- Police/Fire - Janesville Sesquicentennial
-
- Janesville firemen had rules
- The constitution of the Water Witch Company No. 2, a group
of volunteers comprising the
- beginnings of the city's fire department, outlined an interesting
set of rules:
- It can have no more than 70 members, the constitution said,
and all were expected to attend the
- funerals of deceased members in full uniform.
- That uniform consisted of black pantaloons; a red flannel
shirt with blue velvet cuffs and a collar; a
- belt with a brass clasp bearing the words Water Witch Company
on it; caps made of blue broadcloth with a red front piece (officers
had white fronts), trimmed in silver lace and bearing a silver
shield with the number "2" in the center.
- Dues were 10 cents a month, and out of them, came payments
for stewards to bring firefighters
- food or refreshments at fire scenes.
- Fines were also established to keep the men in order. Violations
and forfeitures - which also went
- into the company fund - were:
-
- Members absent for roll call or annual review, 10 cents.
- Disobeying orders, 50 cents.
- Neglect of duty, 50 cents to $2.
- Leaving the company without permission while on duty, 50
cents.
- Failure to appear at a fire, 25 cents.
- Appearing at a fire in a state incapable of duty, or visiting
an engine house and displaying free use of liquor, $1. A second
offense brought expulsion.
- Telling the public about a meeting or disclosing a vote,
$1. A second offense, expulsion.
- Use of profane or indecent language at a meeting, 25 cents
for each misspoken word.
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