The demand won our columns for adver tising space certainly shows that business men recognize the val ue of "The Columbian" as an advertising me dium. THE COLUMBIAN and New .York Twica a Week World for $1.75 In advance'Try them. VOL 29 BLOOMSBURG, PA.. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7. 1S94. NO 49 BLOOMSBURG FIREMEN. Mat the Department Was Once and . What it is Sow. THE VETERANS. The Friendship Boy the Only Ones Who Have Kept Up a Continuous Organiza tion, and Who Have Done the Longest Service. The first chartered fire company in Bloomsburg was organized in 1868. The petition for a charter was present ed to the court on February 10, 1868, . and was signed by Fred Widmayer, L. A. Shipman, II. M. Johnson, W. H. Gilmore, J. H. Long, J. L. Walter, W. J. Corell, F. M. Gilmore, Geo. Nicho las, Jacob Aul, H. H. Hansberger, Moses Stiff, Leonard Shively, B. G. Crawford, W. J. Henwood, V. A. Shipman, Fred Fritz, Edward Searles, John McCormick, S. V. Christman, J. H. Kesty, and Thomas Silver. The name was the Bloomsburg Fire Com pany, which was changed in Novem ber 1880 to Friendship Fire Company, No. 1. Besides those named above, the following were charter members: William Webb, W. G. Gerrard, Leon ard Shible, Samuel Hart, J. C. Traub, T. J. Wenner, James S. Wolf, J. A. Staufer, E. Williams, John Roadarmel, W. S. Greenman, Samuel Brochya, W. T. Ritter, W. S. Trivelpiece, G. M. Girton, J. W. Heist, Charles Deck er, Daniel Witts, W. E. Rinker, J. G. Alstatt, W. L Cox, J. T. Fox, Wm. Deterick, John Fox, John Steel, An drew McCormick, William Thomas, James McClusky, John Zimmerman, Simon Shaffer, John Howell, George Harder, T. L. Gunton, Martin Rass mus, John Thomas and John Jacoby. WILLIAM H. GILMORE. On April a, 1868, the old Friend ship hand fire encine was purchased from Friendship Fire Company of Philadalphia, and was used until No vember 24, 1886, when it was sold to the Philadelphia Fire Association, who wanted it for a relic. It was highly decorated, and was taken by them to New York, New Orleans, and other cities on excursions, and about two years ago it was burned up in a fire. The first hose carriage was purchas ed in May, 187 1, and the helmet hats, still in use, in June, 187a. The steam er was bought by the town in 1890. Since it was first formed the Friend ship Fire Company has constantly kept up its organization, and this is owing; to the fact that it had sucti men as .William H. Gilmore and William Webb as members. They have stuck to it through thick and thin. For years Mr. Gilmore gave the company room rent free in his building. They now occupy rooms in the Town Hall, and their parlor has a Brussels carpet on the floor and is handsomely furn . l V ? !V.H' " y ''i'-'' I ished. The members nt present are : Wm. II. Webb, Wm. II. Gilmore, A. V. Hower, John Lewis, Chas. Savits, A. M. Wintersteen, Luther Benshoff, John Neihardt, Peter Kehoe, Jacob Stiner, Jerd Williams, Wilber Ilowcr, Harry Williams, Danl. Stiner, James Patterson, Harvy Deiterich, Wm. Rawlings, John B. Earhardt, Albert Rawlings, F. P. Knorr, Sheridan Swentzel, John McIIenry, Chas. Nuss, Rush Cook, Wm. Kelly, Wm. Boyce, John Fox, E. M. Savits, Robt. Penn man, Saml. Brochy, Harry Housel, Chas. Armstrong, Wesley Shale r, Howard Jones, Harry Utt, Valentine Moyer, Harry C. Bliven, Albert Kelly, William Wolf, Hatry Rinker, Morris Ellenbogcn. WILLIAM H. WEBB. This company hag taken a number of trips away from home. They at tended the Centennial at Philadelphia, ana participated in the great parade. in loai, they went to Reading) in 1883 to the Bicentennial in Philadel phia ; in 1883, to Scranton ; in 1889, to Carlisle and Gettysburg; in 1891, to Lock Haven, and this year toNorris- town to attend the State Firemen s Convention, and at other times to points nearer home. RESCUE HOSE & LADDER CO. The Rescue Hose & Ladder Co. was organized in 1868. They have rooms in the Town Hall, and have a wok and ladder truck and a hose carriage. They have done good work at fires, but they have not kept up a constant organization, though there are always enough of them on hand to get their apparatus out at a fire alarm and they have done good service. 'wiNONA FIRE CO. The Winona Fire Company was or ganized in 1881 and continued for six or eight years in a highly prosperous condition. They had a hall on the third floor of McKinney's building, now Paul E. Wirt's, and the recep tions given by them during the holi days will long be remembered. They sold their hose carriage to the town and disbanded several years ago, and since then a younger set of boys have had charge of it, though with no per manent organization. The Friendship Company has been ths stand-by, and so long as " Gilly " lives, it will continue so to be. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. In 1 88 1 a fire department was or ganized, and rules and regulations adopted. These provided for the elec tion of a Chief Engineer and two as sistants, and an annual parade and inspection. The elections were held for several years, but there never was but one inspection, in 1883, when so little interest was shown by the Town Council that the firemen never at tempted it again. . The Friendship Fire Company has held an annual ball each year since February a a, 1868, when they had their first one in Snyder's Hall. A record of fires in the town has been kept, and we find them as fol lows : 1868 August 4, Dr. J. B. McKelvy's barn. Oxt IS. H. C. Hartman's barn. 1869, February a, Dr. J. R. Evan's barn. i870February 34, Exchange Hotel. 187 iIuly 5, Building of D. Lowen berg, and others. August, Plaining Mill, Bloomsburg Lumber Co. 187a, Jan. 1, W. B. Koons' house. Sept. 4, Rosenstock's Bakery. 1875, Sept. 4, Normal School. 1876, Apr. 11, Snyder's Tannery. August 28, Evans Block. 1877, Feb. a, W. Coleman's stable. May 23, Exchange Hotel. Sept. 19, W. R. Ringrose house and Lutheran Parsonage. 1878, Apr. 27, J. Wagonseller's stable. . Aug. 13, Hick's Pottery. 1879, Aug. ia, Lockard's CarShops. 1883, July 33, Prentiss' shop. 1884, Apr. 1, " 1884, July 10, J. P. Tustin's house. 1886, Feb'y. 37, C. II. Campbell's house. 1887, Jan. 11, Dentler's building. Jan. 25, Desk Factory. 1888, Apr. 37, Lockard's Paint Shop. Same day, Jail stable. August 30, Desk Factory. Oct. 6, Harm an & Hassert's shops. 1889, Jan. 8, Mason house. 1890, Apr. 11, G. M. Lockard's barn. May 28, Mears' shop. July 35, Moyer Bros., drug store. Oct. 33, Kesty's machine shop. 1891, May 18, Brown's grocery. June 32, I. W. McKelvy's store. Aug. 17, J. S. Blue's stable. 1892, Oct. 31, House at Irondale. 1893, Nov. 24, C. Krug's Planing Mill. 1894, E. Ralston's store. March 15, Pugh's house; June 18, E. Shutt's stable j July 1 1, Bloom Car Co's. shop. Oct. 11 Crossley's shop. In 1874 the Water Works were erected. Prior to that time the only water supply was from wells and cis terns. Several large cisterns were built for fire purposes, one of them being in the Court-House yard. Over the latter a force pump wa3 placed, but it was neglected, and was usually out of older. The old hand engine was filled by forming a line and pass ing buckets of water along to the en gine, into which they were emptied one at a time, until the box was full, and then the firemen would pump away until the water was exhausted, when they would have to stop until filled again. We rem ember one fire when the men were so intent on watching the fire that a sulficent number could not be found who were willing to pas? ihe buckets. Seeing this, the women formed a line and supplied the engine with water until the men became ashamed and took their places. Gen erally, however, everybody was willing to lend a helping hand, and the best service possible with such primitive means was rendered, and the saving of property was sometimes quite sur prising. The present fire protection in the town is unsurpassed by any city in the State. Every plug is capable of being converted into an engine that will throw two streams of water over any building in the main portion of the town, while higher places can be leached by the Friendship steamer. And there are few townsv where a braver or harder working lot of fire men can be found than in Blooms burg. There is no compensation offer ed, and no provision tor cases of in jury to volunteer firemen while in ser vice. Efforts have heretofore been made to have the legislature pass a law pensioning disabled firemen, or to pay their families a certain sum of money in case of fatal injury at a fiie, but, thus far no such law has been passed; but it is a meritorious measure and deserves attention at the hands of the legislature. Slippery Walks. When just the least sprinkling of sawdust or ashes makes the footing safe, to sit indoors by the hour and watch pedestrians on the pavement g ide, slide and scramble in order to avoid getting their heels in the air, is, we admit, a little amusing to the sitee but rather dangerous to the amusee. We have lived in places where it was a legal requiiement for property holders to look after slippery pave ments by either removing the ice and snow or else sprinkling them with saw dust or ashes enough to render them safe. And in the event of injury to any one on account of neglected pave ment the property-holder upon whose premises the accident occurred (and not, the city) was liable for damage sustained. A Narrow Escape From Death. Wellington Sands, a good natured employee at the Carpet Mill, was on last Monday night found by his brother, Hurley Sands, to be clawing the air and gasping for breath when he should have been asleep and quiet ly embraced in the arms of Morphia. The difficulty arose from the fact that by some means he had unconsciously twisted the sheet around his neck and head in such a way as to cause strangu lation. ' Exorbitant Taxation.- Catawissa township being burdened with a tax of 20 mills on its assessed valuation begs to be excused from the contemplated additional assessment for the building of a road from the Bloom ferry to Mainville. The citi zens of the township recently conven. ed to protest against the contemplat ed additional taxation which they aver would give them something over 30 mills upon their assessed valuation. That does seem a little high like in these times. BRIEF MENTION About People You Know. Miss Mamie Gruver visited Mr. and Mrs. Townsend in Berwick inst Sunday. Mrs. E. R. Drinker was the recent guest of Mrs. Mendcnhall, of Berwick. Alfred McIIenry, of Cambro, trnnsacted business in town on Monday. Trof. G. E. Wilbur spent Wednesday in Philadelphia on business. A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. P. B. Ileddens on Thanksgiring morning. Mrs. F. C. Eyer returned from a visit to New Vork city last Saturday. Herbert Furman is assisting in J. G. Wells' jewelry store at present. T. D. Robbins, the extensive nursery man of Lime Ridge, transacted business here on Monday. Harry Houck is taking stenographic notes of the testimony in the case of the county appeal before Referee Wintersteen. Miss Eva Schoch, of Selin's Grove, spent Sunday with her cousin, Mrs. C. Watson McKelvy. Charles Eyer, of Orangeville, was in town the first day of the month, nnd paid this of fice a brief but pleasant visit. W. T. Creasy, representative elect, spent Monday in town. lie will go to Ilarrisburg next month. Mr. and Mrs. John Jones, of Berwick, trnnsacted business in Bloomsburg on Satur day. II. A. McKillip Esq., spent several days in Philadelphia this week attending the ses sions of the Masonic Grand Lodge. Miss Emma Correll is entertaining Miss Minnie Jackson and Miss Lucy Cosper, of West Piltston. Rev. Heilman and Dr. Graydon are book ed for remarks before the Sunday School Institute on Thursday of this week. Mr and Mrs. II. O. Rodgers and their daughter and son, of Ilazleton, spent Thanks giving and several days after with their Blomnsburg relatives. Moses McIIenry, Esq., of Stillwater, ac companied by his brother, of the same place, were among the passengers to Bloomsburg from up the creek on Monday morning. Prothonotary G. M. Quick and Dr. Bill meyer secured nineteen rabbits and seven pheasants on a hunting trip up the creek last weet. D. B. Whitmire, of Berwick,' was in town on Saturday for the first time in several months. He is one of our many patrons who always pays in advance. Judge I. K. Krickbaum, an old subscriber was a welcome caller at this office on Fri day, having reached town on business on the early morning train. William Iphcr, one of Benton township's prominent citizens, and a prosperous farmer, spent last Saturday at the county seat and among other things, inspected The Colum bian office. Constables William Hampton, of Roaring creek, and Daniel Morris, of Numedia, were at the county seat on Monday to make the usual requisite return to court. They were among callers at this office. Robert Swayze, whom Bloomsburgers remember as having been hurt in the bicycle race during the fair, is reported as doing so well as to be able to get to the table for the Thanksgiving dinner provided in Berwick by the P. O. S. of A. Mr. Hurley Sand, the efficient clerk for I. Maier was among the number to slip and fall on the pavement during its recent coat ing of ice. Though quite agde he sprained his back in the effort to either break the fall or go down easy. A BIO AUVEBTISING 00STEA0T. J. M. Gidding & Co. have just com pleted an extensive advertising con tract. Their names can be seen on nearly every spot big enough to hold it, all through the country. Barns and fences are highly decorated with bright colors, landscape scenes &c, and all advertising J. M. Gidding & Co., the clothiers. The painting was done by F. T. Gallagher, assisted by Harry Housel, and they have made a good job of it. Gallagher is an artist, and executes his work with great taste. Mr. P. S. Moyer, an old and re spected soldier (6 1 years of age), was given quite a surprise on Monday night at the residence of his son-in-law, J. W. Mears, on Fifth street. The participants in the surprise party comprised about fifty persons, made up of comrades during the war and the Ladies' Aid Society of Blooms burg. Of the bounties of nature there was such an ample abundance brought in that about twelve basket fulls could have been gathered from what re mained at the close of the festive oc casion. As W. H. Snyder, Esq., was coming through the hall on the first floor of the court house on Monday morning, a large patch of plaster fell down from the ceiling, mashing his hat and soil ing his clothes. Fortunately he was not injured. Wm. Merrill, son of Benjamin S. Merrill, formerly of this place, died on his farm in Maryland last Friday. Mrs. J. Saltzer is a near relative of the deceased. The remains may be brought here for interment. BE SURE YOU MAKE NO MISTAKE. YOU TO Yon will save money by attending Hie iacat low price sale ot line ROCHESTER CIiOTHITG, at the popular 0, LOWEMBERC THE PRESENT TIME ia now coming. In fact, the time is here when you're looking lor articles suitable HOLIDAY was never more complete. "VVe have the useful as well as the ornamental articles. We mention a few items: Dress Pat terns, black Dress Silks, Table Linens, Napkins and Counter panes, Fancy Chinaware. Cut Glass, Lamps, Onyx Tables, Jewelry and Silverware, Pocket Books and Bags, Che nille Curtains and Covers, Kid Uloves, Mittens, Hosiery, un derwear, Fur Muffs, Boas, Fur Capes, Cloth Capes, Coats, Fur Baby Kobes, Fur Floor Bugs, BIG VALUES IN HANDKERCHIEFS, Wond TWIs and Screens. Woodware Shelves. Cabinets, Photo Boxes, Ice Cream Sets, Chocolate Jugs, Silk and Gloria Um brellas, Umbrella Stands, Flower Stands, a large line ot Framed Pictures and Medallions at all prices, Sewing Machines cheap tr W. See the Initial Handkerchiefs andlitlle prices, Down Cushions, Stamped Linens and all materials for fancy work, Silk Lamp Shades, also frames to cover, Colgate's Fine Perfu mery, Toilet Bottles, Manicure Sets, Trays, &c. a . it. 11 1 We invite all to caa ana see. H. J. CLARK & SON. See the Chinaware and ijsf 0$ Sii( TSs$ dowf) That's the position we maintain in the shoe trade. Our shoes are est styles, ail widths, and sold at prices with in the reach of all. A fair trial will convince you that our's is the place at which to buy your shoes. Clcfrks Building, Main CLOTHES. 99999 tor guts. Uur line ot G001 Cut Glass. of the best makes, new Street.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers