Reminiscences of the old fire laddies and volunteer fire departments of New York and Brooklyn. . shudder, draw back, andthe weeping eyes of frien„„, Is this father ? The work whereat theyfound their death was notone performed for wages;nor was their time of labormarked from sun to sun, orfrom certain hours ; nor,when on duty, did the stormdrive them to shelter, orrude blast or winters coldgive them rest when fireraged either in or aroundthe hovel of the poor or tallwarehouse of the rich. Their motto was tosave—? first, the interests ofthe many rich corporationsthat by degrees grew pow-erful, a
Reminiscences of the old fire laddies and volunteer fire departments of New York and Brooklyn. . shudder, draw back, andthe weeping eyes of frien„„, Is this father ? The work whereat theyfound their death was notone performed for wages;nor was their time of labormarked from sun to sun, orfrom certain hours ; nor,when on duty, did the stormdrive them to shelter, orrude blast or winters coldgive them rest when fireraged either in or aroundthe hovel of the poor or tallwarehouse of the rich. Their motto was tosave—? first, the interests ofthe many rich corporationsthat by degrees grew pow-erful, and who thrived andflourished upon their sweatand labor until they grewstrong enough to strike ablow so deadly in its aimthat the pride of our cityfiremen was crushed out,and paid firemen hired to obey many salaried officials as to howand when they should work. The pride of a fireman was legis-lated away, and in its stead was put wages—by hour, day, weekor month. I have met those dudes of the Old Department of whom myfriend Crane speaks. It is only recently that I met one of them in. 26 Reminiscences of the Old Fire Laddies. the City Hall Park. I remember meeting this fellow one day in1863, and on that occrsion he came to ask me my opinion on theexempt question, as he had been drafted, and was in terrible anxietylest he should be quartered in some of the military hospitals. Hisfear of the life of a soldier, and the high price he placed on the ser-vices he had already rendered the country by running to fires, which,by the way, he thought sufficient to save both his body and his threehundred dollars, appeared so ludicrous, that I felt inclined to favora draft among the firemen,—no substitutes allowed,—in hopes of hisnot getting clear. What, said he, take away our noble firemen !Leave the city to fall a prey to the devouring element! Tis an out-rage, and the mayor should not hesitate for a moment to sign paying for their substitutes. I was at all times anx
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