citizens fought the fire inch by inch, and, although it started at noon, it was nightfall before it had eaten its way to the end of the train. The southern end of Front street and the prairie. which at the time embraced the territory from Front to Fourth streets, all east of that being considered the rural districts, was covered with all manner of merchandise and machinery, almost every business man in the city having turned his stock out of store.

Amid this scene of confusion on the evening of the conflagration, the subject of organizing a fire department was thoroughly discussed, and the initiatory steps taken which soon after resulted in its organization.

The first company organized in this city was known as Pioneer Engine Company No. 1, with W. W. Crosby as foreman. Under his administration, the company was uniformed and thoroughly drilled in marching, running, etc., but very nearly a year elapsed before an engine was procured. After the arrival of the machine, the company did good service at a large number of fires, and the Pioneer Engine and Pioneer Engine Company No. 1 were the pride and glory of the Gateway City. Mr. Crosby was succeeded by George Stanley as foreman. The war soon breaking out, a large number of the company members enlisted, and the vacancies were filled with indifferent material. This, however, was in a certain measure overcome by Mr. Stanley's thorough course of drilling, and the company became as proficient as formerly, but various reasons eventually led to their being disbanded by the Common Council.

The uniform of Pioneer Engine Company No. 1 was black pants, red shirt, with a broad collar and a shield on the front of blue velvet, and a square-topped glazed cap, with a shovelboard peak. The company afterward purchased the hats of the Milwaukee Engine Company No. 1, of which the lamented Rufus King was foreman, and the uniform trimmings were changed from blue velvet to black braid. A few years after the organization of Pioneers, Washington Engine Company No. 2 was organized by the German citizens, and a spirited rivalry sprang up.

On the 11th day of October, 1869, Rescue Hose Company with "On to the Rescue" as its motto, was organized with the following officers: President, Theodore F. Rodolf; Secretary, D. W. Marston; Treasurer, F. A. Burton; First Director, Frank Hatch; Second Director, Henry Quinn; Third Director, A. M. Watson; First Pipeman, N. O. Carle; Second Pipeman, J. H. Clark; Third Pipeman, W. P. Meach; Fourth Pipeman, S. W. Sencerbox.

The following are the original members of Rescue Hose Company: Frank Hatch, Joseph H. Clark, Theodore P. Healey, Spencer S. Carr, G. S. Phillips, R. A. Scott, J. K. Shepard, E. B. Stevens, W. H. Huntington, William J. Scott, F. A. Burton, S. J. Collins, H. B. Gregory, W. B. Meach, W. J. Davidson, J. S. Elwell, A. M. Watson, H. E. Quinn, J. P. Scott, N. O. Carle, S. W. Sencerbox, E. G. Rodolf, Theodore F. Rodolf, Thomas Hogan, F. H. Lloyd, W. W. Dudley, J. K. Weston, J. S. Medary, William Graham, O. L. Smith, J. L. Carle. Ory Wariner, G. H. Riley, S. Manheirmer.

May 15, 1871, a meeting was held in the Fifth Ward of the city for the organization of a fire company which was organized with the following members: President, Arthur McGuire; Secretary, R. M. Redfield; Assistant Secretary, R. H. French; Treasurer, William Winston; Captain, O. J. C. Hammond; Foreman, J. M. Russell; Assistant Foreman, G. W. Sperbeck: Pipeman No. 1, John O'Neal; Pipeman No. 2, Robert Gibson; Pipeman No. 3, Joseph Pelkey; Pipeman No. 4, John Wilson; Pipeman No. 5, Joseph Stafford; Pipeman No. 6, M. A. Hubbard; Pipeman No. 7, H. Crisjohn; Pipeman No. 8. G. F. Wrang. The name adopted for the company was Washington Engine Company No. 2. A hand engine was procured about the time of organization. At a subsequent meeting of Washington Company No. 2, the name was changed to Washington Hose Company No. 2. The first officers were J. H. Bristow, Captain; M. W. Gear, Secretary; J. L. Cheshire, Treasurer; J. E. Wilson, First Foreman; Samuel Miller, Second Foreman; D. Knox, First Assistant; O. J. Lands, Second Assistant. All the property belonging to the engine company was turned over to the hose company upon the changing of the name of the company.

The present officers of that company are: E. P. Hammond, Captain; G. E. Wilson, Foreman; A. J. Sands, Assistant Foreman; W. H. Tarbox, Treasurer; M. A. Hubbard, Secretary.

November 11, 1871, a hook and ladder company was organized in the Fifth Ward, with twenty-five men and the following officers: William Gohres, Foreman; August Kowtz, Assistant Foreman; Joseph Moeller, Treasurer; Mat Ebach, Secretary. The present officers of this company are John Wachter, Foreman; Fred Wiggert, Assistant Foreman; John Nagle, Treasurer; John Nine, Secretary.

In 1873, Hand Engine Company No. 3 organized in the Third Ward with fifty men, and John Fox as Foreman

In 1875, Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, which was organized in 1857 disbanded, and the truck which they had used was altered to a hose truck, and placed in care of the Rescue Hose Company.

In 1879, the Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 was re-organized with twenty men, and John Thoeni as Foreman; Charles Ahrens, Assistant Foreman; Adam Jacobus, Secretary. In 1880, Hose Company No. 2 was organized with twelve men, and with Charles Miller as Foreman, and John Ulrich as Secretary.

The following is a list of the Chief Engineers and their Assistants from 1869 to the present date.

1869 to 1870-William Rawlinson, Chief Engineer; John Wacker, Gustavus Voight and Benjamin Ott, Assistants.

1870 to 1871-Frank Hatch, Chief Engineer; F. Kunerth, John Wacker and Theodore Rodolf, Assistants.

1871 to 1872-Frank Hatch, Chief Engineer; David Law, F. Kunerth and J. D. Hiscox, Assistants.

1872 to 1873-Frank Hatch, Chief Engineer; J. Wacker, H. A. Winston and A. M. Watson, Assistants.

1873 to 1874-Frank Hatch, Chief Engineer; A. M. Watson, John Wacker and O. J. C. Hammond, Assistants.

1874 to 1875-A. M. Watson, Chief Engineer; Charles Walter, John Thoeni and William Gohres, Assistants.

1875 to 1876-David Law, Chief Engineer; Frank Hatch, J. Fox and Daniel Knox, Assistants.

1876 to 1877-David Law, Chief Engineer; J. B. McCain, Frank Hatch, Phil Weisbecker, Assistants.

1877 to 1878-David Law, Chief Engineer; Frank Hatch, J. B. McCain and Phil Weisbecker, Assistants.

1878 to 1879-W. B. Webb, Chief Engineer; D. W. Van Bergh, William Duncan and Phil Weisbecker, Assistants.

1879 to 1880-W. B. Webb, Chief Engineer; William Duncan, D. W. Van Bergh and Phil Weisbecker, Assistants.

1880 to 1881-W. B. Webb, Chief Engineer; William Duncan, D. W. Van Bergh and Phil Weisbecker, Assistants.

1881-R. L. Spence, Chief Engineer; William Duncan, John Thoeni and Phil Weisbecker, Assistants.

To sum up the department, there are one hundred and nine men, as follows: Chief Engineer, one; assistant engineers. three; Rescue Hose Company No. 1, twenty-five; Hose Company No. 2, fifteen men; Hose Company No. 3, twenty-five; Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, twenty-five; Hook and Ladder Company No. 2, fifteen. The number of paid men in the company are four; the Chief Engineer, engineer of steamér and driver of hose carriage No. 1; driver of hose cart No. 2, and the driver of hook and ladder truck No. 1. The apparatus of the department consists of two Silsby steam fire engines, combined value, $10,000; one twohorse hose carriage, value, $650; one one-horse hose cart, value, $650; one two-horse hook. and ladder truck, fully equipped, value, $500; one hand hook and ladder truck, a bucket wagon, three hand hose carts, 10,000 feet of hose, value, $10,000, and five horses.

This apparatus is distributed as follows: At the Central Station on Main street, betwe Fourth and Fifth streets, Rescue Hose Company No. 1, in charge of Steamer No. 2. Hove carriage No. 1 and one hand hose cart, with three thousand five hundred feet of hose. Ho and Ladder Company No. 1, in charge of Hook and Ladder Truck No. 1 and all its equip

ments.

At the engine house on the corner of Sixth and Mississippi streets, Hose Company No. in charge of Steamer No. 1, and hose cart No. 2, with one thousand five hundred feet of hose At the engine house in the Fifth Ward, Hose Company No. 3, in charge of two hand hose cara and bucket wagon, and one thousand eight hundred feet of hose; also Hook and Ladder Con pany No. 2, in charge of hook and ladder truck No 2.

THE WATER SUPPLY.

Until the year 1877, the water supply for the Fire Department consisted of fifteen cisterns the water being obtained from the river.

The

In 1877, the present system of water works was adopted, and the first pumping was done in November. The pumps in use are from the renowned George F. Blake & Co. Duplex Pun Company. The pump, pump-house and grounds cost about $30,000, and its guarantee capacity is 2,500,000 gallons every twenty-four hours, but in case of necessity will pump nearl double that quantity. In the Fifth Ward is another duplex pump of the same make. water supply consists of nine and a quarter miles of pipe, as follows: 1,700 feet of sixteen-incl pipe, 623 feet of twelve-inch pipe, 13,080 feet of eight-inch pipe, 32,352 feet of six-inch pip. 1,133 feet of four-inch pipe. In connection with this are ninety-six hydrants. The entir cost of the water supply is $90,000.

In 1876, the present fire-limits were made, as follows: Section 15 of an ordinance to estab lish regulations for protection against fire reads as follows: All that part of the city of La Cross embraced within the following limits shall hereafter be known as the fire-limits, to wit: Con mencing on the east bank of La Crosse River at the south line of La Crosse street, and runnin thence along the south line of La Crosse street to Third street; thence along the west line Third street to the southwest corner of Third and Vine streets; thence along the south line Vine street to the southwest corner of Fourth and Vine streets; thence along the west line Fourth street to the southwest corner of Fourth and State streets; thence along the south li of State street to the southwest corner of State and Fifth streets; thence along the west line Fifth street to the northwest corner of Fifth and Ferry streets; thence along the north line Ferry street to the northwest corner of Ferry street and the alley between Second and Thi streets; thence north on the west line of said alley to the northwest corner of said alley and King street; thence west on the north line of King street to the Mississippi River, and thence northerly along the banks of the Mississippi and La Crosse Rivers, to the place of beginning; also all that portion of Block No. 4 of Dunn, Douseman & Cameron's Addition, which lies north of the south lines of Lots 2 and 11 of said block produced.

The following pertains to the erection of certain buildings within the fore ing fire-limits: Section 21, of the same ordinance, reads as follows: In that portion of the fire." its which lies between Jay and Ferry streets, and between Fifth street and the alley running between Second and Third streets, it shall be lawful to erect and to remove into, or within the same, frame dwell ing houses, stables, barns, stoves or workshops, not more than one story in height, nor larger in length and breadth than twenty-five feet by thirty feet, provided, that not more than one such frame building shall be allowed on one inside-platted lot, nor more than two such buildings upon any one-platted corner lot, without the consent of the Common Council; and provided further, that, within the limits in this section prescribed, no wooden barn or other wooden structure, except dwelling houses, shall be removed or erected and platted within ten feet of any alley. Section 22 also reads: In all that part of the fire-limits which lies west of Third and north of Vine streets. and south of Pearl and west of Second streets, it shall be lawful to erect any frame, mill or manufactory, securely veneered with brick or covered with iron, and to pile slabs in any quantity for