THE PAID DEPARTMENT
To the late William M., or, as he was familiarly known to his associates of the
old volunteer days, "Pony" Denig is due the credit for first
suggesting the adoption of an up-to-date paid fire department for the City of
Stockton. Mr. Denig was a gentleman of no little ability and possessed a
disposition both progressive and aggressive. Opportunities for observation not
enjoyed by all of his fellow-citizens, convinced him early in the year 1876
that Stockton had reached a stage in its growth where, despite the recognized
ability of the Volunteers, they should be replaced by a body of men paid to
give their time and service to the work and who would be in readiness, at any
minute of the day or night, to answer an alarm.
Mr. Denig's views, however, met with little encouragement from the Councilmen
or the heavy taxpayers. With few exceptions the members of the volunteer
organization also looked with disfavor on the idea, for, despite the
inconvenience they were often put to and the loss of many of their "Sunday
best" suit of clothes, they all enjoyed the element of danger that was
ever present and were loathe to see the inauguration of a system that would
deprive them of the privilege of engaging in an occasional battle with their
favorite enemy--the fire fiend. On frequent occasions the Commercial Record
would contain an article setting forth facts and figures to prove the
superiority of a paid system, but little attention was given the matter
until 1881.
Following
a number of fires of incendiary origin in October of that year the following
appeared in a local paper: "The public is becoming aroused by so many
fires here, and the frightful theory is advanced that they are due to the
rivalry among our fire companies to get 'first water;' not that our firemen are
guilty of attempting to fire property, but that hoodlums, knowing the spirit of
rivalry that exists, have been prompted to start the numerous fires that have
been in the city during the last six weeks. However indifferent the criminal
element may be to other people's rights, we are disposed to credit the vicious
class with too much intelligence as to risk a term in prison for such a trivial
purpose. Nevertheless the fires have occurred, and as plunder does not appear
to have been the cause, the theory put forth is not, in the opinion of many, an
unreasonable one.
"Our citizens are beginning to feel that the contest that has so long
animated our firemen for 'first water' must stop, as its effect, although well
intended, has been pernicious. There are other grave objections to the practice
that are worthy of consideration. The distressing rate of speed at which the
horses are driven, is under a stress of excitement, prompted by imprudent
motives as well as from the desire to reach the scene of a fire at the earliest
moment. Well directed promptness should be encouraged; but unnecessary injury
to horses and the rack and wearing out of costly apparatus, for a childish
purpose, is hardly creditable to men of mature years. Nor can we speak in more
complimentary terms of the very improper practice of two engines drawing water
from one small cistern when other water is within reach, the sole object being
to get on 'first water.' This is entirely too boy-like a business for men to be
engaged in and at the risk of fearful consequences.
"Volunteer
companies of every description have always been, and will continue to be, illy
governed bodies. Experience has shown that in fire, military and other
departments of government, a proper degree of discipline cannot be maintained,
and in the absence of which there must ever be disorder and in the long run the
consequences must prove fatal. Such has been the case in the army, and in
cities throughout the country where the volunteer fire system has been tried
and relied on for years, a proper regard for life and property, and even the
good morals of the community, forced the adoption of paid departments. On
the adoption of the pay system at San Francisco, San Jose and other points in
this State, bloody rows, for childish causes, among fire companies, while
valuable property was being destroyed by fire, became unknown; while the
decided improvement in the working of the several departments, and the marked
decrease in losses, fully justified the enhanced quality of paid fire
departments. While the personnel of the Stockton department is of too elevated
a character to subject its fair name to be tarnished with hoodlumism, it is,
nevertheless, painfully in want of that degree of discipline and of being
governed and directed by officers armed with the authority that is only found
in a paid department."
When the above appeared the city possessed no apparatus other than the
hosecarts used by the Webers and the Eurekas and the hose. The engines and
horses were owned by the volunteer companies. It was estimated that about
$30,000 would be required to install a paid system and the "watchdogs of
the city treasury" diligently frowned down all suggestions along that
line. The emissaries of the owners of large property interests were also
prominently to the fore in presenting arguments against the change. Many of
the latter class had enjoyed the gratuitous service of the patriotic and
liberal Volunteers so long that they has begun to think they were entitled to
them as a matter of course.
Failure on the part of the Council to increase the salary of the Chief Engineer
from $20 to $50 per month, as requested by the Board of Delegates in 1883,
resulted in many members of the department coming out as enthusiastic
supporters of the proposed new system and Councilman Eshbach, and active member
of the Webers, was quoted as saying that "he believed that four-fifths of
the voters of the city favored the change." In commenting on the refusal
of the City Fathers to increase the Chief's salary the Stockton Record of July
7, 1883, said: "Those opposed to the proposed raise of salary made a very
weak argument, the strongest point in which was that there should be no raise
for the reason that $20 per month is ample compensation. This seemed to be
unanswerable, at least the opposing side failed to meet it. We could with equal
propriety say that $1 per month would be ample. But some one may make answer
that if the services of the chief of the fire department are not worth more
than $1 a month they are worth nothing, and, if so, the office should be
abolished. This brings us to the starting point, namely, is there need for the
office of Chief Engineer? This question is answered by another, namely, have we
any use for a fire department? If we have it must, of necessity, have a chief
officer? The fact that a salary of $20 a month has been allowed, clearly proves
that the office should be a salaried one. If so what ought to be the
compensation? The assertion of Councilman Freeman, that the office is regarded
as a stepping-stone into something better, cuts no figure in the matter. With
equal propriety the remark could be applied to any city or county office. Such
should not be regarded as a good reason for making them all unsalaried offices.
The deduction is, in our judgment, illogical and unworthy of a mind so
liberally endowed.
"In fixing the salary of the Chief Engineer it should be the aim of the
Council to place the office within the reach of every member of the fire
department, be he laborer, mechanic or politician, and this can only be by
making the compensation ample to cover, at least, the expenses that unavoidably
attend such position.
"Not
only a just return should be made for the services rendered, but the office
should not be one that only men of means can fill. It is also the duty of the
Council to keep in view the value to the department, and hence, to the city, of
improving its efficiency, and consequence in public estimation, by making the
chief office one of commanding influence and respectability. It tends to infuse
the right kind of spirit into the department and, on the whole, whatever is
just and proper will not fail to be attended with results, and a niggardly
policy should not stand in the way of what is right."
Two years after the above action the Board of Delegates again passed a
resolution in favor of the Council paying the Chief a salary of $100 a month.
About the same time the Eurekas forwarded a petition to the Council praying
that "that body arrange to submit to a popular vote the question of a paid
fire department for the city." The august City Fathers with an
indifference wholly unexplainable to the layman but quite characteristic of
municipal governing bodies, calmly ignored the petitions, not even deigning to
favor either of the volunteer bodies with a reply. 'Tis said that "the
mills of the gods grind slowly," the Eurekas waited patiently for some
action on the part of the Council until April, 1887, when they unanimously
passed a resolution naming a committee to dispose of the company's apparatus
and horses. Instructions were given the committee to first offer the apparatus
to the city at a reasonable figure, but in the event of failure on its part to
purchase, to sell it to the highest bidder. Other resolutions were adopted to
the effect that the company was tired of serving as firemen for an
unnappreciative people. The Webers also announced their intention of
withdrawing from the department and Messrs. THRESHER and ESHBACH were appointed
a committee to arrange for the sale of that company's apparatus.
This
spirited action, coming as it did, wholly unexpected to the Council had the
effect of making that body "sit up and take notice" with an alacrity that
was, to say the least, amusing to those who had for years watched its "Rip
Van Winkle" tactics with regard to all fire matters. A special committee
of the Council was appointed to arrange a meeting with members of the Webers
and Eurekas and to report back at once the best terms that could be made with
the fire companies. On June 17, 1887, all arrangements having been
satisfactorily completed, together with all those of the San Joaquin Engine
Company No. 3 and Protection Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 was purchased by the
municipality. Acting Mayor WHITE and Councilmen FEE and FYFE composed the
committee that acted for the city in the transfer of the property while M. S.
THRESHER, Henry ESHBACH, Thomas CUNNINGHAM, Geo. A. McKENZIE, J. S. HAINES,
James P. CARROLL, and James FORD signed the deeds for the various companies.
Following the execution of the deeds in the office of the City Attorney the
several committees of firemen went to their respective engine houses about 9
o'clock in the evening and ordered the horses hitched up for delivery to the
city officers. The Council's committee then went to each engine house and
formally took possession of the property purchased. Chief Engineer Louis J.
WAGNER accompanied the committee, and each driver was notified by him that the
property had been sold to the city. Acting Mayor WHITE then turned all the
property over to Chief WAGNER with instructions to take charge of the same for
the city. It had been arranged that the several companies would keep up their
organizations and use the property in the protection of the city against fire
until the next city election when the Council had arranged to have the people
vote on the question of establishing a paid department.
The issue was carried by a healthy plurality and on Monday, January 9, 1888,
the Council, at their regular weekly meeting elected the officers and members
of the Stockton Paid Fire Department. M. McCANN was nominated for the office of
Chief by the late John T. DOYLE; Councilman LEHE presented the name of Israel
ROLF and Mr. JOHNSON nominated the late James BROWN, who was at the time Chief
Engineer of the Volunteers. Owing to his private business preventing him from
devoting the required time to the duties of the office Mr. Louis WAGNER
declined to allow his name to be presented to the Council. Mr. BROWN withdrew
his name in favor of Mr. ROLF and the ballot resulted in Mr. McCANN receiving
the votes of the seven Democratic members while the five Republicans voted for
Mr. ROLF. Frank CAVAGNARO, an old member of the Volunteer "Hooks,"
was chosen to act as assistant to the chief and the following named were
selected to fill the various positions in the new department: Engine Company
No. 1 - Foreman, C. J. WOLF; Engineer, Henry NASH; Engine Driver, H. WOLF;
Hosecart Driver, J. O'LAUGHLIN; Extramen, H. NEISTRATH, Chas. AARON, I. G.
ROBINSON, L. OSER, and J. W. BROWN.
Engine
Company No. 2 - Foreman, R. R. REIBENSTEIN; Engineer, P. T. BROWN; Engine
Driver, C. VANILLA; Hosecart Driver, F. LASTRETTO; Extramen, J. FRITSCH, C.
COLLINS, T. TOWELL, G. GIANELLI, and Hugh M. TYE.
Chemical Company No. 1 - Foreman, W. G. HUMPHREY; Driver, J. W. SIMPSON;
Extramen, E. C. BROWN and F. FINKBOHNER.
Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 - Foreman, John T. DOYLE; Driver, M. BRISCO;
Extramen, F. KENDALL, G. LEIGINGER, J. K. DEMPSEY, and J. FARRELL.
Of the above named, AARON, COLLINS, KENDALL, O'LAUGHLIN, OSER, and SIMPSON are
still in service - a seasoned corps of "salamanders" who, unlike the
old JEFFERS engine, have never failed to perform their part when danger
threatened and with whom "smoke eating" has become a habit and
fire-fighting an exact science.
Chief
McCANN'S first annual report showed that the new department had responded to 46
alarms. Exclusive of the Houser Harvester Works the losses for the year
aggregated but $3,285, a record of which any department might well be proud. On
September 23, 1890, a new LaFrance engine was secured at the cost of $4,500. It
was christened "The Reibenstein" in honor of the popular gentleman
who at the time occupied the Mayor's chair. The engine was held in reserve for
several months after its arrival before being placed in active service.
Differences of opinion as to the relative powers of the new machine and the
Amoskeag of No. 1 company resulted in a wager between Fred SALBACH and a member
of the other company. A test was arranged at which the LaFrance demonstrated
her superiority and during the eighteen years it has been in service the engine
has given general satisfaction. Previous to her purchase Chief McCANN visited
San Francisco and there called on Chief Dave SCANNELL then at the head of the
Bay City's department. After talking over the relative merits of
the different engines then on the market, Chief SCANNELL advised McCANN to
recommend the purchase of the LaFrance to his Councilmen. That body acted upon
his suggestion despite much adverse criticism and the record made by the engine
during its long service is another tribute to the ability and superior
discernment of San Francisco's old Chief, than whom no better fire-fighter or
more generous-hearted gentleman lived in this day.
Chief
McCANN was succeeded in 1891 by Israel ROLF who had served as Chief of the
Volunteer organization ten years previous and who had been recognized as an
able fireman for many years. Under his administration the department continued
to act in the same efficient manner that had marked the first three years of
its existence and, with few exceptions, the personnel of the organization remained
the same. Mr. ROLF held the office until July, 1899, when the duties of shaping
the course of the department fell to the lot of James P. CARROLL. Mr. CARROLL
filled the office in an able manner for four years when Captain Will H. KNOWLES
of Chemical Company No. 1 was placed at the head. Captain KNOWLES resigned in
1905 and Mr. CARROLL was re-appointed. After sixteen years of civilian life
Chief McCANN was once more called upon to assume the duties of the position.
Taking charge of the office on August 21, 1907, he immediately selected Mr. M.
D. MURPHY of the Chemical Company to attend to the duties of assistant chief.
Mr. MURPHY has been connected with the department in various capacities for the
past nine years, during which time he has on a number of occasions demonstrated
his fitness for the position he now holds. A position that has added duties and
responsibilities but carries no additional salary over that of the other
regular paid men.
The
department at present consists of the Chief, Assistant Chief, fourteen full-pay
men, whose duties require their constant attendance at their respective company
quarters, and seventeen "call-men" who are paid $20 per month and
who, while at liberty to work at other occupations during the day are obliged
to respond to every alarm and cannot leave the city limits without first
notifying the Chief and engaging a substitute to act for them. For the latter
purpose there are seven substitutes carried on the roll.
Have you ever been privileged to see them, reader, when the gong strikes and
its tap resounds in their quarters? At night, perhaps, when all are wrapped,
upstairs in their beds, in the peaceful spell of slumber. For a fireman's
sleep, you must know, is an honest sleep; the sleep of the sturdy and hearty.
Yet not such deep somnolence, either, but that the first faint clockwork tick
of the bell awakens him instanter.
"Whir! Bang!" says the gong. "Bang!" and "Bang!"
again. "Get there!" it admonishes. Turn out!" "Get there!
"reverberates." This is no business for a sluggard!" Up spring
all hands; up and into fire boots, the trousers folded for celerity, (time's
everything now), into the tops of them. Up all, as one, with a quick clasp of
the belt and down the sliding pole, each to his appointed place on the street
floor of the station; for steps, you must know, are all too slow for this swift
avocation. Up it is, in point of fact, out of bed; and down it is, through the
trap, like an acrobatic performer. Here's life for you, friends, sure enough;
life with zest and energy and action. And here we are, all hitched up and out
on the street, in less time than it takes to tell it - the actual time? - why,
fifteen seconds. Hardly a twinkling. Each of our own home companies, in fact,
have performed the feat in time that beats the record.
Then off we go, into the stormy night, at a thundering gallop, the drivers
strapped to their seats on an eight ton piece of apparatus, the horses picking
their way through the darkened streets with unerring instinct and a desire to
reach the scene that displays an intelligence almost human. Foremen, engineers,
tillerman, hosemen, call-men, all the crews at the handrail. Into the night,
dark, bleak and dreary; just the faintest glimmer of something there in the
distance, but changing now, even as we look, increasing and expanding; steadily
growing, tinging with a dull red, coppery glare the somber, leaden sky-line.
On, with a rush, and new burst of speed; on to an all-night job! And, more than
likely, far into the day, besides. To be grilled with the heat, and stifled
with smoke, drenched with cold water and steamed with hot, soaked to the very
pith and marrow of the bone, till done, and properly done, done - we'll say
like a hot Frankfurter sausage. Lucky, too, if returning there is nothing worse
to bother than bark, or bruise, or scald. And returning to what? To rest? Ah,
no, Indeed! Nothing of that sort. Not in this particular branch of the business.
To curry and care for the faithful steeds that have performed their part so
well. To wash hose, and hose wagons and polish engines until their brass and
platings reflect as a mirror. Then to the other numerous chores. A side of the
picture of which, we opine the admiring public - seeing only the heroic
fire-fighting side - knows but little.
And how, as not infrequently occurs, how, if a second alarm is struck on the
heels of the first one? How if, after a hard-fought battle with the devouring
element - our men all back cosily tucked in bed again - another tap
inexorably commands them! Says Tennyson, in one of his poems: "Ring out,
wild bells! Ring out! Ring out!" which was very well for him. But, to the
jaded fireman, just closing his eyes again, Macbeth's "Silence that
dreadful bell!" is something more to the purpose. Still must he
unmurmuringly respond, no matter what he thinks, or how he feels, when and
wherever duty calls him.
Transcriber Sally Kaleta.
Proofreader Betty Vickroy.
© 2002-2007 Nancy Pratt Melton.
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