Omaha's First Fire
Fighting Company
Probably tho only (lro fighting company In
tho stato of Nebraska holding an ospoclat
charter from tho Icglslaturo was tho I'loncor
Hook and Ladder company of Omaha, which
was organized May G, 1800. This company
was not only tho first company organized
In tho Btato, but was tho last of the
volunteer organizations of tho city to dis
band, Its cxlBtcnco covering a period of
twenty-nvo years.
When Omaha was platted and tho first
houses eroded tho principal
building
aber no
T1 H t nr I n 1 ani n n 1 1 n n n n 1 li. l
" .wnvunuuu, u iuuiui'1 11 u
I M t- t.... fl .... I .
iuukui iuuuhuixuu ujr uuuuoru, uui in ino
bus ino only material
rlal which could bo
bordors of tho state,
secured within the
First with cottonwood logs and then with
lumber cut from the trees woro tho build-
lngs In Omaha city built. Cottonwood Is
very Inflammable and It was not long beforo
fires dostroyod sovcral buildings. Tho
rosldonts of tho frontier city decided to
organize n flro company, and, undor tho
loadershlp of Benjamin Stickles, William
J. Kennedy, J. S. McCormlck, Honry Gray,
Honry Z. Curtis, M. H. Clark, A. J. Simp-
son and P. W. Hitchcock, tho Pioneer Hook
and Ladder company was organlzod. Tho
territorial legislature mot tho following
wlntor and tho company applied for a
charter, which wbb granted It, crapowor-s
tng it to own $2,000 worth of flro-Oght-
Ing apparatus. Tho certificate of this In-
corporation Is signed by J. Sterling Morton
os torrttorlal secretary.
Ono of tho next laws passed by tho IcglB-
laturo was that relieving voluntoor flromon
from Jury duty. In tho city of Omaha at
that llmo Juries woro called moro frequently
than 'flromon and that was ono of tho
reasons which brought Into tho ranks ot
tho Ploneor company a largo numbor of tho
promlnont cltlzons of tho community,
Among thoso In tho first organization, or
who Joined It within tho first fivo years
of Its oxlBtenco, woro: John A. Crelghton,
Frank Murphy, Fred Krug, L. S. Hoed,
W. P. Wilcox, J. B. Morkol, W. L. May,
John M. and Joseph F. Sheoloy, P. J.
Karbach, P. Wlndhotm, Gcorgo Glacoralnl,
Samuel Hums, J, O. Mcgeath, I). C. Sutphcn
and Henry Pundt. On tho list ot honorary
rnombors will bo found names ot other men
who took a prominent part In thoso days ln
tho affairs of tho city.
Later In tho organization appeared men
who camo to tho city at a later day, but
who are now deemod pioneer cltlzons,
among thorn W. II. H. Llowollyn, now n
resident of New Mexico, who lod a troop
of cavalry In Colonol Thoodore Roosovolt's
Hough Riders.
Am the Company Appeared In 1H(IH.
Herewith Is presented a photograph of
the company as It appeared In 18C8, bo far
as known tho first photograph taken ot tho
company. Tho occasion of tho assembly
which preceded tho plcturo was a parado
to bo followed by a ball and entertainment
nt tho Academy of Music for tho purpose ot
raising monoy to pay for tho truck which
was displayed with feelings of prldo that
day. This truck was tho third purchased
by tho company. It was bought by W. L.
May, thon foreman of tho company, and was
tho second which had boon secured by him
for tho organization. In tho parado tho
entlro police forco of tho city, hoadod by
tho mayor, took part and tho pollco forco
and flro department wero then lined tip
In front of tho Control block on Farnam
street for tho photograph. Ono romarkable
thing about tho photograph Is that It wns
the last ono takon showing Farnam street
without a Btroct cor trook, for the old horse
cor line which extendod from the Union
Pnclflo depot and to the southeastern part
of town was laid the following yoar.
Tho Pioneers wer a fortunate company,
for whllo they took part In all ot the flres
sSswiHiKivSSiiHiiHi
- "waegaBMEffl6
which occurred from I860 to 1885 not a
man was killed whllo on duty. Tho most
sorlous Injury received by any of tho mom
bors was when ono of thorn broko bis
arm at a flro on Harney street, near Ninth.
Tho oldest record of tho company extant
Is In tho possession of Lewis S. Heed, onco
secretary of tho organization. Tho earliest
dato recorded In tho minutes Is September
0, 1870. On that day Samuel Burns and
Qoorgo Olacomlnl wore mado llfo members,
LAST PHOTOGRAPH OF PIONEEIt HOOK AND LADDER
having served soven years with tho society,
A. P. Hopkins was then secretary, and
. . iiuiimuo mruo mwii niitniui, llliu
1 .. ...111. ,.i . ..II . i . . I . i
mniuo wuu uviuuiii uuiigm inui j. u,
Markol reported having received on behalf
of tho company $20 from tho city council
for being tho first company at fires tho
greatest numbor of times during tho precod-
Ing year. Tho minutes Bhow that tho mom-
bors woro particular In regard to their
associates and that four black balls would
sufllco to keep a man outstdo of tho palo,
nnd ono applicant received thorn at this
mooting.
Thoro wbb a room coramlttco of threo
rnombors whoso duty It was to kcop tho
rooms and machlno In presentable shape.
Tno "cord, which extends over sovcral
years, shows an Invariable entry: "Room
oommlttoo for month fined 25 cents each for
'n'l"ro t perform tholr duties." This
Anally became unbearable, and after ap-
Porontly every actlvo momber had con-
trlbutod his quarter B. Lyttlo was em-
ployed ot $24 por year to cloan tho room
nnd apparatus,
T,vo ,,ot ''''
Tho two hottest flres ln tho history of
tho earlier organization occurred In 1870.
On Christmas ovo tho gas plant burned,
Tho men fought as woll as posslblo, but
could do nothing, nnd tho ontlro property
was destroyed, entailing a loss of about
$6,000. Tho men had not recovered from
illlllllllllllllllllllllllllflillllSHilWilllW jglllH iiBif jiiHL! '"Sllfl
tho exertions of this lire, but wore enjoying
Christmas cheer tho next day, when they
woro called out to fight a flro which
originated In tho lumber yard of Hoagland
& Son and communicated with the coal
yard of T. S. Clarkson. Tho day was bitter
cold, and the burning piles of lumber and
coal gave off a flcrco heat which would
parch tho hands and faces of tho flremcn.
Tho coats and boots froze upon their bncks
and feet, whllo from their heads and faces
It scorned tho blood would burst from tho
heat of tho flames. This flro Is remom
bored by all of tho flremcn of that day
as tho most disagreeable in tho history
of tho company. For six hours thoy fought
flames and tho secretary, In his report,
notes tho fact that whllo tho day beforo
thoy had fought flro at tho gas works, tho
COMPANY.
gas company furnished thorn, unwittingly.
much old ln lighting tho Hoagland flre.
II1UUU UIU in IlgUllDg IUO IIOUCIQIIU lire,
... . . ..
Among ono or tno great troubles mulcting
tho flremcn ln tho early day was a lack ot
water. Many buildings wero consumed
sololy becauso tho wells from which tho
engines wero fed wero exhausted. Tho gas
company first Intended to build Its plant
near tho Hoagland lumber yard, and wont
so far with tho work as tho sinking of holes
for tho reservoirs. From thoso holes, do-
sorted by tho company, camo tho water
which oxtlnguished tho flro nt tho lumber
yard.
Tho next big flro was tho burning of the
Grand Central hotel. Tho Pioneers took an
actlvo part In tho fight, but tho only record
of tho flro shown upon tho minutes of the
company Is a mlnuto to tho effect that two
of tho rnombors wero fined $2 for leaving
tho flro without permission of tho foreman.
From tho first tho rnombors of the
iMoncor Hook and Ladder company were
proud of tholr organization and to dls-
tlngulsh thomselvcs provided for a uniform,
which was maintained until tho company
disbanded. This uniform is shown upon the
body of Frank H. Roosters, the last as-
slstant sccrotary of tho organization.
Tho second plcturo of tho company is a
freak ot D. S. Mitchell, an old-tlmo photog-
raphor of Omaha, who was a member of tho
company. Tho apparatus, motive powor and
FIRST PHOTOGRAPH OF PIONEER HOOK AND LADDER
bodies of tho members of tho company wore
drawn by the photographer and tho heads
of tho various actlvo members of tho com
pany In 1885 wero cut from photographs and
pasted upon tho bodies. Tho wholo was
then photographed. Members of tho com-
pnny say that tho heads nro probably tho
best photographs of tho company as It was
at tho tlnio of Its dissolution.
May 5, 1883, Pioneer Hook and Ladder
company assembled for tho last time. Tho
paid department had been organized and
thero was no longer a placo for voluntocrs.
Tho town had grown so largo and tho Arcs
so frequent that It was really easier to do
Jury duty anyway than to run with tho
machine. The event was onu marked ln
tho history of tho city. Tho entire flro
department and tho municipal organization
turned out. Tho veterans of Pioneer com
pany wero cheered along tho Hdo of march
by tho citizens. That night nt tho "opera
houso" thero was a final ball and assembly
at which John M. Thurston delivered an
oration voicing tho esteem In which trip
company was held by tho citizens In the
twenty-flvo years of its existence Then
followed tho danco and at Its close Pioneer
Hook and Ladder company, the Alpha and
Omega of tho volunteer flro fighting
societies of Omaha, beenmo a memory a
memory which Is cherished in tho minds
of many men now far scattered over tin
country, but onco united In common tics
in the city "above all others on a stream. "
Little, but a Brave Man
Tho murder In a Crawford, Nub., Huloon
recently, of Uapttsto aarnier, bettor known
m tho Black Hills country us "Llttlu Bat,"
removes from that suction of tho country
ono of Its most famous characters.
"Llttlo But's" llfo was passed on tho
frontier, relates tho Chlcugo Chronicle. Ho
knew llttlo of tho outside world and lie
cured less. Horn In tho smoko of un Indian
camp, his childhood wus ussoclutcd witli
ull tho pastimes that wero Invigorating
and strengthening. At 1G years "Little But'
was as sturdy a specimen of young man
hood as ono would euro to see. Ho was us
supplo us a willow and as strong as u
giant. Tho only education he possessed
was that which tho sun, tho moon, tho
stars and human nature had given him.
Ho could neither road nor write, but ho
spoko tho languages of tho Sioux, tho
Cheyennes and tho Crows quite as well, if
not better, than ho did that of tho whites.
As hunter and scout for prospectors who
wero then tumbling over ono another on
tho oW sldnoy trall ln thelr rush to tlle
hllls -riaio Bat" attracted tho attention
hlllu "T Kiln Tin1
iiino 4J1U1U UUb
attracted tho attention
of army ofllccrs.
Contemporaneous with
Frank aurard, and a warm perSonal friend
r .hi. fm .,, ,, i.. ,,. D
found himself Intrusted to perforin tho
n,08t hazardous bits of work
u wa8 oniy when thero was no scouting
to bo done or explorations to bo mado that
tho wild harum scarum and yet harmless
naturo of the blg-heartcd fellow who hail
boon gulping fresh air from babyhood ex-
hlblted ltsolf. "Llttlo Bat" enjoyed a gamo
of m0nto about as well as any man on tho
frontier and during tho long, dreary months
when his services as a scout wero not ln
demand ho could bo found beforo a layout
smoking clgarottes which ho rolled himself
and betting or borrowing, according to his
success at the game,
"Llttlo Bat's" last prominent field sorvlco
was in connection with tho Sioux campaign
of 1890-91. When Big Foot's band was cor-
railed at Wounded Kneo creek by tho
Soventh cavalry ho doubted tho sincerity
of tho Indians, who had promised to sur-
render formally on tho following day. Ho
told Colonel Forsytho of his fears. The
night passed without Incident. With tho
break of day the camps of tho troopers
and soldiers wero astir. Breakfast over, an
order was Issued that tho redskins sur-
rondor their arms. This thoy refused or
COMPANY.
December 30, 1000.
nt least did not do. Thereupon they were
commanded to stand ln lino and submit to
a thorough search, as It was "Llttlo Bat's"
belief that tho weapons wero concealed
beneath tho folds of tho savages' blankets.
t The search had not begun when a medi
cine man, an aged rascal freshly painted
for trouble, slipped beforo tho lines of
Indians and thoso of tho soldiers. Ho began
a chant which was full of meaning to "Llt
tlo Bat." It was tho Sioux's death song.
That u tragedy was at hand there could bo
no doubt In tho mind of this seasoned
scout.
In vain did ho try to catch tho eyo of his
colonel, who wns at tho cxtreino end of ono
lino. Suddenly tho medicine man stooped,
picked up n handful of snow and sand and
flung It high in tho nlr, at tho same time
V-'js 'SSlB
FRANK II. KOESTERS LAST SECRE
TARY OF THE PIONEERS.
ceasing his chant with u. shrill cry.
"Look out!" yelled "Llttlo But" to tho
soldiers, but beforo thoy could rulso their
carbines a murderous lire wus turned upon
them from tlle two columns of savages.
For a moment or moro tho troopers woro
ln a panic. They knew not which way to
turn, so sudden was tho uttuck. But tho
tido of buttle wus quick to turn and within
thirty minutes over 2U0 deud and wounded
Indians lay upon the field. Of tho troopers
thirty-live, Including bravo Captain Wal
lace, wero killed outright and twlco us
many moro were disabled an awful penalty
to pay for attaching so llttlo Importance
to tho suspicions of so experienced a scout
as "Llttlo Bat." Gamier got out of the
cross-llro of troops and savages by crawl
ing on his hands and knees to un elevation
whero a four-inch gun was planted. Here
ho lay pumping his Winchester into the
Indians as they lied for cover ln tho draws
of tho hills.
Slnco tho campaign of 1S90 the scout has
"been a familiar llguro about Crawford,
Chadron, Hay Springs and Oelrlchs. Ho
seldom got farther east than Valentine,
which Is near tho Rosebud reservation. Tho
meager press reports of his death show
that ho was slain by a saloon manager or
bouncer. It may have been brought about
by a quarrel over montc. "Llttlo Bat" en
Joyed tho confidence of Generals Crook,
Torry, Curr, Merrltt and Mites and next
to Frank Gurard was tho foremost scout
ln tho army. Ho was not a relative of
Baptlsto I'ourlcr, who Is known as "Big
Bat" and who enjoys soma distinction us a
scout.
Now Will You Smile
Mrs. Kendal is nothing If not impulsively
gonial, roports tho Philadelphia Telegraph,
and tho imperturbability of certain charac
ters has often n curiously Irritating effect
upon her. Sho was shopping ono day at
certain woll-known stores, and, having
completed her purchases, took leave of the
assistant who had served her with a friendly
"Good morning." Thero was no reply, ln
that hard-working damsel's busy career
thoro was no time, probably, for tho minor
gentlenesses of life. "Say good morning
and smtlo!" exclaimed Mrs. Kendal, Im
petuously. Tho girl stared In muto amaze
ment. "Thon I shall remain until you do,"
said tho great actress, In tho most per
suastvo but yet in the firmest tones. This
was too much for tho girl. "Good morn
ing," sho said, and burst out laughing.
From that hour Mrs. Kendal's appearance
at tho stores In question was the signal
for an outburst of geniality.
The Extreme Limit
Washington Post: "I think thero snould
be a law against publishing lies," said tho
Innocent-faced man as ho laid down his
paper and heaved a sigh.
"Have you discovered a Ho?" was asked
by a follow passenger.
"I'm suro of It. A man who was on a
stcomer when It was wrecked claims to
have swam a distance of forty miles to
land. Wo know that a physical Impossi
bility. I myself was onco on a steamer
lost off tho const, and at that time I vas
called a champion swimmer. I swam and
swam, but I didn't swim no forty miles.
I couldn't havo dono it."
"How for did you swim?"
"Thlrty-nlno miles to a foot, sir, and any
man ln this world who says ho has swum
forty Is a liar, sir, and the truth Isn't la
him, sir."
