  annual  report  of  the  Board  of  Engineers  for  1864—5 
showed  the  department  as  being  prosperous,  well  organized, 
and  very  efficient.  The  fire  loss  was  $13,630 ;  insurance, 
$5650.    ^ 

Feb.  5,  1865,  the  Congregational  church  at  the  Head  of  the 
River  was  burned.     Loss,  $2500. 

April  24,  the  works  of  the  New  Bedford  Oil  Co.,  foot  of 
South  street,  were  burned.     Loss  $3000. 

July  8,  fire  in  Josiah  Dexter's  store,  40  Purchase  street. 
Loss  $1700. 

Oct.  26,  still  house  and  stock  of  the  New  Bedford  Oil  Co., 
Fish  Island,  burned.     Loss  $1780. 


174 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Nov.  iS,  Kirby's  paint  mill,  on  Eddy's  wharf,  burned. 
Loss  $2200  ;   insurance  $2000. 

The  Contest  Steam  Fire  Engine  Co.,  No.  3,  of  Fairhaven, 
was  organized  April  5,  186c;,  with  the  following  membership  : 

Foreman,  Andrew  M.  Braley. 
First  Assistant,  George  Clark. 
Second  Assistant,  John  A.  Dexter. 
Clerk,  Nathaniel  P.  Fish. 


James  G.  Card, 
Calvin  Hackell, 
George  Miller, 
William  E.  Eldred, 
John  Dexter, 
Martin  Westgate, 
Thomas  H.  Bowen, 
Patrick  Quirk, 
Edwin  Jenney, 
Stephen  Westgate, 
James  Severance, 
William  Bowen, 

B.  H.  Butler, 
John  Brown, 
Ebenezer  Boyden, 
Luther  Cole, 
Charles  Cannon, 
E.  Copeland, 
Charles  F.  Stetson, 

C.  F.  Perry, 
William  Macomber, 
Alexander  Pierce, 
John  Wilcox, 
James  E.  Card, 


John  P.  Ellis, 
E.  Eldredge, 
G.  F.  Eldred, 
C.  Grinnell, 
Thomas  Hanna, 
Robert  Hanna, 
Alfred  Jones, 
John  Quirk, 
William  Rounsville, 
John  Sampson, 
James  D.  Stetson, 
Joseph  Smith, 
J,  P.  Peny, 
David  Jenney, 
William  Webb, 
Henrv  Waldron, 
B.  Wilcox,  Jr. 
Philip  Westgate, 
Benj.  Westgate, 
David  Shepherd, 
Stephen  Hutchins, 
Edward  Manchester, 
B.  Wilcox. 
E.  H.  Sears. 


Their  engine,  built  by  Jeffers,  side  brake,  was  exchanged 
for  a  steam  fire  engine  May  i,  1S69. 

May  II,  1S66,  Seamen's  Bethel  partially  destroyed.  Loss 
$600. 

Sept.  13,  Greene  &  Wood's  planing  mill,  Leonard's  wharf, 
destroyed,  with  loss  $4800. 

Dec.  2,  Trinitarian  Church  partially  destroyed  by  fire.  Loss 
$1225. 

The  annual  report  for  186:^—6  speaks  in  praise  of  the  har- 
monious action  and  zealous  devotion  of  the  department.  Fire 
losses,  $12,675  ;   insurance,  $6035. 


HENRY  H.   FISHER. 
(  Assistant  Engineer,  1861.) 


CHAPTER    XII. 

^^IV  HE  following  is  a  list  of  members  of  the  fire  department  in 

W  1867: 

Board  of  Engineers. 

Chief  Engineer,  Tillinghast  P.  Tompkins. 

Assistant   Engineers,    John   Mathews,    Moses    H.   Bliss,   Frederick 
Macy,  Henry  H.  Fisher. 
Clerk,  C.  M.  Pierce,  Jr. 


176  history  of  the 

Onward,  No.   i. 

Foreman,  Charles  H.  Church. 
First  Assistant,  Charles  H.  Brownell. 
Second  Assistant,  Samuel  H.  Rulon. 
Clerk,  Charles  S.  Paisler. 

James  Devine,  Peter  Nelson, 

James  G.  Harding,  Edward  G.  Tallman, 

Ephraim  G.  Kempton,  Abram  R.  Wood, 

Clark  Leavitt,  Albert  P.Winslow, 

James  D.  Allen. 

Progress,  No.  2. 

Foreman,  Franklin  Shaw. 
First  Assistant,  John  E.  Brown. 
Second  Assistant,  William  P.  Sowle. 
Clerk,  Philip  E.  Colby. 

John  Downey,  William  H.  Miller, 

Michael  Dugan,  Charles  H.  Phinney. 

Charles  L.  Gifford,  Loring  T.  Parlow, 

Joseph  Hammond,  Edward  A.  Sowle, 

Thomas  B.  Rowe,  John  Duffy. 

Excelsior,  No.  3. 

Foreman,  Joseph  Hafford. 
First  Assistant,  Job  H.  (xifford. 
Second  Assistant,  M.  Henry  Gilford. 
Clerk,  George  P.  Reed. 

Martin  Blanchard,  Jr.,  William  T.  King, 

John  C.  Damons,  Samuel  Thompson, 

James  Duddy,  John  W.  Walker, 

Joseph  T.  Hafford,  Isaiah  H.  Wilcox, 

Horace  M.  Plummer. 

Cornelius  Howland,  No.  4. 

Foreman,  Abraham  H.  Howland,  Jr. 
First  Assistant,  Samuel  C.  Hart. 
Second  Assistant,  Michael  F.  Kennedy. 
Clerk,  Giles  G.  Barker. 

Andrew  J.  Brown,  John  Murdock, 

George  L.  Jennings,  Hugh  McDonald, 

Charles  E.  Jennings,  James  M.  Tripp, 

James  A.  Murdock,  Clarfaus  Vansant, 

Charles  F.  Briggs. 


new  bedford  fire  department.  1 77 

Hancock,  No.  9. 

Foreman,  Reuben  Washburn. 
First  Assistant,  Charles  E.  Howland. 
Second  Assistant,  Edward  C.  Spooner. 
Clerk,  George  A.  Cobb. 

Arthur  C.  Brooks,  John  Silva, 

Seth  Hoard,  Jireh  B.  Gifford, 

James  H.  Hathaway,  Charles  H.  Hathaway, 

Joseph  H.  Lawrence,  Thomas  R.  Hawes, 

Thomas  W.  Pierce,  Samuel  T.  Patterson, 

William  D.  Perry,  Sylvester  Pratt, 

David  Turney,  Asa  Reynolds, 

Alfred  Williams,  Frank  P.  Washburn, 

Leander  Perry,  Charles  Skiff, 

Reuben  Ellis,  Howard  Pittsley, 
William  R.  Washburn. 


The  Protecting  Society. 

President,  F.  L.  Porter. 

First  Director,  Charles  Chandler. 

Second  Director,  Edward  Russell. 

Third  Director,  Edmund  Rodman. 

Fourth  Director,  Dennis  Wood. 

Fifth  Director,  George  R.  Phillips. 

Sixth  Director,  David  S.  Bliss. 

Secretary  and  Treasurer,  William  C.  Macy. 

William  H.  H.  Allen,  Cornelius  Howland,  Jr., 

Gilbert  Allen,  John  P.  Knowles,  2d, 

Gideon  Allen,  Jr.,  Humphrey  S.  Kirby, 

Edward  H.  Allen,  Edward  Knights, 

Charles  Almy,  L.  M.  Kollock, 

Francis  T.  Aiken,  William  Leveritt, 

Samuel  P.  Burt,  Charles  H.  Lawton, 

William  H.  Bartlett,  Edward  D.  Mandell, 

George  L.  Brownell,  John  W.  Macomber, 

T.  Frank  Brownell,  Obed  C.  Nye, 

Joseph  Buckminster,  ^  Bethuel  Penniman,  Jr., 

William  P.  S.  Cadwell,  Andrew  G.  Pierce, 

Charles  S.  Cummings,  Otis  N.  Pierce, 

Nathaniel  S.  Cannon,  George  F.  Parlow, 

Wendell  H.  Cobb,  William  F.  Potter, 

Leonard  B.  Ellis,  Abraham  Russell, 

C.  B.  H.  Fessenden,  James  H.  C.  Richmond, 

H.  A.  Gifford,  Jr.,  James  Robinson, 

F.  L.  Gilman,  William  R.  N.  Silvester, 

Edward  R.  Gardner,  William  T.  Smith, 


178 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Charles  H.  Gifford, 
George  D.  Gifford, 
William  L.  Gerrish,  Jr., 
Ebenezer  Hervey, 
Joshua  C.  Hitch, 
Charles  B.  Hillman, 
Charles  M.  Haskell, 
Jonathan  Handy, 
Sylvander  Hutchinson, 
Ezra  Holmes, 
Cyrenius  W.  Haskins, 
William  Howe, 
Samuel  C.  Hart, 

Joseph 


William  C.  Taber,  Jr.. 
Charles  Taber, 
Abraham  Taber, 
Robert  B.  Taber, 
Henry  J.  Taylor, 
E.  P.  Taylor, 
Alden  Wordell, 
William  H.  Willis, 
Alfred  G.  Wilbor, 
William  G.  Wood, 
James  DeWolf, 
Alfred  Wilson, 
George  F.  Kingman, 
Knowles. 


Pioneer  Hook  and  Ladder,  No.  i. 

Foreman,  Charles  H.  Walker. 
First  Assistant,  Christian  Dantsizen. 
Second  Assistant,  Edward  M.  Durfee. 
Clerk,  George  C.  Hardy. 


Horace  Aiken, 
Stephen  W.  Booth, 
James  Doull, 
John  P.  EUis, 
William  B.  Hardy, 
Martin  L.  Hathaway, 
Charles  J.  Johnson, 
Revere  G.  Lindsey, 
Leander  Luce, 
Alexander  G.  Myrick, 
Barnabas  H.  Packard, 
Charles  Ruberg, 
Asa  R.  Sherman, 
Francis  H.  Slocum, 
Philip  M.  Tripp, 
Joseph  Wheeler, 
Peter  Lynch, 
William  H.  Harp, 
Charles  E.  Pierce, 
James  W.  Warren, 


Nathaniel  Booth, 
Griffin  T.  Cornell, 
Alexander  Doull, 
Herbert  Gardner, 
William  W.  Hatch, 
Samuel  A.  Hardy, 
William  H.  Knights, 
Abraham  Luscomb, 
Thomas  Manley, 
Timothy  O^Neil, 
Warren  W.  Parker, 
Philip  H.  Shepherd, 
Henry  Shiverick, 
Stephen  H.  Shepherd, 
Charles  West, 
Josiah  W.  Gardner, 
Reuben  Corson, 
Charles  Wood, 
William  Clymont, 
John  H.  Judson, 


Steam  fire  engine  Cornelius  Rowland,  No.  4,  built  by  the 
Amoskeag  Mfg.  Co.,  was  placed  in  commission  Feb.  i,  1S67. 
A  company  was  organized,  the  membership  being  largely  from 
the  Franklin  Engine  Co.,  No.  10,  Capt.  A.  H.  Rowland,  Jr., 
which  had  been  disbanded  but  a  few  days  before.      An  elegant 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  1 79 

gold  headed    cane    was   presented   to   Capt.    Rowland    by   the 
Franklins  on  the  evenin<^  of  January  31. 
The  following  is  the  roster  : 

Foreman,  Abraham  H.  Howland,  Jr. 

First  Assistant,  Samuel  C.  Hart. 

Second  Assistant,  Michael  F.  Kennedy. 

Clerk,  Giles  G.  Barker. 

Torch  Boys,  Augustus  A.  Wood,  William  H.  Coffin. 

James  M.  Tripp,  Clarfaus  Vansant, 

Andrew  J.  Brown,  Hugh  McDonald, 

James  A.  Murdock,  George  L.  Jennings, 

Charles  E.  Jennings,  John  Murdock. 

The  eng-ine  was  located  on  the  corner  of  Bedford  and  South 
Sixth  streets.  It  was  named  after  one  of  our  most  energetic 
and  esteemed  citizens,  who  had  been  an  important  factor  in 
the  establishment  of  the  steam  service  in  our  fire  department. 
April  20th  a  fine  photograph  of  him  was  presentsd  to  the  com- 
pan}'  by  Mrs.  Cornelius  Howland. 

The  Cornelius  Rowlands  are  proud  of  their  record,  and  well 
they  may  be,  for  they  have  furnished  from  their  ranks  Mayor 
and  Chief  Engineer  Abraham  R.  Rowland,  Jr.,  Chief  Engi- 
neer Samuel  C.  Rart,  Assistant  Engineers  Michael  F.  Ken- 
nedy, Augustus  A.  Wood  and  Rugh  McDonald. 

The  first  pair  of  horses  attached  to  this  steamer  were  named 
Mike  and  Red  Jacket,  and  were  much  petted  by  the  company, 
for  they  were  very  intelligent.  After  long  and  faithful  service 
Red  Jacket  was  sold  to  a  farmer,  and  entered  upon  a  career  of 
ordinary  hard  work.  Re  chafed  under  the  change,  and  one 
night  broke  out  of  the  barn,  trotted  to  the  engine  house,  and 
whinnied  for  admittance.  The  door  was  opened  by  one  of  the 
company  ;  he  plunged  in  with  manifestations  of  real  joy,  and 
place  being  made  for  him,  he  took  possession  of  the  stall  in  a 
manner  that  plainly  said  he  knew  he  was  at  home.  Curious 
to  see  if  he  had  forgotten  his  old  duties,  the  alarm  was  struck. 
With  a  dash  he  flew  from  the  stable  and  took  his  place  at  the 
pole,  ready  for  the  harness  to  be  put  upon  him.      The  faithful 


i8o 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


creature  was  liberally  fed  and  led  back  to  his  ne'w  home. 
Another  intelligent  horse  attached  to  this  company  was  Gen- 
eral, and  he  was  assigned  to  the  hose-reel.  He,  too,  becoming 
old  and  past  eftective  service,  was  sold  to  a  farmer  in  a  neigh- 
boring village.     He  nearly  bothered  the  life  out  of  Mr.  Farmer 


CORNELIUS  HOWLAND,  JR. 


whenever  he  was  in  town,  if  the  fire  alarm  sounded.  At  the 
ringing  of  the  bells  General  would  at  once  become  uncontroll- 
able, run  away  with  his  owner  and  his  load  of  w^ood  and  make 
a  bee-line  for  No.  4's  house. 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  l8l 

It  would  be  ofeneroiis  treatment  for  such  faithful  creatures  to 
pension  them  with  good  living  and  tender  care,  with  the  priv- 
ilege of  running  to  all  fires  as  volunteers.  Why  not  have  an 
organization  of  veteran  horses  of  the  New  Bedford  tire  de- 
partment? What  a  feature  they  would  make  in  a  Fourth  of 
July  parade. 

At  the  great  Boston  hre  in  1S72  the  Cornelius  Rowland, 
No.  4,  was  sent  from  this  city  and  performed  effective  service 
in  that  fearful  conflagration. 

At  two  large  fires  at  Padanaram  this  steamer  went  out,  and 
rendered  aid  to  the  citizens  that  called  out  their  gratitude  in  a 
substantial  way,  for  the  firemen  report  such  glowing  accounts 
of  the  bountiful  spreads  made  for  them  that  one  is  tempted  to 
join  the  force  when  next  they  go  to  Padanaram  just  before  the 
dinner  hour. 

It  should  be  said  that  our  fire  department  always  receives 
generous  treatment  whenever  it  renders  service  to  the  surround- 
ing towns.  At  a  fire  in  Fairhaven,  where  No.  4  performed 
excellent  work,  some  of  the  company  were  thoroughly  wet 
through.  One  of  them  happened  to  have  members  of  his 
family  living  in  town,  and  they  furnished  him  with  a  dry 
suit  of  underclothing.      Nor  did  it  belong  to  his  brother  either. 

On  Julv  27,  1S67,  Nehemiah  Leonard  &  Co.'s  candle  works 
were  entireh-  destroyed  by  fire,  the  work  of  an  incendiary. 

At  4  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  Sept.  4,  1S67,  a  fire  broke 
out  in  the  works  of  the  New^  Bedford  Oil  Company  on  South 
street.  One  of  the  members  of  the  firm  was  exhibiting  to 
several  persons  present  the  non-explosive  qualities  of  the  oil 
manufactured  by  the  company.  He  threv^^  a  lighted  match 
into  a  large  tank  containing  100  gallons  of  oil.  It  took  fire, 
and  in  a  moment  the  entire  contents  were  in  a  blaze,  which 
communicated  rapidly  to  eight  other  tanks  of  equal  capacity. 
About  13,000  gallons  of  oil  were  destroyed,  making  one  of 
the  hottest  conflagrations  in  the  history  of  our  city.  At  9 
o'clock  in  the  evening  one  of  the  tanks  exploded  with  a  fearful 


l82 


HISTORY  OP^  THE 


I 

o 
o 


> 
o 

D 

m 

H 


report,  and  the  oil  flowed  into  a   shed 
on   the  west  side  of  the   works,    con- 
taining   some    500   barrels    of   petro- 
lenm.     The  condition  of  affairs  at  this 
moment  was  critical  and  it  was  feared 
that  the  fire  would  sret  beyond  the  con- 
trol   of  the  fire  department ;    but  the 
steady   work    of  the   steamers  in  con- 
centratino^  their  powerful  streams,  held 
the    flames  in   abeyance,  and  final- 
ly droye  the  fire  back  to  the    tanks. 
The  ensfines  were  in  continuous  ac- 
tion  for  eight  hours.     The  loss  was 
$10,000,    on    which   there    was    no 
insurance. 

May  iS,  1868,  at  12.30  o'clock 
A.  M.,  Henry  Rider's  manufactory  of  ^ 
candles  and  lubricating  oil  was  g 
nearly  destroyed.  ^ 

At  3  o'clock,  on  the  afternoon  of  P 
May  28,  1868,  Watson  Rider's  pe-  r" 
troleum  oil  manufactory,  at  the  foot 
of  Rowland  street  was  burned.  An 
employee,  Mr.  Samuel  Peckham,  w^as 
engaged  in  pumping  water  into  the 
condenser.  The  monotonous  action 
incident  to  working  the  pump-handle 
had  brought  him  to  an  exhausted  con- 
dition of  body.  A  happy  thought 
struck  him.  He  would  smoke.  He 
filled  his  pipe  with  Durham,  and 
licrhted  it.  The  lighted  match  did 
double  service.  It  ignited  the  stream 
of  oil  running  through  an  open  con- 
duit to  a   large  yat  near  by.     When 


Jl.^ 


1 


'■f- ' 


m 


:'^AfeV&! 


riiii. 


'41 


'fi'''] 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  183 

well  afire  the  oil  smoked  cheeriully  ;  so  did  the  buildings  in 
similar  condition,  rolling  up  immense  clouds  of  smoke  that 
soon  attracted  the  attention  of  the  whole  city.  The  fire  de- 
partment put  in  an  appearance  to  see  the  sight.  Loss  $Soo, 
which  did  not  include  Peckham's  pipe  and  tobacco.  He 
saved  these,  and  smoked  when  he  had  more  leisure,  and  didn't 
feel  so  tired.  All  ended  in  smoke,  for  there  was  no  insurance. 
An  exciting  race  occurred  at  this  fire  between  the  Onward 
and  Progress,  both  engines  leaving  the  house  together.  I 
copy  from  the  Onward's  records  : 

"  The  Onward  and  Progress  started  from  the  house  at  the  same  time^ 
and  while  proceeding  to  the  tire,  a  splendid  and  exciting  race  took  place. 
The  Onward  reached  the  wharf  first,  and  then  ensued  an  equally  ex- 
citing race  between  the  hose  reels.  At  one  time  the  Progress  reel 
passed  the  Onward's,  and  we  would  probably  have  been  beaten,  but 
good  and  faithful  Flatfoot,  evidently  feeUng  that  his  honor  and  reputa- 
tion were  at  stake,  made  an  extra  exertion,  shot  in  ahead  of  the  Progress 
reel,  carried  his  reel  nearest  the  fire,  and  thus  secured  first  water  for 
the  Onward.  Chunk  and  Ned,  the  horses  attached  to  the  engine, 
proved  themselves  equal  to  the  emergency,  and  showed  that  on  an  even 
start,  and  everything  else  being  equal,  the  horses  that  pass  them  must 
get  up  and  get." 

These  horses  were  noted  for  their  keen  understanding  of  the 
duties  for  which  they  were  trained.  They  were  retained  at  the 
Central  House  for  man\^  years,  and  were  attached  to  the  Prog- 
ress after  the  Onward  was  located  at  the  north  end. 

At  12.10  p.  M.,  June  27,  1868,  the  building  owned  by  Albert 
Shaw,  and  occupied  by  James  H.  Lamb,  manufacturer  of 
planes,  115  Purchase  street,  was  destroyed.  The  fire  was  un- 
doubtedly the  work  of  an  incendiary.  An  explosion  in  the 
building  first  attracted  the  attention  of  passing  watchmen,  and 
was  quickly  followed  by  flames  issuing  from  the  windows  in 
the  second  story.  When  the  building  was  entered,  varnish 
was  discovered  dripping  through  the  scuttles  from  the  second 
story,  where  it  had  never  been  kept.  The  rapidity  with  which 
the  fire  developed  after  the  explosion  made  the  fact  unques- 
tionable that  the  incendiary  had  made  careful  plans   for  a  sue- 


184  HISTORY    OF    THE 

cessful  blaze.      The  fire   department  was   occupied   nearly  two 
hours  in  extinguishing  the  flames. 

Aug.  7,  1868,  Caleb  Maxfield's  furniture  warehouse  on 
Union  street  was  set  on  fire  about  9  o'clock  in  the  evening.  It 
was  a  scorching  conflagration,  made  so  by  the  highly  combus- 
tible material  of  the  stock.      Loss,  $5500;   insurance,  $3500. 

Sept.  9,  186S,  a  lively  fire  occurred  in  Wales  &  Co.'s  candle 
works,  on  South  street.     Loss  $3000. 

Oct.  18,  1S68,  the  old  candle  works  of  Thomas  S.  and  Fran- 
cis S.  Hathaway,  corner  of  School  and  Fifth  streets,  were  nearly 
destroyed.     Loss,  $2500. 

Oct.  27,  1868,  Hayes  &  Co.'s  stave  mill  was  badly  damaged 
bv  fire.  Mayhew  &  Hayes,  wood  turners  and  fancy  sawyers, 
in  the  same  building,  lost  $200. 

Jan.  13,  1869,  at  3  p.  m.,  Benjamin  Ryder's  stable,  and  C. 
W.  Dyer's  grocery  store  adjoining,  both  on  Kempton  street, 
were  set  on  fire.  Mr.  Ryder  lost  two  valuable  horses  worth 
$1200;  one  other  saved  his  life  by  pluckily  holding  his  nose  to 
a  small  window  till  rescued.  Mr.  Rvder  lost  also  a  larg-e  num- 
ber  of  fowl,  twenty  of  which  were  roasted  in  the  wagon. 

Feb.  17,  1869,  Wales  &  Co.'s  paraffine  works.  First  and 
South  streets,  were  burned.  Fire  commenced  in  the  press 
room,  and  like  a  lightning  flash  the  whole  room  was  in  flames. 
The  building  was  thoroughly  saturated  with  oil,  and  though 
torrents  of  water  were  thrown,  it  was  of  little  avail ;  the  fire  soon 
burned  out  the  interior.      Loss,  $15,000. 

May  20,  1869,  there  was  a  fire  at  Taber's  plane  factory. 
Loss,  $7500. 

The  steamer  Onward,  which  had  the  distinguished  honor  of 
being  the  first  of  its  kind  in  the  department,  and  had  done 
royal  service  since  Jan.  2,  i860,  was  deemed  so  far  used  up  as 
to  require  a  new  machine  to  take  its  place.  During  9J-  years 
the  engine  had  been  called  out  252  times.  On  Aug.  25,  1879, 
the  new  Onward,  No.  i,  arrived  in  the  city.  The  event  was 
one  of  great  pleasure  to   the   company,  and   it  was   recognized 


iVEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


185 


by  a  grand  banquet  on  the  evening  of  the  26th.  Among  the 
guests  were  the  Board  of  Engineers,  Air.  Batchelor,  of  Man- 
chester, N.  H.,  and  several  other  gentlemen.  Speeches  were 
in  order  after  the  supper,  and  a  good  time  was  enjoyed  by  all. 
A  letter  from  Mr.  Charles  S.  Paisler,  clerk,  then  in  Germany, 
was  read  on  the  occasion.  The  machine  proved  to  be  highly 
satisfactory,  and  is  now  in  service  at  the  North  End.  At  the 
trial  it  played  240  feet  through  i-^  inch  nozzle. 


'■MARXL-Lr  F/f/L:^ 


Steam  fire  engine  of  the  present  day.    Built  by  the  Amoskeag  Mfg.  Co., 

builders  of  Nos.  1,  2,  4,  6,  7. 

Sept.  28,  1S69,  Wales  &  Co.'s  paraffine  works  were  entirely 
destroyed. 

Dec.  20,  1S69,  J.  &  W.  Lamb,  plane  manufacturers.  First 
and  School  streets,  were  burned  out.  At  this  fire  the  Acush- 
net  water  was  used  for  the  first  time  by  the  department. 

Sept.  13,  1870,  the  New  Bedford  Flour  Mills  were  burned. 
Loss,  $116,000  ;   insurance,  $8^,000. 

Sept.  21,  H.  Ryder  &  Co.'s  paraftine  candle  manufactory,  114 
North  Water  street,  burned.  Loss,  $26,379  '  insurance,  $21,379. 


l86  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Jan.  7,  1 87 1,  Walter  F.  Clark's  stable,  21  South  Second 
street,  burned.  Five  horses  lost  their  lives.  Loss,  $9000 ;  no 
insurance. 

Jan.  13,  1 87 1,  a  tire  occurred  in  dwelling  126  Summer  street, 
occupied  by  David  J.  Shepherd.  The  house  was  filled  with  a 
dense  smoke,  and  Mr.  James  Shepherd  was  found  dead  near 
an  attic  window.  Though  badly  burned  about  the  face  and 
hands,  it  was  evident  he  died  from  suffocation. 

Feb.  8,  1 87 1,  building  owned  by  Nathan  Chase,  28  Purchase 
street,  and  occupied  by  Mrs.  B.  Allen  &  Co.,  milliners,  was 
burned.     Loss,  $10,400  ;   insurance,  $5300. 

In  1871,  Mr.  Tillinghast  P.  Tompkins,  who  had  occupied 
the  office  of  Chief  Engineer  since  185S,  resigned  his  position, 
w^hich  he  had  filled  in  a  manner  honorable  to  himself  and  to 
the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  citizens.  His  career  was  one  of 
great  usefulness.  To  him  must  be  credited  the  honor  of  car- 
rying the  fire  department  through  a  most  important  period, 
when  the  old  hand  service  came  to  its  end  and  the  steam  ser- 
vice was  introduced  in  our  city.  He  did  this  well  ;  and  on  his 
retirement  he  was  honored  with  a  banquet  by  the  entire  fire 
department,  in  City  Hall,  March  4,  1871,  and  was  presented  a 
beautiful  gold  medal  valued  at  $100.  Henry  F.  Thomas  made 
the  presentation  speech.  Among  the  guests  present  were  As- 
sistant Engineers  Mathews,  Bliss,  Fisher,  and  Macy,  Mayor 
Richmond,  Aldermen  Giflbrd  and  Hart,  Joseph  H.  Cornell, 
Charles  M.  Pierce,  Jr.,  Chief  Engineer  Abraham  H.  How- 
land,  Jr.,  William  H.  Sherman,  and  others. 

June  9,  1871 ,  T.  W.  Cook's  paint  mill  was  destroyed.  Loss^ 
$6000. 

June  16,  1871,  a  stubborn  fire  occurred  at  the  Mansion 
House.     Loss,  $5000. 

The  city  government,  having  built  a  new^  engine-house  at 
the  north  end,  decided  to  remove  the  Onward  from  the  cen- 
tral house.  This  action  necessitated  the  organization  of  a  new 
company,   w^hose   members   resided   in   the   north  part   of  the 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  187 

city.  The  old  company  disbanded,  escorted  the  engine  to  its 
new  quarters,  and  dehvered  it  to  the  new  company  in  fine 
style.  To  the  credit  of  all  concerned  it  may  be  said  that  the 
change  was  made  in  a  courteous  and  gentlemanly  manner. 
The  officers  of  the  new  company  were  : 

Foreman,  W.  J.  Marr. 
First  Assistant,  Loring  T.  Parlow. 
Second  Assistant,  G.  G.  Broadbent. 
Clerk,  E.  C.  Milliken. 

The  new  organization  has  always  maintained  a  fine  reputa- 
tion for  efficiency  and  public  spirit.  Captains  Marr  and  Par- 
low  have  since  served  as  assistant  engineers. 

In  Sept.,  1871,  the  fire  alarm  w^as  introduced  into  our  fire 
service,  during  the  adminstration  of  Chief  Engineer  Abraham 
H.  Rowland,  Jr.  It  became  one  of  the  most  important  and 
efiective  features  of  the  department.  The  first  alarm  rang  out 
on  the  evening  of  Sept.  25,  from  box  18,  H.  H.  Fisher's 
bakery.      I  copv  from  the  Onward's  record  : 

"  The  fire  department  was  promptly  on  hand,  hut  fire  there  was  none. 
The  veteran  fireman  and  the  firemen's  friend,  H.  H.  Fisher,  had  con- 
ceived a  plan  for  testing  the  alarm  service  in  a  practical  manner,  and  at 
the  same  time  show  his  appreciation  of  the  fire  department.  Mr.  F. 
invited  them  into  his  building,  where  they  found  a  bountiful  collation 
spread  for  them.  The  firemen  were  not  backward,  but  showed  them- 
selves equal  to  the  emergency.  A  pleasant  evening  was  passed  in  a 
social  manner,  and  the  company  departed  with  three  hearty  cheers  for 
Henry  H.  Fisher,  and  with  the  hearty  wish  that  the  fire  fiend  might 
never  come  to  his  doors.'" 

Daniel  E.  Webb,  the  clerk  of  the  Board  of  Engineers  for 
1871,  died  in  September,  and'^the  entire  fire  department  at- 
tended the  funeral. 

Board  of  Engineers. 

1871-72. 

Chief  Engineer,  Abraham  H.  Rowland,  Jr. 

Assistant  Engineers,  John  E.  Brown,  George  P.  Reed, 

Charles  W.  Dyer,  Alfred  M.  Chapman. 

Clerk,  Alfred  M.  Chapman. 


l88  HISTORY    OF    THE 

1872-73. 

Chief  Engineer,  Abraham  H.  Rowland,  Jr. 
Assistant  Engineers,  John  E.  I^rown,  Alfred  M.  Chapman, 
Charles  VV.  Dyer,  William  H.  Sherman. 
Clerk,  A.  M.  Chapman. 

1873-74- 

Chief  Engineer,  Abraham  H.  Rowland,  Jr. 

Assistant  Engineers,  Moses  R.  Bliss,  Freeman  C,  Luce, 

Charles  R.  Taber,  Lorino:  T.  Parlow. 

Clerk,  Moses  R.  Bliss. 

The  Franklin  Hose  Carriage,  No.  i,  built  by  the  Amoskeag 
Manufacturing  Co.,  was  put  in  commission,  Jan.  i,  1S72. 

Franklin  Rose  Co.,  No.   i. 

Foreman,  Pliny  B.  Sherman. 
First  Assistant,  Rerbert  B.  Gardner. 
Second  Assistant,  Clarfaiis  Vansant. 
Clerk  and  Treasurer,  James  S.  Rathaway. 

Benjamin  F.  King,  Joseph  W.  Spooner, 

Peter  Nelson,  Jeremiah  L.  Cavanaugh, 

David  W.  Rowland. 

October  17,  1873,  the  Excelsior  Steam  Engine  Co.,  No.  3, 
made  an  excursion  to  Taunton,  where  the  members  were 
handsomely  received  by  the  Edward  Mott  Engine  Co.,  of  that 
city.  The  Excelsiors  were  allowed  to  take  their  engine  with 
them,  the  only  instance  of  the  kind  on  record  since  steam  was 
Introduced  In  the  department.  Dec.  13,  1873,  the  company 
attached  to  the  Excelsior,  No,  3,  was  disbanded,  and  the  en- 
gine placed  In  reserve.  The  company  was  reorganized 
and  took  possession  of  the  new  steam  fire  engine  named 
Zachariah  Hlllman,  No.  5,  built  by  Clapp  &  Jones,  Hudson, 
N.  Y.  This  engine  on  Its  test  trial  threw  a  stream  280  feet, 
through  150  feet  of  hose,  using  i|-  Inch  nozzle.  The  Excelsior 
was  placed  In  reserve,  and  Is  still  held  valuable  for  service. 

Sept.  15,  1872,  Cornelius  Howland,  No.  4,  visited  Fall 
River  and  were  the  guests  of  Metacomet  Steam  Fire  Engine 
Co.,  No.  3,  and  Cascade  Engine  Co.,  No.  i.     They  were   the 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT.  1 89 

recipients  of  much  attention,  and  brought  home  as  mementoes 
the  "pipe  of  peace"  and  a  historic  broom. 

Feb.  22,  1S73,  a  destructive  fire  occurred  at  1.20  a.  m. 
Concert  Hall  building  was  destroyed,  and  also  the  building 
south.  Macomber's  building,  on  the  corner  of  Purchase  and 
Union  streets,  was  badly  damaged,  as  was  also  Knights'  furni- 
ture warehouse  at  the  north.  A  terrible  snowstorm  prevailed 
at  the  time,  with  a  heavy  gale  of  wind.  But  for  the  immense 
bodv  of  snow  on  the  roofs  the  conflagration  would  have  been 
fearful  in  extent.      Loss  about  $35,000. 

The  Firemen's  Mutual  Aid  Society  was  organized  in  our 
home  department  in  1872.  Its  object  is  to  assist  members  who 
inav  receive  injuries  while  performing  fire  service.  At  the 
death  of  a  member  his  familv  receives  $So.  At  the  annual 
meeting  in  October,  1890,  the  society  was  reported  in  a  highly 
prosperous  condition,  entirely  free  from  debt,  and  $1836.18 
in  the  treasurv.  The  Firemen's  Beneficial  Association  is 
another  noble  organization  connected  with  our  fire  depart- 
ment. On  the  death  of  any  member,  every  fireman  contrib- 
utes $1.00,  which  amount  is  paid  to  the  family  within  30  days 
of  the  death.  As  the  entire  membership  is  about  190,  our 
readers  will  see  the  beneficent  character  of  this  society. 

In  1873,  the  Protecting  Society  was  rendered  more  usefid  by 
being  furnished  with  tarpaulins,  rubber  blankets,  etc.  During 
the  following  year,  1874,  the  society  furnished  themselves 
with  badges,  to  be  worn  at  fires.  In  1877,  the  society  was  re- 
organized with  a  limited  number  of  50.  Its  efficiency  had 
steadily  increased  from  year  to  year,  but  in  1878  radical  rules 
and  regulations  were  adopted,  new  apparatus  added,  and,  un- 
der the  energetic  management  of  President  Charles  S.  Kelley, 
the  importance  of  the  Protecting  Society  became  more  mani- 
fest. Mr.  Kelley  induced  the  agents  of  the  insurance  compan- 
ies to  donate  $350.  which  was  at  once  expended  in  a  large 
supply  of  rubber  blankets.  The  society  is  well  organized,  and 
no  branch  of  the  service  is  more  eflbctive  and  useful.      Thou- 


190 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


sands  of  dollars  have  been  saved  bv  their  prompt  and  system- 
atic w^ork.  In  1SS5,  the  plan  of  distributing  the  members  in 
time  of  fire  was  adopted.  It  worked  well  and  is  still  in  oper- 
ation at  the  present  time. 


If- 


CHARLES  S.   KELLEY. 

(  President  of  the  Protecting  Society.) 


The  fire  departments  of  the  State  are  united  in  an  organi- 
zation which  holds  annual  conventions,  where  matters  of  vital 
interest  are  discussed,  and  much  valuable  information  is  ob- 
tained by  the    firemen.      The   Massachusetts   State   Firemen's 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


191 


Association  is  held  in  high   esteem   by  our   local    firemen.     It 
was  organized  in  1S80. 

Feb.  3,  1S73,  a  fire  was  discovered  in  the  attic  of  house   188 
Middle  street,  owned  by  Nathan  Chase,  and  occupied  by  Rev. 


SAMUEL  C.   HART. 

(Chief  Engineer,  1874-1875.) 


Ensign  McChesney.  Loss  on  building  about  $1000.  The 
reverend  gentleman's  household  effects  and  library  were  safely 
i^emoved.      He  and  his  family  found  kindly  shelter  with  a  near 


iieiofhbor 


Soon  after  the  flames  were  extinguished  their  host's 


19-  HISTORY    OF    THE 

door  bell  rang  and  a  well  dressed,  benevolent-looking  gentle- 
man handed  in  a  small  bottle  of  ink,  which  he  said  belonged  to 
the  clergyman.  Had  it  been  a  bottle  of  gold  he  could  not 
have  guarded  it  with  more  care,  or  have  held  it  more  upright  for 
fear  of  its  precious  contents  being  spilled. 

April  27,  1873,  Gerrett  Geils'  furniture  store,  148  Purchase 
street,  was  destroyed.  A  fierce  gale  was  blowing  at  the  time 
and  grave  fears  were  entertained  that  the  fire  would  sweep  to 
the  river. 

Board  of  Engineers. 

1874-75. 

Chief  Engineer,  Samuel  C.  Hart. 

Assistant  Engineers,  Alfred  M.  Chapman,  Loring  T.  Parlow, 

Charles  H.  Taber,  Michael  F.  Kennedy. 

Clerk,  Charles  S.  Paisler. 

1875-76. 

Chief  Engineer,  Moses  H.  Bliss. 

Assistant  Engineers,  Alfred  M.  Chapman,  Freeman  C.  Luce, 

Loring  T.  Parlow,  John  H.  Judson. 

Clerk,  George  H.  Bliss. 

Nov.  26,  1873,  was  a  gala  day  in  the  history  of  our  fire  de- 
partment. Not  since  the  famous  parade  of  1844  had  there 
been  such  a  pageant  as  was  seen  in  our  streets  on  that  Novem- 
ber day.  Nature  seemed  to  give  its  benediction  on  the  event, 
for  the  dav  was  one  of  rare  clearness,  just  the  bracing  air  for 
comfortable  marching. 

The  firemen  made  extensive  preparations  for  the  event,  and 
thev  were  all  carried  out  on  a  grand  scale,  and  successfully. 
Three  fire  companies  from  other  cities  were  in  the  procession. 
The  fire  eng-ines  were  beautifullv  decorated  with  wreaths  and 
flags,  the  horses  decked  with  plumes  and  gold  mounted  har- 
nesses. Without  question  this  parade  was  the  finest  ever  made 
in  our  city.  I  give  the  entire  list  and  order  of  the  grand  pro- 
cession as  it  moved  from  City  Hall  square  at  1.30  o'clock  : 


new  bedford  fire  department.  i93 

First  Division. 

Platoon  of  Police. 
New  Bedford  Band,  20  men,  George  Hill,  leader. 
Chief  Engineer  Abraham  H.  Rowland,  Jr.,  and  Aids. 
Chief  Holmes,  of  North  Bridgewater ;  Chief  Cozzens,  of  Newport ; 

Chief  Green,  of  Providence. 
Pioneer  Hook  &  Ladder  Company,  No.  i,  P.  M.  Tripp,  foreman,    with 

apparatus,  14  men  in  red  shirts,  black  pants,  navy  blue  fatigue  caps. 
Volunteer  Hook  &  Ladder  Company,  No.    i,  of  Taunton,  Joseph  T. 
Haynes,  foreman,  13  men,  in  dark  blue  shirts,  black  pants, 
and  navy  blue  caps  with  white  band,  blue  belts,  on 
which  w^as  inscribed  Taunton  Fire 
Department. 
Onward  Steam  Fire  Engine  Company,  No.   i,  William  J.    Marr,   fore- 
man, 20  men,  in  red  shirts  and  black  pants,  black  belts, 
fire  hats  and  white  w^orsted  neckties. 
Quequechan  Steam  Fire  Engine  Co.,  No.  i.  Fall  River,  Lot  T.   Sears, 
foreman,  18  men,  in  red  shirts,  black  pants,  white  belts,  fire 
hats  and  navy  blue  fatigue  caps  with  gold  bands. 

Second  Division. 

Smith's  American  Band,  Lsrael  Smith,  leader. 

Progress  Steam  Fire  Engine  Company,  No.  2,  with  apparatus,  Franklin 

Shaw,  foreman,  19  men,  in  blue  shirts,  dark  pants,  white 

belts  and  navy  blue  caps. 

Excelsior  Steam  Fire  Engine  Company,  No.  3,  with  apparatus.  Job.  H. 

GiiTord,  foreman,  20  men,  with  fire  hats,  red  shirts  bound  with 

blue,  white  belts,  black  paAts  and  fatigue  caps. 

Cornelius  Howland  Steam  Fire  Engine  Company,  No.  4,  with  apparatus, 

John  Murdock,  foreman,  20  men  with  black  fire  hats,  dark 

blue  shirts  trimmed  with  red,  white  belts, 

dark  pants,  fatigue  caps. 

Zachariah  Hillman  Steam  Fire  Engine  Company,  No.  5. 

Third  Division. 

Acushnet  Band,  15  men,  E.  M.  Swift,  leader. 
Hancock  Engine  Company,  No.  9,  from  Head  of  the  River,  with   ap- 
paratus, Reuben  Washburn,  foreman,  25  men,  in  red 
shirts,  dark  blue  pants,  white  belts, 
and  blue  caps. 
Alert  Engine  Company,  No.  4,  of  Taunton,   N.   H.  Rankin,  foreman, 

12  men,  in  blue  shirts,  dark  pants,  white  belts,  navy  blue  caps. 

Franklin  Hose  Company.   No.    i,  with  apparatus,   Pliny  B.  Sherman, 

foreman,  8  men,  in  blue  shirts,  black  pants,  black  belts, 

and  fire  hats. 
Old  Colony  Steam  Fire  Engine  Co.,  No.  6,  of  East  Taunton,  H.  N. 
Robinson,  foreman,  10  men,  in  red  shirts,  dark  pants, 
white  belts  and  glazed  caps. 


194  HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  streets  along  the  route  were  lined  with  immense  crowds 
of  people,  and  many  compliments  were  showered  on  the 
splendid  show.  The  fire  engines  were  brilliant  with  polished 
metal,  and,  set  with  abundance  of  flow^ers,  made  a  dazzling 
display.  One  interesting  feature  of  the  procession  consisted  of 
a  number  of  pet  dogs  belonging  to  the  companies.  The  ani- 
mal belonging  to  the  Progress  weighed  only  five  pounds. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  parade  a  fine  banquet  was  served 
in  City  Hall,  provided  by  William  A.  Searell.  A  large  num- 
ber of  guests  were  present.  Among  them  were  the  following 
gentlemen  who  had  served  the  city  as  engineers :  Messrs. 
George  Wilson,  George  G.  Gifford,  Benj.  B.  Covell,  Caleb  L. 
Ellis,  T.  B.  Denham,  Joshua  B.  Ashley,  Oliver  M.  Brownell, 
Israel  T.  Bryant,  T.  P.  Tompkins,  James  Durfee,  George 
Perry,  John  Mathews,  Thomas  P.  Swift,  Henry  H.  Fisher, 
William  Cook,  Frederick  Macy,  John  E.  Brown,  George  P. 
Reed,  Charles  W.  Dyer,  Alfred  M.  Chapman,  W.  H.  Sher- 
man. Henry  H.  Fisher  furnished  an  appropriate  feature  of 
the  banquet — loaves  of  firemen's  cake,  each  inscribed  with  the 
name  of  an  engine  company  delicately  lined  with  sugar; 
Another  loaf,  given  by  the  ^  same  donor,  inscribed  "To  the 
Press,"  was  stolen  by  some  hard-hearted  thief.  Invocation 
was  made  by  Rev.  O.  A.  Roberts,  and  the  dinner  w^as  then 
discussed.  There  was  music  by  the  band,  and  Mayor  George 
H.  Dunbar  was  introduced  by  Chief  Engineer  Howdand.  His 
speech  abounded  in  compliments  to  the  fire  department. 

James  B.  Congdon  followed  with  an  interesting  speech  and 
read  the  poem  given  at  the  celebration  in  1844.  Rev.  Dr. 
Quint  amused  the  audience  with  remarks  comparing  the  past 
with  the  present. 

One  of  the  musical  features  of  the  occasion  was  given  by 
Smith's  Band  and  was  called  "Fireman's  Polka."  The 
Standard  describes  it  as  introducing  an  alarm  of  fire  at  the 
prelude,  a  vocal  song  and  three  cheers  in  the  coda. 

Then  followed  a  succession  of  toasts.  Chief  Howland  acting 
as  toastmaster : 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT.  1 95 

"  Oueqiiechan  Steam  Fire  P2ngine  Co.,  of  Fall  River,  the  veteran 
steam  fire  engine  of  Bristol  county.  May  their  record  be  such  that  all 
may  feel  honored  in  following  them." 

"Onward  Steam  Fire  Engine  Co.  The  first  in  the  field  of  our  steam 
department.  With  an  honorable  record  of  the  duty  done  and  work  ac- 
complished you  are  justly  entitled  to  the  emblematic  name  your  steamer 
bears." 

Responded  to  by  E.  C.  Milliken. 

Tilson  B.  Denham,  the  first  foreman  of  this  company,  made 
a  few  remarks. 

"  '  Ever  ready  and  on  the  alert,  that  fires  may  be  quenched  in  their 
incipiency,'  is  the  motto  of  our  visitors  from  Whittenton,  the  Alert 
Engine  Company.'" 

Response  by  Capt.  Rankin. 

A  song  entitled  "  All  Together,"  was  sung  by  a  glee  club 
connected  with  the  Cornelius  Rowland,  No.  4. 

"  Progress,  No.  2.  The  special  protectors  of  the  central  portion  of 
our  cherished  city.  Ever  ready  when  duty  calls  to  give  battle  to  the 
fire  fiend.*' 

Response  by  Charles  S.  Paisler,  clerk,  who  read  a  selected- 
poem,   "-The  Song  of  the  fireman." 

Music  by  Smith's  Band,  '-Paisler  Polka." 

"Volunteer  Hook  &  Ladder  Co.,  of  Taunton.  The  pride,  yet  the 
terror,  of  the  citizens,  for  '  Say  the  word  and  down  comes  your 
house.' " 

Response  by  Capt.  Haynes. 

"Excelsior  Steam  Engine  Co.,  No.  3.  Whenever  caljed  into  action 
on  the  performance  of  your  duty  may  your  aim,  like  your  name,  be 
Excelsior." 

Response  by  Capt.  Gifford. 

Music  by  the  Acushnet  Band,  "Mollie  Darling." 

"  Hancock,  No.  9.  Like  the  illustrious  statesman,  whose  name  you 
bear,  may  each  member  of  the  company  be  firm  in  the  resolve  that 
'freedom's  fire'  shall  never  gro  out." 

Response  by  Foreman  Washburn. 

Music  by  the  New  Bedford  Band,  "Magnetic  Polka." 


196  HISTORY    OF    THE 

"  Pioneer  Hook  &  Ladder  Co.,  No.  i.  The  Pioneer  at  the  sound  of 
the  alarm  bell  may  ever  lead  the  way.'' 

Response  bv  Assistant  Foreman  Judson. 

"  Cornelius  Rowland  Steam  Engine  Co.,  No.  4.  Always  on  the 
alert  for  the  first  sound  of  the  fire  alarm,  active  and  efficient  in  the  dis- 
charge of  duty,  may  your  honorable  record  of  past  service  reflect  its 
brilliancy  upon  your  future  career." 

Response  by  Foreman  Murdock. 

"  Franklin  Hose,  No.  i,  the  youngest  born,  yet  bearing  a  venerable 
name  :  may  your  record  be  worthy  of  your  illustrious  namesake.'" 

Response  by  James  S.  Hatha^vay,  clerk. 
The  final  toast  was  : 

"  To  all  friends  present  or  absent :  here  is  good  health  to  everybody, 
lest  somebody  should  feel  slighted."" 

The  exercises  \\^ere  closed  with  rounds  of  cheers  for  the 
Mayor  and  City  Council  and  the  past  engineers,  and  the  whole 
company  then  joined  in  singing  "Auld  Lang  Syne,"  led  by 
the  bands.  The  festivities  of  the  day  closed  with  the  Fire- 
men's levee,  in  Pierian  Hall,  in  aid  of  the  Firemen's  Mutual 
Aid  Society.  The  hall  was  finely  decorated  with  flag^s  and 
bunting  and  presented  a  fascinating  appearance.  An  immense 
throng  of  people  were  present,  and  the  afiair  resulted  in  a  hand- 
some sum  being  added  to  the  treasury. 

The  celebration  was  a  success  in  every  particular  and  may 
be  appropriately  designated  as  the  second  grand  parade  of  the 
New  Bedlbrd  fire  department. 

Roster  of  the  Fire  Department  for   1876-77. 

Chief  Engineer,  Moses  H.  Bliss. 
Assistant  Engineers,  Alfred  M.  Chapman,  Freeman  C.  Luce, 
William  J.  Marr,  John  H.  Judson. 
Clerk,  George  H.  Bliss. 

Onward,  No.   i.     (House  on  Purchase  street,  foot  of  Franklin.) 

Foreman,  Charles  H.  Church. 
First  Assistant,  Julian  A.  Sweet. 
Second  Assistant,  Allen  W.  Tinkham. 
Clerk,  E.  C.  Milliken. 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  I97 

E.  K.  Dollard,  H.N.  Tinkham, 

C.  R.  Hathaway,  J.  Harrington,  Jr., 

Irving  Smith,  H.  C.  Pierce,  Jr., 

George  H.  Pierce,  George  H.  Parker, 

George  Tripp,  Charles  S.  Stratton, 

Henrv  O'Neal,  James  L.  Bryant, 

Henry  S.  Webb. 

Progress,  No.  2.     (House  corner  Purchase  st.  and  Mechanics  lane.) 

Foreman,  Charles  S.  Paisler. 
First  Assistant,  John  Downey. 
Second  Assistant,  Eugene  R.  Leverett 
Clerk,  James  D.  Allen. 

Edward  C.  Spooner,  ^  Moses  Dean, 

James  G.  Harding,  John  C.  Taber. 

S.  H.  Mitchell,  Fred.  H.  Wood, 

Charles  F.  Dean,  George  B.  Russell, 

John  Dollard,  Lemuel  W.  Haves, 

A.  T.  Kendrick,  W.  P.  Sovvle, 

A.  B.  C.  Davenport,  Michael  Conway. 

Cornelius  Howland,  No.  4. 
(House  corner  South  Sixth  and  Bedford  streets.) 

Foreman,  Hugh  McDonald. 
First  Assistant,  Joseph  B.  Wing. 
Second  Assistant,  John  (jillis. 
Clerk,  Giles  G.  Barker. 

James  M.  Tripp,  Arthur  Baylies, 

John  B.  Peckham,  Charles  L.  Wing, 

Augustus  A.  Wood,  Henry  A.  Barker, 

James  A.  Murdock,  Daniel  D.  Briggs, 

Frank  Wood,  George  H.  W.  Tripp, 

William  A.  Gibbs,  Charles  W.  Borden, 

Henrv  A.  Grav,  Charles  G.  Taber. 

Zachariah  Hillman,  No.  5.    (House  cor.  Hillman  and  County  sts.) 

Foreman,  William  A.  Russell. 
First  Assistant,  Orlando  F.  Bly. 
Second  Assistant,  E.  R.  Bentley. 
Clerk,  Charles  W.  Wheeler. 

Joseph  HaiTord.  George  H.  Chadwick, 

I.  H.  Wilcox,  Louis  Myers, 

William  T.  King,  Frank  Wood, 

Martin  J.  Murphy,  Martin  Blanchard,  Jr., 

George  W.  Parker,  Charles  L.  Davis, 

Joseph  H.  Wheeler,  Benj.  F.  King, 

Jethro  Hillman,  Reuben  Taber. 


i9s  history  of  the 

Franklin  Hose  Co.,  No.   i. 
(House  corner  Purchase  street  and  Mechanxs  lane.) 

Foreman,  Pliny  B.  Sherman. 
First  Assistant,  Clarfaus  Vansant. 
Second  Assistant,  Daniel  W.  Howland. 
Clerk,  James  S.  Hathaway. 

Peter  Nelson,  John  F.  Snow, 

C.  A.  S.  Sherman,  William  H.  Perry, 

W.  H.  Drescott. 

Pioneer  Hook  and  Ladder  Co.,  No.  i. 
(House  cor.  Purchase  street  and  Mechanics  lane.) 

Foreman,  Philip  M.  Tripp. 
First  Assistant,  Lysander  W.  Davis. 
Second  Assistant,  James  Conway. 
Clerk,  Charles  E.  Pierce. 

Abraham  R.  Luscomb,  Nathaniel  H.  Caswell, 

James  W.  Dugan,  Thos.  M.  Holleran, 

Eben  A.  Butts,  William  Clymonts, 

Alexander  Doull,  Chris.  C.  Gilford, 

Charles  M.  Hatha\vay,  F.  L.  Hathaway, 

Charles  J.  Johnson,  Andrew  V.  Landers, 

Thomas  T,  Manley,  F.  H.  Sampson, 

Charles  H.  W^alker,  George  T.  Manley, 

B.  F.  Hinckley,  Squire  Gifford, 

Lewis  G.  Allen. 

Hancock,  No.  9.     (Located  at  Head  of  the  River.) 

Foreman,  Reuben  Washburn. 
First  Assistant,  Charles  £.  Howland. 
Second  Assistant,  George  W.  Bennett. 
Clerk,  George  A.  Cobb. 

John  Silva,  Joseph  H.  Lawrence, 

Frank  C.  Terry,  William  D.  Perry, 

Frank  P.  Washburn,  John  A.  Russell, 

Arthur  C.  Brooks,  A.  B.  Grinnell,  Jr., 

Joseph  Spooner,  James  A.  Wilbour, 

William  R.  Washburn,  G.  W.  Paige, 

Howard  Pittsley,  Asa  Reynolds, 

Alfred  Williams,  Seth  Howard, 

L.  A.  Washburn,  Charles  H.  Hathaway. 

The  Protecting  Society. 

President,  Samuel  P.  Burt. 

George  R.  Phillips,  Andrew  G.  Pierce, 

Charles  Almy,  Obed  N.  Swift, 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


199 


Edward  Knights, 
Gardner  T.  Sanford, 
Edward  H.  Allen, 
William  P.  S.  Cadwell, 
Joseph  Tillinghast, 
William  H.  Bartlett, 
Edward  R.  Gardner, 
Charles  A.  Case, 
Geo.  H.  Topham, 
H.  A.  Gifford,  Jr., 
Dennis  Wood, 

E.  Kempton  Taber, 
Charles  S.  Cummings, 
George  F.  Kingman, 
Joseph  Buckminster, 

F.  L.  Gilman, 

John  P.  Knowles,  2d, 
L.  M.  Kollock, 
Nathaniel  S.  Cannon, 
Charles  H.  Gifford, 
George  L.  Brownell, 
Gilbert  Allen, 
Gideon  Allen,  Jr., 
Morgan  Rotch, 
Humphrey  S.  Kirby, 
George  D.  Gifford, 
Gilbert  D.  Kingman, 
William  H.  H.  Allen, 
Alfred  G.  W^ilbor, 
Jonathan  Handv, 
Wendell  H.  Cobb, 
S.  H.  Cook, 
W.  A.  Robinson,  2d, 


George  F.  Parlow, 
Joshua  C.  Hitch, 
Charles  S.  Kelley, 
Alfred  Wilson, 
Alden  Wordell, 
Francis  T.  Aiken, 
John  W.  Macomber, 
James  H.  C.  Richmond, 
A.  W.  Hadlev, 
Bethuel  Penniman, 
Otis  N.  Pierce, 
Charles  B.  Hillman, 
H.  C.  Denison, 
Ezra  Holmes, 
William  H.  Willis, 
Joseph  Knowles, 
Cyrenius  W.  Haskins, 
Edward  D.  Mandell, 
William  G.  Wood, 
Leonard  B.  Ellis, 
Wm.  Wood, 
Wm.  Anthony, 
Henry  J.  Taylor, 
Charles  M.  Haskell, 
Charles  M.  Taber, 
Charles  H.  Lawton, 
William  R.  N.  Silvester, 
George  R.  Gray, 
W.  O.  Woodman, 
William  T.  Smith, 
William  C.  Taber,  Jr., 
Eben  Perry, 
William  F.  Potter. 


CHAPTER    XIIL 


^^j?HE  following  are  the  lists  of  the  Board  of  Engineers  from 

W   1877  to  1884: 

1877-78- 

Chief  Engineer,  Frederick  Macy. 
Assistant  Engineers,  Michael  Kennedy,  Nathan  M.  Brown, 
John  H.  Judson,  William  J.  Marr. 
Clerk,  Luther  G.  Hewins,  Jr. 

1878-79. 

Chief  Engineer,  Frederick  Macy. 
Assistant  Engineers,  Michael  Kennedy,  Nathan  M.  Brown, 
John  H.  Judson,  Augustus  A.  Wood. 
Clerk,  Luther  G.  Hewins,  Jr. 

1879-84. 

Chief  Engineer,  Frederick  Macy. 

Assistant  Engineers,  Michael  Kennedy,  Nathan  M.  Brown, 

Pliny  B.  Sherman,  Augustus  A.  Wood. 

Clerk,  Luther  G.  Hewins,  Jr. 

Thursday,  Oct.  13,  1S76,  the  P.  H.  Raymond  Engine  Co., 
of  Cambridgeport,  made  a  visit  to  our  city  and  were  the  recip- 
ients of  vmexpected  hospitalities  from  the  Cornelius  Rowland 
Engine  Co.  No.  4.  A  firemen's  ball  at  Pierian  Hall,  a  clam- 
bake at  Peckham's  Grove,  and  other  festivities,  made  the  occa- 
sion one  of  rare  enjoyment  to  all  participants. 

Aug.  23,  1877,  a  return  visit  was  made.  The  Cornelius 
Howlands  were  accompanied  by  Chief  Engineer  Macy,  As- 
sistant Engineer  Judson,  ex-Assistant  Engineer  Chapman, 
Councilman  Taylor,  and  the  L^nion  Cornet  Band.  The  excur- 
sion lasted  three  days,  and  our  firemen  had  a  good  time. 
They  were  received  by  the  entire  fire  department  of  Cambridge- 
port,  and  a  round  of  festivities  was  kept  up  to  the  last  hour. 
On  their  return  to  the  city  they  were  agreeably  surprised  by  an 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  20I 

escort  of  our  whole  department  from   the  station.     The   Ray- 
monds entertained  their  guests  in  such  a  manner  as  to  astonish 
the  boys,  so  lavish  and  bountiful  were  the   pleasures  arranged 
for    them.       Clerk    Barker's    record    of    the    event    is    very 
entertaining. 

The  year  1877  was  remarkably  free  from  fires.  In  Decem- 
ber the  first  sleigh  reel  was  added  to  the  department. 

Feb.  19,  1878,  William  Sanders'  clothing  house  and  Fred- 
erick Coffin's  box  manufactory,  112  Union  street,  were  burned 
out.  William  Sanders'  loss  was  $13,735  ;  insurance,  $io,ooo» 
F.  Coffin's  loss,  10,000;  insurance,  $3775- 

July  7,  James  Doull's  carpenter  shop.  South  Front  street. 
Loss,  $2600  ;   insurance,  $2000. 

July  28,  Monroe  Holcomb's  stable,  corner  of  Rowland  and 
Grinnell  streets. 

Jan.  26,  1879,  a  dwelling  house  belonging  to  Hiram  H. 
Goft',  corner  of  Pope  and  State  streets,  was  burned.  Loss, 
$2388. 

July  13,  Hersom  &  Bryant's  soap  factory  was  burned.  Loss, 
$3000  ;   insurance,  $11 ,000. 

July  16,  Mosher  &  Brovs^nell's  sash  and  blind  manufactory 
was  struck  by  lightning.     Loss,  $1300. 

The  steamer  Progress,  which  had  done  faithful  service,  vv^as 
disposed  of,  and  a  new  engine  built  by  the  Silsby  Manufac- 
turing Co.,  Seneca  Falls,  N.  Y.,  was  placed  in  commission 
Sept.  4,  1879. 

During  the  year  1880  the  permanent  force  of  the  depart- 
ment was  uniformed,  so  that  the  regulation  uniform  is  worn  at 
all  times  when  on  duty. 

April  II,  afire  in  William  street  Baptist  church.  Trivial 
loss. 

July  8,  a  fire  occurred  at  the  Mansion  House. 

Jan.  27,  1881,  fire  in  the  works  of  the  New  Bedford  Copper 
Co.     Loss,  $2750. 

April  16,  fire  in  steamer  Albatross,   lying  at    the  wharf  of 


202 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


theB.  C.  F.  &  N.  B.  R.  R.  Co.  The  steamer  was  laden  with 
merchandise  belonging  to  various  parties.  Loss  on  steamer, 
$4825  ;   on  merchandise,  $26^^'jC). 


DAVID  W.    HOWLAND. 

(Foreman  Franklin  Hose,  No.  i,  1879-90.) 


The  Frederick  Macy  vSteam  Fire  Engine,  No.  6,  was  put  in 
commission  Nov.  i,  1S82.  It  w^as  built  by  the  Amoskeag 
Manufacturing  Co.,  Manchester,  N.  H.  A  company  was 
organized  Oct.  31  : 

Foreman,  George  W.  Parker. 
First  Assistant,  Herbert  B.  Gardner. 
Second  Assistant,  Felix  Cavenaugh. 
Clerk,  George  S.  Hoyt. 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  203 

Marshall  S.  Greene,  A.  G.  Howland, 

Thomas  Wood,  Lavello  I.  Pierce, 

William  H.  Barnes,  Charles  R.  Cornell, 

Jason  L.  Ballon,  Charles  K.  Wood, 

Frank  Greene,  Frederick  Nelson, 

Charles  G.  Taber,  Edward  Dugan, 

Frank  T.  Perry,  N.  Herbert  Green. 

The  engine-house  on  Fourth  street,  head  of  Potomska,  was 
built  specially  for  the  new  engine,  and  it  is  very  complete  in  all 
the  appointments  and  supplied  with  every  convenience  for  the 
comfort  of  the  firemen,  as  well  as  for  efficiency. 

Two  of  Rvan's  four-wheel  hose  carriages  for  Nos.  5  and  6 
were  added  this  year. 

During  the  vear  18S2,  private  alarm  boxes  were  introduced 
into  many  of  the  important  manufacturing  establishments. 

June  7th,  a  destructive  fire  occurred  at  Head-of-the-River. 
A  grist  mill  and  ice  houses,  belonging  to  Mr.  Simeon  Hawes, 
were  burned.      Loss,  $13,817.17  ;   insurance,  $7900. 

June  25,  fire  in  cotton  storehouse  of  Wamsutta  Mills.  Loss, 
$990. 

Aug.  30,  fire  in  H.  J.  Taylor's  crockery  store,  Purchase 
street.     Loss,  $3947.24. 

Feb.  3,  1883,  Elbridge  G.  Turner's  box  board  and  shingle 
mill  at  Plainville  was  burned.      Loss,  $3000. 

June  15,  fire  at  Wamsutta  Mills.  Total  loss,  $9371.78  ;  in- 
surance, $22,000. 

Dec.  30,  fire  in  dwelling  house,  on  County  street,  of  George 
S.  and  F.  A.  Homer.     Loss,  $1689.37. 

Roster  of  the  Fire  Department  for   1884-8:^. 

Board  of  Engineers. 

Chief  Engineer,  Frederick  Macy. 

Assistant  Engineers,  Michael  F.  Kennedy,  Loring  T.  Parlow, 

Pliny  B.  Sherman,  Augustus  A.  Wood. 

Clerk,  Luther  G.  Hewins,  Jr. 

Onward,  No.   i. 

Foreman,  Allen  W.  Tinkham, 
First  Assistant,  George  A.  Tripp. 


204 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Second  Assistant,  Edward  M.  Durfee. 
Clerk,  E.  C.  Milliken. 


Hosemen. 
Julian  A.  Sweet, 
Charles  A.  Wilson, 
Charles  H,  Brown, 
F.  W.  Brightman, 
Nathaniel  J.  Stone, 
Edgar  F.  Tripp, 
John  Whitehead. 


Engineer,  Frederick  H.  Wood. 
Driver,  James  L.  Bryant. 
Reel  Driver,  Samuel  C.  France. 
Stoker,  Harris  J.  Tinkham. 

Torchmen. 
Thomas  Larkin, 
George  H.  Snow. 


Progress,  No.  2. 

Foreman,  James  G.  Harding. 
First  Assistant,  John  Downey. 
Second  Assistant,  John  Dollard. 
Clerk,  James  D.  Allen. 


Hosemen. 
E.  C.  Spooner, 
E.  R.  Leverett, 
Charles  F.  Dean, 
Allen  T.  Kendrick, 
Moses  Dean, 
George  M.  Crapo, 
Wm.  R.  Sherman, 
Samuel  W.  Mitchell. 


Engineer,  George  B.  Russell. 
Driver,  William  P.  Soule. 
Stoker,  Lemuel  W.  Hayes. 
Reel  Driver,  Michael  Conway. 

Torchmen. 
James  R.  Goddard, 
Wyman  D.  Jacobs. 


Cornelius  Howland,  No.  4. 

Foreman,  Henry  A.  Gray. 
First  Assistant,  Edgar  S.  Gilbert. 
Second  Assistant,  Benjamin  F.  Hinckley. 
Clerk,  Wm.  A.  Gibbs. 


Hosemen. 
James  M.  Tripp, 
Hugh  McDonald, 
John  H.  Backus, 
Charles  H.  Card, 
Charles  S.  Wing, 
Samuel  Watson,  2d, 
William  C.  Hiscox, 
Roland  W.  Snow. 


Engineer,  Daniel  D.  Briggs. 
Asst.  Engineer,  Alonzo  V.  Jason. 
Driver,  George  H.  W.  Tripp. 
Reel  Driver,  Horace  D.  Bradley. 

Torchmen. 
Wilson  A.  Tripp, 
James  J.  Donaghy. 


Zachariah  Hillman,  No.  5. 

Foreman,  R.  S.  Law  ton. 
First  Assistant,  Charles  C.  Gifford. 
Second  Assistant,  Squire  A.  Gilford. 
Clerk,  Jerrie  B.  Taber. 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


205 


Hosemen. 
E.  R.  Bentley, 
G.  H.  Chachvick, 
Isaiah  H.  Wilcox, 
William  T.  King, 
Charles  W.  H.  Potter, 
D.  S.  R.  Durfee, 
Charles  R.  Hathaway, 
Martin  S.  Nelson. 


Engineer,  M.  Blanchard,  Jr. 
Driver,  B.  F.  King,  Jr. 
Stoker,  Charles  Jones. 
Reel  Driver,  Reuben  Taber. 

Torchmen. 
Walter  Bates, 
George  H.  Cook. 


Frederick  Macy,  No.  6. 

Foreman,  George  W.  Parker. 
First  Assistant,  Herbert  B.  (jardner 
Second  Assistant,  Felix  Cavenaugh. 
Clerk,  George  S.  Hoyt. 


Hosemen, 
Marshall  S.  Greene, 
Robert  N.  Allen, 
Thomas  Wood, 
Joseph  Jackson, 
William  H.  Barnes, 
Charles  R.  Cornell, 
Jason  L.  Ballon. 
Charles  K.  Wood. 


Engineer,  Charles  G.  Taber. 
Driver,  Edward  Dugan. 
Stoker,  Frank  T.  Perry. 
Reel  Driver.  N.  Herbert  (ireene. 

Torchmen. 
Frank  (^reene, 
Frederick  Nelson. 


Pioneer  Hook  and  Ladder  Co.,  No.  i. 

Foreman,  Lysander  W.  Davis. 
First  Assistant,  Charles  J.  Johnson. 
Second  Assistant,  James  Conway. 
Clerk,  Charles  E.  Pierce. 


Laddermen. 
James  W.  Dugan, 
Charles  H.  Delano, 
Selmer  Eggers,  Jr., 
Edward  D.  Francis, 
Henry  R.  Gidley, 
Charles  M.  Hathaway, 
Edward  F.  Jennings, 
John  L.  Olstein, 
Philip  C.  Russell, 
Frank  Spooner, 
Philip  M.  Tripp, 


Clarfaus  Vansant, 
Charles  W.  Vining. 

Axemen. 
Nathaniel  H.  Caswell, 
Abraham  R.  Luscomb. 

Torchmen. 
Alfred  M.  GiiTord, 
Wm.  A.  Hamer. 

Lewis  G.  Allen,  Driver. 


Franklin  Hose  Co.,  No.   i. 

Foreman,  Daniel  W.  Howland. 
First  Assistant,  Philip  R.  King. 
Second  Assistant,  Daniel  H.  Burns. 
Clerk,  James  S.  Hathaway. 


2o6 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Hosemen, 
A.  B.  C.  Davenport, 
James  B.  Drew, 
Bradford  D.  Tripp, 


Driver,  Henry  R.  Meigs. 

Torch  man, 
Wm.  H.  Maxfield. 


Hancock,  No.  9.     (Located  at  Head  of  the  River.) 

Foreman,  John  A.  Russell. 

First  Assistant,  George  W.  Randall. 

Second  Assistant,  Israel  Peckham. 

Clerk,  Allen  Russell,  Jr. 
Joseph  H.  Lawrence,  Joseph  Spooner, 

William  T.  Gifford,  L.  A.  Washburn, 

Eli  W.  Reed,  George  R.  Little, 

A.  B.  Grinnell,  Jr.,  George  W.  Hawes, 

James  A.  Wilbour,  John  G.  Whalon. 

Charles  R.  Gifford, 

Frank  P.  Washburn,  Torch  men. 

F.  E.  Wellington,  Walter  H.  Darling, 

John  Silva,  Isaac  Reed. 

Herbert  M.  Spooner, 

The  Protecting  Society. 
President,  Charles  S.  Kelley. 


Jonathan  Handy, 
W.  A.  Robinson, 
Charles  H.  Lawton, 
Edward  T.  P'ierce, 

Secretary  and 

Francis  T.  Aiken, 
Gilbert  Allen, 
Gideon  Allen,  Jr., 
George  H.  H.  Allen, 
O.  Frank  Bly, 
Standish  Bourne, 
George  E.  Briggs, 
Thomas  Boardman, 
Charles  A.  Case, 
R.  C.  P.  Coggeshall, 
Edwin  Dews, 
H.  C.  Denison, 
John  H.  Denison, 
Ernest  A.  Dunham, 
Joseph  Dawson, 
Heman  Ellis, 
Willis  M.  Fiske, 
Edward  R.  Gardner, 


Directors. 

Charles  M.  Haskell, 
Edmund  F.  Maxtield, 
Edmund  Wood, 
John  H.  Lowe. 

Treasurer,  Edward  H.  Allen. 

William  F.  Potter, 
Arthur  E.  Perry, 
James  N.  Parker, 
William  H.  Pitman, 
Charles  L.  Paine, 
William  F.  Read, 
Morgan  Rotch, 
William  A.  Russell, 
Arthur  E.  Robbins, 
Louis  H.  Richardson, 
Gardner  T.  Sanford, 
R.  W.  Swift, 
Frederick  Swift, 
William  T.  Smith, 
Leander  H.  Swift, 
Edward  S.  Shaw, 
Robert  Snow, 
Charles  M.  Taber, 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


207 


Edmund  Grinnell, 
Frank  H.  Gifford, 
A.  W.  Hadley, 
Charles  B.  Hillman, 
John'J.  Rowland, 
Charles  M.  Hussey, 
Henry  F.  Hammond, 
Thomas  H.  Knowles, 
Gilbert  U.  Kingman, 
Edgar  R.  Lewis, 
Philander  F.  Manchester, 
Willard  Nye,  Jr., 
Charles  W.  Plummer, 
George  F.  Parlow, 


Henry  J.  Taylor, 
Joseph  Tillinghast, 
William  T.  Taylor, 
Henrv  W.  Tavlor, 
Francis  C.  Terry, 
Alfred  G.  Wilbor, 
William  H.  Willis, 
Horace  Wood, 
W.  O.  Woodman, 
Frederick  A.  Washburn, 
Edward  L.  Wilde, 
Thomas  F.  Wood, 
William  R.  West, 
Frederick  D.  Wade, 


Mark  T.  Vincent. 

May  30,  1S84,  a  new  engine,  built  by  the  Amoskeag  M%. 
Co.,  for  the  Cornelius  Rowland  Steam  Fire  Engine  Co.,  No. 
4,  was  placed  in  commission,  the  old  engine  being  placed  in  the 
reserve. 

Feb  9,  1884,  fire  in  Liberty  Hall  building,  with  an  ex- 
plosion in  the  store  of  O.  G.  Brownell  &  Sons.     Loss,  $9000. 

Feb.  13,  fire  in  Charles  Taber  &  Co.'s  frame  manufactor\', 
corner  of  Water  and  Spring  streets.     Loss,  $3750. 

Feb.  i4,  fire  in  dwelling  house  of  John  W.  Cornell,  Middle 
street ;   incendiary.      Loss,  $775  ;   insurance,  $2800. 

March  i,  fire  in  Elijah  GIfford's  brass  foundr\'.    Loss  $2000. 

June  25,  fire  in  E.  D.  Mandell's  residence,  Hawthorn 
street.     Cause,  lightning.      Loss,  $3000. 

July  4,  10  p.  M.,  fire  on  North  Christian  church.  Cause, 
fireworks.     Loss,   $600  ;  no  insurance. 

Aug.  22,  a  fire  occurred  which  entirely  destroyed  F.  A. 
Sowle  &  Son's  planing  mill  on  Elm  street.  Several  other 
buildings  were  damaged.     Loss  about  $16,000. 

Nov.  6,  1884,  the  engine  now  in  commission  as  Progress 
Steam  Fire  Engine,  No.  2,  built  by  Amoskeag  Manufacturing 
Co.,  was  placed  In  commission  ;  the  Silsbv  engine  was  placed 
in  reserve. 

Dec.  15,  8.15  A.  M.,  a  fire  In  Haskell  &  Tripp's  dry  goods 
store,  corner  of  Purchase   and   William    streets.      The    whole 


2o8  HISTORY    OF    THE 

fire  department  was  called  out.  Contest  steam  fire  engine  from 
Fairhaven  rendered  valuable  aid.  B.  H.  Waite's  dry  goods 
store  badly  Injured.  Haskell  &  Tripp's  loss,  $73,104.03  :  in- 
surance, $60,500.  B.  H.  Waite,  $5500;  insurance,  $18,000. 
J.  Dexter,  jeweler,  $1144.50;  insurance.  $4000.  Cause  of 
fire,  a  pile  of  blankets  falling  on  a  gas  jet. 

The  year  1885  was  marked  by  its  freedom  from  fires  of  an}- 
magnitude,  the  fire  loss  being  less  than  $7000. 

March  25,  1886,  fire  in  Potomska  mills.      Loss,  $6447. 

On  the  5th  of  July,  1886,  the  fire  department  contest  for  a 
series  of  prizes  offered  by  the  city  occurred.  The  following 
record  was  made  : 

Onward,  No.  i,  253  feet,  i  1-2  in. 

Old  Progress,  No.  2  (Silsby),  252  feet,  6  in. 

New  Progress,  No.  2  (Amoskeag),     255  ft.,  2  1-2  in. 
Cornelius  Rowland,  No.  4,  263  feet,  8  in. 

Zachariah  Hillman,  No.  5,  222  feet,  6  in. 

Frederick  Macy,  No.  6,  242  feet,  11  in. 

Pioneer  Hook  and  Ladder  Co.,  No.  i,  and  Franklin  Hose, 
No.  I,  also  took  part  in  the  contest. 

Oct.  20,  fire  in  house  on  Arnold  street,  owned  by  Hon. 
William  J.  Rotch.     Cause,  "  rats  and  matches." 

Oct.  23,  fire  in  Smith  Brothers'  decorative  establishment, 
William  street.     Loss,  $5109.08. 

Jan.  31,  1887,  fire  in  Mvrick's  cooperage.  Water  street. 
Loss,  $900. 

April  I,  Kirby's  paint  mill  and  Job  Wade's  currier  estab- 
lishment, with  several  dwelling  houses  on  Willis  Point,  de- 
stroyed or  badly  damaged  by  fire.     Whole  loss  about  $30,000. 

Oct.  24,  fire  on  Tarkiln  Hill  road  in  G.  A.  Cobb's  fire  kind- 
ling factory.      Loss,  $1300. 

Aug.  T,  1887,  the  Franklin  Hose  Co.,  No.  i,  made  an  ex- 
cursion to  Oakland  Beach,  on  the  invitation  of  the  Fall  River 
Firemen's  Association. 

Henry  R.  Meio-s,  an  esteemed  member  of  Franklin  Hose 
Co.,  No.  I,  died  Nov.  15,  1887.       During  a  long    and    painful 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  209 

illness,  he  received  the  faithful  and  tender  care  of  his  brother 
firemen.  His  funeral  was  attended  by  the  entire  fire  depart- 
ment. The  services  were  in  charge  of  Rev.  ]M.  C.  Julien,  and 
were  of  a  verv  impressive  character. 

The  only  serious  fire  that  occurred  in  iSSS  was  that  of 
Greene  &  Wood's  planing  mill  on  the  evening  of  Aug.  8. 

First  Assistant  Engineer  Michael  F.  Kennedv  died  June  27, 
1S8S.  He  had  been  a  member  of  the  fire  department  for  about 
fortv  vears,  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Cornelius  Howland 
Co.,  No.  4,  and  had  served  twelve  years  as  First  Assistant 
Engineer. 

During  the  vear  1S87,  the  department  responded  to  41  bell 
alarms,  36  still  and  telephone  alarms;  1888,  47  bell  alarms, 
45  still  and  telephone  alarms;  1889,34  bell  alarms,  54  still 
and  telephone  alarms. 

Julv  13th,  1889,  Progress  Steam  Fire  Engine  Co.,  No.  2, 
made  a  visit  to  East  Weymouth,  and  were  the  recipients  of 
the  generous  hospitality  of  Z.  L.  Bicknell  Hose  Co.,  No.  2. 

At  the  great  fire  in  Boston,  Nov.  zS^  1889,  ^'^^  Cornelius 
Howland,  No.  4,  rendered  valuable  service. 

Roster  of  the  Fire  Department  for    1889-90. 

Board  of  Engineers. 

Chief  Engineer,  Frederick  Macy. 

Assistant  Engineers,  Loring  T.  Parlow,  Pliny  B.  Sherman, 

Augustus  A.  Wood,  Hugh  McDonald. 

Clerk,  Luther  G.  Hewins,  Jr. 

Onward,  No.   i. 

Foreman,  Allen  W.  Tinkham. 
First  Assistant,  George  A.  Tripp. 
Second  Assistant,  Edward  M.  Durfee. 
Clerk,  E.  C.  Milliken. 

Hosemen.  Engineer,  Frederick  H.  Wood. 

Julian  A.  Sweet,  Driver,  James  L.  Bryant. 

F.  W.  Brightman,  Reel  Driver,  Isaac  Dawson. 

John  Whitehead,  Stoker,  Harris  N.  Tinkham. 
W.  O.  Brightman, 

Charles  A.  Wilson,  Substitutes. 

Edgar  F.  Tripp,  John  T.  Aghen, 

James  F.  Powers,  A.  D.  .Milliken. 

Roland  A.  Hatch. 


2d  Assistant  Plinv  B.  Sherman.  ist  Assistant  Loring  T.  Parlow. 

Chief  Engineer  Frederick  Macy. 
4th  Assistant  Hugh  McDonald.  ,  3d  Assistant  Augustus  A.  Wood. 

Luther  G.  Hewins,  Jr.,  Clerk. 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


211 


Progress,  No.  2. 

Foreman,  George  M.  Crapo. 
First  Assistant,  John  Downey. 
Second  Assistant,  Charles  F.  Dean. 
Clerk,  James  D.  Allen. 


Hosemen. 
James  G.  Harding, 
E.  C.  Spooner, 
Moses  Dean, 
William  K.  Wagner, 
Wyman  D.  Jacobs, 
E.  R.  Leverett, 
Samuel  W.  iMitchell, 
E.  Kempton  Peirce. 


Engineer,  George  B.  Russell, 

(deceased.) 
Driver,  William  P.  Soule. 
Stoker,  Lemuel  W.  Hayes. 
Reel  Driver,  Michael  Conway. 

Substitutes. 
Alex.  J.  Aiken, 
Jas.  L.  Crowley. 


Cornelius  Howland,  No.  4. 

Foreman,  Edgar  S.  Gilbert. 
First  Assistant,  James  J.  Donaghy.* 
Second  Assistant,  Charles  H.  Card. 
Clerk,  Wm.  A.  (jibbs. 


Hosemen. 
James  M.  Tripp, 
Samuel  Watson,  2d,f 
Roland  W.  Snow, 
Henry  J.  Marshall, 
Benjamin  F.  Hinckley, 
Charles  S.  Wing, 
Wm.  E.  Watson,  Jr., 
Frank  C.  Jennings. 

*Elected  Foreman  June  i,  vice  Samuel  Watson,  2d,  resigned 
fElected  Foreman  May  i,  vice  E.  S.  Gilbert,  resigned. 


Engineer,  Alonzo  V.  Jason. 
Stoker,  John  H.  Backus, 
Driver,  George  H.  W.  Tripp. 
Reel  Driver,  W.  C.  Kennedy. 

Substitutes. 
Leander  Reed, 
John  W.  Donaghy. 


Zachariah  Hillman,  No.  5. 

Foreman,  Charles  C.  Gifford. 
First  Assistant,  John  F.  Gifford. 
Second  Assistant,  Squire  A.  Gifford. 
Clerk,  Joseph  C.  F-orbes. 


Hosemen. 
George  H.  Chadwick, 
Charles  H.  Brown, 
Obed  S.  Cowing, 
W.  H.  Knowles, 
I.  H.  Wilcox, 
Henry  C.  Stubbs, 
George  H.  Cook, 
Thomas  H.  Forbes. 


Engineer,  Martin  Blanchard. 
Reel  Driver,  Martin  S.  Nelson. 
Driver,  Benjamin  F.  King,  Jr. 
Stoker,  Charles  Jones. 

Substitutes. 
Arthur  Forbes, 
Henry  Jones. 


212  HISTORY    OF    THE 


Frederick  Macy,  No.  6. 

Foreman,  George  W.  Parker. 
P^irst  Assistant,  Edward  O^Neil. 
Second  Assistant,  Robert  N.  Allen. 
Clerk,  Herbert  B.  Gardner. 

Hosemen.  Engineer,  Charles  G.  Taber. 

Thomas  Wood,  Stoker,  Benj.  C.  Groves. 

Joseph  Jackson,  Driver,  Frank  A.  C.  Greene. 

Jason  L.  Ballon,  Reel  Driver,  N.  Herbert  Greene. 
James  Harrington  Sherman, 

Marshall  S.  (ireene,  Substitutes. 

Charles  R.  Cornell,  Frederick  Nelson, 

Charles  K.  Wood,  Walter  Almond. 

Henry  M.  Alosher. 

Hancock,  No.  9. 

Engine   built    by    John    Agnew,   Philadelphia,    1843.     Removed    to 
Acushnet  January  i8th,  1861. 

Foreman,  John  A.  Russell. 

First  Assistant,  Francis  P.  Washburn. 

Second  Assistant,  Joseph  W.  Spooner. 

Clerk,  Allen  Russell,  Jr. 

Steward,  John  Silvia. 

Israel  H.  Peckham,  Andrew  B.  Grinnell,  Jr., 

William  T.  (iifford,  George  W.  Randall, 

John  G.  Whalon,  Lemuel  A.  Washburn, 

James  A.  Wilbur,  James  L.  Haskins, 

Eli  W.  Reed,  John  G.  Dawson, 

George  W.  Hawes,  Wm.  P.  Reed. 
John  F,  Parker, 

Nathan  C.  Briggs,  Substitutes. 

Job  T.  Haskins,  George  H.  Gifford, 

Herbert  AI.  Spooner,  John  B.  Wilbur. 

Hook  and  Ladder,  No.   i. 

Carriage  built  by  La  France  Steam  Fire  Engine  Co.,  Elmira,  N.  Y. 
Put  into  service  August  30th,  1888. 

Foreman,  Charles  J.  Johnson. 
First  Assistant,  Frank  Spooner. 
Second  Assistant,  Loren  N.  Mosher. 
Clerk,  Charles  E.  Pierce. 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 


213 


Charles  B.  Allison, 
Nathaniel  H.  Caswell, 
Edward  D.  Francis, 
Andrew  V.  Landers, 
William  R.  Russell, 
Philip  C.  Russell, 

Driver,  George  S.  Allen. 

Tillerman,  Charles  W.  Vining. 


John  W.  Cannavan, 
Lysander  W.  Davis, 
Alfred  M.  Giflford, 
Abram  R.  Luscomb, 
Philip  M.  Tripp, 
Clarfaus  Vansant. 

Substitutes. 
William  A.  Hamer, 
William  L.  Fletcher. 


Hook  and  Ladder,  No.  2. 


Carriage  built  by  Joseph  T.  Ryan  of  Boston. 
4th,  1877.     Present  company  organized  September,  1888. 
Weld  street. 

Foreman,  Henry  W.  Kenyon. 
First  Assistant,  Edward  F.  Dahill. 
Second  Assistant,  Albert  W.  Moore. 
•  Clerk,  Peter  F.  Sullivan. 


Put  in  service  August 
House  on 


James  Slater, 
John  W.  Bannister, 
David  Warren, 
Edward  T.  Ryan, 
Martin  H.  Sullivan. 
John  S.  Harrington, 
William  McCann, 
Alfred  Chausse. 


Substitutes. 
Jeremiah  T.  Haggerty, 
Sylvester  Budlong. 

Driver,  Lewis  G.  Allen. 


Hose,  No.  i. 

Wagon  built  by  Brownell,  Ashley  &  Co.,  and  put  into  service  De- 
cember 1st,  1888. 

Foreman,  David  W.  Howland. 
First  Assistant,  Ciiarles  T.  Maxfield.* 
Second  Assistant,  John  B.  Oliver. 
Clerk,  James  S.  Hathaway. 


Hosemen. 
John  W.  Baker, 
William  H.  Maxfield, 
Aug.  (}.  Mitchell. 


Driver,  William  H.  King. 

Substitute. 
William  Youngf. 


*Elected  Foreman  May  ist,  vice  D.  W.  Howland,  resigned. 


214  history   of  the 

Hose,  No.  2. 

Carriage  built  by  the  Amoskeag  Mtg.  Co.,  Manchester,  N.  H. 
Present  company  organized  December  3d,  1888.  House  on  Weld 
street. 

Foreman,  Samuel  C.  France. 
First  Assistant,  Joseph  Uawson.* 
Second  Assistant,  Mark  Watson. 
Clerk,  George  C.  Hewins. 

Hosemen.  Driver,  Reuben  Taber. 
Stephen  L.  Finnell, 

Frank  E.  Foley,  Substitute. 

Bartholomew  P.  Fury.  William  Wolfenden. 

*Elected  Foreman  September  30th,  vice  S.  C.  France,  transferred  to  Engine  No.  7. 


Steam  Fire  Engine,  No.  7. 

Engine  built  by  Amoskeag  Mfg.  Co.,  Manchester.  N.  H.     Put  into 
service  September  1st.  1890.     House  on  Durfee  street. 

Foreman,  Samuel  C.  France. 
First  Assistant,  James  Slater. 
Second  Assistant,  S.  C.  Lowe. 
Clerk,  Thomas  Mack. 

Hosemen,  W.  Sinister, 

C.  A.  Gallagher,  Wm.  Crocker, 

J.  D.  Manseau,  Maurice  Dahill. 

J.  A.  Ryan, 

Edward  H.  Booth,  Reel  Driver,  E.  H.  Coggeshall. 

James  McDonald,  Stoker,  Andrew  Tripp. 


New  Bedford  Protecting  Society. 
President,  Charles  S.  Kelley. 

Directors. 

Jonathan  Handy,  Charles  M.  Haskell, 

William  A.  Robinson,  Edmund  F.  Maxfield, 

Charles  H.  Lawton,  Edmund  Wood, 

Edward T.  Pierce,  John  H.  Lowe. 

Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Edmond  L.  Wilde. 

Francis  T.  Akin,  Standish  Bourne, 

Gilbert  Allen,  George  E.  Briggs, 

Gideon  Allen,  Jr.,  Thomas  Boardman, 

George  H.  H.  Allen,  Charles  A.  Case, 

O.  Frank  Bly,  R.  C.  P.  Coggeshall, 


NEW  BEDFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 


215 


Clifton  H.  Cornish; 
Edwin  Dews. 
Henry  C.  Denison, 
John  H.  Denison, 
Fred.  C.  Dunham, 
Joseph  Dias, 
Walter  F.  Field, 
Edward  R.  Gardner, 
John  E.  Gibbs, 
Edmund  Grinnell, 
Frank  H.  Gifford, 
Charles  H.  Gifford, 
A.  W.  Hadley, 
Charles  B.  Hillman, 
John  J.  Rowland, 
Charles  M.  Hussey, 
Henry  F.  Hammond, 
Henr\-  Howard, 
Thomas  H.  Knowles, 
G.  D.  Kingman, 
Edgar  R.  Lewis, 
Philander  F.  Manchester, 
Willard  Nye,  Jr., 
Otis  N.  Pierce, 
William  F.  Potter, 
Arthur  E.  Perry, 

Mark  T. 


James  N.  Parker, 
William  H.  Pitman, 
Charles  L.  Paine, 
William  F.  Reed, 
Morgan  Rotch, 
William  A.  Russell, 
Arthur  E.  Robbins, 
Louis  H.  Richardson, 
Gardner  T.  Sanford, 
R.  W.  Swift, 
Frederick  Swift, 
William  T.  Smith, 
Leander  H.  Swift, 
Edward  S.  Shaw, 
Robert  Snow, 
Charles  AL  Taber, 
William  T.  Taylor, 
Henry  W.  Taylor, 
Francis  C.  Terry, 
Alfred  Thornton, 
Alfred  G.  Wilbor, 
William  H.  Willis, 
Horace  Wood, 
Frederick  A.  Washburn, 
Thomas  F.  Wood, 
William  R.  West, 
Vincent. 


Roll  of  the  Fairiiaven  Fire  Department  for   1S90. 


Engineer. 


George  R.  Valentine. 


Chief 

First  Assistant,  John  A.  W.  Burgess 

Second  Assistant,  James  M.  Allen,  Jr. 

Contest  Steam  Fire  Engine  Co.,  No.  3. 

Foreman,  Thomas  R.  Brownell. 
First  Assistant,  Nathaniel  B.  Dunn. 
Second  Assistant,  Wm.  K.  McLane. 
Third  Assistant,  Dennis  D.  Holmes. 
Clerk,  Henry  Spiller. 


Hosemen. 


Wm.  H.  Bryant, 
Thomas  F.  Morse, 
Harry  W.  Delano, 
Joseph  A.  Gifford, 
John  J.  Brownell, 


Henry  Reed, 
Wm.  A.  Hanna, 
Wm.  Asten, 
Oliver  S.  Gurney, 
Silas  H.  Rounsevelle. 


2l6 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Torch  men. 
Thomas  D.  Brownell, 
Frank  E.  Dunn, 
Waher  S.  Harding. 


Engineer,  Charles  F.  Dillingham, 
Stoker,  Walter  L.  Rounsevelle. 
Drivers,  George  L.  Bauldry, 

Edward  Manchester,  Jr. 


Hook  and  Ladder  Co.,  No.  i. 

Foreman,  Davis  Sherman. 

First  Assistant,  John  E.  Thompson. 

Clerk,  Joseph  B.  Peck. 


Joshua  R.  Delano, 
Thomas  W.  Nye, 


George  C.  Mathewson. 
Driver,  Charles  S.  Dunham. 


Protecting  Society. 

President,  Isaac  N.  Babbitt,  Jr. 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  John  T.  Hanna. 
First  Director,  Horace  K.  Nye. 
Second  Director,  Charles  F.  Brownell. 
Third  Director,  Herbert  D.  Burke. 


Herman  H.  Hathaway, 
John  S.  Howland, 

E.  L.  Shurtleff, 
Frank  A.  Hanna, 

F.  A.  Keith, 
B.  Taber,  Jr., 
Louis  N.  Baudoin, 
Fred.  R.  Fish, 
Wm.  Card, 


James  L.  Gillingham, 
Charles  H.  Gifford, 
Lyman  C.  Bauldry, 
George  D.  Hammond, 
Wm.  H.  Taylor, 
Henry  L.  Card, 
Thomas  Dahl, 
David  A.  Kelley, 
Arlington  Craig, 
Charles  D.  Waldron. 


Joseph  K.  Nye, 

Driver  of  Chemical  Wagon,  Benj.  F.  Tripp 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

^j^HE  o-reat  feature  ol'  the  Fourth  ol"  July  celebration  in 
^J&  1890  was  the  contest  between  the  old  time  hand  engines. 
The  ver^  sutrcrestion  of  such  an  affair  served  to  awaken  a  flood 
of  memories  among  the  veterans  in  the  tire  service,  and  to 
arouse  the  curiosity  of  the  present  generation,  many  of  whom 
had  never  seen  a  hand  engine  in  operation.  The  weeks  pre- 
ceding the  natal  dav  were  busv  ones  for  the  firemen  who  w^ere 
perfecting  arrangements  and  testing  the  hand  engines  that  had 
been  secured  for  the  contest. 

The  Cornelius  Rowland  Co.,  No.  4,  obtained  the  Relief, 
No.  5,  of  Fairhaven. 

The  City  Committee  secured  the  Young  Mechanic,  No,  6, 
of  Mattapoisett,  and  the  adherents  of  this  famous  machine 
were  glad  to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  to  work  once 
more  on  their  favorite  engine  of  the  past. 

The  Hancock  Engine  Co.,  No.  9,  of  Acushnet,  were  to 
handle  their  own  machine. 

The  Fairhaven  Veteran  Firemen's  Association  secured  the 
Mazeppa,  No.  3,  from  Provincetown. 

The  Providence  Veteran  Firemen's  Association  with  their 
famous  hand  engine,  Gaspee,  No.  9,  were  the  special  guests 
of  the  city. 

A  good  natured  but  vigorous  rivalry  was  developed  from 
this  combination  of  organizations,  and  it  gave  spice  to  the  trial 
on  the  rnorning:  of  the  orlorious  fourth. 

A  procession  was  formed  at  10  o'clock  on  the  square  front- 
ing the  Old  Colony  Station.  The  route  included  Pearl,  Pur- 
chase, Fourth,  Madison,  Sixth,  Market,  and  Pleasant  streets. 
I  give  the  names  of  the  firemen  who  took  part  in  the  afiair  and 
marched  in  the  line. 


2l8  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Mounted  Police. 

HilPs  Band,  George  Hill,  leader,  25  men. 

Committee.  Judges. 

E.  C.  Gardiner,  C.  S.  Ashley, 

W.  H.  Rankin,  R.  C.  P.  Coggeshall, 

W.  G.  Kirschbaum.  L.  B.  Ellis. 

Chief  Marshal,  Fredk.  Macy. 

Aids —  Loring  T.  Parlow.  Pliny  B.  Sherman,  Augustus  A.  Wood,  and 

Hugh  McDonald. 

Hancock  Engine  Co.,  No.  9. 

Foreman,  John  A.  Russell. 

First  Assistant,  Francis  P.  Washburn. 

Second  Assistant,  Joseph  W.  Spooner. 

Clerk,  Allen  Russell,  Jr. 
George  W.  Randall,  Eli  W.  Reed, 

Lemuel  A.  Washburn,  Andrew  B.  Grinnell,  Jr., 

James  A.  Wilbour.  John  Sylvia, 

William  T.  Gifford,  George  W.  Hawes, 

Israel  H.  Peckham,  Herbert  M.  Spooner, 

John  G.  Whalon,  John  F.  Parker, 

William  P.  Reed,  Nathan  C.  Briggs, 

John  G.  Dawson,  James  Haskins, 

Albert  K.  Pool,  Job  T.  Haskins, 

Richard  (^rinnell,  Leonard  R.  Reed, 

Thomas  Hersom,  Jr.,  -Allen  Briggs, 

Frederick  Bowles,  Edwin  F.  Morton. 

William  Ward, 

Hancock  Hand  Engine,  No.  9. 

Young  Mechanic  Veterans, 

with  guests  from  Columbian,  No.  5,  Oregon,  No.  11,  Pioneer  H.  &  L 

Co.,  No.  I,  and  Zachariah  Hillman  Steam  Fire  Engine  Co.,  No.  5. 

Captain,  Freeman  C.  Luce. 

First  Assistant,  William  H.  Sherman. 

Second  Assistant,  Nathan  B.  Gifford. 

Clerk,  Haile  R.  Luther. 
Frederick  Macy,  Charles  W.  Dyer, 

E.  B.  Macy,  Benj.  F.  Lewis, 

Henry  B.  Almy,  Charles  W.  Jones, 

William  B.  Allen,  Thomas  Forbes, 

William  Oesting,  Joseph  C  Forbes, 

Henry  Southwick,  Henry  K.  Jones, 

James  W.  Lawrence,  Josiah  Macy,  Jr., 

A.  H.  Hillman,  Clarfaus  Vansant, 

Joseph  W.  Lavers,  Charles  H.  Underwood, 

Michael  Cannavan,  T.  C.  Baker, 

N.  B.  Mayhew,  James  A.  Lewis, 

George  Bumpus,  Samuel  H.  Mitchell, 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  2I9 

Abraham  R.  Luscomb,  Daniel  Ripley, 

Warren  W.  Parker,  David  W.  Holmes, 

Seth  J.  Sampson,  William  A.  Russell, 

Ira  S.  Negus,  James  G.  Harding, 

William  McKim,  (jeorge  P.  Reed, 

W.  (t.  Dunham,  P.  G.  Thompson, 

L.  T.  Parlow,  Isaac  W.  Benjamin, 

Eben  J.  Kempton,  Edward  A.  Sowle, 

Thomas  Myers,  C.  F.  Smith, 

George  H.  Cook,  L.  E.  xMilliken, 

Charles  C.  Gilford,  David  L.  Hathaway, 

Stephen  E.  Parker,  Rufus  H.  EUis, 

Wm.  Rounsville,  E.  Kempton  Peirce, 

John  R.  Linton,  Edward  C.  Spooner, 

H.  M.  (jitford,  John  Downey, 

J.  T.  Burbank,  Joseph  H.  Lawrence. 

Young  Mechanic  Engine  Company,  No.  6,  of  Mattapoisett : 

Gideon  P.  Barlow,  Jonathan  M.  Clark, 

Charles  H.  Hiller,  Ellis  L.  JVIendall, 

Edwin  P.  Gifford,  Melvin  Harriman, 

Abner  Harlow,  Charles  H.  Robinson, 

Charles  A.  BoUes,  Edwin  F.  Barstow, 

Arthur  T.  Hammond,  Melvin  O.  Downing, 

Ezra  Bridgham,  George  Downing, 

Anthony  S.  Wilber,  William  F.  Holmes. 

Young  Mechanic  Hand  E^ngine,  No.  6,  of  Mattapoisett. 

Young  Mechanic  Juniors, 
in  charge  of  Second  Assistant  Robert  Allen,  of  Frederick  Macy  Steam 

Engine  Co.,  No.  6: 
Captain,  Robert  E.  Allen. 
First  Assistant,  Henry  M.  Whalon. 
Second  Assistant,  Ernest  P.  Hammond. 
Clerk,  William  H.  Allen. 
Frank  L.  Hathaway,  Otto  A.  P.  Benton, 

Harry  M.  Grey,  James  W.  Gleason, 

Herbert  Apsey,  Harry  L.  Hathaway. 

Miniature  Model  of  Young  Mechanic  Engine,  No.  6. 

Glenwood  Band  of  Taunton,  W.E.  Livesey,  leader,  26  men. 

Providence    Veteran   Firemen's  Association,    Edwin    Hall,   President, 

70  men,  non-uniformed  men  in  charge  of  B.  J.  Cornell,  marshal, 

and  uniformed  men  in  charge  of  John  H.  Kinyon,  foreman. 

Vice  Presidents, 
John  H.  Kinyon,  W.  I.  Williams, 

James  B.  Bufifum,  Edward  Havens. 

Albert  C.  Winsor,  Secretary. 
John  K.  Oakes,  ist  Assistant.       Pembroke  S.  Eddy,  2d  Assistant. 

Benjamin  J.  Cornell,  Marshal. 


220 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Hosemen, 
Chris.  B.  Little,  Chas.  H.  (ireene, 

Geo.  S.  Bamford,  Samuel  A.  Brightman, 

Jacob  L.  Myers, 

Benjamin  W.  Cole,  Torch. 

Joseph  Bradbury,  Banner. 

Ernest  Warner,  Colors. 

James  McCord,  Hydrant. 


Lewis  (].  Messenger 


James  S.  Allen, 
Edward  Atkinson, 
Oscar  Bender, 
William  N.  Bucklin, 
John  Church, 
Pardon  G.  GofF, 
George  O.  Gorton. 
Daniel  Grant, 
Henry  T.  Hall, 
Charles  A.  Henley, 
Josiah  Hill, 
John  Howland, 
Charles  Gardiner, 
Ira  D.  Kelley, 
James  Kennedy, 
C.  G.  Kranich, 
P.  A.  Hern, 
Clarence  Niles, 
C.  L.  Nye, 
K.  T.  Lewis, 
Frank  H.  Patt. 
Darius  Pinkham, 
Albert  AL  Read, 
Alpheus  Reed, 
William  H.  Shepard, 
Benjamin  W.  Snow, 
John  E.  Spencer, 
William  Sprague, 
William  H.  Sprague, 


Samuel  W.  Thurston,  and 
Master  Arthur  as  "Young; 
Mose,'" 

Charles  H.  Worsley, 

A.  A.  Gray, 

John  Curtiss, 

Lewis  Peckham, 

W.  R.  Holmes. 

Samuel  G.  Read, 

William  E.  Smith, 

William  H.  Reynolds^ 

Palmer  C.  Thurston, 

William  H.  Aldrich, 

William  C.  Almy, 

Eidward  T.  Angell, 

James  L  Mason, 

James  L.  Warner, 

Charles  Harwood» 

Charles  Pay, 

William  Smith, 

G.  O.  Westcott, 

Caleb  B.  West, 

Albion  Rounds, 

C.  E.  Edmands, 

Daniel  O'Brien, 

Abner  E.  Claflin, 

Charles  Hill, 

Henry  E.  Pearce, 

John  Wareham, 


Joseph  West. 
Gaspee  Engine,  No.  9,  of  Providence. 
F.  W.  Mosher,  Drum  Major. 

Musical  Exchange  Band,  D.  J.  Sullivan,  leader,  21  men. 

Fairhaven  Veteran  Firemen's  Association,   F.   R.   F.    Harrison,   presi- 
dent. 35  men,  with  members  of  Frederick  Macy  Company 


as  guests. 


Foreman,  J.  W.  Lawrence. 
First  Assistant,  F.  R.  F.  Harrison. 
Second  Assistant,  John  F.  Sullivan. 
Director  of  Stream,  William  J.  Marr 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


231 


Suction  Hosemen,  Joseph  W.  Cook,  Fred.  Rounsville,  George  Rumpus. 

Leading  Hosemen, 


A.  G.  Bralev, 

N.  LeB.  Shurtleff, 

A.  Sisson, 

L.  M.  Baudoin, 

George  Carpenter. 

Levin  Morse, 
M.  Miller, 
T.  Croacher, 
J.  Paull, 
C.  LeBarron, 
C.  (iifford, 
W.  Gififord, 
Burt  Akin, 
William  Marshall, 
E.  Wilkie, 
C.  K.  Wood, 
J.  L.  Ballon, 
Fred.  Nelson. 
Abm.  Hammond, 
Charles  Bowen, 
Archie  McFlynn, 
Walter  S.  Wood, 
George  Baylies, 
Fred.  Weston, 
John  Clarkson, 
J.  McDonald, 


John  Fish, 
(ieorge  W.  Parker, 
(ieorge  A.  Jenney, 
John  Stone, 
Albert  Williams, 
Horace  Saunders. 

James  Corson, 
Joseph  Delano, 
William  Sawyer, 
W.  Pierce, 
William  Howland, 
S.  Shaw, 
A.  Westgate,  Jr., 
George  Quirk, 
Robert  N.  Allen, 
W.  Almond, 
T.  W.  O^Neil, 
Charles  E.  Allen, 
Thomas  Albert, 
D.  McErenerv, 
Phil.  Russell,' 
Henry  M.  Mosher, 
Dan'l  Mehan, 
F.  A.  Hanna, 
W.  C.  Gilford, 
F.  McKenzie, 
Joseph  Donaghy. 


Mazeppa  Engine,  No.  3,  of  Provincetown. 

Co.  E.  Fife,  Drum  and  Bugle  Corps,  C.  J.  Hogan,  leader,  15  men. 

Cornelius  Howland  Engine  Co.,  No.  4,   Foreman,  James  J.   Donaghy, 

Volunteers,  Guests  and  Members. 
Foreman,  Roland  W.  Snow. 
Captain  of  Trial,  Alonzo  V.  Jason. 
Director  of  Stream.  William  A.  (iibbs. 
Pipemen,  Charles  A.  Card,  John  H.  Backus. 
Suction  Hoseman,  James  AI.  Tripp. 
Wm.  E.  Watson,  Jr.,  "  James  J.  Donaghy, 

Benjamin  F.  Hinckley,  Charles  S.  Wing, 

Edgar  S.  Gilbert,  Henry  J.  Marshall, 

Frank  C.  Jennings,  Leander  Reed, 

John  W.  Donaghy,  Edwin  F.  Tripp, 

Spencer  B.  Green,  Samuel  Watson,  2d, 

Wm.  C.  Kennedy. 

Guests. 

Samuel  J.  Russell, 
Paul  W.  Wing, 


William  Gleason, 
Edwin  B.  (^ray. 


222 


HISTORY    OF    THE 


Harry  S.  Hutchinson, 
Wm.  Carroll, 
F.  N.  Hall. 
Orrick  Smalley,  Jr., 
Mark  T.  Vincent, 
Abram.  Matthews, 
J.  Roland  Macy, 
Isaac  L.  Ashley, 
Charles  Sampson, 
C.  J.  Khanser, 
Henry  Spiller, 
Thomas  Brown, 
Sydney  Smith, 
Charles  T.  Ennis, 
Ansel  Blossom, 
Henry  Reed, 
William  H.  Bryant, 
William  Hanna, 
William  Asten, 
Samuel  Gurney, 
John  I.  Bryant, 
M.  P.  Whitfield, 
Joseph  C.  Omey, 
Charles  Manchester, 
George  S.  Bucklin. 
George  H.  (iibbs, 
John  Gifford, 
Harry  Brightman, 
John  Davis, 
Charles  Johnson, 
Charles  Delano, 
John  Marshall, 
Daniel  J.  McDonald, 
John  B.  Peckham, 
Frank  N.  Lincoln, 
John  W.  Frazier, 
William  Rooks, 
W.  K.McLane, 
Nat.  B.  Dunn, 
W.  J.  Gifford, 
Thomas  R.  Brownell, 
Edward  D.  Francis, 

Charles  B. 


William  Bowie, 
Harry  Delano, 
Fred.  Vinal, 
John  Sheffield, 
John  Crussell, 

D.  D.  Holmes, 
S.  H.  Rounsvill, 
Martin  J.  Galvin, 
Walter  Brownell, 
Frank  Bowman, 
Bert  Thomas, 
Zach  C.  Dunham, 
Henry  C.  Swain, 
Charles  Baker, 
Benj.  W.  Jones, 
Sylvester  Paul, 
Wm.  Ryan, 
Henry  J.  Kirwin, 
Fred.  P.  Coe, 
John  C.  Emery, 
John  B.  Jones, 
Edward  S.  Baker, 
Walter  J.  Kirwin, 
Fred.  Thean, 

O.  Frank  Bly, 
Jos.  B.  Peck, 
Wm.  L.  Bly, 
Benj.  F.  Drew, 
Fred.  Dunham, 
J.  A.  W.  Burgess, 
Walter  Andrews, 
J.J.  Brownell, 

E.  Briggs, 
Wm.  P.  Booth, 
Samuel  Whitehead, 
John  H.  Deane, 
Crawford  Dunham, 
Courtland  Shaw, 
Henry  Yound, 
George  A.  Stetson, 
Jas.  R.  Denham,  2d, 
Roland  A.  Leonard, 

Riley. 


The  City  Hall  square  and  intersecting  streets  were  crowded 
with  people,  and  the  interest  was  intense  throughout  the  triaL 
Water  was  taken  from  a  trough  located  on  the  corner   of  Wil- 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


223 


Ham  and  Pleasant  streets,  which  fnrnished  an  ample  supply 
from  the  water  mains.  Each  engine  was  given  fifteen  minutes 
in  which  to  take  position,  play  and  retire.  No  restrictions 
were  made  as  to  the  size  of  nozzles  used,  nor  as  to  the  number 
of  men  engfagfed.  Each  engine  could  make  as  many  trials  as 
the  time  limit  allowed.  Positions  were  drawn  by  lot,  and  the 
engines  plaved  in  the  following  order  : 

C^aspee,  No.  9,  of  Providence. 
Mazeppa,  No.  3,  of  Provincetovvn. 
Hancock,  No.  9,  of  Acushnet. 
Young  Mechanic,  No.  6,  Mattapoisett. 
Relief,  No.  5,  of  Fairhaven. 

i\s  the  Providence  firemen  rolled  their  engine  into  position, 
they  were  greeted  with  cheers  ;  and  when  the  "click,  click" 
of  the  brakes  announced  that  the  trial  had  begun,  the  people 
were  loud  in  their  manifestations  of  enthusiasm.  The  veteran 
firemen  were  reminded  of  the  good  old  days,  and  they  stood 
about    the   Gaspee,   watching   everv   movement  with   interest. 


The  boys  of  the  city,  and  there  was  a  large  delegation  of  them 
present,  filled  every  space  of  standing  room  near  the  engines. 
They  ornamented  the  electric  poles,  fences  and  sheds  which 
gave  a  view  of  the  contest.  When  the  Gaspees,  in  response 
to  the  vigorous  orders  of  First  Assistant  John  K.  Oakes,  who 
directed  their  movements  from  a  position  on  the  tower,  began 


224  HISTORY    OF    THE 

to  "break  her  down  "  in  earnest,  the  effect  on  the  throng  was 
electric.  They  gave  expression  to  their  feeHngs  in  tnmultuous 
shouts  and  huzzas.  The  pipemen  directed  the  streams,  deliv- 
ered through  150  feet  of  hose,  to  the  north  on  Pleasant  street. 
After  repeated  trials  it  w^as  found  that  the  engine  had  played 
211  feet,  1 1  J- inches,  through  a  i^  inch  nozzle.  It  was  con- 
ceded that  the  Gaspee  might  have  made  a  better  record  but  for 
an  unfortunate  accident  in  breaking  one  of  the  working  bars. 
The  Gaspees  retired,  amid  cheers  of  the  multitude  for  their 
plucky  performance. 

The  Fairhaven  Veteran  Firemen's  Association  brought  up 
their  engine,  Mazeppa,  No.  3,  of  Provincetown,  and  received 
a  hearty  welcome.  Capt.  Lawrence  controlled  the  move- 
ments of  the  engine,  and  William  J.  Marr  directed  the  stream. 
The  tests  were  made  with  the  vigor  and  snap  that  veterans 
know  so  well  how  to  use  on  such  occasions.  The  Cape 
Cod  engine  showed  that  it  was  still  in  prime  condition, 
for  it  threw  a  stream  198  feet,  i^  inches.  The  announce- 
ment of  this  result  was  greeted  with  applause  as  the  Mazeppa 
was  withdrawn. 

Now  came  the  opportunity  tor  the  Hancock,  No.  9,  the  onlv 
active  representative  of  the  past ;  a  good,  reliable  Agnew  ma- 
chine, the  exact  type  and  stvle  of  the  engines  of  the  fire  de- 
partment in  the  fifties.  Would  my  reader  like  to  know  how 
the  Ohio,  No.  3,  Philadelphia,  No.  7,  Franklin,  No.  10,  and 
Oregon,  No.  11,  looked  in  those  times,  the  memories  of  which 
are  called  up  by  the  events  of  the  day  ?  Let  me  suggest  that 
he  take  a  good  look  at  the  Llancock  as  the  Acusl)net  firemen 
roll  it  into  position.  Let  his  imagination  put  on  name,  num- 
ber and  paint  of  the  proper  color,  and  he  may  then  see  a  good 
representation  of  any  of  the  above  named  machines.  But  the 
brakes  begin  to  move,  and  we  must  observe  what  is  to  be  done. 
Three  times  in  succession  the  Acushnets  put  in  their  best  work 
and  a  stream  of  189  feet,  through  a  ^  inch  nozzle,  is  obtained. 

The  appearance  of  the  Young  Mechanic,  No.  6,  of  Matta- 
poisett,  was  signalized  by  a  most  enthusiastic  reception.     The 


XEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMEXT.  2  2^ 

engine  was  drawn  into  position  by  a  company  of  veteran  fire- 
men, who  had  1)een  attached  to  it  in  the  littles,  when  the  engine 
was  a  part  of  oiu"  own  fire  department.  The  working  force 
was  greatly  strengthened  by  the  M^ittapoisett  company,  and  by 
several  Columbians,  who,  forgetting  their  old  rivalrv,  rendered 
effective  service  on  the  brakes.  This  episode  was  one  of  the 
most  deliijhtful  occurrences  of  the  dav-  The  en<i"ine  was  under 
the  management  of  Chief  Engineer  Macv,  whose  early  expe- 
riences were  associated  with  it.  Capt.  Freeman  C.  Luce  had 
charge  of  the  general  operations,  and  William  H.  vSherman 
served  in  his  former  capacity  as  pipeman.  The  tests  resulted 
in  a  stream  of  201  feet,  io|  inches.  It  was  an  interesting  fea- 
ture of  the  trial  to  observe  the  vim  and  energy  displayed  by 
the  grav-haired  veterans  as  thev  responded  to  the  connnands 
of  Chief  Macv  to  "Wake  her!  Shake  her!"  It  was  evident 
that  the  Yoimg  Alechanic  had  made  an  exhibition  highly  satis- 
factory to  the  company  ;  and  this,  as  it  subsequently  proved, 
served  to  put  a  new  valuation  upon  the  engine  in  the  town  of 
Mattapoisett.      It  was  not  for  sale  on  and  after  July  4,  1S90. 

Next,  and  last  on  the  programme,  came  the  Relief,  No.  5, 
of  Fairhaven,  manned  by  the  Cornelius  Rowlands  and  their 
army  of  adherents.  It  was  apparent  from  the  business-like 
methods  adopted  by  the  company  that  they  had  made  careful 
preparations  for  the  event,  and  that  they  had,  by  diligent  prac- 
tice, learned  just  how  to  get  the  most  out  of  the  discarded 
machine  of  Fairhaven.  Alonzo  V.  Jason  directed  the  work- 
ing of  the  engine,  William  A.  Gibbs  directed  the  stream,  and 
J.  H.  Backus  and  Charles  H.  Card  served  as  pipemen.  The 
repeated  tests  were  conducted  with  great  spirit,  and  on  the 
third  trial  the  stream  measured  216  feet,  £^-^-  inches.  This  won 
the  first  prize  and  with  it  the  cordial  congratulations  of  every- 
body. The  bands  played,  the  crowd  cheered,  and  the  boys 
shouted  themselves  hoarse.  A  banquet  was  served  to  the  vis- 
iting firemen  in  City  Hall,  after  which  the  prizes  were  distrib- 
uted.     Thus  closed  the  hand  engine  trial  of  1890. 


Allen  W.  Tinkham,  Foreman  No.  i. 
James  J.  Donaghy,  "         No.  4. 

George  W.  Parker,  "         No.  6. 


George  M.  Crapo,  Foreman  No.  2. 
Charles  C.  Gifford,  "  No.  5. 
Samuel  C.  France,         "         Nn.  7. 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  227 

In  March,  1890,  George  B.  Russell,  who  had  for  several 
years  faithfully  served  the  Departmeut  as  engineer  of  the 
Progress  Engine  Company,  No.  2,  died  after  a  long  illness. 
His  funeral  was  attended  by  the  entire  Fire  Department.  Al- 
bert W.  Taber  is  now  filling  the  position  of  engineer. 

Aug.  3,  1890,  the  Z.  L.  Bicknell  Hose  Co.,  No.  2,  of  East 
Weymouth,  visited  our  city  and  were  the  guests  of  Progress 
Engine  Co.,  No.  2.  Mindful  of  the  generous  entertainment 
accorded  them  on  their  visit  to  East  Weymouth  in  1889,  the 
Progress  Co.  arranged  a  liberal  series  of  festivities,  which 
were  highlv  enjoyed  by  their  guests. 

Steamer  No.  7,  built  by  the  Amoskeag  Manufacturing  Co., 
was  put  in  commission  September  i,  1890.  It  is  located  in  a 
new  house  on  Durfee  street,  built  expressly  for  its  accommo- 
dation, and  is  thoroughly  equipped  with  all  the  modern 
conveniences  for  fire  service.  On  the  second  fioor  of  the 
building  is  a  fineh  furnished  hall  for  the  use  of  the  company. 

Wednesday,  Oct.  i^,  1890,  was  observed  as  Muster  Day  bv 
the  Fire  Department.  The  Cit}'  Government  had  appropri- 
ated $500  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  occasion,  and  firemen 
and  citizens  entered  heartily  into  the  festivities  of  the  day. 
The  weather  was  bris^ht  and  sunnv,  the  streets  were  in  fine 
marching  condition,  and,  with  a  bracing  northwest  wind, 
made  the  parade  with  which  the  event  opened  one  of  keen 
enjoyment  to  all. 

At  ii.i^  A.  M.  the  following  procession  moved  from  Citv 
Hall  square,  through  William,  Water,  Union,  Sixth,  Madison, 
County,  Hillman  and  Pleasant  streets,  passing  in  review  before 
the  Citv  Government  at  the  Library  building,  thence  through 
Union,  North  Sixth  and  Market  streets  : 

Order  of  March. 

Police  skirmishers  Wing  and  Moynan. 

Chief  Engineer,  Frederick  Macy. 

Assistant  Engineers,  Loring  T.  Parlow,  Pliny  B.  Sherman, 

Augustus  A.  \Vood,  Hugh  McDonald. 

Chiefs  wagon. 

Hilfs  New  Bedford  Band,  26  men,  George  Hill,  leader. 


Charles  T.  Maxfield,  Foreman  Hose  No.  i. 
LysanderW.  Davis,  Foreman  H.&  T..  No.  i. 
Daniel  D.  Briggs,        -       Siipt.  Fire  Alarm. 


Joseph  Dawson,  -  Foreman  Hose  No.  2. 
Henr^-  W.  Kenyon,  Foreman  H.  I't  L.  No.  2. 
John  A.  Russell,  Foreman  Hancock,  No.  9 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  229 

Hancock  Engine  Co.,  No.  9,  22  men,  John  A.  Russell,  foreman 
Hose  Co.,  No.  i,  9  men.  Charles  T.  Maxfield,  foreman. 
Cornelius  Howland  Engine  Co..  No.  4,  20  men,  James  J.  Donaghy, 

foreman. 

Onward  Engine  Co.,  No.  1,21  men,  Allen  W.  Tinkham,  foreman. 

Hook  and  Ladder  Co.,  No.  i,  16  men.  Lysander  \V.  Davis,  foreman. 

Musical  Exchange  Band,  20  men,  Daniel  J.  Sullivan,  leader. 

Progress  Engine  Co.,  No.  2,  18  men.  George  M.  Crapo,  foreman. 

Frederick  Macy  Engine  Co.,  No.  6,  18  men,  George  W.  Parker, 

foreman. 

Engine  Company  No.  7.  18  men,  Samuel  C.  France,  foreman. 

Hook  and  Ladder  Co.,  No.  2,  14  men,  Henry  W.  Kenyon,  foreman. 

Hose  Co.,  No.  2,  8  men,  Joseph  Dawson,  foreman. 

Zachariah  Hillman  Engine  Co.,  No.  5,  20  men,  Charles  C.  Gifford, 

foreman. 


All  along  the  route  the  buildings  were  decorated,  and  crowds 
"of  people  lined  the  sidewalks  as  the  fire  companies  marched 
by  to  the  inspiring  music  of  the  bands. 

The  contest  for  prizes  took  place  at  the  conclusion  ot  the 
parade,  Messrs.  W.  H.  Sherman,  Freeman  C.  Luce,  Edward 
vS.  Haskell,  Edgar  B.  Hammond  and  D.  \V.  Wilson  serving 
as  judges.  The  first  trial  was  between  Hook  and  Ladder 
Companies  Nos.  i  and  2.  Thev  were  to  run  from  the  corner 
of  Market  and  Pleasant  streets  to  Mechanics  lane,  raise  a 
30-foot  ladder  against  the  Odd  Fellows'  building,  and  send  a 
man  to  the  top  round.  The  time  was  taken  from  the  firing  of 
a  siofnal  o-un.      The  following-  were  the  results  : 

Hook  and  Ladder,  No.  1,-35  ^"-  seconds. 
Hook  and  Ladder,  No.  2,  -   31  1-4  seconds. 

The  second  trial  was  between  Hose  Companies,  Nos.  i  and 
2,  and  Hancock,  No.  9.  The  latter  used  the  reel  attached  to 
their  engine.  The  test  was  to  rui>  from  Market  street  to  the 
hydrant  at  tlie  corner  of  Pleasant  and  William  streets,  connect, 
and  reel  ofl'  i  ^o  feet  of  hose  ;  time  to  be  taken  from  the  firing 
of  the  signal  gini  to  the  moment  when  water  came  through 
the  nozzles.      The  following  were  the  results  : 

Hose  Co.,  No.  i,      32  1-4  seconds. 
Hose  Co.,  No.  2,  42  seconds. 

Hancock,  No.  9,  29  seconds. 


230  HISTORY    OF    THE 

At  this  point  a  clambake  was  sened  at  the  Manhattan 
House  to  the  City  Government,  Fire  Department  and  invited 
guests. 

Then  followed  the  contest  between  the  steamers.  The}^ 
were  to  play  through  two  lines  of  hose  of  1^0  feet  each  with  a 
Siamese  connection  and  a  if  inch  nozzle.  Each  steamer  was 
allowed  100  lbs.  pressure,  and  Supt.  D.  D.  Briggs  adjusted  the 
safety  vahe  to  that  point  in  each  case  ;  30  minutes  were  al- 
lowed for  each  trial.  The  following  results  were  reported  by 
the  board  of  judges  : 

Progress,  No.  2,  276  feet,  i  inch. 

Cornelius  Rowland,  No.  4,  270  ft.,  8  inches. 
Engine  No.  7,  262  teet,  103-4  inches. 

Onward,  No.  i,  251  feet,  10  inches. 

Frederick  Macy,  No.  6,  216  ft..  2  1-4  inches. 

The  Zacliariah  Hillman  was  out  of  order  and  did  not  enter 
the  contest.  A  grand  ball  in  Co.  E's  armorv,  in  aid  of  the 
Firemen's  Mutual  Aid  Societv,  closed  the  festivities  of  the 
day. 

One  of  the  saddest  events  in  the  historv  of  our  Fire  Depart- 
ment was  tlie  death  of  Edward  C.  Spooner,  a  member  of 
Progress  Engine  Co.,  No.  2.  Mr.  Spooner  lived  in  the  family 
of  Mr.  William  B.  Bird,  107  Cedar  street.  On  Tuesday  even- 
ing, Oct.  14,  1890,  while  at  the  supper  table,  he  was  startled 
bv  a  loud  explosion  in  the  tenement  above.  Hastily  proceed- 
ing upstairs  and  entering  the  kitchen,  a  frightful  scene  greeted 
his  eyes.  There,  in  the  middle  of  the  room,  stood  his  neigh- 
bor, Mrs.  William  L.  Cobb,  completely  enveloped  in  flames. 
A  can  of  petroleum  had  exploded  in  her  hand,  and  the  con- 
tents was  distributed  on  her  garments  and  on  the  carpet,  which 
cjuickly  ignited  and  were  burning  fiercely  when  Mr.  Spooner 
entered  the  room.  Seizing  Mrs.  Cobb  in  his  arms  and  shut- 
tino-  his  eves  and  mouth,  to  shield  tiiem  from  the  fire,  he 
bravely  carried  her  down  stairs  to  the  room  below.  A  bed- 
quilt   thrown   about    her  body    soon    extinguished   the   flames, 


NEW   i?i:df()kd   firk   dp:pakt.mkxt. 


231 


and  she  was  then  removed  to  tlie  residence  of  Mr.  Squire  A. 
Giflbrd,  across  the  street.  Everything  was  done  to  alleviate 
the  sufferings  of  the  unfortunate  woman,  but  without  avail. 
She  died  at  10  o'clock.  Mr.  Spooner  was  shockingly  burned 
about  the  head  and  hands,  and  his  sufferings  were  intense  dur- 


l'^^,*ii^«f¥A«"»!W*::>^-  ■  ■ 


EDWARD  C.  SPOONER. 


ing  the  weary  days  that  followed.  He  received  the  lo\'ing  care 
of  his  brother  firemen  and  friends,  and  nothing  was  left  un- 
done to  relieve  him  in  his  distress  ;  but  he  passed  away  on  the 
morning  of  Nov.  i.  Forgetful  of  himself,  he  sought  to  save 
the  life  of  another  :   and  liis  name   will    2"o   down   into   history 


232  HISTORY    OF    THE 

among  those  of  the  nolile  men  who  have  sacrificed  themselves 
for  helpless  humanity. 

The  funeral  was  held  in  the  County  street  M.  E.  church, 
Monday  afternoon,  Nov.  3.  Rev.  Charles  W.  Holden,  pastor  of 
the  church,  and  Rev.  Matt.  C.  Julien,  officiated.  The  chancel 
was  filled  with  fioral  tributes  from  the  family  and  fire  com- 
panies. The  fire  alarm  l^ells  tolled  mournfulh ,  as  the  Fire 
Department  and  a  delegation  from  the  Street  Department,  of 
which  Mr.  Spooner  had  been  a  member,  accompanied  Iw  the 
Musical  Exchange  Band,  escorted  the  remains  to  the  church. 
The  services  were  of  a  most  impressi^•e  character  and  formed 
a  worthy  tribute  to  the  memory  of  one  who  had  been  faithful 
unto  death.  The  burial  took  place  at  Acushnet,  the  escort  ac- 
companying the  funeral  cortege  to  Weld  street  on  Acushnet 
avenue.  Here  the  firemen  were  drawn  up  in  line  and,  with 
bowxd  heads  and  lifted  caps,  bade  farewell  to  the  dead  hero. 
All  the  companies  were  then  dismissed  except  those  of  Pro- 
gress, No.  2,  and  Hancock,  No.  9.  The  following  graphic  ac- 
count of  the  interment,  written  by  Mr.  Charles  S.  Kellev,  is 
taken  from  the  Eveiiiiio-  Stamiard : 

'•Chief  Alacy,  Assistant  Hugh  McDonald,  and  the  President  of  the  Pro- 
tecting Society,  the  members  of  the  two  companies,  the  delegation 
from  the  street  department  and  the  band  boarded  four  horse  cars, 
which  had  been  provided  for  them,  and  proceeded  to  Lund's  Corner, 
arriving  there  when  it  was  quite  dark.  Lighted  lanterns  were  procured 
from  the  house  of  Engine  No.  9,  and,  alighting  from  the  horse  cars, 
the  procession  formed  and  proceeded  on  its  way  in  the  darkness  to 
Pine  Grove  Cemetery,  a  half  mile  distant,  on  the  Tarkiln  Hill  road,  the 
band  playing  dirges.  The  procession  passing  between  the  open  gates 
of  the  cemetery,  upon  the  two  posts  of  which  were  hung  lighted  lan- 
terns, but  poorly  dispersing  the  intense  darkness,  the  quiet  broken 
only  by  the  tap,  tap  of  the  muffled  drum  and  the  tramp  of  the  men, 
added  solemnity  to  the  occasion.  At  the  grave  the  scene  was  even 
more  impressive  and  touching.  The  firemen  were  draw  n  up  in  line  and, 
by  the  light  of  three  or  four  lanterns,  the  remains  w-ere  removed  from 
the  hearse  and  deposited  by  the  roadside,  firemen  with  lanterns  being  at 
the  head  and  foot  of  the  casket.  The  carria2;escontainintr  the  mourners 
passed  by,  the  bearers  lowered  the  remains  into  the  grave,  the  Chief 
Engineer  stepped  forward,  cast  a  flower  into  the  grave  upon  the  casket, 
and,  with  trembling  voice,  .said  "Farewell  Comrade."   He  was  followed 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPAKr.MKNT.  233 

by  the  members  of  Progress,  No.  2.  wlio,  each  casting  in  a  Hower,  said 
feeUngly,  "P'arewell  brother, "''  and  the  President  of  the  Protecting  So- 
ciety, who,  dropping  in  a  flowei',  said  "  F^irewell  Hra\e  Fireman.'''  A 
few  drops  of  rain  fell,  as  if  the  heavens  would  also  weep,  and  the  fire- 
men march  sadly  away  into  the  darkness.  It  was  at  about  the  same 
hour  that  the  brave  fireman  carried  the  woman  from  tlie  flames  and 
therebv  lost  his  life.'' 


LINES 

In  memory  of  Euwakd  C.  Si'0(1NEK,  a  member  of  the 

New  Bedford  Fire  Department,  who  died 

Nov.  I.  1890,  aged  55  years: 

Oh  I  ne'er  ai^ain  the  ••fire  alarm  '"  will  wake  him. 
His  slumbers  now  are  peaceful  and  secure. 

The  jars  of  earth  no  more  ha\"e  power  to  shake  bini. 
Nor  worldl\-  snares  his  footsteps  to  allure. 

Another's  life  to  save  he  gave  his  own,* 

Thus,  with  the  good  of  every  land  and  clime, 

His  soul  from  earth  to  higher  realms  hath  flown. 
The  happy  guerdon  of  an  act  sublime. 

Louder  than  preaching  hath  our  lost  friend  spoken. 
The  "  Good  Samaritan"  he  proved  to  be  ; 

And  gave  to  us  a  far  more  blessed  token 

Of  human  goodness  than  jjoor  words  foresee. 

Safe  in  the  hands  of  Him  who  rules  abo\'e, 
A  martyr  to  the  noble  cause  he  served, 

A  true  exemplar  of  devoted  love, 

Whose  memory  with  the  just  will  Ije  ])reser\ed. 

Nov.   2.    1890.  D.    R. 


*ln  an  interview  with  the  deceased,  during  his  illness,  on  the  writer's  observing  that  he  had 
done  a  noble  deed,  he  feelingly  replied:   "  I  could  nof  help  it." 


CHAPTER    XV. 


^^17 HE  New  I)cdr()rd  \"eteran  Eiremen's  Association,  a  legit- 
XL^'"  iiDate  outii^rowtli  of  the  hand  en^rine  contest  on  the  4th  of 
July,  1890,  was  pernianentlv  organized  on  Monda\'  evening, 
Nov.  10,  1S90.  The  objects  of  the  Association,  as  expressed  in 
the  constitution,  are  to  ''  collect  and  preserve  records,  papers, 
relics  and  savings  jDertaining  to  the  New  Bedford  Fire  Depart- 
ment, and  to  foster  good  will  and  friendlv  intercourse  by  occa- 
sional meetino's."  The  oiiicers  of  the  association,  who  will 
serve  until  the  annual  meeting  in  January,  1891,  are  as 
follows  : 


President,  Charles  S.  Kelley. 
Vice-Presidents,  Frederick  Macy,  James  Delano. 
Directors.  Samuel  C.  Hart,  Leonard  15.  Ellis,  Haile  R.  Luther.  Wil 
liam  G.  Kirschbaum. 

Secretary,  William  G.  Kirschbaum. 
Treasurer,  Haile  R.  Luther. 

The  following-  members  have  been  elected  : 


Charles  S.  Kelle\", 
Samuel  C.  Hart, 
Leonard  B.  Ellis, 
Wm.  (j.  Kirschbaum, 
Haile  R.  Luther, 
Frederick  Macy, 
James  Delano, 
William  i\.  Taber, 
Charles  H.  (iitl^"ord, 
Charles  H.  Lawton, 
Obed  C.  Nye, 
I.  W.  Benjamin, 
Edwin  Dews. 
Charles  S.  Paisler, 
William  Baylies, 
John  P.  Knowles,  2d, 
Augustus  A.  Wood, 
LoriniJ:  T.  Parlow, 


ira  S.  Negus, 
Pardon  G.  Thompson, 
Alfred  IM.  (iifford, 
Thomas  W\  Cook, 
Martin  S.  Nelson, 
Charles  W.  Jones, 
John  Downey, 
James  A.  Lewis. 
Robert  H.  Taber, 
Charles  A.  Case, 
WMlliam  A.  Hamer, 
Charles  E.  Pierce, 
George  T.  Bum  pus. 
S.  H.  Mitchell, 
(ieorge  H.  Giflford, 
David  L.  Hathaway, 
Oliver  P.  Brightman, 
S.  A.  Tripp. 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


235 


James  C.  Hitch, 
E.  C  (iardiiier, 
John  Mathews, 
Jireh  Swift. 
Charles  F.  Smith, 
PhiHp  E.  Colby, 
A.  H.  Akin, 
Edward  A.  Sowle. 
Philip  H.  King, 
J.  H.  Lawrence, 
Thomas  Albert,  Jr.. 
William  L.  Fletcher, 
Charles  P.  Johnson, 
Charles  F.  Briggs, 
Henry  W.  Kenyon, 
Henry  F.  Hammond. 
Arthur  E.  Perr}-, 
Thomas  Wood, 
Willard  Nye,  Jr.. 
Charles  B.  Hillman, 
Francis  P.  \\"ashburn, 
Edmond  L.  Wilde, 
William  H.  Maxfield, 
Stephen  E.  Parker, 
Eugene  R.  Leverett, 
William  G.  Dunham, 
Wyman  D.  Jacobs, 
B.  W.  Harrison, 
John  H.  Lowe, 
Leopold  Bartel, 
James  Ferguson, 
F.  C.  Jennings, 
Augustus  G.  Mitchell, 
Charles  T.  Maxfield, 
Alonzo  V.  Jason, 
Stephen  H.  Shepherd, 
Charles  H.  Delano, 
Frank  Spooner, 
Samuel  C.  France, 
W^illiam  E.  Macomber, 
James  L.  Wilber, 
A.  R.  Luscomb, 
Freeman  C.  Luce, 
Edward  F.  Dahill, 
Henry  M.  Mosher, 
Charles  R.  Cornell, 
John  B.  Oliver, 
Mark  T.  Vincent, 
Charles  W^  Vining, 


Henry  C.  Stubbs, 
Samuel  Watson,  2d, 
E.  C.  Milliken, 
William  T.  Taylor, 
William  R.  Sherman, 
Charles  K.  Wood, 
W.  K.  Wagner, 
William  A.  Church, 
Charles  W.  Dyer, 
J.  J.  P.  Zettick, 
Allen  Russell,  Jr., 
Moses  Dean, 
Robert  T.  Barker, 
Francis  T.  Akin, 
George  H.  Cook, 
John  J.  Howland, 
Nathan  C.  Briggs, 
Andrew  V.  Landers, 
Jesse  Allen, 
W^illiam  H.  Rankin, 
Harry  C.  Jennev, 
N.  H.  Caswell,' 
John  R.  Linton, 
Benjamin  C.  (Graves, 
Amos  F.  Lovejoy, 
J.  Harrington  Sherman, 
William  H.  Sherman, 
Charles  F.  Dean, 
Roland  W.  Snow, 
O.  Frank  Bly, 
David  W.  Howland, 
Charles  M.  Taber, 
Edmund  Grinnell, 
Joseph  W.  Lavers, 
Alexander  H.  Hillman, 
E.  Kempton  Peirce, 
Fred.  H.  Wood, 
Samuel  W.  Mitchell, 
George  S.  Bowen, 
Arthur  E.  Robbins, 
Henry  H.  Fisher, 
James  t{.  Pease, 
H.  M.  Spooner, 
William  A.  Russell, 
Seth  J.  Sampson, 
Joseph  W.  Robertson, 
John  A.  Russell, 
Eugene  H.  Gifford, 
William  B.  Allen, 


236  HISTORY    OF    THE 

B.  F.  King,  Jr..  Amos  W.  Hadley, 

lienjamin  F.  Lewis,  Michael  Canavan, 

Lemuel  W.  Haves. 


It  is  the  purpose  of  the  Association  to  purchase  a  hand  en- 
gine of  the  older  t\pe,  to  furnish  a  hall  for  meetings,  and  to 
adopt  such  methods  of  usefulness  as  shall  put  the  society  on  a 
substantial  basis. 


The  following  is  the  amount  of  losses  by  tire  in  this  cit\  for 
the  past  thirteen  years,  together  with  the  amount  of  insurance  : 


Year. 

Loss. 

Insurance. 

1877, 

$26,063.66 

$21,528.36 

1878. 

28,154.46 

66,025.00 

1879, 

9,163.19 

54.950.00 

1880, 

7.609.13 

49.450.00 

1881. 

26,624.96 

86,979.00 

1882. 

23,169.64 

692.950.00 

18S3. 

17,398.14 

77,450.00 

1884, 

134.729.82 

310.950.00 

1885. 

6.982.41 

148,025.00 

1886. 

26.786.03 

1,108,800.00 

1887. 

45.141.50 

708,150.00 

1888, 

32.881.87 

125.927.00 

1889, 

48.285.71 

182.772.00 

I  have  spoken  of  the  wonderful  intelligence  and  aptitude  of 
the  horses  attached  to  the  steam  department.  Their  training 
partakes  of  the  same  rigid  discipline  that  per\  ades  every  other 
feature  of  the  fire  service.  The  permanent  members  of  the 
department  are  in  reality  what  their  name  suggests.  The  en- 
gineers who  superintend  the  practical  working  of  the  machines, 
the  hostlers,  who  care  for  the  horses,  and  the  drivers,  who 
handle  the  ribl)ons  so  gracefully  and  safely  when  on  a  rapid 
pace  to  the  scenes  of  conflagration,  all  live  in  the  engine- 
houses  and  are  present  day  and  night.  Their  sleeping  rooms 
are  arranged  with  due  regard  to  prompt  response  to  tlie  call  of 
the  alarm  bell.      I  am  tellini;  no  secret  when  I  say  that  so   svs- 


NEW    BEDFORD    FIRE    DEPARTMENT.  337 

tematicallv  ananji^ed  "are  the  details  that  when  the  fireman 
springs  from  liis  l)e(l,  he  lands  in  his  hoots  and  trousers  in  one 
movement,  and  is  down  stairs  attending  to  business  before 
the  first  round  of  three  strokes  has  been  tolled  off.  I  am  as- 
sured this  is  the  rule  and  not  the  exception. 

Have  anv  of  mv  readers  ever  visited  one  of  our  engine 
houses  and  seen  the  practical  working  of  the  wonderful  system 
in  vogue  in  our  department?  If  not,  let  me  invite  you  to  ac- 
company me,  and  you  may  as  well  take  your  friends  along 
with  you.  It  will  not  matter  much  which  one  we  select,  tor 
^ve  shall  be  sure  of  a  courteous  reception  from  any  ol  them. 
Suppose,  howe^•er,  we  go  down  to  the  Frederick  Mac}'  engine 
house  on  Foiuth  street.  This  structure  is  one  of  the  latest 
built,  and  is  well  modelled  for  the  practical  use  of  our  fire 
service.  No  need  of  knocking,  for  the  doors  are  open  wide  in 
the  summer  days.  The  handsome  engine  stands  abreast  of  the 
large  doors,  beside  it  the  hose  reel,  both  brilliant  in  polished 
brass  and  steel.  The  spacious  room  is  as  neat  and  clean  as  a 
parlor.  The  walls  are  finished  in  hard  wood,  and  upon  them 
are  hung  the  telephone  and  other  apparatus  connected  with  the 
fire  seryice.  We  go  upstairs  into  the  hall.  Here  we  find  a 
reception  room  worthy  of  anv  gentleman's  house.  The  walls 
are  of  a  delicate  tint  and  are  hung  with  fine  pictures  ;  Brussels 
carpet  on  the  floor,  handsome  furniture  placed  about  the  room, 
comfortable  ciiairs  inviting  us  to  rest — everything  bears  an  air 
of  refinement  and  good  taste. 

Shall  we  visit  the  stables  where  the  well-drilled  horses  are 
kept.'  From  the  parlor  to  the  stable  I  Well,  yes,  it  is  a 
change,  but  we  want  to  see  the  whole  thing,  so  to  the  stable 
we  will  go.  Down  the  spacious  stairway,  we  cross  to  the  west 
side  and  enter.  And  is  this  the  stable.^  Why,  barring  a  carpet, 
we  might  imagine  it  a  boudoir;  for  the  pet  horses  in  the  stalls 
are  clean,  and  eyerything  is  scrupulously  neat ;  no  fear  of  soiling 
your  clothing  anywhere.  And  the  horses  are  plump,  hand- 
some and  good  natured,  and  the\' answer  to  their  names  by  un- 


238  HISTORY    OF    THE 

mistakable  manifestations  of  intelligence.  Kind  treatment  and 
patient  instruction  have  developed  a  degree  of  intelligence 
truly  wonderful  in  the  horses  of  our  fire  department.  We 
shall  soon  see  an  illustration,  for  we  will  accept  the  courteous 
invitation  to  witness  "ring-ina-  in  an  alarm."  We  take  our 
station  near  the  main  doors,  where  we  mav  better  see  the  oper- 
ations and  give  any  nervous  member  of  our  party  a  chance  to 
escape  up  the  street  if  affrighted  at  the  commotion.  Now» 
listen,  clang  goes  the  gong,  presto  I  the  double  doors  of  the 
stalls  open  instantly,  out  leap — yes,  leap  is  the  word — the  three 
horses.  Without  halter  or  guide  thev  rush  to  their  places  at  the 
pole  of  the  engine  and  shafts  of  the  hose  reel,  take  position 
exactly  under  the  overhanging  harness,  which  at  once  drops 
upon  their  backs,  a  pull  here,  a  strap  fastened  there,  and  the 
drivers  are  on  their  seats,  reins  in  hands.  Doors  all  open, 
out  of  the  house  moves  the  whole  apparatus  with  lightning 
speed,  fires  all  lighted,  clouds  of  black  smoke  rolling  out  of  the 
smoke  stack,  steam  up  in  a  moment,  and  all  in  readiness  for 
instant  work,  all  this  in  18  seconds,  and  frequently  in  less 
time.  And  this  thins'  is  done  in  every  eng-ine  house  at  every 
alarm,  without  fuss,  friction  or  confusion. 

Do  you  wonder  that  we  have  so  few  extensive  fires.'  Is  it 
not  a  rare  thing  to  have  a  fire  extend  beyond  the  building- 
where  it  originated  ?  With  such  promptness  in  response  to 
the  magical  fire  alarm — giving  the  firemen  and  citizens  alike 
correct  information  as  to  the  exact  locality — an  ordinary  fire 
has  little  chance  of  making  headway,  and  if,  by  any  accident, 
it  should  get  a  good  start,  the  entire  resources  of  the  fire  ser- 
vice w^ould  be  quicklv  brought  into  action  and  the  fire  speedily 
extinguished. 

The  fire  alarm  system,  under  the  immediate  care  of  Assist- 
ant Superintendent  D.  D.  Briggs,  has  become  a  most  im- 
portant feature  of  our  fire  service,  and  much  credit  is  due  him 
for  the  perfection  to  which  he  has  brought  it  after  so  man}- 
years  of  faithful  service.      The    Board    of  Engineers,    in   their 


XKW    BEDFORD     FIRE     DEPARTMP:N'J\  239 

last  report,  say  "the  utmost  care  is  observed,  and  the  result  is 
that  the  lines  have  been  ready  to  perform  their  remarkable 
work.  There  are  now  6i  tire  alarm  l^oxes,  35  miles  of  wire, 
5  bell-strikers,  8  15-inch  en<yine-house  gongs,  7  7-incli  engi- 
neer's gongs,  and  three  small  tappers,  operated  b\-  a  battery  of 
191  cups." 

The  telephone  has  also  l)ecome  an  important  feature  in  oiu" 
fire  service.  A  telephonic  comnumication  with  an  engine- 
house  at  anv  time,  day  or  night,  calling  for  immediate  help, 
will  be  answered  by  experienced  firemen,  witli  apparatus  for 
prompt  and  effective  use. 

The  La  France  Hook  and  Ladder  Truck  [see  illustration  on 
page  1 82],  fitted  with  all  the  latest  appliances,  is  anotlier  verv 
useful  arm  of  the  department.  The  extension  ladder,  with 
lever  attachments,  furnishes  readv  facilities  for  reachino"  the 
higfhest  buildinsTS. 

I  have  described  as  best  1  can  all  tlie  important  elements 
which  go  to  make  our  efficient  department,  and  I  have  reserved 
the  closing  lines  to  speak  of  the  commanding  officers  of  the 
whole  service.  It  must  be  frankly  admitted  that  to  Chief 
Macv  and  his  able  and  experienced  assistants  belongs  much 
credit  for  its  present  healthy  condition.  Their  long  service 
has  been  of  great  benefit  to  our  city  ;  and  the  people  of  New 
Bedford  can  feel  assured  that  our  fire  department  has  no 
superior  in  New  England  for  efficiency  and  completeness. 


INDEX, 


For  the  names  of  the  officers  and  members  of  the  fire  companies 
see  rosters  of  the  Department. 


Acorn,  Brig,  125 

Active  Engine  Co.,  No    2,  86 

Acushnet,  No.  4,  t2o 

Acushnet  Cong,  church  fire,  173 

Adams  Engine  Co.,  Salem,  113 

Agnew,  John,  21,  78,  86,  99,  212 

Aiken,  Bartholomew,  5 

Alarms,  False,  90 

Albatross,  Steamer,  fire,  201 

Alden,  John,  15 

Alert,  No.  4,  78,  193 

Allen,  Mrs.  B.  A.,  and  Co.,  186 

Allen,  Frederick  S.,  40 

Allen,  Jethro,  14 

Allen,  Jo.seph  Jr.,  71 

.Allen,  Slociim,  42,  58,  71 

Allen,  Thomas  C-,  142 

Allen,  William  H.,  19 

Allen  house  fire,  39 

Allen  St.  M.  E.  Church,  148 

Almy  &:  Swain  fire,  166 

Amoskeag  Mfg.  Co.,  156,  214 

Ark  riot,  1826,  25 

Ark  riot,  1829,  30 

Arnold,  James,  13,  15,  45 

Ashley,  Joshua  B.,  77,  86,  133,  141,  142 

Atlantic  Co.,  No.  10,  106 

Babcock,  Eastland,  125 

Backus,  J.  H.,  225 

Bailey  &  Hathaway,  149 

Baker,  William  G.,  40 

Banquet  in  City  Hall,  194 

Baptist  Church,  William  street,  fire,  201 

Barney,  Peter,  15 

Bartlett,  Ivory  H.,   19,  45,  124 

Bates,  Joseph,  14 

Battering  rams,  21,   128 

Baylies,  John,  42,  104 

Bedford  Fire  Society,  9,  10,  12 

Beecher,  Henry  Ward,  126 

Beetle,  Henry,  15 

Beetle,  Rodolphus,  30 

Bell  alarms,  1887-89,  209 

Beneficial  Association,  189 

Bible  readings,  106 

Bird,  William  B.,  230 

Bisbee,  George  D.,  124 

Blackler,  W.  G.,  fire,  170 

Biackmer,  William,  41 

Bliss,  George  H.,  192 

Bliss,  Moses  H.,  142,  165,  175,  186,  188,  192 

Borden,  Samuel,  4 

Bourne,  Joseph, 15 

Boyhood  partisanship,  83 

Briggs,  D.  D.,  230 

Brown,  John  E.,  187,  188 

Brown,  Nathan  M.,  200 

Brownell,  J.  Augustus,  141,  142 

Brownell,  Joseph  &  Co.,  129 

Browne)],  O.  M.,  71,  76,  77,  86 

Brownell,  Ashley  &  Co.,  213 

Bryant,  Israel  T.,  86,  141 


Bucket  Brigade.  13 

Burgess,  soap  works,  fire,  168 

Bush,  Thomas  B  ,  58 

Bush,  Thomas  M.,  42 

Button,  L.,  S:  Co.,  78,  108 

Butts,  Peleg,  42 

Campbell,  Ale.x.  H.,  42 

Cannon,  Edward,  64,  jt 

Cannonville  church,  106 

Card,  C.  H.,  225 

Cascade  Co.,  No.  i,  188 

Case,  Isaac,  19 

Cataract,  No.  6,  20 

Centre  st.  fire,  1820,  16 

Chaddock,  E.  N.,  42,  45 

Chadwick,  E.  N.,  38 

Chapman,  A.  M.,  187,  188,  192 

Chase,  Nathan,  fire,  160,  r66 

Child?^,  Aaron,  125 

Church,  Charles,  15 

Church,  Joseph,  15 

Church-going,  147 

Citizen,  No.  2,  4,  24,  45,  65,  128,  133,  165 

City  Guards,  147 

Clanging  bells,  40 

Clapp,  Ichabod, 15 

Clapp  &  Jones,  188 

Clark,  Walter  F.,  fire,  186 

Clifford,  John  H.,  179 

Fire,  170 
Cobb,  G.  A.,  fire,  208 
Cobb,  Mrs.  W.  L.,  230 
Coffin,  Timothy  G.,  19,  27,  31,  42,  45 
Coffin  investment,  93 
Coggeshall,  Charles,  38 
Coggeshall,  Hayden,  19 
Columbia,  No.  3,  9 
Columbian,  No.  5,   21,  47,  66,  89,   105,  108, 

no.  III,  114,  115,  116,  119,  124,  134,  146, 

155,  158,  162 
Columbian,  No.  5,  song,  113 
Committee  of  vigilance,  36 
Concert  Hall  fire,  189 
Congdon,  Caleb,  15 
Congdon,  James  B.,  33,  38,  42,  45,  194 
Contest  Engine,  No.  3,  174,  215 
Contest  for  prizes,  July  4,  1886,  208 
Cook,  T.  W.,  fire,  186 
Cook,  William,  165 
Copper  Co.  fire,  201 
Cordage  Co.  fire,  167 
Cornelius  Howland,  No.  4,  175,  176,  179,  181, 

189,  197,  200,  204,209,  211,  217,  221,  229 
Cornell,  Joseph  H.,  186 
Covell,  Benjamin  B.,  77,  86 
Covell,  Charles,  38,  45 
Covell,  M.  A.,  song,  113 
Craig,  Wheelock,  148 
Crapo,  Henry  H.,  42,  52 
Cunningham,  John,  fire,  168 
Cushman,  A.  S.,  129 
Davenport,  Dudley,  19,  33,  42,  45,  58,  71 


11 


Davenport,  Dudley,  fire,  74 

Davidson,  Chief  Engineer,  loi 

Davis,  Philip  S.,  77 

Davis,  Philip  T.,  38 

Delano,  Ezra  K.,  64,  71,  77 

Delano,  John,  15 

Delano,  Jos.  C.,  171 

Delano,  Timothy,  15 

Denham,  Tilson  B.,  77,  86 

Dexter,  Josiah,  fire,  173 

Dirigo  Engine  Co.,  No.  8,  loi 

Disbandment  of  Fire  Department,  1847,  74 

Doane,  Simeon,  fire,  167 

Douglass,  Frederick,  126 

Doull,  James,  fire,  201 

Downey,  Michael,  165 

Dunbar,  Elisha,  19 

Dunbar,  Joseph,  38 

Durfee,  James,  30,  42,  71,  86,  129.  133 

Durfee,  Nathan,  129 

Durfee,  William,  42,  88 

Dyer,  Charles  W.,  187,  188 

Dyer,  C.  W.,  fire,  184 

Dyer,  Timothy  I.,  33 

Dyer  &  Richmond,  9 

Eddy,  Geo.  M-,  75 

Eddy,  Geo.  M.,  &  Co.,  fire,  79 

Eddy, Job, 13 

Edward  Mott  Engine  Co.,  188 

Eldredge,  Kelley,  15,  45 

Ellis,  Alexander  H.  122 

Song, 122 
Ellis,  Caleb  L.,  77,  86,  91 
Ellis,  Nathan  5.,  167 
Elm  St.  M.  E.  church  fire,  28 
Empty-handed  citizen,  40 
Engine,  No.  3,  Acushnet,  66 
Ex- Five  Association,  105 
Excelsior,  No.  3,  173,  176,  188 
Fairhaven  &  Boston  R.  R.  Co.  fire,  147 
Fairhaven  Fire  Department,  215 
h'airhaven  Protecting  Society,  216 
Fairhaven  Veteran  Firemen's  Association,  217 

220,  224 
Fales,  G.  G.,  Bible  reading,  106 
Fire  alarm  system,  187,  238 
Fire  buckets,  18 
F'ire  Department,  disband,  1847,  74 

Paid,  54 

Rosters,  1834,  1844,  1856,  1867,  1876, 
1884,  1890,"' 45,  64,  133,  175,  196,  203, 
209 

Rules,  140 
Fire  losses,  1877-89,  235 
Firemen's  Mutual  Aid  Society,  230 
Fisher,  H    H.,  142,  165,  176,  i86,  187 
Flood,  No.  I,  7,  73 
Flour  Mills  fire,  185  ' 

Forbes  Dramatic  Co.,  81 
Foster,  Stephen,  126 
Fountain  Engine  Co.,  No.  8,  ro2 
Fox,  Samuel,  54 
Franklin  Engine  Co.,  No.  10,   57,  58,   60,   69, 

89,  131,  137,  146,   147,  148,  178,  224 
Franklin  Hose,  No.  1,  i£8,  198,  208,  229 
Frederick  Macy,  No.  6,  202,  2x2,  229 
French,  Rodney, 115 
Friends'  meeting-house  fire,  166 


Gammons,  Alanson,  fire,  55 

Gardner,  Edmund,  38,  45,  76 

Gardner,  Edward,  42 

Garrison,  Wm.  Lloyd,  126 

Gaspee  Engine,  No   9,  Prov.,  217,  220,  223 

Geils,  G.,  furniture  store,  fire,  191 

General,  horse,  180 

Georgia,  privateer,  129 

Gibbs,  Rowland,  5 

Gibbs,  William  A.,  225 

Gifibrd,  Abraham,  150 

Gifford,  George  G  ,  49,  58,  71,  86,  133,  186 

Gifibrd,  Shubael  H.,  42,  71 

Gifford,  Squire  A.,  231 

Gifford  &  Topham,  copper  foundry,  fire,  132 

GofT,  H.  H.,  fire,  201 

Greene,  David  R.,  38,  42,  45,  58 

Greene  &  Wood's  planing  mill  fires,  174,  209 

Grinnell,  Cornelius,  14 

Grinnell,  Joseph,  42,  74 

Grinnell,  Lawrence,  &;  Co.,  fire,  132 

Groves,  Philip,  64,  71,  77 

Hammond,  Edgar  H.,  229 

Hancock,  No.  9,  24,  56,  69,  117,   129,    131, 

136,  164,  165,  177,  198,  212,  217,   218.    224. 

229,  232 
Hand  and  steam  test,  158 
Hand  engine  parade,  July  4,  1890.  218 
Hand  engine  trials,  166,  217 
Hanscomb,  S.  P.,  125 
Hard  Dig,  25 
Harris,  Jeremiah  G.,  42 
Hart,  Samuel  C,  179,  186,  192 
Hart,  Simpson,  13 
Haskell,  Edward  S.,  229 
Haskell,  Eli,  19 
Haskell,  John  C-,  fire,  57 
Hathaway,  Evangeline,  81 
Hathaway,  John  M.,  &  Bro.,  fire,  148 
Hathaway,  Margaret,  75 
Hathaway,  Martin  L.,  130 
Hathaway,  Nathan,  33 
Hathaway,  Thomas  S.,  38,  42,  45 
Hathaway,  T.  S.,  &  F.  S.,  fire,  184 
Hathaway,  William,  19 
Hawes,  Simeon,  fire,  203 
Hayes  &  Co.,  fire,  184 
Hazard,  Thomas,  4,  14 
Head-of-the-River  fire,  75 
Hersom  &  Bryant  fire,  201 
Hewins,  L.  G.,  Jr.,  200 
Hillman,  Jethro,  30,  38,  119 
Hillman,  Zachariah,  15,  19,  3c,  42,  58,  71,  76, 

77,86,  133 
Hinckley,  George,  86,  141,  142 
Holcomb,  M.,  fire,  201 
Holden,  Charles  W.,  232 
Homer,  G.  S.  &  F.  A.,  fire,  203 
Honey  Bees,  Newport,  93 
Hook  &  Ladder  Co.,  No.  i  (Pioneer),  49,  70, 

114, 128,  129,  130,  138,   144,   149,   178,  198, 

212,  229 
Hook  (S:  Ladder  Co.,  No.  2,  213,  229 
Hook&  Ladder  Co.,  No.  i,  Fairhaven,  216 
Hose  Co.,  No.  2,  214,  229 
Howard  House,  33 
Howland,  Abm.  H.,  42,  58,  71 
Howland,  Abm.  H.  Jr.,  178,  179, 186, 187, 188 


Ill 


Howland,  Benjamin,  15 
HowUnd.  Cornelius,  15 
Howlnnd,  Mrs.  Cornelius,  Jr.,  179 
Howland,  George,  jr.,  32,  42,  58,  71,  144 
Howland,  Gideon,  19.  30 
Howland,  James,  14 
Howland,  James,  2d,  15 
Howland,  John,  4 
Howland,  John,  Jr  ,  33 
Howland,  Peleg,   13 
Howland,  Weston,  123,  147 
Howland  street  riot,  142 
I  lowson, John,  148 
Hunneman  engines,  16,  21,  46 
Incendiary  fires,  58,  83 
Independence,  No.  i,  i,  2,  45,  65,  73 
Indian  Chief,  ship,  28 
Ingraham,  Timothy,  133,  147 
James,  William.  15 
Jason,  Alonzo  V.  225 
Jeffers,  William,  &  Co.,  99,  roi 
Jenkins,  Perez,  ic6 
lenney,  Jahaziel,  12,  13 
Jenney,  Peleg,  13 
Jenney,  William  H.,  43,  58,  71,  77 
jerry,  1829,  30 

1856,  145 
John  and  Edward,  ship,    151 
Jolly  Ropemaker,  4 
Jones,  Silas,  Capt  ,  125 
Jordan,  S.  D.,  127 
Judson,  John  H.,  130,  192,  200 
Julien,  M.  C  ,  232 
Juvenile  Engine  Co.,  83,  84,  85 

Kellev,  Charles  S.,  130,  168,  189,  232 
Kelle'y,  Henry  C.,  168 
Kelley,  Nathaniel,  71 

Kempton,  David  B.,  25,  30 

Kempton,  Elisha  W,,  64,  71,  77 

Kempton,  H.  A.,  fire,  117 

Kempion.  Manasseh,  4 

Kempton.  Manasseh,  Jr.,  125 

Kennedy,  Michael  F.,  179,  192,  200,  209 

Keystone  oil  works  fire,  166 

King,  Josiah  B.,  104 

Kirby's  paint  mill  fires,  174,  208 

La  France  steam  engine  mfrs.,  212 

Lamb,  J.  &  W.,  fire,  185 

Lamb's  plane  mfg.  fiie,  183 

Lawrence,  J.  W.,  220 

Lecain,  George,  13 

Leonard,  Nehemiah,  &  Co..  fire,  181 

Leonard,  Samuel,  fire,  59 

Liberty  Hall  bell,  125,  127 
Fires,  123,  169 

Lincoln,  Benjamin,  12,  15 

Lindsey,  Benj.,  fire,  9,  15 

Luce,  Freeman  C,  188,  192,  225,  229 

Luce    Matthew,  42 

McChesney,  E.,  fire,  191 

McDonald,  Hugh,  179 

Macy,  Frederick,  165,  175,  186,  200,  225 

Mandell,  Edward  D.,  71 

Mandell,  Thomas,  30,  38,  42,  45,  52 

Mansion  House  fire,  186,  201 

Market  street  school-house  fire,  148 

Marr,  William  J.,  200,  224 

Mason,  Philip,  4 


Mathews,  John,  142,  165,  175,  186 

Mathews,  William  H.,  165 

Maxfield,  Caleb,  fire,  184 

Mayhew,  Frederick,  12 

Mayhew,  Jeremiah,  4 

Mazeppa  engine,  No   3,  217,  221,  224 

Meader,  William,  15 

Mechanic,  No   6,  20,  48,  67,  93,  102 

Mechanics  lane,  fire,  148 

Meigs,  Henrv  K..,  2c8 

Mendall,  J.  fl.,  71 

Merrihew,  Stephen,  38,  42,  45 

Merrill,  Edward,  42,  58 

Merritt,  Timothy,  30 

Metacomct  Co  ,  No.  3,  188 

Mike,  horse,  179 

Morgan,  Charles  W.,  ig,  42,  45,  58 

Mormon  Hall,  144 

Mosher  &  Brownell  fire,  201 

Muster  day,  Oct.  15,  189c,  227 

Mutual  Aid  Society,  189 

Myrick's  cooperage  fire,  208 

Nancecawen,  Mr.,  127 

Nelson,  Nathaniel,  15 

N.  B.  Oil  Co  ,  fire,  175,  181 

Newsham,  Richard,  i 

Newton,  Kate.  81 

Niagara,  No.  4,  Fall  River,  89,  93 

Nimrod,  sloop  of  war,  6 

North  Christian  church  fire,  1C3 

North  Water  street  fire,  1859,  150 

Novelty,  No   8,  49,  68 

Nye,  Asa  R  ,  77 

Nye,  Gideon,  jr.,  fire,  75 

Nye,  Obed,  38 

Nye,  Thomas,  Jr.,  14,  121 

Oakes,  John  K.,  223 

Ohio,  No   3,  86,  88,  loi,  131,  134,  224 

Old  Cider  Mill,  49 

Old  Colony  Co.,  No   6,  193 

Onward,   No.  i,  156,   157,  176,  183,  184,  185, 
186,  196,  2^3,  209,  229 

Oregon  Engine  Co.,  No-  11,  72,  102,  131,  137, 
147,  224 

Oxford,  No.  2,  4,  5 

Oxford  Village,  50 
Fire,  75 

P.  H.  Raymond  Engmc  Co.,  2co,  201 

Padanar.uu  fire,  181 

Paisler,  Charles  S.,  27,  171 

Parades,  60,  62,  84,  85,  87,  loi,  iii,  227 

Parker,  John  A.,  15,  30,  33,  45 

Parker,  Theodore,  126 

Parlow,  Loring  T  ,  188,  192 
Peacock,  W.  H  ,  121 

Pearl  street  fire,  92 

Peckham,  Samuel,  182 

Penniman,  Bethuel,  38 

Perkins,  SampsoiT,  42,  71,  76 

Perry,  George,  58,  71,  77,  86,  133 

Peterson,  Jake,  25 

Petroleum  Oil  Co.  fire,  165 

Philadelphia,  No.  7,  42,  43,  58,  68,  77,  80, 136, 
147,  161,  224 

Phillips,  Wendell,  126  . 

Phillips,  William,  42 

Phinney,  Siurgis,  19 

Phosnix,  No.  4,  4,  46,  66,  161 


IV 


Piano  moving,  41 

Pierce,  Chas.  M.,  Jr.,  142,  165,  175,  186 

Pierce,  Samuel,  23 

Pillsbury,  Parker,  126 

Poem,  descriptive,  60 

Pollard  &  Myrick  fire,  157 

Pope,  Thomas,  125 

Pot-pie  incident,  55 

Potomska  Mills  fire,  208 

Potter,  Thomas  P.,  77 

Price,  John,  19 

Progress,  No.  2,  164,  176,  183,  197,   201,  204, 

209,  211,  227,  229,  230 
Protecting  Society,  48,  70,  139,  168,  177,   189, 

199,  214 
Protection,  No.  5,  Newport,  93 
Providence  Veteran  Firemen's  Association, 

217,  219 
Prussian-blue  works  fires,  40,  74 
Purrington  &  Taber  fire,  173 
Quaker  gun,  28 
Quequechan  Co.,  No.  i,  193 
Quint,  A.  H.,  194 
Racing  days,  132 

Poem,  23 
Red  Jacket,  horse,  179 
Reed,  Geo.  P.,  187 
Relief,  No.  5,  77,  78,  225 
Reservoirs,  public,  52 
Rhodes,  Charles,  126 
Richmond,  A.  D.,  42,  58 
Richmond,  Geo.  B.,  186 
Ricketson,  Daniel,  14 
Ricketson,  Daniel,  poem,  233 
Ricketson,  Joseph,  33 
Rider,  Benjamin,  fire,  184 
Rider,  Henry,  fire,  182 
Rider,  vVatson,  fiie,  182 
Ringing  in  an  alarm,  237 
Ripley's  barn  fire,  t;4 
Roberis,  O    A-,  194 
Robeson,  Andrej^,  15,  45 
Robinson,  Andrew,  42 
Rodnian,  Benjamin,  19,  31,  33 
Rodman,  Samuel,  19,  30,  33,  121 
Rodman,  Thomas  R  ,  33 
Ross,  William,  12,  14 
Rotch,  William,  125 
Rotch,  William,  Jr  ,  4,  14 
Rotch,  VV.  J.,  fire,  208 
Ruggles,  John,  15 
Russell,  Abm,,  fire,  21 
Russell,  Geo.  B.,  227 
Russell,  Reuben,  15 
Russell,  Seth,  ^3,  58,  64 
Russell,  Seth,  Jr.,  15 
Russeli,  W.  A.,  Ill 
Russell,  William  T  ,  19 
Russell,  Wing,  38 
Ryan  hose  carriages,  203,  213 
Ryder,  H-,  &  Co.  fire,  185 
Sanders,  Wm.,  clothing  house  fire,  201 
Sanford  6t  Rowland  fire,  91 
Seabury,  Humphrey  W  ,  40 
.Seamen's  Bethel  fire,  174 
Sepulchre,  120 
Shaw,  Albert,  fire,  88 
Shearman,  Abrm.,  Jr.,  12 
Shepherd,  David  J.,  186 


Shepherd,  James,  186 

Sherman,  Isaac,  14 

Sherman,  John,  14 

Sherman,  Pliny  B.,  124,  200 

Sherman,  Wm.  H.,  186,  188,  225.  229 

Shower  bath,  24 

Silsby  Mfg.  Co.,  201 

Simms,  Thomas,  125 

Smith,  Abraham,  4,  14 

Smith,  Jonathan,  42 

Smith  Bros    fire,  208 

Snell's  bakery  fire,  173 

Soap  investment,  57 

Spooner,  Edward  C,  230 

Stan  dish,  Levi,  15 

Staples,  Calvin,  42 

State  Firemen's  Asso:iation,  100 

Steam,  Advent  of,  156 

Steam  Fire  Engine  Co  ,  No.  7,  214,  227,  229 

Stetson,  Silas,  38 

Still  alarm  system,  239 

Still  alarms,  1887-89,  209 

Stoddard,  Noah,  14 

Swain,  William  \V.,  19,  42,  45 

Swift,  Jireh,  19 

Swift,  Jireh,  Jr.,  58,  71 

Swift,  Jonathan,  19,  71 

Taber,  Barney,  30 

Taber,  Chas.  &  Co.,  fire,  168 

Taber,  Charles  H.,  188,  192 

Taber,  Daniel,  13 

'I'aber,  Edward  S.,  83 

1'aber,  Francis,  30 

Taber,  Freeman,  13 

Taber,  Gamaliel,  42,  58,  71 

Taber,  George  H  ,  6 

Taber,  James,  5 

Taber,  Nathan,  12 

Taber,  Nicholas,  14 

Taber  &  Grinnell  fire,  131 

Taber's  plane  mfg  ,  fire,  184 

Tallman,  Elkanah,  19 

Tallman,  Timothy,  79 

Tallman's  IMock  fire,  79 

Taylor,  William  H.,  42,  45,  52,  58,  59,  71,  76 

Telephone  alarms,  1887-89,  209 

Theatre  going,  81 

Thomas,  Henr^'^  P.,  186 

Thompson,  James  D.,  38,  42,  45 

Thornton  &  Gerrish  fire,  160 

Tompkins,  T.  P.,  141,  142,  152,  165,  175,  r86 

Topham,  Robert  C,  71,  77,  86,  13; 

Tremont  Engine  Co.,  Roxbury,  58.  131 

Trinitarian  church,  148.  174 

Turner,  E.  G.,  fire,  203 

Tyson,  George,  38 

Uniforms  of  Fire  Department,  1844,  1873, 

62,   193 
Veteran,  No.  1,99,  102 

Veteran  firemen's  associations,  ic2,  139,  234 
Vincent,  Ambrose,  18,  71,  72,  76 
Wade,  Job,  fire,  2'  8 
Wady  fire,  18^4,  41 
Wales  &  Co.  iire,  184,  185 
Walker,  C.  H.,  130 
Wallace,  dog,  79 
Wamsutta  Mills  fires,  203 
Ward,  Jonathan  R.,  38,  45 
Warren,  Charles  W'.,  19 


Washburn,  Lysander,  19 

Watch  house,  1808,  4 

Watson,  Samuel,  42,  58,  71.  76,  77 

Webb,  Daniel  E..  187 

Welch,  David.  165 

West,  Samuel,  15 

White,  H.  S..  147 

White,  W.  G.,  factory  fire.  167 

Wilbour,  Geo.  B  ,  131 

Wilcox,  Edward  J-,  71 

Wilcox,  Henry  R.,  jo 

Wilcox.  Joseph,  Jr  .  27 

Wilcox,  Wm.,  fire,  150 

William  street  school-house  fire.  58 

Williams,  Lemuel,  Jr  ,  19 

Williams,  Luther,  m 

Williams,  Richard,  19 

Williston,  Alansou,  77 

Wilson,  D.  W.,  229 

Wilson,  George,  77,  86,  167 


Wilson,  Richard,  fire.  t68 
Wmg,  Edward,  15 
Wing,  Sands,  12 
Wood,  Augustus  A..  179.  200 
Wood,  Josiah,  13,  15 
Wood,  Tilson,  64,  77,  141 
Worth,  Geo.  B  ,  42 
Young  America,  No-  8,  120,  121,  138 
Young  Mechanic,  No   6,  92,  95,  96,  98,  loi, 
1C3,  116,  119,  131.  135.   146.    148,   159.  161. 
163,  217,  219,  224 
Miniature  model,  219 
At  Maitapoisett,  219 
Juniors,  219 
Veterans.  218 
Z.  L.  Bicknell  Co.,  No-  2.  East  Weymouth. 

209,  227 
Zachariah  Hillman.  No.  5,  188,  197,  204,  211. 
229,  230 


SOUTHEASTERN   MASSAChlSE-'5    .NWERS 


"^•■^..-Vv^iV 


SP.  COL 


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