signed after 17 years faithful service to enter into Holy Orders, Ordained In the yard attached to Christ Church building are many interesting tombs. Among them that of Dr. Thomas Graeme, died Sept. 4, 1772, aged eighty-four years, "The soul that lived within this crumbling dust Peaceful through Life. As peaceful, too, in Death. Near him lies his daughter, Lady Ann Keith, wife of Sir William Keith, who died July 31, A.D. 1740, aged sixty-five years; also near him Dr. Graeme's daughter, the celebrated Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson, wife of Hugh Henry Ferguson, died 1801, "Eliza -caused this stone to be laid Waits with resignation and humble hope In a more perfect state of existence." Rev. Dr. Alexander Murray, "Born in North Britain, educated in King's College, Aberdeen, departed this life Sept. 14, 1793, aged sixty-six. "A truly honest man. Reader who ee'r thou art, Strive to attain this character. "A wit's a feather and a chief's a rod; An honest man's the noblest work of God." George Mifflin Dallas, Vice-President of the United States, born July 10, 1792; died Dec. 1, 1864. Rev. James Abercrombie, D.D., long assistant minister of Christ Church and St. Peter's, died June 26, 1841, aged 83 years and 5 months. Nicholas Biddle, scholar and financier, born Jan. 8, 1786; died Feb. 27, 1844. Charles J. Biddle, his son, captain in the Mexican war, colonel of the Bucktail Regiment of Pennsylvania during the Civil war, died Oct. 1, 1873, aged 55 years. Benjamin Chew, chief justice of Pennsylvania before the Revolution, died Jan. 20, 1810, aged 87 years and 10 days. Alexander James Dallas, Secretary of State of the Treasury and of War under the United States Government, Attorney-General of Pennsylvania, died Jan. 16, 1817. Joseph R. Ingersoll, lawyer and member of Congress, born June 14, 1786; died Feb. 20, 1868. Dr. James Woodhouse, professor of Chemistry in University of Pennsylvania, died June 4, 1809, aged 39 years and 6 months. Monuments in Laurel Hill Cemetery.-Beside the public monuments already noted, there are many memorials of eminent citizens erected by their families or friends which are worthy of mention. Jacob Ridgway, who, next to Stephen Girard, was, in his time, considered the richest citizen of Philadelphia, sleeps beneath an altar-tomb. A monument in memory of William Henry Drayton, member of the Continental Congress from South Carolina, who died Sept. 3, 1779, will attract attention. It is a single shaft of marble, having upon it the sculptured laurel wreath and the arms of South Carolina. Commodore Alexander Murray, of the United States navy, who died Oct. 26, 1821, aged sixty-six years. Commodore Isaac Hull, "Rev. John Waller James, rector of this church, of the United States navy, of the war of 1812, hero in "I know that my redeemer liveth." The following inscription is upon a family vault: "The Family Vault of William White Within the church are the following tombs: Dr. Robert Jenney, rector, died Jan. 5, 1752, aged sixty-five years, and his wife, Joanna Elizabeth, who died six days after his burial, aged sixty-four years. Rev. Richard Peters, D.D., rector of Christ Church and St. Peter's, died July 10, 1776. The Hon. Richard Warsom, Esq.," One of His Majesty's Council of the the fight between the frigates "Constitution" and "Guerriere," a splendid altar-tomb in the Roman style, with an effigy of an American eagle defending the American colors perched upon the centre. Commodore Hull died Feb. 13, 1843. Altar-tomb of Governor and Chief Justice Thomas McKean, of Pennsylvania, and president of the Continental Congress, died June 24, 1817. William Short, the United States minister to France, to Holland, and to Spain, the first officer appointed by President Washington. A pyramid of marble. Mr. Short died Dec. 14, 1849. Oscar Douglass, a Philadelphia fireman, who was killed by the falling of a wall while discharging his duty as a fireman in Market Street, above Third, Jan. 14, 1841. This monument was erected by the Philadelphia Fire Company and the Light Artillery Company, Wash Island of Barbadoes. Nature had been bountiful to him. His educa- ington Grays. tion was liberal. His principles in regard to Church and State Orthodox and Constitutional. In the relations of husband and father he was kind, tender, and truly affectionate. His mournful widow, in respectful testimony of his Conjugal, Paternal, and other Excellencies, dedicates this stone. Born in Barbadoes, A.D. 1701, died in Philadelphia, A.D. 1766, aged 65 years." St. Peter's Churchyard. On the outer eastern wall of St. Peter's Church, at Third and Pine Streets, are several tablets bearing inscriptions; among them are the following: To the memory of the Rev. Robert Blackwell, D.D., one of the ministers of the United Churches from 1781 to 1811, born May 6, 1748; died February, 1831, aged 83 years. Rev. Jacob Duché, formerly rector, died Jan. 3, 1798, aged 59 years, 11 months, and 3 days. The number of clergymen buried in Laurel Hill is very great, and their graves are marked by tombs and monuments. Among them may be named the following: Rev. Albert Barnes, Rev. Henry A. Boardman, Rev. George Chandler, Rev. Joseph H. Jones, Presbyterians; Rev. J. B. Clemson, Rev. G. A. Durborrow, Rev. James H. Fowles, Rev. Kingston Goddard, Rev. Joseph H. Jones, Rev. James Wiltbank, Rev. John Gordon Maxwell, and Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, Episcopalians; Rev. John P. Durbin and Rev. Solomon Higgins, Methodists; Rev. Charles R. Demme, Lutheran; Rev. A. De Gillette, Baptist. Frederick Graff, the originator and designer of the Fairmount Water-Works, who is commemorated by a Gothic canopy monument and bust at Fairmount, lies buried near the centre of Old Laurel Hill, and has an appropriate monument. Near the Schuylkill a winding path down the hill leads to a tomb cut in the solid rock, the entrance to which is by a massive Egyptian granite floorway. Above it trees rise from the surface soil. This rock-tomb is the burying-place of the Kane family. Within are the remains of Judge John K. Kane, of the United States District Court, died Feb. 21, 1858, aged sixty-three years, and his sons, Elisha Kent Kane, the Arctic explorer, died at Havana, Feb. 16, 1857, and Gen. Thomas Leiper Kane, of the Union army, died Dec. 26, 1883. There are also many splendid memorials of eminent citizens. Among them may be mentioned the following: Commodore Stephen Decatur Lavalette, monument enriched with naval emblems; Joseph S. Lewis, altar-tomb, which is a fine bas-relief view of the Fairmount Water-Works, in the establishment of which Mr. Lewis, as a member of the watering committee of Councils, was largely instrumental. The Disston mausoleum is a large and very handsome marble building, conspicuous in appearance, and placed in a commanding situation. Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler, a man of science, director of the United States coast survey from 1816 to 1832, is commemorated by a massive rock of rough marble, surmounted by a pedestal and urn, and situate near the banks of the Schuylkill. Near to it is a piece of work somewhat similar,-a rough block of marble, surmounted by a lyre and urn and tablet, to the memory of Joseph C. Neal, humorist and journalist and author. A beautiful statue monument in white marble represents a woman clasping two babes in her arms. It is a portrait group executed by Henry Demchowski Saunders, a Polish sculptor, in memory of his wife and children. The Swedes' Church burying-ground, on Delaware Avenue, is the oldest in the city, and dates from 1698. One of the most interesting memorials in this ground is the tombstone of Alexander Wilson, the ornithologist, which has an appropriate inscription. West Laurel Hill.-This, the latest cemetery established in Philadelphia, has not yet attained the amount of monumental ornament to be met with in older grounds. The remains of Charles Brockden Brown, the first American novelist, lie under a plain stone, which marked the original place of his burial. Upon the highest circle in the inclosure lies the body of Col. Ulric Dahlgren, a gallant officer of the Union army, who was killed near Richmond, Va., March, 1864. It is intended to erect to his memory at this point a statue in bronze. The remains of Justice Grier, of the United States Supreme Court, lie upon the hill-side, with a costly monument. Thomas W. Evans, a merchant, is commemorated by a splendid shaft of Aberdeen granite. Hood Cemetery (formerly the Lower BuryingGrounds, Germantown).-In this ground lie the bodies of Gen. James Agew and Col. Bird, of the British army, who were killed at the battle of Germantown. A plain stone was placed over their remains some years ago by John F. Watson. In this cemetery lie the remains of William Hood and his wife, in a vault prepared by himself, over which is the following inscription: "Wm. Hood, Born Philadelphia, September 2nd, 1786, Died, Paris, January 18th, 1850." "Eliza A. Hood, Born August 18th, 1783, Died August 15th, 1866." Some of the stones in this ground are very old. The dates run back to 1700. In one of the vaults repose the remains of the Rev. Christian F. Post. The slab contains this inscription : "In Memory of Christian Frederick Post, Missionary for Propagating the Gospel Among the Indians In the Western Country, In North America. In the Gospel 45 years with He departed this life on the The modern gravestones are handsome. One of the finest covers the remains of Capt. John S. Jones, once of the merchant service, who died Aug. 10, 1855. It is an altar-tomb. Mount Moriah.-In this ground, principally by removal from other burying-grounds, are the tombs of men of considerable distinction in their time. The Baptists have a portion of the cemetery for their own dead, and the following are some of the inscriptions: "First Baptist Church,-In memory of Mr. Abel Morgan, Baptist minister, who departed this life Dec ye 16th, 1722, in ye 49th year of his age." "The Rev. Mr. Jenkin Jones, late minister of the Baptist Church in this city, in which station he served 35 years. Died July 6, 1769." "Rev. Henry Holcomb, D.D., ordained Sept. 11, 1785. He was an officer of the Army of the Revolution, and a member of the South Carolina Convention which approved the Federal Constitution. Died May 22nd, 1824." "In memory of Rev. Morgan Edwards, A.M., pastor of the first Baptist Church of Phila. for 11 years. Died June 28th, 1795, aged 73 years." "Rev. Thomas Ustick, A.M., who was upwards of 20 years minister of the first Baptist Church of Phila. Died April 18, 1803." "Rev. Wm. Rogers, D.D., pastor of the first Baptist Church, ordained 1772. Died April 7, 1824. In memory of their affectionate remembrance of a faithful pastor and of his services the first Baptist Church have erected this monument to his endearing memory." Other ministers lie in this cemetery, among them Rev. Thomas H. Stockton, Methodist Protestant, and Rev. Newton Heston, Methodist Episcopal divine. Commodore Jesse D. Elliott, of the United States navy, who died Dec. 10, 1845, is commemorated by a simple slab. Commodore Peter Turner lies near him. The lot of the National Guards contains a monument surmounted by the bronze figure of a soldier. When the cemetery attached to the United States Naval Asylum was abandoned, the remains of the seamen and officers were removed to Mount Moriah. There were four hundred and forty bodies, and each is marked by a separate gravestone. One of them is "to the memory of Thomas Johnson, who died July 12, 1851, aged one hundred years." Some of the family monuments are very handsome. That of John J. Jones, of West Philadelphia, has a colossal marble statue of "Time" upon a base of granite about twelve feet in height. Robert P. King, printer and publisher, who was the first president of the Cemetery Company, lies near a massive base of white marble surmounted by a marble cross. He died Sept. 27, 1868. Among the tombs of soldiers is that of Joseph C. Reynolds, private in Company D, Ninetyfirst Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers; he has an altar tombstone, on the face of which are carved in relief a musket, knapsack, cartouch-box, and haversack. He died from wounds received at the battle of Spottsylvania Court-House, Va. Upon the tomb is the sentence: "Mother, one of us ought to go, Why not me?" Other memorials are of Col. John W. Moore, of the Ninety-ninth and Two Hundred and Third Pennsylvania Volunteers, killed at the attack on Fort Fisher; Lieut.-Col. George W. Hawkins, Ninety-seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, killed at Hatcher's Run, Oct. 28, 1864; Col. George C. Spear, killed May 3, 1863. A striking memorial is that erected by William Wheatley, the actor, in memory of the Gale sisters, who were burned to death by an accident at the Continental Theatre in 1861: "In memory of the Gale sisters, Ruth, died Sept. 17th, 1861, aged 15 years. Zelia, died Sept. 25th, 1861, aged 17 years. Adeona, died Sept. 15, 1861, aged 19 years. Hannah, died Sept. 15, 1861, aged 22 years. Strangers who through this city of the dead, With a mother's tearful blessing They sleep beneath the sod; Her dearest earthly treasures Restored again to God." Mount Vernon.-The remains of Gen. William Knox were removed from Christ Church ground to this cemetery. Commodore Robert Ritchie and Col. Van Leer are also interred here. One of the most elegant monuments is to the memory of the Gardel family, a pyramidical structure of brown stone, decorated at the base with several lifelike statutes of marble. As a work of art it is one of the finest in the country. In the burial-ground of the Third (Old Pine Street) Presbyterian Church, part of which belongs to the First Church, is a tablet erected to the memory of David Rittenhouse, the celebrated astronomer, who died June 26, 1796, and was originally interred in a mausoleum adjoining the garden of his dwelling, northwest corner Seventh and Arch Streets; and a fine monument in memory of Capt. Charles Ross, of the City Troop, erected by that organization. It is particularly distinguishable by reason of the bronze helmet and military trophies on the top, those being the first monumental devices of that metal put up in Philadelphia. In St. Stephen's Church (Protestant Episcopal), on Tenth Street, below Market, is a very elegant monument, surmounted by a group of four figures, cut by the celebrated sculptor Steinhauser, and members of his family. It is a splendid work of art, erected by Edward Shippen Burd, in memory of and is executed in pure white marble. In the churchyard of St. Mary's (Roman Catholic) Church, Fourth Street, below Prune, are tombs tionary navy, and Thomas Fitzsimons, once member to the memory of Capt. John Barry, of the Revoluof Congress. Woodlands Cemetery is adorned with many fine monuments, and many of them elaborate and costly. Conspicuous among them is the Drexel mausoleum, erected to the members of the family of Francis M. Drexel. It is a magnificent building, in the Grecian style, and one of the largest tomb structures in the country. In this cemetery is the tomb of Lieut. John T. Greble, the first officer of the United States army killed in the civil war. It is designed in exquisite taste. Among other conspicuous memorials in this ground are the monuments and tombs of Admiral Charles Stewart, "Old Ironsides," of the United States navy; Commodore David Porter, United States navy; Maj.-Gen. David B. Birney, United States army, during the civil war; and a fine memorial to the memory of Dr. David Jayne, a well-known busi ness man. Monument Cemetery.-One of the finest memorials in Monument Cemetery was erected, shortly after the ground was opened, to the memory of William Delamater Caldwell. It was erected in pursuance of directions left in his will, and is an expensive piece of work. It towers conspicuously among the memo rials in the ground. The tomb of the Sartain family is of brown stone, and in the Egyptian style. On the front is a white marble die with the figure of "Grief" in relief. On the panel in the rear is the following striking inscription: "LIFE.. Monstrous and false in form, But true and Beautiful in promise, The world's hope but waits the Great Each serving to his brother's use and Faith stands rendered into Knowledge Reconciliation is Redemption. Harmony is Heaven, The Mystery Hidden from the Ages. The Sphinx shall perish, In Victory." The Association for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Firemen has a conspicuous monument above a vault. A white marble panel-case has at the corners representations of fire-plugs. The shaft rising above bears upon the face in relief the horn, spanner, and torch. The names of the persons who sleep below and the dates of their deaths are on the sides. The Diligent Fire-Engine Company has a neat monument to the memory of Marcus Rink, a member killed at the same time with Oscar Douglas (who lies in Laurel Hill) by the falling of a wall at the fire in Market Street, near Third, Jan. 23, 1841. A fine monument to the memory of Capt. Daniel S. Stellwagon, master in the United States navy, born Nov. 6, 1774, died Nov. 16, 1828, has elaborate inscriptions setting forth his services to his country. The base is in panels. Above these is a rough rock upon which is represented sea-weeds, etc., and upon which the shaft resembles a light-house with lookout lantern, etc. A figure of "Hope" crowns this unique memorial. Lieut.-Col. Thomas S. Martin, of the Eleventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, killed at Bull Run, Aug. 30, 1862, is commemorated by a white marble shaft. The remains of Frederick J. Roberts, who died Oct. 13, 1844, are marked by a monument erected by the Washington Grays. CHAPTER XLVI. FIREMEN, FIRE COMPANIES, AND LARGE FIRES. BEFORE 1695 no public measures were taken in Philadelphia for the extinguishment of fires. On the 25th of May, in that year, the inhabitants of the town petitioned Governor Markham and the Council to pass a law providing them with ladders and leather buckets. The Provincial Legislature, regarding the petition a reasonable one, passed a bill in 1696 for preventing accidents at fires in the towns of Philadelphia and New Castle, and for preventing and extinguishing fires. By this act the inhabitants were prohibited from cleaning their chimneys by burning them out, and foul chimneys were forbidden under a penalty of forty shillings. Each householder was directed to keep at his dwelling "a swab, twelve or fourteen feet long," and a bucket or pail, to be ready in case of accidents by fire, under a penalty of ten shillings, and no one was allowed to smoke tobacco in the streets, day or night, under a penalty of twelve pence. The fines to be appropriated for the purchase of leather buckets and other instruments or engines for the public use in the extinguishment of fires. A similar law was passed in 1700, which provided for "two leathern buckets," and re-enacted in 1701, with an additional clause directing the magistrates to procure "six or eight good hooks for tearing down houses on fire." With this primitive fire department the good citizens of the town were content to rest until 1718, when Abraham Bickley, a public-spirited citizen, and afterward a prominent city official, offered a fire-engine to the city, which he probably imported from England. The city purchased this engine for the sum of fifty pounds, and it continued to be its greatest defense against fire until 1831. George Claypoole, in July, 1729, was employed to keep the city fire-engine in good repair and make monthly trials of it at an annual salary of three pounds, but becoming dissatisfied with his bargain after an experience of only one month, Richard Armitt was given the contract. In 1730 the citizens, with the aid of Bickley's engine, attempted to subdue a large fire on Fishbourn's wharf, below Walnut Street. The fire gained great headway, and at one time threatened to destroy the city. It crossed Water Street, burned the buildings of Jonathan Dickinson, and destroyed property altogether valued at five thousand pounds. This destructive conflagration warned the authorities of the necessity of procuring more adequate fire apparatus, and accordingly, in April, 1730, the city authorized the purchase of three more engines, four hundred buckets, and twenty-five hooks. One of the new engines was made in Philadelphia by Anthony Nicholls, and the other two were procured in England. In' January, 1731, the latter arrived, with two hundred and fifty buckets, the remainder being made in the city from a sample furnished by Thomas Oldman at nine shillings each. A trial of the engine built in the city was made in January, 1733, and a local chronicler says that it "played water higher than the highest in this city had from London." The leather fire-buckets were ordered to be hung up in the court-house, and the engines were stationed as follows: One at the great meeting-house yard, southwest corner of High and Second Streets; one at Francis Jones' lot, corner of Front and Walnut Streets; and the old engine in a corner of the Baptist Meeting yard, in Second Street near Arch. fined four shillings. There was a treasurer, but no president, of the company. Each member served in turn during a month as clerk, in which time he notified his associates of the meeting, inspected their buckets and bags, and when they were not in good order reported the fact to the company. Upon this plan, with slight variations, all the fire companies of Philadelphia were conducted until long after the Revolutionary war. At this time engines and buckets were the only available apparatus, as pumps were few, and the supply of water scant. The engine of the Union Company, it is believed, was imported from England, as were also those of the other companies formed down to 1768.1 The engine of the Union Company was probably kept in a house in Grindstone Alley, which runs north from Market Street to Church Alley, west of Second Street. Among its early members were Isaac Paschal, Samuel Powell, William Rawle, and Samuel Syme. The membership of the Union being limited to thirty persons, before the end of the year another company was formed, under the name of the Fellowship Fire Company, with thirty-five members. Its constitution was dated Jan. 1, 1738, and its house was situated on a lot belonging to the Friends' Meeting, on Second Street, near Market. The fire-ladder was kept under the eaves of the butchers' shambles, on the south side of the market-house, near the meal-market; there were also seven ladders in various other places. In December, 1733, Franklin's Pennsylvania Gazette contained an article on fires and the mode of extinguishing them. On Feb. 4, 1735, the same paper contained a communication signed "A. A." (probably Anthony Atwood, a well-known citizen) in reference to the subject of fires and their extinguishment. The writer sets out by stating that in consequence of lameness of his hand he is not capable of giving that kind of assistance which at fires is so cheerfully accorded by the citizens generally, but he thinks it his duty to extend what aid he can in the way of useful suggestions. He said the city had engines enough, but in some parts of the town there was not water sufficient "to keep the pumps going for a half-hour together." At the same time he advised the formation of fire companies. Shortly after these suggestions were made the houses of "Budd's long row," on Front Street above the Drawbridge, took fire, and threatened the destruction of a large amount of property. Attention was again called to the necessity of adopting some method for the extinguishment of fires, and fire companies were again suggested. Accordingly, on the 7th of December, 1736, the Union Fire Company was established, mainly through the active efforts of Ben-Jr., John Howell, Benjamin Betterton, Andrew Bradjamin Franklin. The Union Fire Company was an association for mutual assistance. Each member agreed to furnish, at his own expense, six leather buckets and two stout linen bags, each marked with his name and the name of the company, which he was to bring to every fire. The buckets were for carrying water to extinguish the flames, and the bags were to receive and hold property which was in danger, to save it from risk of theft. The members pledged themselves to repair to any place in danger upon an alarm of fire with their apparatus. Some were to superintend the use of the water, others were to stand at the doors of houses in danger, and to protect the property from theft. On an alarm of fire at night it was agreed that lights should be placed in the windows of houses of members near the fire "in order to prevent confusion, and to enable their friends to give them more speedy and effectual assistance." The number of members was limited to thirty. Eight meetings were held annually. At each meeting there was a supper costing three shillings. Members who came late were fined one shilling. Members who did not come at all were In 1742 the members of the Fellowship Fire Company were Isaac Williams, Obadiah Eldridge, Jacob Shoemaker, Jonathan Zane, William Moode, Thomas Hine, Edward Catherall, George Sharswood, Hewes, John Jones, Jr., John Langdale, Jr., Thomas Say, Barnaby Barnes, John Biddle, Jacob Shoemaker, ford, William Callender, Joseph Noble, Joseph Fussell, John Pole, Abraham Mitchell, Isaac Powell, 1 In the Pennsylvania Gazette for October 28, 1768, appeared the following advertisement: "Richard Mason, living at the upper end of Second Street, undertakes to make and sell fire engines of the newest construction. Warranted good, from fifth rate down to the smallest size. The advantages these engines have above others are that they have twice the room to pour in water than those whose levers work at the sides of the cistern, -they work as easy, and play with a constant stream and prodigious force, and collect a large body of water closely together, and will sooner extinguish fire in buildings than any other engine heretofore contrived. The cisterns are made of good seasoned white oak or red cedar if required, the joints of the cistern are lined with copper and nailed with brass nails, and the wheels are shod with iron. As I am the first inhabitant and native of this province who has attempted so useful a branch, I call on the fire companies of this city who may want new engines. "I have just completed a fourth class engine for the Northern Liberty Fire Company. Any gentleman wanting an engine may see the same played. I will undertake to keep all the city engines in repair. "RICHARD MASON." ་་ Mr. Mason was not aware of the engine made by Anthony Nicholls, or he would not have announced himself as being the first to attempt to build fire-engines in Philadelphia. He was undoubtedly the first successful manufacturer. The Northern Liberty Fire Company, founded May 1, 1756, was probably the first to encourage domestic manufacture. Its engiue-house was situated at the northeast corner of Cable Lane and Callowhill Street. |