ing any house or building, as the case may require; and ther to suppress all tumults and disorders. And the said wards, selectmen or officers, as the case may be, s have authority to direct and appoint the stations, and op tions of the engine-men, with their engines, and of all other sons, for the purpose of extinguishing the fire and prevent its increase; and if any person shall refuse or neglect to ol any order given by said firewards or officers in the premis the person so offending shall forfeit and pay for each offer ten dollars.

[45] SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That if the pulli down or demolishing of any house or building, by the dire tions aforesaid, shall be the means of stopping the said fire; if the fire stop before it come to the same, then every owner such house or building shall receive a reasonable compensati and be paid for the same by the inhabitants of the town which the fire shall happen: And it shall be the duty of the qua ified voters in such town, to grant each such sum or sums of mor ey as shall be thought necessary and proper by the Selec men of the same town; and of the assessors to assess the same Provided always, that when it shall be adjudged fit that the hous or building where the fire shall first begin and break out, shoul be pulled down or demolished, to prevent the further spread ing and increase of the said fire, then the owner of such hous or building shall receive no compensation for the same: Pro vided also, that if any person shall find him or herself aggrieved by the doings of the town, Selectmen or Assessors thereof, in estimating, voting or assessing such sum or sums, he or she shall have a right to appeal and complain to the next court of General Sessions of the peace to be holden in the county; and the said court thereon shall have power, on a consideration of all the circumstances of the case, to confirm said doings of said town, Selectmen or Assessors, or to alter the same in such manner as the said court shall judge proper; and in either case to award legal costs, as the justice of the case may require; and the collectors, to whom the said assessments shall be committed to collect, shall have the same powers, and be subject to the same duties, as in the collection of other town taxes, as well in collecting an assessment so confirmed or altered, as in cases wherein there shall be no appeal.

[46] SEC. 4 Be it further enacted, That if any person shall, in such case of fire, plunder, purloin, embezzle, convey away or conceal any furniture, goods, or chattels, rights or credits, merchandize or effects, of the inhabitants whose houses or buildings shall be on fire, or endangered thereby, and said inhabitants shall be put upon removing the same, and shall

not restore or give notice thereof to the owner (if known) or to one of the firewards of the town, or bring them into such public place as shall be assigned by the Selectmen of the town within two days after public notice shall be posted in some public place in the town by the Selectmen thereof for that purpose; the person or persons so offending and being thereof convicted, shall be deemed guilty of larceny, and punished accordingly.

[47] SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That if any person shall occupy or improve any tenement or building whatever, in any part of any maritime town in this Commonwealth, for the business or employment of a sailmaker, or rigger, or keeper of a livery stable, except only in such parts of the town as the Selectmen thereof, or a major part of them, shall direct and determine, such sail maker or rigger, so offending, shall forfeit and pay for each offence, ten dollars: and such keeper of a livery stable shall forfeit and pay for each offence fifty dollars for every month so occupying the same, and so in proportion for a longer or shorter time.

[48] SEC. 6. Be it further enacted, That the several fines or forfeitures aforesaid, shall be two third parts thereof to the use of the poor of the town, where the offence shall be committed, and the other third thereof to him or them who shall inform and sue for the same, and shall be recoverable with costs of suit, in any court proper to try the same.

An act authorizing the appointment of Firemen in the town
Boston. [Passed Feb. 7, 1820.]

of

[49] SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled and by the authority of the same, That the Selectmen of the town of Boston, for the time being, be, and they are hereby authorized and empowered, if they judge it expedient, as soon as may be after the passing of this act, to nominate and appoint a number of suitable persons, not exceeding thirty, who shall continue in office during the pleasure of the Selectmen of said town, whose duty it shall be, under the direction of the firewards of said town, to attend fires therein, and the vicinity, with axes, ladders, fire hooks, and such implements and apparatus for the extinguishment of fires, and the preservation of persons and property, as may be provided for that purpose, and placed under their care; and to perform such

made in pursuance thereof, it shall be the duty of such Selectmen, upon sufficient evidence thereof, to discharge him from such company, and from his office and duty as a fireman; and thereupon, to proceed and appoint another person in his room, in the manner herein before directed.

[75] Foreman and Clerk of companies-duty of, &c. [76] Officers and members duties of.

[77] Duty of companies on return of Engines—drills, &c. [78] Duty of Firemen. [79] Badges to be worn, &c. [80] Penalty for neglect of duty in members.

[81] Penalty for persons not members-Engineers to report.

[82] Engineers and others, how discharged.

[83] Marshal and constables to repair to fires.

[84] Duty of watchmen. [85] Burning chimneyspenalty for. Engineers, when | to report.