WPBFD History

partment's doings each month. The department met on a regular meeting night, which was Friday, the 12th of June, and took into membership about ten new members - all men. We have more than two companies formed, and I believe them to be all good hard- working men, not either boys or dudes, but just what is needed for the city to make a good lively department. . . . The one feature the department of this town needs the most is an additional hose reel. The department has about $700 worth of excellent new hose in the house and to-night, were there a large fire, what would be the outcome? It would be that the department could get the proper amount of hose on the one reel and the $700 worth of other hose is lying idle because of no reel to carry same. The whole secret of any order of this kind lies in the enthusiasm that is kept going on, and which must be kept up, and to do this the Coun- cil must do its share. At the present the depart- ment is wanting for a good reel, something that can be used for a practical all around reel. We must have it; it is essential, and what is more, the reel is needed for the boys to practice with. The old reel that we now have is all good and a splendid reel, but it is more than any body of men in any town will do when you ask the fire- men to go out with this reel and practice. . . . I do hope the Council will not feel this can be postponed, as now is the time we want it, and we would like the same to be thought over care- fully. The fire at The Breakers should teach us that there are two essentials needed to make the department complete, and they are hose and water supply. Give the boys a reel and we will show the people through the City Council that West Palm Beach can support a Fire Department. I wish to thank every member of the Council for the great favor of electing me as Chief of this department, and I will endeavor to do my utmost to further the interests of the department along the lines as thought best by your worthy body. Sincerely yours, J. D. C. MORRIS, Chief Chief Morris appealed to the council again on July 7, 1903. According to The Tropical Sun issue of July 8, "He urged that immediate action be taken as the interest in the Department was increasing and would continue to increase if the Council would give encouragement. A mo-

elected President; Victor O'Neal, Vice President; Clarence Lauther, Secretary; Milton Dick and J. W. Harper, Fore- men. The members decided to buy new uniforms and an entertainment committee was named to raise funds for the purchase. Flagler's winter resort suffered a major setback June 9, 1903. Fire raced through the Breakers Hotel leav- ing little more than a pile of ashes. West Palm Beach vol- unteers responded to the fire pulling their old hose reel loaded with 500 feet of hose. They were delayed by the toll keeper on the railroad bridge who wanted proper pay- ment for their passage. As a large column of smoke bil- lowed skyward from the island, a nickel toll was de- manded from each of the men before they were allowed to cross. Arriving at the Breakers after the frustrating delay, there was little that could be done to extinguish the flames. Firemen and bystanders watched the grand hotel being consumed into itself. Department minutes indicate that the hose reel was left on the island so that a toll would not have to be paid by the weary firemen returning to West Palm Beach. A committee was named to take the steps to get the reel back and a letter was promptly dis- patched to Mr. Parrott of the hotel company requesting, somewhat facetiously, that toll-free passage be given to the men when making responses across the bridge in the future. Although smaller than the Royal Poinciana, the Breakers still represented a substantial loss. Flagler esti- mated losses at $400,000 in the fire and the hotel was only insured for $100,000. There was apprehension that the local economy would suffer until Flagler announced two weeks later that he would rebuild. Construction of the new Breakers was completed in time for the 1904 sea- son. There is reference to putting the bell on the Method- ist church into service as an alarm in the summer of 1903. This possibly served as a back-up for the fire whistle used at the time. The bell called members to regular meetings with "two short and one long tap on the bell." In 1903 the fire station was moved into a frame building just north of Town Hall. June 12, 1903, marked the appointment of J. Don C. Morris as the new chief. One of his first orders of busi- ness was to address the town council at the June 16 meet- ing. His report mentioned the recent Breakers fire as an illustration of the need for additional equipment. The fol- lowing is an excerpt of the report which The Tropical Sun printed in its entirety: Gentlemen: - As chief of the fire department of this city I would like to write a few lines, inasmuch as I feel the Council should have a report of the de-

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