LADIES' AMULET. - Monroe County Library System

48
jfire Pcpartmmt.
Protection. Kire Company No. 6.
In connection with the above representation of
the Engine House of FIIIE COMPANY NO. 6, and
HOOK & LADDER COMPANY NO. 1, a sketch of
the history of those companies has been handed us
for publication, from which we make the following
extracts:
Fire Company No. 6 was organized under the
village charter, in February, 1833. The Fire
Department at this particular juncture was situated
under rather unfavorable auspicies. At this
lime there were five other companies in the village,
but they were not then efficiently organized.
No. 6 had about 26 members, composing some of
the most spirited and active young men in our
city. They petitioned the Trustees fdr an Engine,
•which was granted—the one which they got was
not large, but the company made up this deficiency
by their activity and energy. The first opportunity
offered for the Company's entering into
competition with the other Companies of the
city, was at the fire on the old Acqueduct, when
two Flour Mills and one Saw Mill were burned
to the gronnd. They were the first to play upon
the fire at that time, and have not often been behind
since.
Mr. HENRY MILLARD was appointed the first
Foreman of the Company, and Mr. GEORGE JONES
the Assistant Foreman. During the two years
the conduct of the Company was held by these
officers, its reputation was ably sustained. The
Company increasing in size, they petitioned the
Common Council for an enlarged Engine, which
wa6 immediately granted. Upon the resignation
of Mr. Millard, Mr. JOHN I. RIELLY was elected
Foreman, which office he held about two years.
Upon bis resignation he was presented by the
Company with a copper and silver Trumpet in
approbation of his services as an officer. In 1836,
A. J. LANGWORTHY was elected Foreman, and
has since continued to hold the office.
In September, 1840, the Company removed from
tUeir old quarters on Fitzhugh street, to the new
and elegant building on the same street, opposite
the National Hotel and next door to the Methodist
Chapel. The building was erected by the
Common Council, but the finishing and fitting up
was done by the Members at their own expense,
and winch they have executed in a very elegan
andtastefulmanner. On the 2d day of Octobe
last, the new Engine House was opened by the
Company for inspection, and visitors invited to
tELiK
9 "••>* 911UW1
THE GEM AND LADIES' AMULET.
ciu * ens
eiatic*of the efforts of such vUIIipames
The Company at present number8 „'
«fty,aad in equipments, spirit and eaternri»
inferior to none in our city. '
Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Serials Collection
Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company No. 1.
Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, was organized
on the 23d of November, 1827, at which lime
Mr, Pttixps SMITH was unanimously elected
Foreman, The Company were then without a
Carriage House, the carriage being kept in the
Court House yard of the then village of Rqchesterville;
but they removed in 1833 to a house
which had been finished for their use by the Trustees
of the village, on Fitzhugh street. Soon after
its organization, December 21th, 1827, at the
fire of Mr. E. PECK'S Paper Mill, it met with a
most disheartening accident, in the death of Mr.
THOMAS M. RATHBONE, who was killed by the
falling of a chimne) ; being the first of the members
of the Fire Department of Rochester, who
had fallen a victim to his energetic efforts to preserve
the property of the citizens. It would be
unjust to the Company to suppose they did r.ot
deeply regret the loss they sustained, but it only
had the effect of awakening new activity.
They have experienced many of the vicissitudes
of which other Companies in the Department have
been subjected, but have ever proved themselves
worthy of the many favors they have received
from a generous public, and many buildings have
been preserved to our city, and all our inhabitants
have practically been convinced of the appropriateness
of their motto—" We raze to save.' 1
The following gentlemen have held the office of
Foreman since the resignation of Mr. Smith, with
credit to themselves and honor to the Company,
having been elected in the years mentioned, and
continued until others were appointed:
In 1829, JOHN BINGHAM—1830, HENRY BUSH
—1833, CHARLES R. WARD—1834, CHARLES
HOTCHKISS—the last of whom held the office until
he removed from the cily.
On December 5, 1837, THEODORE B. HAMIL-
TON, Esq., their present spirited and worthy officer,
was elected Foreman, under whose efficient
command the Company have been maintained with
eiual credit for spirit, energy and activity to any
in the city, and as ready as any of their " ever
ready" brethren who " man the brakes."
In May, 1840, they procured & new set of equipments,
which for elegance and durability are not
surpassed in the Department, either for show or
service. On the 1st of Sepiember, 1840, they removed
their carriage to their new and splendid
Carriage House on Fitzhugh street, which the
Common Council had built for them during the previous
summer.
The Company have also fitted up their Rooms
in a tasteful and elegant manner, which has elici.
ted the approving compliments of all visitors, particularly,
the beautiful centre flower of STUCCO
WORK, containing the motto and name of the
Company—prepared and presented to it by Mr.
JOSEPH C. HYATT, and lettered and gilded by
Messrs. EVANS & ARNOLD, of this city, which
does great credit to the artists and is a beautiful
and chaste ornament to these rooms.
The Company are at the present moment in a
most prosperous state, numbering over fifty members,
and being one of the largest and best provi-
ded Companies in the city.
We may here remark that the above wood engraving
is by J. H. RICHARDSON, of this city.
THE CHINESE WALL.—A naval officer writes :
" When at Pe-che-lee, we had a t ip to the great
wall of China, with the Admiral. Thecnd comes
down into the sea about half a mile. There is a
fort on the end of it, with a larse tower. It is
one of the most stupendous affairs I ever beheld.
It appears about thirty feet high, and about the
same in width. It ha9 a watch tower about every
mile of it. The land is very high in the vicinity
some of the hills about 2000 feet, and the wall
goes completely over Ihe tops of the mountains
and is seen as fur as the eye can reach." '
Sun bag 11
From the « Tree and its Fruits."
THE! POWER OF
I well remember the first time that I ventured
home in a state of intoxication. I knew ray situation,
and dreare i that my wife should discover it.
I affected to be witty, affectionate and social, bat
it was a total failure. I felt the power of the fatal
poison nioraentaiily increasing. I saw the inqui.
ring eye of my wife fixed upon me, with a look of
unutterable grief. It was only with her aid that
I was able to reach my pillow.
The checks wtfich her ignorance had imposed
upon me being now removed, all restraint wag
soon swept away, and I came home niffht afier
night in a state most revolting to the feelings of a
delicate, affectionate female. In vain my amiable
companion wept and expostulate!. I was tog
much enlanaled and corrupted to break away ei.
ther from my vices or associates. They neither
feared God nor regarded man. I was led capliv?
by their devices.
I became, I will not say an infidel—for I was
loo ignorant of the theory of scepticism to be one,
I became a mocker. '< Fools make a mock at sin,"
and such a fool was I. I saw that this part of
my conduct was extremely painful to ray piouj
wife, and tried to restrain myself from trifling with
the bible in her presence; but I loved to raise
loud laughter among my boisterous companion^,
and the indulgence served to strengthen Ihe per-,
nicious habit, that I was often detected in the use
of this offensive language.
It was not until I became a father, that her
touching appeals on this subject reached my conscience.
" Must this child," she would say, "be
trained up under these baneful influences ? Must
he be taught by parental example, to despise and
ridicule the Scriptures with his lisping longue*before
he is able to read its contents, or realize its
heavenly orisrin ? No counteracting influence of
mine can obliterate from his mind ihe jest with
which his father has assailed this or that sacred
passage."
Our son now became an interesting little prattler,
imitating whatever he tyeard or saw. I per*
ceived, with a sort of diabolical pleasure, that tldl
first efforts of his infant tongue were to imitate
my profane language, the recollection of which
now sends a thrill of grief and horror through my
bosorn. In vain did his sorrowing mother endeavor
to counteract the influence of my wicked example.
I continued to swear, and he to imitate
my profanity, unconscious of its turpitude. On
a certain occasion I returned from one of my gambling
excursions and found my wife and child ab*
sent. On inquiry, I ascertained she had gone to
her customary place of retirement in a grove, at
some distance from the house. I knew she had
gone there for the purpose of devotion. I bad
been accustomed to see her retire thither at the
evening twilight, and though I thought her piety
unnecessary, I had no objection to it as a source
of happiness to her—but that she should take her
child with her, excited my surprise. I felt some
curiosity to follow her. I did so, and took my position
unseen by her, but where I had a full view
of her attitude and features. She was kneeling
beside a rock, on whioh lay her bible before her.
One hand was placed on its open pasres; the other
held the hand of her fair boy, who was kneelin?
besiJe her, his eyes intently fixed on her face.
She was pale and care-worn. Her eyes were
closed, but the tears were chasing each other down
her cheek, as she poured forth her soul in prayer,
first for her husband, that he might be reclaimed
and saved ; but especially did she plead with God,
that her son, whom she unreservedly dedicated to
him, might be saved from those sins which were
taught him by his father's example. « Save him,"
she cried with agony, « save him from taking thy
creat and holy name in vain; and give his'anx-
IOUS mother wisdom, fortitude and grace, effectually
to correct and break up the habit of profaneness.
>
" Poor mother! pretty mother!» said the child,
rising and wiping off the tears with his soft hand.
"Don't cry, mother; lather will come pretty
soon." l '
Wretch that I am! said I to myself. What
pangs have rent that gentle bosom'! That child
has so often seen her weep on nccoant of my protracted
absence, that the little fellow now supposes
it the cause of her agony and tears '
I crept silently from my hiding place a
turned home with a conscience hirow'ed up