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History Thomas Peasley organized the first real volunteer fire company in Virginia City---Virginia Engine Company No. 1, which was the forerunner of more than 15 companies that would form under the shadow of Sun Mountain. By 1866, while the Virginia Fire Department was growing, efforts were underway in Gold Hill to establish Silver Bar Hook & Ladder Company, soon to be reorganized as Liberty Hose Company, and later as Liberty Engine Company No. 1. Within a short time, Gold Hill would be protected by the "Butt Enders" of Liberty, Yellow Jacket Engine Company No. 2, and Lincoln Hose Company No. 3. Then, as now, firefighting could be dangerous work. Alf Doten would write in 1870: "Martin Panian,
proprietor of the Nevada Brewery Saloon, an old friend of mine, got drowned in a cistern
at the fire last night, and I didn't know it till this morning..." Panian, a
member of Liberty Engine Company No. 1, apparently stepped back from the brakes of the
engine and in darkness fell into the cistern striking his head, knocking him unconscious. But, there was a lighter side to this business of fire fighting on the Comstock in those days. Pranks were as much of being a fireman as was wearing a red shirt. Gold Hill's firemen found a rather red-faced and slightly angry chief on the night of his wedding when they playfully sounded the alarm of fire about 3 a.m. "Some fellows took No. 1's engine about 4 o'clock this morning," Doten would write in 1866, "and washed out old Cad Thompson's whore house---gave her hell." Home | Site Map | Search | History | Museum | Membership | Newsletter | Photos | Calendar | Merchandise | Links | Translate | Tell a Friend | Contact |
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