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-- in a north-easterly direction. un-

JULY 4. 1951

THE GUARDlAN. -CHARLOTTETOWN t

PAGE SEVEN

A Century OF Fire Fighting In Charlottetown Reviewed

By Percy 0. Cameron

The Fireman's Tournament in :harlottetown this week is a re- ninder of the great services per- ormed by volunteer fire brigades hroughout Canada. and of,the -i-cord achieved by our local fire- man over a long period of years.

From its earliest moments up n about 1850. Charlottetown was I garrison or fortified city, having is defenders of its bastions.troops it the British Imperial Army. It 3585 to these regiments that the llown looked for protection against he "red destroyer". It has been iart of the "rules and regulations" if armed forces. since the time of lulius Caesar, to provide for the 'ightlng of fire.

The records of early times in Tharlottteiown state that Fire En- ;ino No. l. the "Prince Edward". .i-liich had been imported from ingland by Governor Smith in 1311:, was turned over to the De- iiartment on its establishment on December 3. 1855. Further in the rarly records, the acquisition by the Town. from the Ordnance in 18.34, of Fire Engine No. 3 com- plete with leather-hose held to- gether by rivets, is noted. The price paid the Ordnance Depart-- ment was no sterling.

From the foregoing it may be seen that the military forces play- rd ii very prominent part in fire lighting in Charlottetoivn in the inns: ago.

Bucket Brigade Days

On the Town side of the fire iighting ledger. history records that Fire Engine No. 2. which had neon imported from Scotland by l)a'-"id McGill in 1843, was turned ivrcr to the newly founded Char- lit clown Fire Department in .3115. It may be noted that the three engines mentioned were op- rratcd by hand. the water being .-upplied to their tanks by bucket lirigades formed by the citizens. it was not until 1866 that the first .-team fire engine. drawn by ii pair of horses and capable of draughting water and discharging it. on a fire. was supplied to the Government,

The work of the hand pumping -riginea was augmented to a questionable degree by bucket brigades. whose hurriedly thrown water seldom reached its mark.

Prior to the incorporation of the Town in 1855. there existed a group known as Fire Wardens,” they had authority over spectators at fires. and could order the on- lookers formed into bucket brig- ades. Each Fire Warden carried a red staff about five feet long. ' .-eurmountcd by B izilt ball. This staff was their emblem of author- ity. It is interesting to note that the Fire Wardens of 1855 number- ed among their members such men on Ron. Edward Whelan, Hon. George Coles. I-Ion. Thomas Heath Haviland. as well as others later prominent in Island history. This group functioned as part of the Town Council, and became the first Fire Committee under incor- poration of Charlottetown in 1855. With the passing of the years the Fire Committee's strength in the Council has hem lowered from fifteen in 1855. to three members in 1947.

Department Established

On Dec. 3, 1855, following the incorporation of the City of Char- lottetown on the preceding April 1.1. a bye-law was passed estab- lishing a volunteer Fire Depart- ment. to consist. "of as many En- gine men and Hook and Ladder men as the number of Engines and the quantity of other appar- atus belonging to the City. shall from time to time require.” The first Fire Chief (Engineer) WM Mr. Henry Palmer. appointed Feb. 1.1, 1856.

Thus began the service which took for its motto: "Ever Ready when Duty Calls". The Depart- ment grew. adding to its equip- ment Fire Engino No. 4, the "Tremont”, with hose reel. pur- chased in Boston by Mr. Richard Heartz in 1002. The cost being E161. ills. 1d., the Legislature granted 5:100. and the Mutual In- surance Company :50.

Fire Chiefs in the early days did not hold office very long. Chief Palmer was followed by the fol- lowing men as chief officers: Ben- jamin Davies. Jr.. in 1857: Silas Bernard in 1858; William Heard also in i838; and James Duncan in 1863. In 11164, Thomas Alley viis appointed Fire Chief, is post which he -held until the appoint- mriit. of Donald MlIcKlllil0n in lain,

During Chief Alli-y's term the city was visited by what is known is "the Great Fire of 1806." This fire. the worst in the City's his- tory. destroyed over four city blocks' in Ward One. Startws iiom where the Cavendish Apart- ments now stand, it spread un- checked. destroying all in its path

til it reached the stone "Bishop's Palace" and vacant ground on Great George Street.

First steam Engine

At. a meeting of the citizens,fol- lowing the fire. it was decided to purchase a steam fire engine and hose. Subscriptions were solicited and the result was that the steam Fire Engine "Rollo" No. .5 was obtained from Merryweather and 8ons.London. the cost being H.008 10s. The Legislature granted 1300 toward the cost. This was follow- 9d in 1813 by the purchase of Fire Engine No. 0 (band) from the above firm for 31.00.31. and the purchase of Fire Engine "llnlsboro" (steam) No. 1. In 1810: the can including 1.ooo foot of host. was 05.000 in gold.

Many of the first which de- Itroyed oolfsiderable ports of the City in early times were due to the almost complete use of wood-

en construction. ,In fact the size of the fires during this period.

around 1877. seems to have war- ,

ranted the following organization. as shown by the first report of the Fire Chief to the Council in 1877:

Engine No. 1 (hand) located on

Grafton Street. Alex F. Watson,-

Ca.pt., and 32 men.

Engine No. 2 (hand) located on

Pownal Street, Ben). Rogers,Capt., -truck was supplied in 1949.

and 43 men.

Engine No. 3 (hand) located on Peake's Wharf. Ralph E. Peake Capt. and Mr. Peake supplies the men.

Engine No. 4 (hand) located on Kent Street East, J. W. Fraser, Capt. and 51 men.

Engine No. 5 (steam) located on Grafton Street. A.W. Large.Capt.,, and 25 men. -.

Engine No. 8 (hand) located on

Kent Street East. (held in re-i serve). Engine No. 7 (steam) located onJ

Klng' Street, Chas. L. Strickland.4 Capt., and 26 men.

Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, located on Grafton street, with Engine No. 1, James M. Butcher.1 Capt, and 43 men.

The foregoing made up a force. including the Chief and his as- sistant, of 272 officers and men. Today by reason of improved con- struction, water supply, and fire. apparatus. a Department of 45 nificers and men. having only one! Fire Station and four motor fire- trucks, is able to protect Char- lottetown almost double in area. and population. and containing property of considerable value.

The year 1877 saw the compleu '

tlon of the acquisition of first phase equipment which wnslste chiefly of engines which were fed; their water supply by hand, were- drawn by hand, and pumped wa- ter by the efforts of a crew oft firemen.

Water Supply

water supply is to a Fire De- partment what ammunition is to an artillery unit. In 1877 there were seven large underground? water tanks. and sixty-one pumps and wells in different parts of the City. Out of that number only two were capable of supplying sufficient water for suction by the steam engines: one source known as "Quirlc's". on Prince Street. near" st. Paul's Church, and the other on Euston Street near the dwelling of John Heartz. This sup-. ply often proved unsatisfactory and resort was had to the Hills- boro River. i

About the time the acquisition of a Water Works system was b&- iiig prasscd for by Department: oil- iiclals. This need was filled llil 1888 by the supply of a system wliich has developed into our modern system. Fire hydrants in use in 1388 numbered eighty!- eight. Today 130 hydrants are in use in Charlottetown.

Today the City is served by a reservoir located two and one-halt miles north of the City. This re- servoir has a capacity of one and one-quarter million gallons stor- age. The reservoir is supplied by two pumping stations located one on the Malpeque Road, the othtn

on the Mount Edward Road. This -

two mains leading from the rte- servoir to the City are 12 and M inches, respectively, in diameter. This system is capable of supply- ing one million gallons of water daily for ordinary purposes. and an additional million gallons if fire fighting operations should ni- qiiire it. In striking contrast '.to the supply described above was the 105,000 gallons storage of wa- ter available prior to 1888.

The outstanding utility of the fire hydrant system in our wntur supply lies in its provision of an adequate source of water at ap- proximately every city corner.

Second Phase Equipment

The completion of the water system and its acceptance for use in 1083. brought about a degree of rhange in fire apparatus in use by the Departnieiii. and resulted 'lh hand pumped fire engines becom- ing obsolete.

From 1888 to 11916 the Depart- ment uas supplied with horse and hand drawn hose reels. and ind- der wagons. This equipment was backed up by the two Steam Flirc Engines. each drawn by a pair of gray horses. One of these "StN1ll'i- ers". the "Sllsby". remained in use until 1830.

Many of the alarms from 11:83 to 1916 were answered by the hand drawn hose reels as the first ap- paratus out of the station. It was a task requiring the superladixt athletic qualities which the fire- men possesse-' in those days. In fact. "old timers about the Sta- tion" sometimes sum up the com- parison betwccn the second uni third phase periods with. "Once it was the day of wooden apparatus and iron man. now it in the day of iron apparatus and wooden men.” However. I shall leave that for posterity to judge.

The construction and corn vie- tion of the new City Hall in 888 resulted in the apparatus from the eight original Stations. as set forth previously. being concentrat- ed in the new Fire station. This greatly reduced maintenance cost and increased efficiency. In con- cluding this brief account of nio- ond phase equipment we see-the use of the new water Iyliklflrkl the dominant characteristic of the imo. 1

Thhl Phase squipumiti '

The Department commenced motoridrig in November. itiamta the puroh of a ooInbinedCllem- foal Iogin and Bose . frhis woo followed in Deoorn . .1017, by the supply of a Motor nous Truck to trail the hand diiawn

-trucks supplied' to the Fire Brig-

tvintsiie. and in addition the trail-

lldd!PWlIill.lIdoll0UI.I.Is

1923, a City service Ladder Truck was supplied. The next truck to arrive in the Station was a 1.000 G.P.M. La-France Pumper on Nov. 22, 1931. The Department next received a Bickle-Seagrave trailer pump in October. 1945, a Bickle-Seagrave Motor Pumper in July, 1042. and in May. 1046, a Pierre-Thibault Motor Pumper. A new La-France equipped ladder Out of the seven motor fire ado since 1916. five are in service today, including the one of 1916

or pump mentioned above.

The Motorized Department is a far cry from the days of hand operated apparatus using men and horses for its locomotive energy. During some winters the answer- ing of fire alarms with horse- drawii hose and sleighs has been necessary, but these occasions are becoming rare. ,

The passing of the second phase equipment has taken some of the hardship as well as some of the colourfulnesa from fire apparatus. particularly the horse drawn steam engines. However. the speed. power and efficiency of the mot- orized engines only keeps pace with the greatly increased fire risks of our time. .

The combined efforts of Char- lottetown's fire pumpers can dis- charge about 4.000 gallons of wa- ter per minute on a. fire. In other words, 20 tons of water per min- ute can be sent crashing into the heart of a conflagratlon.

Alarm Systems

Our City has depended for .1 hundred years. and still depends. on a bell. to alarm the citizens and, to some extent. members of the Fire Department, when fire "breaks out".

The fire bell is located in the City Hall tower and is operated by members of the Police Depart- ment. On some occasions in the past, chtirch bells were used as fire bells. particularly st. l"aul':. Church boil. in 1880. The Town Crier in earlier times also alarmed the citizens.

Members of the Brigade receive an alarm by alarm bells in their homes and places of business. This alarm system is operated from the Fire Hall by a magneto. The sys- tem was installed about less. The same year a street fire alarm box system having about 24 boxes was installed. This fire alarm system operated by switches from power line poles in different parts of the town. However. it proved unsat- isfactory and was taken out of service. The telephone today is; the method used to transmit al- arms. to the Fire Hall. .

The installation of a modern street box alarm system has been considered for some time by the City authorities. and iiiidutiblcdly will be supplied when circumstan- ces are favorable.

The passing of the fire bell when a new system replaces it. will recall to many the terror which its oinlnous tones inspired in their youthful hearts. when the bell sounded in tho stillness of tilt- night.

Diaastrnus Fires

The number of fire calls receiv- ed yearly has grown from 14 al- arms ln 1880 to, over 200 in the year 1946. The following list of outstandingly destructive fires il- lustrates in some measure the fight against an enemy which never misses an opportunity to slrike:- I

July 15. 1860: The "Great Fire of 1866." described above. was the most extensive in the history of the City.

Feb. 20. 1884: In the early morning of this day. all the" build- ings on the south side of Queen Street were destroyed. including the Cameron Block, Post Office. Patriot Office. and other mercan- tile buildings.

March 5. 1887: On this date. the Mark Wriglit Furnltiirc Fact- ory (now H.M.C.S. Queen Char- lotte) on Kent Street. was de- stroyed along with all the adjoin- ing buildlngs on Hillsboro street.

July fl. 1887: A fire etartinlt where the Twcel Restaurant now stands on the corner of Great George and Kent Streets. destroy- ed practically all the buildings in that block and finally stopped when it had burned the spire of the Baptist, church.

March 15, 1888: Fire destroyed all in its path from the llxccuior Skating Rink on Kent Street. a- long the east. side of Prince Street. including the Baptist Church. This blinding. being of brick, enabled the Fire Brigade to gain control.

Nov. 17. 1388: The fire at P. J. Foran's tailoring shop is memor- able for the fact that the new Water Works system was used for the first. time.

Aug. 30. 1890: Lieutenant of Salvage Corps. Theo. J. Farqu- harson. died of injuries received whilst in action. fighting a fire in MacLeod's stable on Queen Street.

March it. 191.1: The destruction

Drive out ACHES

1- fl

on this date of St. Dunstan's Ca- thedral (Basilica) was a severe giirltual and monetary loss to the Jan. 12. 1920:" The Victoria Hotel, Charlottetown! largest ho- tel. wu completely destroyed on date. I

Dec. 14. 1031: A major portion of Falconwood Mental Hospital was destroyed. The Fire Depart- ment fought this fire without the benefit of the City water supply. Fire hydrants and mains were later installed and cted with the Charlottetown water supply. Feb. 0,1932: Prince of wales College destroyed. It was replaced by a fine new fire resistive build- ing on the same site. Effective fire fighting equipment is provid- ed in the College.

Nov. 5. I941: Considerable loss was sustained by the destruction of the Agricultural Hall and school supply.

Sept. 28. 1946 saw the Stems steam Laundry a victim of the flames. Severe damage was also suffered by the property next ad- joining on the south and east. In this fire Gordon Pools. a former City Police officer. lost his life by

electrocution while aiding the firemen. Loss 3250.000. Oct. 10, 1946: The almost total

destruction of Bruce Stewart and Company's plant. the destruction o: the Island Fertilizer plant. and damage to a W.D. Gilli: and Com- pany coal warehouse by an early morning flre.gave the Department one of its hardest battles. The loss was estimated at 8250.000.

Nov. 20, 1946: The City and Province suffered another severe loss in the destruction of two- thirds of Davis and Fraserls meat piocesain, plant und cold storage. On this occasion. Ivan Waiters. an employee of the above firm. gave his life in a futile attempt to

1Lwm-.....-3L

officer: I wish to pay tribute to

close'7a' fire door designed to re- tard the spread of fire. The loss was estimated at 8500.000.

JUL 18. 1918: The lives of two teen-age girls were lost in a fire which destroyed the home of Mr. W. Larkin, 218 King Street.

Feb. 18, 1049: The Tweol Bulld- fng, corner of Great George and Kent Street, was severely damaged by fire.

Feb. 15. 1950: Fire again claimed the life of a citizen in the person of Mrs. T. Keoughan when the Sporting Club on Grafton Street was destroyed in a. raging night fire, which threatened at times to engulf a whole city block. The fire was confined mainly to the building of origin.

Chief Officers

The following men headed the Department as Chiefofficers dur- ing the periods shown:

J. W. Pickard .. . 1879-1881

A. N. Large 1081-1900

Charles Hermans 1900-1902 . 1902-1931

Thomas Ranahan .. Angus Mclilachern . .. 1931-1945 H. H. Jewell .. 1945-

Associated with the above offic- ers have been such well known Assistant Chiefs as A. N. Large (son of Chief Large above) and C. B. Murlcy. both active during Chief Ranahan's time; Frank Hennessey. with the late Chief McEachern, also Herbert H. Jew- ell (now Chief). and Fred Pickarii who served with the present Chief.

In closing this account of chief

the memory of the following de- parted members. all of whom I had the privilege of serving with: Chief Thomas Ranahan. Chief; Angus Mcliachern. Assistant Chief Frank Hennessey, Assistant Chief A. N. (Bert) Large. Capt. John Connolly, Hose Driver Matthew. Mccourt. Engineer Harry Math-.

teach. and I-loscman Jame. Bell The latter died of injuries recelv. ed while responding to a (in alarm. Harry Mathieson who auc- eeeded Matthew Murphy as care. taker and driver, guided the des- tinies of the Fire Hall for about I quarter of a century.

I regret that an honour roll of Department veterans cannot be included here. as their numbers are legion. However. I wish to like the liberty of mentioning some of the senior veterans who still have an interest in our de- partment: Wms. Batt. John Mar- tin. John Turner, sr.. Frsd Large, Robert Wakelin, William Bradley, and Arthur Henry. f

Present Department

The present Fire Department consists of 45 officers and men divided into a Hose Company of 20 men. a Hook and Ladder Com- pany of 10 men. and an Auxiliary Fire Corps of 10 men formed in 1047. The remaining five men are the Chief and his assistant, and the three permanent pumpe en- gineers (drivers) and caretakers of the Fire Station.

The engineers work in eight- hour shifts, alternating on day and night duty. The night man has a small bedroom at the rear of the station with a telephone hear at hand. I think it is oppor- tune to state here, that the City has been fortunate in having the calibre of men who have been its guardians of the Fire Hall in the past. and who serve in that capa- city at this time.

As to the personnel of the De- partment past and present,I think a parallel may be drawn between them and the citizen soldiers of ancient Rome. For truly it must be said that they served. and con- tinue io serve, for love of the

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