A couple of items in 1886 editions of The Chariton Herald reminded me recently of this tattered ceremonial banner in the Lucas County Historical Society collection. It is in tough shape and not seen often because we store it archivally in acid-free tissue paper and a special container. Although parts of the banner remain intact and vibrantly colored, even touching it increases the risk that more will fall away.
So is this the banner referred to in the following paragraph from The Herald of May 27, 1886?
"We were permitted to inspect a new banner which the Engine company has received from the Silsby Co., of Seneca Falls, N.Y. It is a beauty, and one of which the boys may well feel proud. The material used is satin and gold lace. On the front of the banner there is a nice painting of their engine on the way to a fire, while in gilt letters are the words, 'Chariton Engine Co. No. 1.' On the reverse side, in similar letters, the words, 'Chariton Fire Department, Organized Nov. 29, 1887.' On future parades the banner will be carried, and will make a very pretty appearance."
The organizational date given here is wrong. The department had been organized 10 years earlier, during 1877, so this almost certainly is a typographical or reporting error, since the article was published in 1886. The description doesn't quite match the banner either, although I don't recall what is on the other side and am unwilling to disturb its resting place right now to find out.
The Silsby Co., manufacture of steam-powered fire engines, had plenty of reasons in 1886 to favor the Chariton Fire Department with a gift. The department's first Silsby had been purchased for $3,500 in 1877 when the department was organized. It went up in smoke, along with the engine house, during 1883 and had been replaced promptly with a new Silsby.
The latter Silsby, known as Old Betsy, still is with us and working well --- although rebuilt three times during its long history, in 1909, 1955 and 2005.
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Chariton firefighters then (in 1886) and now bring home prizes from statewide competitions. And Old Betsy still competes, although she travels in a custom trailer now rather than the rail car that would have been her means of transport from convention site to convention site during the 1880s.
Here's a report from The Herald of June 17, 1886, published under the headline, "The Firemen's Tournament" ---
"The members of the Chariton Fire Department who attended the State Tournament at Dubuque, last week, came home covered with glory. They brought back the state trumpet which they won last year on long distance throwing. This trumpet has now been won by Chariton for two years in succession. One more winning, and the trumpet remains with them permanently. The little job of winning it the third time will be attended to at Sioux City, where the Tournament is to be held next year.
"In the contest for quick steaming to throw water 100 feet, there were five entries, with the following scores: Independence, 4 minutes 6 seconds; Rescue, of Council Bluffs, 5 minutes, 51 seconds; Button, of Waterloo, 8 minutes, 58 seconds; Chariton, 10 minutes, 10 seconds; Stewart, of Stuart, 11 minutes, 22 seconds.
"Council Bluffs entered a protest against Independence, alaiming that the latter had used other means than those allowed by the rules for raising steam. The protest was sustained by the awarding committee and Independence was ruled out. This giave Council Bluffs, first; Button, second; Chariton, third.
"On long distance throwing there were five entries, with the following scores: Chariton, 268 feet, 7 inches; Stewart, 261 feet, 4 inches; Independence, 244 feet, 8 inches; Button, 236 feet, 8 inches; Rescue, 232 feet, 10 inches.
"The boys report a fine time, and are profuse in their praises of the nice treatment they received at the hands of the Dubuque firemen. There were no accidents of any kind during the tournament and nothing to mar the pleasure of the gathering."
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Then, as now I'm sure, the firefighters had critics who felt that if they were in change things would go differently --- including, apparently, the time required to build up a head of steam in Old Betsy so that she could throw water. The editor of the Herald, J.D. Hull in 1886, scolded one of those critics in his May 27 edition, following a minor fire in Chariton:
"Don't be unreasonable when a fire breaks out, and the entire department is bending every effort to fight the flames. Don't stand around and grumble and growl because the engine does not begin to throw water the very moment you get near the burning building. Bear in mind that it requires time to get up steam. When the boys throw water in 10 minutes and 20 seconds after the first tap of the alarm bell, they are doing splendid work.
"That was the exact time they spent on last Saturday. And yet the remark was heard all around, 'What is the matter with the engine?' One man, a good farmer, too, by the way, and one who should know better, was particularly loud-mouthed in his declarations that the engine company was too slow. He said, 'three or four minutes ought to be plenty of time to get ready.'
"Now, this man may know how to farm and raise stock, but it is certain that he knows mighty little about raising steam other than with his mouth. Give the firemen time. they always do their best. And they always do well. If some of the grumblers would lay hold of the ropes, and help get the apparatus in position, an keep quiet, it would be better for all concerned."
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In case you were wondering, Chariton firefighters did win the distance prize for the third consecutive year in Sioux City during June of 1887, as witness the following report from The Democrat of June 16:
"Last Friday afternoon the fire boys who attended the annual tournament at Sioux City returned on No. 4. They came bearing the silver trumpet, the state prize for distance in throwing, won in three successive contests, and now their property. They came loaded with honors and smiling like conquering heroes. At the depot they were met by a large delegation of citizens who escorted them to the city hall, where several gentlemen welcomed them in brief speeches. During the march the people applauded and the booming of anvils awoke the echoes. It was a proud occasion for Chariton to thus welcome home its volunteer fire department, bringing victory won from contests with the paid departments of the larger cities."
I'm hoping that silver trumpet remains in the firefighters' collection of memorabilia, although I've never seen it.
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