Annual Inspection01

 

WAUPACA REPUBLICAN

August 8, 1884

 

Annual Inspection

 

            The Waupaca Fire Department dressed out in their new uniforms, throughout, which the boys purchased with their money given them by the insurance companies.  Came out on Monday afternoon, to the number of about fifty, comprising the engine, hose and hook and ladder companies and made a good appearance as they marched through the streets.  With their uniforms on it was easy to distinguish who belonged to the fire company, and that it the reason many have thought the department so small, many of the workers at fires have not been known as firemen, simply because they had no hat or belt to distinguish them from those who were not.  Johnnie Howlett a little four year old was dressed out as an engine-man and road on the “machine” and Charley Foster, the same age, in regulation suit, rode on the hook and ladder trucks.  Both the little fellows stood up as big as life and seemed to say:  “My father’s a fireman, so am I.”  In 3 minutes from the time the engine and other apparatus was at the square the ladders were all up, the ax-men were on the Roberts block, the hose set and the engine playing.  Through 700 feet of hose they threw 75 feet but some of the hose was bad and burst, some that was cut last summer, but as this was an inspection by the city council it was all right, to show our “city fathers” how bad a few of those necessaries were needed to make the apparatus effective.  Through a short length of hose, a stream of water with an inch nozzle was sent ten feet higher than the court house spire.  After the trial the department marched back to the engine room where warm coffee and refreshments were served the members, after which speeches were made by ex-chief Joe H. Woodnorth, Ald. W.S. Bemis, Jas. B. Sicock and others.  The engine, hose and hook and ladder company since their meeting feel more encouraged than ever to keep together, and the city certainly feel more like offering them aid and encouragement to keep up the department to a proper standard of excellence.