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162 stories matching hose
- The Great Hose Heist: How a Seattle Fire Department Was Almost Scammed by a New York Manufacturer
A peculiar dispute over fire equipment reveals the cutthroat world of late-19th-century municipal procurement, where agents played cities against manufacturers and warrants were used as currency.
- A Fire Commissioner on Trial Over Rotten Hose
George T. Masel faces the city council over charges he moved to force unfit Baker fabric fire hose into service — and witness after witness describes the couplings flying off under pressure.
- Seattle Paid 90 Cents for Fire Hose Spokane Got for 63, a Councilman Charged
A councilman's tip about a fire-hose price gap turned a routine purchase into a small procurement scandal — and the vendor promptly promised Seattle the lower price.
- The Winnifred Burns: A Lake Washington Steamer Lost at the Dock
An early-morning fire at Leech's Dock destroyed the Newcastle-run steamer Winnifred, a wharf and a boardinghouse, exposing how much of Seattle still depended on borrowed hose and luck.
- Fire Chief Ousted in Late-Night Commission Coup
A divided fire commission removes Chief Allen for 'incompetency' and taps ex-Chief Kellogg, prompting a furious protest from the mayor.
- Bribery Allegations Rock the Fire Commission
A city fire commissioner reveals he was offered a $300 bribe to influence a lucrative hose contract, as rival companies trade accusations of fraud.
- Firefighters Fail as Rotten Hoses Fail to Save Homes
A residential fire on Eleventh Street in Aberdeen spirals into a local crisis when faulty equipment and a lack of unified command prevent the fire department from saving two houses.
- The Fire Hose Scandal
Mayor Phelps files official charges against Fire Commissioner George T. Masel, alleging incompetence and corruption regarding the purchase of defective fire equipment.
- Seattle’s Fire Department Answered 197 Alarms in 1893 — Nearly Half Were False
The chief’s annual report counted 98 false alarms, touted small losses, and asked the city for a fire marshal and better alarm wires.
- Kent Threw a Civic Ball to Buy a Fire Hose
When the town's fire hose fell apart under pressure, Mayor Overlock and the council turned a Washington's Birthday ball into a fundraiser—and sold tickets to nearly everyone in town.
- South Bend’s Mill Burns While the Hose Company Stays Home
The Willapa Cedar Lumber Company’s mill and dry house burn to the ground; a kerosene-soaked fireball and a short hose supply leave the town reeling.
- The Seattle Water-Hose Rail War of 1888
When two rival railroads fought over a contested stretch of waterfront track, the dispute escalated from legal threats to a chaotic brawl involving barricades, hired detectives, and a fire hose.
- Two Newport Homes Burn as Volunteers Fight Without Enough Hose
A lightning-sparked fire destroyed the Seeley house and spread to the Montzheimer home, exposing the town’s thin fire protection.
- The Great Seattle Fire Hose Scandal of 1891
A fiery Board of Public Works meeting uncovers allegations of bribery, price-fixing, and backroom deals in the city's quest to equip its fire department.
- Fatal Brawl in Port Madison
A domestic dispute involving a mill worker and a lighted lamp ends in a deadly fire.
- Tacoma's Suspicious Fires—and a Fire Department That Couldn't Get Water
A wave of blazes on E Street and beyond leaves homes in ashes, a hose driver suspended, an alarm delayed, and the fire chief convinced tramps set the occupied houses alight.
- The Mint Saloon Loses Its License—and City Hall Braces for Court
The council confirmed a new police commissioner, reappointed officials, revoked the Mint Saloon's license over loud legal objections, and set Pike Street on the road to vitrified brick.
- Seattle's Water Pressure Passes the Fire Test
High-pressure water from a new reservoir successfully cleared the skyline in a demonstration for city officials.
- The Watchman Fought the Flames, but the Clipper Mill Was Gone
A spark from the slab pile was all it took to destroy J. P. Armstrong's shingle mill at Bothell, despite Alfred Johnson's hose and pumps.
- The Night Cheney Burned to the Ground
A pre-dawn fire decimated half of Cheney’s business district, leaving city officials to suspect arson as the town vowed to rise again from the ashes.
- Seattle Fire Commissioner Suspended Amidst Hose Scandal
Mayor Phelps fires T. Masel, alleging incompetence and a fraudulent fire hose contract, sparking a chaotic power struggle at City Hall.
- Fireman Killed in Collision Between Hose Wagon and Streetcar
Dan Noonan, a veteran relief fireman, dies after a tragic collision on the steep Twenty-third street hill.
- A Fatal Fall for a Tacoma Fireman
A member of Native Hose Company No. 1 dies after falling from a wet, slick roof while responding to a call.
- City Bids Farewell to Fireman Killed in Line of Duty
Police and fire departments honor Dan Noonan, who died after a collision between a hose wagon and a streetcar in South Tacoma.
- Firefighters Race for Pride and Prize Money
Two local volunteer hose companies compete in a drill to prove their speed and efficiency before the Fourth of July contests.
Also about this, in other words
- Modernizing the Woods
The shift from oxen to steam power and wire cables is changing the face of the logging industry along the Wishkah River.
- An Hydraulic Solution to Snohomish’s Water Woes
Innovation at the eastern edge of town brings running water to the school house flat.
- Fairhaven Organizes for Fire
Twenty-five citizens meet to fund hose, carts, and a bucket brigade ahead of the city's formal incorporation.
- The City's Ladder Was Too Short
When the volunteer fire company staged a demonstration at Frye's Opera House, the Mayor found the equipment wanting—and the resulting public spat was published in full.
- The Last Hurrah for Walla Walla’s Volunteer Firemen
An era of local firefighting comes to a close as the city ships off the historic hand engines and hook-and-ladder trucks that defined the volunteer department for decades.
- A Town Without a Pipe
A weekend fire in Oroville exposes the critical lack of a municipal water system, sparking frustration from residents and observers.
- Fairhaven's First Chemical Fire Engine
Without a municipal water system for fire protection, local business leaders are importing a chemical hand engine to prevent city-wide disaster.
- Firefighter Injured in High-Angle Practice Drill
A dangerous training exercise on Sixth Street leaves a fireman with severe hand injuries after equipment fails.