Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire Department
History of Chicago, Rufus Blanchard, 1900
Very soon after the great Water and Lake street fires in October, 1857, the question of having steam fire engines and a paid department began to be agitated, and in February, 1858, the first steamer was purchased, and named “The Long John.” In December of the same year a full company was commissioned by the city authorities to be regularly paid for their services. Gradually additions were made under the paid system, several of the companies reorganizing under the new order of things, but not until the latter part of 1859 were the last of the volunteer organizations disbanded, and the change made complete.
History of Chicago, Andreas, 1884
By 1866, the Department consisted of eleven steam- ers, two hand engines, thirteen hose carts, one hook and ladder truck, one hundred and twenty paid members, one hundred and twenty-five volunteers and fifty- three horses. Within the next five years the hand-en- gines had disappeared, the steam engines had increased to seventeen, the hose carts to twenty-three, the paid members to one hundred and ninety-four and the horses to ninety-one.
Chicago Tribune, November 26, 1867
The regular semi-weekly of the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners was held yesterday afternoon—the full board being present.
FIRE ENGINES AND ALARMS.
The Chief Fire Marshal presented the following report for a division of the city into districts, to each of which a certain number of fire engines should run at the first and second alarms, which was adopted. It was also ordered that at the third alarm all the engines should turn out, and that the second and third alarms should only be sounded by the Marshal or assistant in charge.
South Division.—Benjamin F. McCarthy, Fire Warden
- From River to Hubbard court, on a line west to South Branch:
First Alarm—Long John, No. 1; A.D. Titsworth, No. 13; J.B. Rice, No. 10; A.C. Coventry, No. 11; T.B. Brown, No. 12; U.P. Harris, No. 5; F. Gund, No. 6—7 steamers.
Second Alarm—Frank Sherman, No. 9; Economy, No. 8; Little Giant No. 6; Wm. James, No. 3—4 steamers. Total 11.
From Hubbard court to Thirteenth street:
First Alarm—J.B. Rice, No. 10; A.D. Titsworth, No. 13; Little Giant, No. 6; U.P. Harris, No. 5; Economy, No. 8; F. Sherman, No. 9; Long John, No. 1—7 steamers.
Second Alarm—A.C. Coventry, No. 11; T.B. Brown, No. 12; F. Gund, No. 14; Enterprise, No. 2—4 steamers. Total 11.
From Thirteenth to Twenty-third streets:
First Alarm—F. Sherman, No. 9; Economy, No. 8; Enterprise, No. 2; J.B. Rice, No. 10; Little Giant No. 6; U.P. Harris, No. 5—6 steamers.
Second Alarm—A.C. Coventry, No. 11; T.B. Browm, No. 12; F. Gund, No. 14; Enterprise, No. 2; Long John, No. 1—4 steamers. Total 10.
From Twenty-third street to City Limits:
First AlarmF. Sherman, No. 9; Economy, No. 8; Enterprise, No. 2; J.B. Rice, No. 10—4 steamers.
Second Alarm—Little Giant No. 6; U.P. Harris, No. 5; A.C. Coventry, No. 11; A.D. Titsworth, No. 13;—4 steamers. Total 8.
From Twenty-third street to limits, west of Clark street:
First Alarm—F. Sherman, No. 9; Economy, No. 8; Enterprise, No. 2; J.B. Rice, No. 10; Little Giant No. 6—5 steamers.
Second Alarm—U.P. Harris, No. 5; A.C. Coventry, No. 11; T.B. Browm, No. 12; A.D. Titsworth, No. 13;—4 steamers. Total 9.
West Division—Charles H. Chapin, Fire Warden.
- South of Bunker street, west to Halsted street:
First Alarm—Little Giant No. 6; Economy, No. 8; Enterprise, No. 2; U.P. Harris, No. 5; J.B. Rice, No. 10—5 steamers.
Second Alarm—T.B. Brown, No. 12; Liberty No. 7; F. Sherman, No. 9; A.D. Titsworth, No. 13—4 steamers. Total 9.
From Bunker to Tyler street, east of Union street:
First Alarm—Little Giant No. 6; U.P. Harris, No. 5; J.B. Rice, No. 10; T.B. Brown, No. 12; Economy, No. 8; A.D. Titsworth, No. 13—6 steamers.
Second Alarm—A.C. Coventry, No. 11; F. Gund, No. 14; Liberty No. 7; Wm. James, No. 3—4 steamers. Total 10.
West of Union street, Blue Island avenue:
First Alarm—Liberty No. 7; T.B. Brown, No. 12; Little Giant No. 6; U.P. Harris, No. 5; J.B. Rice, No. 10—5 steamers.
Second Alarm—Enterprise, No. 2; A.D. Titsworth, No. 13; A.C. Coventry, No. 11; Wm. James, No. 3—4 steamers. Total 9.
From Tyler to Monroe streets, east of Peoria street:
First Alarm—U.P. Harris, No. 5; Little Giant No. 6; T.B. Brown, No. 12; A.C. Coventry, No. 11; A.D. Titsworth, No. 13; J.B. Rice, No. 10—6 steamers.
Second Alarm—Liberty No. 7; F. Gund, No. 14; Long John, No. 1; Wm. James, No. 3—4 steamers. Total 10
From Monroe to Hubbard streets, east of Peoria street:
First Alarm—Long John, No. 1; Liberty No. 7; U.P. Harris, No. 5; T.B. Brown, No. 12; A.C. Coventry, No. 11; A.D. Titsworth, No. 13; F. Gund, No. 6; Wm. James, No. 3—8 steamers.
Second Alarm—Little Giant No. 6; J.B. Rice, No. 10; Economy, No. 8; Jacob Rehm No. 4—4 steamers. Total 12.
South of Monroe, west of Peoria streets:
First Alarm—Little Giant No. 6; U.P. Harris, No. 5; Liberty No. 7; T.B. Brown, No. 12—4 steamers.
Second Alarm—A.D. Titsworth, No. 13; Wm. James, No. 3; J.B. Rice, No. 10; A.C. Coventry, No. 11—4 steamers. Total 8.
North of Monroe, west of Peoria streets:
First Alarm—U.P. Harris, No. 5; Liberty No. 7; T.B. Brown, No. 12; Wm. James, No. 3—4 steamers.
Second Alarm—A.C. Coventry, No. 11; F. Gund, No. 6; A.D. Titsworth, No. 13; J.B. Rice, No. 10—4 steamers. Total 8.
From Hubbard, north to Front, and west to Chase street:
First Alarm—Wm. James, No. 3; T.B. Brown, No. 12; F. Gund, No. 14; A.C. Coventry, No. 11; Liberty No. 7; Jacob Rehm No. 4; U.P. Harris, No. 5—7 steamers.
Second Alarm—A.D. Titsworth, No. 13; J.B. Rice, No. 10; Little Giant No. 6; Long John, No. 1—4 steamers. Total 11.
From Front Street to the limits and Rolling Mills:
First Alarm—Wm. James, No. 3; F. Gund, No. 6; T.B. Brown, No. 12; Jacob Rehm No. 4—4 steamers.
Second Alarm—U.P. Harris, No. 5; A.D. Titsworth, No. 13; A.C. Coventry, No. 11; Liberty No. 7—4 steamers.Total 8.
North Division.—John McCauley, Fire Warden
- From the river to Pearson street:
First Alarm—A.C. Coventry, No. 11; F. Gund, No. 6; Jacob Rehm No. 4; Wm. James, No. 3; T.B. Brown, No. 12; Long John, No. 1; A.D. Titsworth, No. 1—7 steamers.
Second Alarm—U.P. Harris, No. 5; J.B. Rice, No. 10; Liberty No. 7; Little Giant No. 6—4 steamers. Total 11.
From Pearson to Granger, west of La Salle street:
First Alarm—T.B. Brown, No. 12; A.C. Coventry, No. 11; F. Gund, No. 14; Jacob Rehm No. 4; A.D. Titsworth, No. 13—5 steamers.
Second Alarm—J.B. Rice, No. 10; U.P. Harris, No. 5; Long John, No. 1; Wm. James, No. 3—4 steamers. Totasl 9.
From Granger street to the limits:
First Alarm—A.C. Coventry, No. 11; F. Gund, No. 14; Jacob Rehm No. 4; Wm. James, No. 3—4 steamers.
Second Alarm—A.D. Titsworth, No. 13; T.B. Brown, No. 12; U.P. Harris, No. 5; J.B. Rice, No. 10—4 steamers. Total 8.
The state of the art fire fighting equipment that was used to battle the Great Fire.
No 1 Long John Steamer
House on Hubbard Street, between State and Wabash Streets.
Long John Engine Company No. 1. This company was first put under full pay in
December, 1858, with Joel A. Kinney as its foreman. He held the position but a few months, being succeeded the next year by Thomas Barry. Mr. Barry remained in this position for two years, when he was transferred to Engine Company No 8. In 1868, Alexander McMonagle was appointed foreman of the company, the “Long John” engine having made its last appearance during the early portion of the year. On the 28th of January, 1868, occurred the Lake-street fire, which was its final work, the steamer soon afterward going into the “scrap-heap.” “Long John the Second” arrived from the Island Works of H. C. Silsby, at Seneca Falls, N.Y, on the 20th of June, and was immediately put into service. It remained intact, however, for only about eighteen months ; for, on January 17, 1870, while going down the approach to Washington-street tunnel, on its way to a South Canal-street fire, and indulging in a contest of speed with the “A. D. Titsworth ” No. 13, it was overturned, and brought up, at the mouth of the tunnel, a total wreck. James Enright, engineer, now engineer of No. 16, was seriously injured. The third “Long John ” arrived
January 30, 1870, and was put into service on the 2d of February. Mr. McMonagle continued to act as foreman until after 1871.
Weight when ready for use 7,500 pounds. Is drawn by four horses. Attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No 2 Wabansia Steamer
House on Sanger, between McGregor and Twenty-fifth street station. This is a second class "Rotary" engine, built at the Island Works of H. C. Silsby, at Seneca Falls, N.Y. Weight when ready for use 5,200 pounds. Is drawn by two horses: attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No 3 Steamer Wm. James
House, Mo. 235, West Chicago Avenue, near Milwaukee Avenue.
This is a second class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H. Weight when ready for use 7,000 lbs. Is drawn by four horses Attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse. The engine was partly destroyed by the fire while in the repair shop, on October 9th, 1871, and rebuilt by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co.
No. 4 Jacob Rehm Steamer
House on Larrabee street, near corner of North Avenue.This is a second class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H. Weight when ready for use 6,300 lbs. Is drawn by two horses. Attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No. 5 Steamer U.P. Harris
House at No. 81 West Jackson St. This is a first class "Rotary" engine, built at the Island Works of H. C. Silsby, at Seneca Falls, N.Y. Weight when ready for use5,200 pounds. Is drawn by two horses. Attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse. Named after former Fire Chief
No. 6 Steamer Little Giant
House on Larrabee street, near corner of North Avenue.
“Little Giant” Engine Company No. 6 was organized on the 13th of February, i860, and stationed at No. 98 Dearborn Street. The original members were: Fred A. Bragg, foreman; William R. Hoisington, Samuel Cunningham, Nelson Edson, and Richard Stringer, pipemen; Samuel Furlong, engineer: William V. Durfee. assistant engineer; John Callahan and William L Moore, drivers; J. R. George, watchman Upon the date of organization, given above, the engine arrived, via the Grand Trunk and Michigan Central Railroad, from the Amoskeag works. It was one of the three ordered by the city, weighed six thousand five hundred pounds, cost $3,500. and was located at the engine house of old “Fire King” No. 1. The “Little Giant” was reorganized in 1864. its headquarters on Maxwell Street, near Canal. John Harrington was the first foreman, being succeeded by Richard Brown, who held the position until 1868. William Mustaam then became foreman, serving until after the fire.
This is a second class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H. Weight when ready for use 6,300 lbs. Is drawn by two horses. Attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse. Acquired in 1860.
Chicago Tribune, February 15, 1860
The New Steam Fire Engine “Little Giant.”
The beautiful new Steam Fire Engine “Little Giant,” of Amoskeag Manufacturing Co.’s Works at Manchester, N.H., referred to in our last issue, as having just arrived here, was brought out to be tested. The day as unfavorable in respect to the high wind prevailing, and success gained in the face of the same should be duly credited. Acquired in 1860.
Water in the first instance was taken from the plug on the corner of South Wells and Washington streets. Steam was made and four streams opened in five and a half minutes from lighting the fire. Later the machine was stationed to take suction at the foot of Washington street on the South Branch, and gave a stream through one hundred feet of hose and a one-inch and a quarter nozzle, a distance of two hundred and twenty-eight feet. Good work.
The steamer is of the vertical pump pattern, with a round, upright boiler; weighs 55 hundred pounds, and cost $3,500. Two other similar machines are to be ordered, we learn, by the city— one being nearly ready to ship at the Works, as above.
No.7 Steamer Liberty
House on No. 611 West Lake Street.
“Liberty” Engine Company No. 7 was put in commission April 27,1861, and located at No. 180 Dearborn Avenue. Its original members were : D. J. Swenie, foreman ; John O’Neil, Frank Agnew, and William Toner, pipemen ; William Horner, engineer; Frank
Sowersby, assistant engineer ; Horace Ward and William Mullen, drivers; John Farrell, watchman. Mr. Swenie was the first and only foreman, serving until
No. 7’s successor, “Fred. Gund” No. 14, was organized, in 1867.
This is a second class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H. Weight when ready for use 6,300 lbs. Is drawn by two horses: attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse. Liberty was destroyed in the repair shop at the time of the fire.
No. 8 Economy Steamer
House on No. 284 Twenty-second Street.This is a second class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H.:Weight when ready for use 6,300 lbs. Is drawn by two horses: attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No. 9 Steamer Frank Sherman
House, No. 173 Cottage Grove Avenue.
This is a first class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H. Weight when ready for use 8,500 lbs. Is drawn by four horses: attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No. 10 J.B. Rice Steamer
House on No. 338 State Street.This is a first class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H.:Weight when ready for use 8,600 lbs. Is drawn by four horses: attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No. 11 A. C. Coventry Steamer
House on Michigan Street, between State and Cass.This is a first class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H. Weight when ready for use 8,500 lbs. Is drawn by four horses: attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No. 12 Steamer T. R. Brown
House No. 80 West Lake street.This is a first class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H. Weight when ready for use 8,500 lbs. Is drawn by four horses: attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No. 13 Steamer A. D. Titsworth
House No. 97 Dearborn street.This is a second class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H. Weight when ready for use 6,700 lbs. Is drawn by two horses: attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No. 14 Steamer Fred Gund
House No. 180 N. Dearborn street.This is a second class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H. Weight when ready for use 6,700 lbs. Is drawn by two horses: attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse. Destroyed during the Great Fire of 1871.
No. 1 Pioneer Hook and Ladder Truck
House on LaSalle street between Washington and Madison. This is a first class carriage with modern improvements, including a patent steering aparatus, built by George W. Hannis, of this city. Weight of truck when fully equipped is 4,500 pounds. Is drawn by two horses.
Hose Elevator and Truck
House near the corner of Harrison Street and Pacific Avenue. This apparatus (Skinner’s patent), built by George W. Skinner, of this city, has been in service one year; can be raised to the height of 84 feet; is used for the purpose of elevating hose to the upper stories of high buildings, and also for saving human lifeand valuable property.
Engine Company No. 24, Jackson and Michigan in 1873. By 1874, the Fire Department had 27 steamers with hose carts, 5 chemical engnes, 7 hook and ladder trucks, 378 men and 145 horses.
I believe that Hook & Ladder Companies ” Rescue” , “Protection” and Hook & Ladder Co. No. 4 also participated in the Great Fire.
In Fire Chief Robert A. Williams’ obituary, the steam engine “Island Queen” is mentioned. It is called ‘one of the first steam fire engines that ever did service in Chicago.” Williams was made captain of that engine.
The hose elevator, being on a short, light chassis, and having the movable deck platform, appears to be precursor to the modern platform ladder or water tower, as we now know it, likely the inspiration for the telescoping-pipe tower nozzle that later came into vogue. Was this a local, Chicago invention? Did any get sold elsewhere? I have never seen this appliance before.
Closest thing to it is the European bogey ladder, hand-run, towed, or piggybacked on an engine body.