Denver, Col., Feb. 5, 1891
Messers. Williams & Hossler:
Anything relating to Warsaw's first fire company is deeply interesting
to me, as I claim the honor of having taken the first practical
step toward forming and probably did more work in completing the
organization than any man connected with it. Twenty-two years
of service in its ranks have served to strengthen the fraternal
feeling toward its members, especially those who were, as they
say in this State, "59ers." The history of the company,
as written by Brother Morris, and published in your papers, was
therefore very interesting to me, but I was sorry to see that
it contained several errors. This is not to be wondered at, as
Bro. Morris states that he writes from memory, and it would be
a remarkable memory indeed that would enable a man, after a lapse
of thirty-two years to state facts just as they occurred.
In correcting some of Bro. Morris' statements I do not write from
memory, but from a private record made at the time the events
occurred. I think it would be interesting to the present and future
members of the Warsaw Fire Department to have an accurate history
of its first organization. To furnish this, I have no doubt, was
Bro. Morris' object; so, instead of looking upon what I may write
as a criticism, he will kindly accept it as a few missing links
in the record.
Warsaw had several small fires, some of them entailing considerable
loss, fully one-half of which was caused by misdirected efforts
to subdue the flames or save moveable property. For instance,
at the fire in Bro. Morris' residence, on Indiana street, every
man worked with a will but fully one-half of the water was thrown
aimlessly and did no good, and after the pails were emptied they
were thrown from the roof by the excited men, nearly braining
some of those below, while one, still more excited, seized an
axe, rushed into a bed room, and began chopping up a fine bedstead
to save it.
The Indianian had, on several occasions, urged the necessity
of some organization for the protection of the town against fire;
but no person seemed disposed to take the lead. After each fire
the Trustees would be consulted, but they had "no funds,"
for an answer. Then the people would talk about it for a few days,
and then the subject would be dropped. Marx Frank, who is mentioned
by Bro. Morris, having a fine stock of goods at stake, was not
satisfied with talk without action. He argued that under the circumstances
the citizens should advance the money necessary to equip a company
and let the corporation pay it back when able. He was willing
to do his share and believed that there would be no trouble in
raising the funds if some person would take the responsibility
of calling a meeting for that purpose. Peter Marvin stated the
object of the meeting, and after considerable discussion of ways
and means it was decided to organize a stock company. This stock
was placed at $5 per share, and every member of the company was
requested to take at least one share, the Trustees agreeing to
redeem the certificates as soon as they could raise funds for
that purpose. Fifty shares of stock were taken on the spot and
a committee appointed to solicit subscriptions. Mr. Marvin was
appointed to purchase the engine that was offered for sale at
Adrian Mich., if he found it serviceable and terms satisfactory.
Independent Protection Engine Company No. 1 was fully organized
at this meeting, which was held February 16, 1859, with 38 charters.
The officers elected for the first year were:
Joseph A. Funk, Chief Engineer
Peter Marvin, Foreman
Wm. B. Boyston, 1st Ass't Foreman
A. T. S. Kist, 2d Ass't Foreman
B. G. Cosgrove, Company Engineer
W. S. Hemphill, Secretary
Dr. J. P. Leslie, Treasurer
I. J. Morris, Steward
The other charter members were Samuel Laufferty, P. G. Frary,
Harry Cosgrove, William Beatty, Jos. Silvers, W. B. Funk, Frank
Nutt, Reub. Williams, Wm. Hazzard, J. A. Robbins, Marx Frank,
Jos. Kegg, Benj. P. Wright, Jas. Milice, Caleb Hendee, John Evers,
John Hipp, Phil. Winters, E. O. Milice, R. S. Richhart, Thomas
Woods, Eb. Hazzard, Wm. Criswell, A. J. Power, Wm. Williams, Wm
Kirtley, Lewis Trish, David Neff, Geo. W. Scott, and J. H. Carpenter.
The engine named "Protection No. 1," and nicknamed by
the late Col. Chapman the "old Tub," was received March
9, 1859, and was tested by the company on the 10th, at a pond
which was situated on the corner of Washington and Water streets,
just back of the Christian church lot. The constitution and By-Laws
were adopted at the meeting held on the 9th of March. The company
having procured uniforms, came out on parade for the first time
April 19, 1859. The engine was housed and the meetings held in
the north end of the old foundry building, corner of Lake and
Main streets, the entrance being the double door opening on Lake
street. This was occupied until the engine house erected by the
company on Mr. Beatty's lot was enclosed. One or two business
meetings were held in Union Block. Meetings for drill were held
weekly during the summer, and false alarms were frequent. A cistern
was put in at the corner of Center and Buffalo streets, the well
put in good order, and by an assessment levied on the members,
money was raised to buy some new hose, as only 200 feet of old
leather hose had been received with the engine. The ground was
leased, the engine house erected, and every preparation made,
so far as possible, to meet the call to active duty. Col. Chapman
had predicted that "the town would burn up while we were
fooling with that ____ Old Tub," and the boys were anxious
to show "the croakers" what they could do. The new engine
house not been plastered, it was rather a cool place to meet without
fire when the weather became cold, but the boys had gone down
into their pockets so deep during the year that further assessment
seemed like extortion, as very few of them had property to be
protected by the engine in case of fire, while a majority of the
owners of business rooms and other property that could be protected
refused to "throw money away by encouraging such foolishness."
So we had to grin and bear it and keep warm the best way we could.
The test which was to prove the many predictions of failure for
the "Old Tub" true or false was not long delayed. It
came on that bitter cold morning of which Bro. Morris speaks,
but he is mistaken as to date. The first fire was at the Hendee
building Nov. 14, 1859. The Company engineer and monthly committee
had just given the "Old Tub" a thorough overhauling,
and when she refused to work, Mr. Cosgrove thought something had
been misplaced. When hot water was called for, P. G. Frary rushed
into the kitchen of the Wright House, and seized the first thing
he could find on the range, in the shape of water. It was quickly
poured down the "goose-neck," but about the time the
last drop disappeared, Uncle Ben Wright's face was a study. Frowns
and smiles chased each other over his features, while his lips
assumed that peculiar pucker that always appeared when he was
excited. Uncle Ben said nothing, and came down on the breaks with
a will, but his cook had to prepare another boiler of coffee for
breakfast that morning. Old Protection scored his first victory
in Warsaw at that fire, and it was a complete victory, not only
over the fire-fiend, but over the prejudices of the people. But
few first class hand engines could have surpassed her work. The
stream was steady, and that it was strong enough the chief engineer
could testify after it came near lifting him off the ladder. The
boys were ready to swear by the "Old Tub," and to all
comers point to the motto, "Try Us." This victory is
more than surprising when it is remembered that the old leather
hose, procured with the engine, burst in more than a score of
places, and in order to keep up a stream it was necessary to wrap
it about every 5 or 10 feet along the entire length. To do this
some fine calfskins and a lot of sheepskin and some fine moroco
linings were taken from the shoe shop, and nearly every fireman
and a number of citizens contributed silk and linen handkerchiefs
to tie the wrappings.
On the 30th of the same month some miscreant set fire to the old
house that stood on the corner of Center and Lake streets, opposite
the old jail, and the "Old Tub" scored her second victory.
At the election of officers in January, 1860, but few changes
were made: J. A. Robbins was elected 1st Asst. Foreman, I. J.
Morris Treasurer, and P. G. Frary Steward. The only fire that
occured in 1860 was on the 5th of September at S. H. Chipman's
stable on Ft. Wayne street. The night was dark and the streets,
which had been graded were covered with sticky mud. It was a long
hard pull, and when the company arrived the fire in the stable
was beyond control. Mr. J. S. Hetfield's barn just across the
alley was beginning to burn. Water was procured from wells in
the vicinity, carried in pails, and poured into the box of the
"Old Tub." The fire in Hetfield's barn was extinguished,
but just at that critical moment it was discovered that Mr. Chipman's
residence was on fire, and the wells had all been exhausted. It
was discouraging, for if Chapman's house burned Hetfield's house
and barn were doomed. But old Protection was there to win. Detaching
the hose the boys grabbed the ropes and ran to Dr. Davenport's
residence, which was at that time on Detroit street, near Main,
where they filled the "old Tub" with water from his
well and cistern, dragged it back to the fire, and by repeating
the trip two or three times put out the fire. Mr. Chipman's stable
was burned, his house but slightly damaged, and Mr. Hetfield's
barn scorched some. It took about three hours of the hardest kind
of work, but considering the circumstances, the work was well
done. The fourth fire to which the company was called was the
one of which Bro. Morris speaks in which the records of the company
were lost. It broke out in the Union Block about 3 a.m., Jan.
24, 1861. As Bro. Morris says "the 'Old Tub' was of untold
value" at that fire. Although the fire had gained considerable
headway when first discovered, there was a fair prospect of saving
a good portion of the block, till the flames reached some powder
in one of the back rooms. When that exploded it scattered the
fire throughout the building. Then everything was against us.
The streets were a glare of ice, rendering it very difficult to
move rapidly without falling; the occupants of the buildings from
the alley to the Book Store corner began moving their goods across
the street to the public square, thus interfering with the movements
of the firemen; the Thomas building and the old jail were both
on fire, while the heat from the burning building was blistering
the paint on the "Old Tub." The boys were almost exhausted,
but they still kept the old engine thumping away, scarcely losing
a stroke for nearly three hours, when it was announced that the
danger was passed and they were permitted to pause for breath.
Then they went at it again and continued to throw water at intervals
till nearly noon, when the flames were completely subdued. The
loss of the company records was to be regretted. They had been
left at Mr. Runyan's store, where the Committee on Finance was
to meet to audit the books and prepare their report. From that
date I presume the records are complete, so I will only correct
one or two more statements made by Bro. Morris. It may be that
when the Company sold the engine to the corporation a proper distribution
of the proceeds was made to the company and stockholders. If it
was, I was counted out by the returning board. The next is, he
speaks of the purchase of the steamer as being in 1863. This may
be a typographical error. The company moved into the new engine
house, on Center street, on Dec. 1, 1866; the steamer was received
and tested by the Corporation Board June 29, 1868. Protection
Company No. 1 was bluffed off by the Trustees, who wanted to organize
a new company to take charge of the steamer. They were notified
that if they did they would have to organize a new company to
run the hand engine also. The steamer was turned over to Protection
Co. No. 1, Sept. 17, 1868. The "Old Tub" did good service
in the hands of the old company for over nine years, and should
be held in grateful remembrance by the people of Warsaw, for whom
she saved many thousands of dollars. As for Protection Company
No. 1, I will only say: the best investment the City of Warsaw
ever made is the money expended in its equipment, and whenever
the people neglect or refuse to recognize the claims of the company
or their gratitude, they are no longer worthy of protection.
Long may the old company continued to be as in the past, "Protection
No. 1," or as I interpret it, "First Class Protection"
to the people and property of the City of Warsaw against the ravages
of the fire-fiend.
Respectfully, W. S. H.
"One of the Old Uns."
Warsaw Daily Times Thursday Feb. 12, 1891
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