the godless revellers and gamblers of this second Sodom; and rival towns declared a situation so exposed to constant winds could never be secure or desirable But it is not easy to uproot a metropolis once started; and Californians were not the men to despair Many of them had been several times stricken, losing their every dollar; but each time they rallied and renewed the fight. Reading a lesson in the blow, they resolved to take greater precautions, and while frail shelters had temporarily to be erected, owing to the pressure of business and the demand for labor and material, it was soon replaced by substantial walls which should offer a check to future fires. so many buildings supposed to be fire-proof had fallen, it was greatly owing to their being surrounded by combustible houses. This was remedied by the grad

If

the owners, about the time of its destruction. The policy for the other house, No. 14 of plan, came at the same time. Insurance companies had not yet opened here. The Jenny Lind theatre fell. The principal houses as reported in Alla Cal., the only unburned newspaper, were J. B. Bidleman, $200,000; E. Mickle & Co., $200,000; Dall, Austin, & Co., $150,000; Simonsfield, Bach, & Co., $150,000; Starkey Brothers, $150,000; De Boom, Vigneaux, & Co., $147,000; Oppenheimer, Hirsch, & Co., $130,000; Kelsey, Smith, & Risley, $125,000; Moore, Tichenor, & Co., $120,000; Treadwell & Co., $85,000; Thomas Maguire, $80,000; Adelsdorfer & Neustadter, $80,000; Fredenburg & Moses, $75,000; John Cowell, $70,000; J. L. Folsom, $65,000; W. D. M. Howard, $30,000; Baron Terlow, $60,000; Beck & Palmer, $55,000; J. & C. Grant, $55,000; Cross, Hobson, & Co., $55,000; Haight & Wadsworth, $55,000; W. O. Bokee, $50,000; Lazard Frères, $50,000; Annan, Lord, & Co., $50,000; Herzog & Rhine, $50,000; Nichols, Pierce, & Co., $50,000; S. Martin & Co., $50,000. In Annals S. F., 331, it is estimated that from 1,500 to 2,030 houses were ruined, extending over 18 entire squares, with portions of five or six more, or three fourths of a mile from north to south, and one third of a mile east to west; damage moderately estimated at $10,000,000 to $12,000,000. S. F. Directory, 1852, 18-19, assumes the loss at from $7,000,000 to $12,000,000; Stanley, Speech, 1854, gives the latter figure. Dewitt and Harrison saved their building, g of plan, by pouring out 83,000 gallons of vinegar. Schenck's Vig., MS., 48. Rescued effects were largely sent on board ships for storage; shelter in the outskirts was costly. Garniss, Early Days, MS., 19, paid $150 for the use of a tent for 10 days, and more was offered. Robber gangs carried off large quantities of goods, a portion to Goat Island, whence they were recovered, but effects to the value of $150,000 or $200,000 are supposed to have been carried away on a bark which had lain off the island. A govt vessel made a fruitless pursuit. In Larkin's Doc., vii. 287-8, are other details. The store-ships Niantic, Gen. Harrison, and Apollo were wholly or partly destroyed. The offices of the Public, Balance, Picayune, Standard, and Courier were burned.

53 Larkin, Doc., vii. 287, writes on then rising, 75 already with tenants. filling.

May 15th that 250 small houses were
Sansome st was much improved by

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

207

The rav

ual exclusion of unsafe structures from within designated fire-limits, by the improvement of the fire department, and other precautions, all of which combined to preserve the city from similar wide-spread disasters. One more did come, to form the sixth and last in the great fire series; but this occurring in the following month, June 1851, was due partly to the flimsiness of the temporary buildings, and partly to the lack of time to establish preventive measures and weed out incendiary hordes. aged district extended between Clay and Broadway streets, nearly to Sansome and Powell streets, covering ten entire blocks, and parts of six more, with about 450 houses, including the city hall, and involving a loss of two and a half million dollars. Thus purified by misfortune, and by the weeding out of rookeries and much filth, the city rose more beautiful than ever from its ashes.5 Hereafter it was admirably guarded by a fire department which from a feeble beginning in 1850 became one of the most efficient organizations of the kind in the world.56

55

Stanley's Speech, 1854. Annals S. F., 344, says $3,000,000; S. F. Directory, 1852, 19, over $2,000,000. The fire started in a dwelling on the north side of Pacific street, below Powell, at about 11 A. M., on June 221. The Jenny Lind theatre fell again, together with the city hospital, the old adobe City hotel, the Alta office, which had hitherto escaped, the presbyterian church, etc. The city hall, formerly the Graham house, was a four-story wooden building, on the N. w. corner of Kearny and Pacific sts; the chief records were saved. Dunbar's bank escaped though surrounded by fire. Sayward's Rem., MS., 30. Manager T. Maguire was burned out for the sixth time. Seven lives were lost, three by fire, the rest by the mob and police, as robbers and incendiaries, yet one was an honest man assisting his friends to save property. The fire companies were thwarted by lack of water, and by the opposition of owners to the pulling down of their buildings. Alta Cal., Sept. 21, 1851, wails over the destruction of old landmarks. The progress of fire-proof buildings is shown in S. F. Directory of 1852, 16, which states that nearly all the west side of Montgomery street, between Sacramento and Washington, was lined by them. Their value was satisfactorily tested in Nov. 1852, when they restricted a dangerous fire on Merchant and Clay streets to 30 wooden buildings worth $100,000. For further details concerning the great fires of S. F., I refer to S. J. Pioneer, Feb. 16, 1878; Farwell's MS., 4; Annals S. F., passim; S. F. Bull., Nov. 27, 1856; Cal. Courier, July 16, Sept. 18, 1850; Williams' Pion. Past., 44-8; Tiffany's Pocket Ex. Guide, 124-6; S. F. Call, May 14, 1871; S. F. Alta, July 1, 1850; S. F. Pac. News, May 4, Dec. 16, 1850; Polynesian, vii. 6, 30.

As commemorated by the phoenix on its seal.

56 Before the fire of Dec. 24, 1849, there had been no serious occasion to drive the absorbed money-gatherers of the city to organized method for protec

The mining excitement, with the consequent exodus of people, served to abate but partially the factious

tion against fire, and only three merchants had thought of introducing fireengines, which were, indeed, of little value in an emergency. Starkey, Janion, & Co. owned one of them, the Oahu, which had been nearly worn out by long service in Honolulu; another was a small machine belonging to Wm Free, intended for a mining pump. The havoc made by the first great fire roused the people to the necessity for action, and assisted by experienced firemen Like D. C. Broderick, F. D. Kohler, G. H. Hossefros, G. W. Green, W. McKibben, Ben. Ray, C. W. Cornell, J. A. McGlynn, Col Wason, Douglas, Short, and others, E. Otis organized the Independent Axe Company, the municipal authorities granting S800 for the purchase of hooks, axes, and other implements. S. F. Minutes Legisl., 1849, 101, 106, 112, 116, 127-36; Alta Cal., and Pac. News, Jan. 15, 17, 1850, etc. A hook and ladder company is also mentioned, also Mazeppa Fire Co., as well as payments and other acts by the fire committee. In January Kohler was appointed chief engineer by the council, at a salary of $3,000, with instructions to form a fire department, to which end he obtained the three engines in the city, and selected for each a company, Empire, Protection, and Eureka. No fire occurring for some time, the movement declined somewhat under absorbing business pursuits, so much so that the next disaster found scanty preparations to meet it, hose being especially deficient. After this the appeal to the public received greater attention, and in June 1850 the fire department was formally organized, with the Empire Engine Company No. 1, dating formally from June 4th, with D. C. Broderick as foreman, G. W. Green, assistant, W. McKibben, secretary, and including F. D. Kohler, C. W. Cornell, J. A. McGlynn, D. Scannell, C. T. Borneo, J. Donohue, C. P. Duane, L. P. Bowman, A. G. Russ. It selected 'Onward' for a motto, and formed in 1857 a target company of 125 muskets. Company 2 was the Protection, succeeded by the Lady Washington, and subsequently, in 1852, by the Manhattan. According to the Alta Cal. it was first organized informally by Ben. Ray in 1849. Both of these were composed chiefly of New York men, and represented the New York element in political and other contests. Company 3 was the Howard, formed June 14th by Boston men under guidance of F. E. R. Whitney, foreman, first chief of the later paid department. It was named in honor of W. H. M. Howard, who presented to it a Hunneman engine, just brought by his order, and which for a long time remained unsurpassed. Among the members were J. G. Eagan, T. K. Battelle, G. L. Cook. This was originally the Eureka, with Free's toy engine, which lost the claim to No. 1 by a few hours of delay in organizing. The fire of June 22d gave fresh impulse to organization, and on Sept. 7th the California, company 4, was formed, at first with an engine loaned by Cook Bros & Co., soon replaced by a mate to the Howard. The members, chiefly residents of Happy Valley, embraced M. G. Leonard, G. U. Shaw, W. N. Thompson, G. T. Oakes, G. Endicott, C. Hyatt, R. S. Lamott, and G. M. Garwood, foreman. Company 5 was the Knickerbocker, formed Oct. 17th, with a small wheezy engine nicknamed Two-and-a-half and Yankee Doodle. Foreman J. H. Cutter, with J. Wilson, C. E. Buckingham, R. R. Harris. Earlier than these two were the Monumental 6, 7, 8, which organized in June as independent companies, joining the department only in Sept., and so receiving a later number. It was composed of Baltimore men, with a mixture of Philadelphians, who sported three small engines, Mechanical, Union, and Franklin. Among the members were G. H. Hossefros, long foreman and subsequently chief, W. Divier, J. S. Weathred, J. Capprise, R. B. Hampton, W. H. Silverthorn, J. H. Ruddock, R. H. Bennett, W. L. Bromley, and W. Lippincott. Soon after resigning No. 8 the companies consolidated into No. 6, in 1854, with an improved engine, followed in 1861 by the first steam fireengine in the city. No. 7 was filled by the Volunteer, and No. 8 by the Pacific. Earlier than these two, in 1822, were the Vigilant and Crescent, chiefly

POLITICAL DISCORD.

209

spirit roused by personal feelings and business rivalry, and strengthened by an irritating subordination to military power. But it fully revived with the return of population from the mines, and in December 1848 a new council was chosen.57 The result was far from pleasing to the old body, which, rallying its partisans, declared the election nullified by illegal votes, and held another in January. To this

58

of New Orleans men; Columbian and Pennsylvanian, of Philadelphians, including the later Mayor Alvord. In 1854-55 followed the Young American and Tiger, Nos. 13, 14, the former at the mission, the latter on Second st.

In early days, when hose and water were scanty, the chief work fell on the hook and ladder companies, of which the department in June 1850 counted three, the St Francis, composed of E. V. Joice, S. H. Ward, C. P. Duane, W. A Woodruff, G. B. Gibbs, B. G. Davis, J. C. Palmer, foreman, and others; the Howard, succeeded by Lafayette, which consisted of Frenchmen, with a Parisian system and a uniform granted by Napoleon; the Sansome, sustained chiefly by rich business men. A. De Witt, F. Mahoney, C. L. Case, E. A. Ebbets, J. L. Van Bokkelen, G. A. Hudson, W. Adrain, H. A. Harrison, W. H. Hoffman, W. Greene, F. A Bartlett, R. L. Van Brunt, were among the members. Green, Ebbets, and Van Bokkelen were the first foremen. Some years later hose companies were added, making up the 20 companies called for by the legislative regulation of 1851. The department charter is dated July 1, 1850. Kohler, elected chief in Sept. 1850, was succeeded in the following year by Whitney, of the Baltimore faction. He resigning, Hossefros of the Philadelphians held the position till 1853, when Duane entered. In May 1852 a board of firewardens was formed. The records of the department were lost in the fire of May 1851. A benevolent fund was then begun, which by 1855 amounted to $32,000 and grew to $100,000. For details, see Alta Cal., June 14, July 1, etc., 1850; Nov. 16, 1866; and scattered numbers of intermediate years; also Pac. News, Oct. 18, 1850, etc.; Cal. Courier, Sept. 25, 1850; and S. F. Herald, June 17, 1850, etc; S F. Bulletin, Dec. 3, 1866; S. F. Chronicle, Nov. 11, 1877; S J. Pioneer, May 25, 1878; S. F. Call, Apr. 14, 1878; Annals S. F., 614-25; and S F Directories, that of 1852, enumerates 14 companies, whereof 2 are for hook and ladder; No 4 was situated as far east as Battery, No. 9 on Stockton, near Broadway, the rest more central. The formation of companies, each as much as possible composed of men hailing from the same eastern town, led to clannishness and rivalry, which in a measure was stimulating and useful, but also detrimental in leading to extravagance, political strife, and even bloody affrays. They shared in military exploits, and in August 1850 one company started for Sacramento to suppress the land squatters. They vied with one another in elaborately fitting and decorating their fire stations. The Sansome company's station furniture alone cost $5,000, and had a library. While they merged finally at the close of 1869 into a paid department, their noble devotion in emergencies must ever be commended, leaving as they did business, pleasure, sleep, and comfort to voluntarily face toil and danger for the common good.

57 By a vote of 347 on Dec. 27th. Members, John Townsend, president, S C. Harris, W. D. M. Howard, G C. Hubbard, R. A. Parker, T. J Roach, I. Sirrine, numbering now seven, as resolved. Star and Cal., Dec. 16, 1848, For earlier members, see preceding vol. v.; Californian, Oct. 7, 14, 1848, etc.; Frignet, Cal., 122.

etc.

58 On the 15th, Harris and Sirrine were reelected, the latter becoming president. The other members were L Everhart, S. A. Wright, D. Starks, 1. Montgomery, and C. E. Wetmore. The election for delegates during the

HIST. CAL., VOL. VI. 14

new corporation it transferred its authority, regardless of protests, and of the December council, which sought to assert itself. The opportunity was eagerly seized by disappointed aspirants to air their eloquence upon public rights and the danger of anarchy, and to assist in conjuring up a more exalted municipal power for the district in the form of a legislative assembly of fifteen members, together with three justices of the peace." Their election, on February 21st,

59

preceding week tended to lower public interest in the event, and a much smaller vote was polled than before. The Alta Cal., Jan. 25, 1849, accordingly considers it void.

59 The justices were Myron Norton, T. R. Per Lee, both officers of Stevenson's regt, and W. M. Stewart; the members, T. A. Wright, A. J. Ellis, H. A. Harrison, G. C. Hubbard, G. Hyde, I. Montgomery, W. M. Smith, A. J. Grayson, J. Creighton, R. A. Parker, T. J. Roach, W. F. Swasey, T. H. Green, F. J. Lippett, and G. F. Lemon. U. S. Gov. Doc., Cong. 31, Sess. 1, H. Ex. Doc., 17, 730, with text of resolutions at the decisive meeting on Feb. 12th, reported also in Alta Cal., Feb. 15, 1849. The plan of the organization was presented by G. Hyde, formerly alcalde, who in his Stat., MS., 10-12, points out that only a few of the members obtained less than 400 out of the 602 votes cast. Placer Times, May 12, 1849, etc. According to McGowan, A. A. Green of the Stevenson regt gave a start to the meetings which created the legislative assembly. S. F. Post, Nov. 23, 1878. Ryan, Pers. Adv., ii. 250-2, calls this faction the democratic, Leavenworth heading the aristocratic land-grabbers. The assembly met on March 5th at the public institute, Dwinelle's Col. Hist., 106, doc. iv., although business began only on Mar. 12th; Lippett was appointed speaker; J. Code, sergeant-at-arms; E. Gilbert, printer; F. Ward, treasurer, later J. S. Owens; J. Hyde, district attorney; 1. H. Ackerman, clerk, succeeded by A. A. Green and A. Roane. For rules, acts, and committee appointments, see S. F. Minutes Legisl., 5-46. Owing to the frequent absence of members and lack of quorum, their number was increased by ten, elected on May 11th, whereof W. A. and E. G. Buffum, A. A. Green, Theo. Smith, C. R. V. Lee, S. McGerry, and J. M. Huxley, took their seat on the 14th, Burke and P. H. Burnett subsequently. The proportion of Stevenson's soldiers in the body was large. For biographies, see preceding vols. An early measure was to forbid the sale of lots or other city property, which served to rally a host to the support of Alcalde Leavenworth, including the displaced council members. Loud charges had been made against the alcalde for lavish grants of land, and in such a manner as to permit its accumulation by monopolists for speculation, also for maleadministration. Hyde's Statm., MS., 13; Alta Cal., Mar. 29, 1849. This attitude led the assembly on March 22d to decree the abolition of the alcaldeship and the offices depending upon it, Norton, as the first justice of the peace, being appointed to fill the vacancy under the title of police magistrate, J. C. Pullis being shortly after elected sheriff to assist him. The appeal of the assembly to Gen. Smith for support proved futile. He sustained the alcalde. Greater impression was made upon Gen. Riley, who at this time entered as military governor. Less prudent and firm, he lent his ear first to one side and suspended Leavenworth on May 6th, then the old council of 1848 assisted in obtaining his reinstatement on June 1st; and notwithstanding repeated resignations he retained the alcaldeship. Correspondence in U. S. Gov. Doc., as above, 733-6, 758-60, 771; Placer Times, June 2, 1844. He was inefficient, says Hawley, Stat., MS., 9. Even Commodore Jones writes, June 29th, that he was very obnoxious to the people. Unbound Doc., 55, 66, 228, 319-20.