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i™ RGlA jiii GAZETTE ’
[No. 940.) Thursday, October 29, 1803. \ gg;
IN COUNCIL, I
*
| Savakhah, October 19, 1801. ,
I Resolved^
the ordinance, entitled, “ An Ordinance for
preventing, as much a$ may be, Accidents which
Bay happen by rue in Savannah; for preserving the Fire
K'gines i n said City, and for rendering the same as useful
■b may be in case of Fire; and for other Purposes therein
Kentioned;” be published in the Gazettes of the city, for
Ke information of the inhabitants, in order that all persons
B,ay be prepared, at that season of the year when accidents
E” fire are more likely to happen, to render every assist
■ie that may be necessary under the arrangements of the
■fidid of Fire-Masters and this Council.
Eictrabi from the minutes ,
W ■ Thomas Pitt, c. c.
ORDINANCE for preventing , as much as may
I he, Accidents -which may happen by Fire in Aavari-
I nab; for preserving the Fire Engines in said City ,
I a*4 frr rendering the same as useful as may be in
(a;e of Fire; and for other Purposes therein menti -
I cned
| l Be it ordained, by the Honorable the Mayor and
■Mermen of the City of Savannah, in Council assembled,
U’li d it is hereby ordained , by the authority of the same,
■rjiat there shall be chosen by ballot, in the City Council,
lathe last Monday in July in every year, if there should
■be a Council, if not, then on the first Council thereafter,
Iteu Fire-Masters, who shall have and execute all the pow-
Itrs and authorities herein mentioned; as also to make all
Isuch regulations, respecting the management and direction
lot'tbe fire engines, as to them shall appear necessary, and
■to prdcute as many fire hooks and forks, buckets, house
I ladders, and ropes, as they may deem sufficient, and to
■ lave them branded or marked with the city mark, C. S.
Ivhich shall be deposited in all such places as the Fire-
I Masters in their discretion', shall think proper, notifying
Itlae same to tlie citizens; and the said Fire-Masters shall
I also lia- e the management and direction of the several en-
Igines, fire hooks, ladders, &c. And if any person shall,
I Seer he is chosen a Fire-Master, refuse or negieft to take
I spoil himself the said office, or, having taken upon him the
■ aid office, shall refuse or negledt to comply with the du
| ties required by this ordinance, every such person shall
■ forfeit and pay, for every such refusal or negieef, the sum
■done hundred dollars.
■ 11. And he it farther ordained, by the authority a
| lore said, That no person shall be obliged .to serve more
■ than one year as a Fire-Master in any terra of five years.
111. And be it further ordained , by the authority
I aforesaid, That there shall he immediately appointed, for
I one year, by the Fire-Masters, one manager and two as-
I iistants to each engine now in, or may hereafter lie in
I the city, and who shall immediately enrol, for each engine
I in the city* twelve able active Negro men to assist in the
| working the smaller engines, and twenty -loui Ntgio men
I for the larger eng'mes, after enrolling the free people of
I color at is lierein after ordained, who shall be approved of
K by the Fire-Masters, and be subject to their commands in
I time of alarm; aud fthtt each Negro uun so enrolled be
I furnished with a whiu; badge, on which shall be fixed the
I number of the engine to which he may belong: 1 hat the
I wiu managers and tin: o * sura mL h
I lowed a reasonable cot > mr tbe service of such
I managers and slaves, tp be aicertauitd by the Board 01
| Fire-Masters. * , , , . .
I IV. And be it further (.retained, by the authority
I iforegaid, That each waul shall be furnished as soon as
I ’pssible with afire hook, ladder, and rope, winch shall be
1 tenmitted to the care of the Fire-Masters oi each ward
I ffspe-stiv<Mv; and it ■ shall be their diuy, whenever a
■ ire breaks*out, to repair to the place of fire with their: re
■ jpeftive hooks, ftffiders, and ropes.
I And be it further ordained , by the authority a-
I forward, That It Shall and may be lawful for tlie bire-
I Masters, or any three of them, to enter into the houses,
I out-1 louses, stables, and yards, o.f every owner or tenant
I of the same, in Savannah, whenever they shall see occa-
I sion, and .inquire, search, and examine, it any quantities
V ef.gunpowder, bay, straw, .fodder, pitch, tar, rosin, tur
pentine, hemp, .oil) tallow, unpacked cotton, or other
combustible matter, are lodged in any such place within
the said city which may be in .danger of taking fire, and it
the said FireiMasters, or anv three of them, shall fipd
there is apparent danger tliat tire may be communicated oy
Such comhustibks, they shall admonish the owner or ten
ant of 4uch lipuse or houses to remove the same, and in
r. ise spcb parson or persons shall refuse or neglect tp re
move the same immediately from such notice being given,
the said iFire-Masters, cr any three cl tkfcm, are hereby’
empowered and directed to cause tbe same to be removed,
and lodged in some more secure place, at tlie charge and
risk of tyuch-owner or tenant; and should the said Fire-
MusteiSy.or-any .three of them, .be opposed m tlie removal
•f the sr|4 combustibles, it shall betheirduty immediately
t; inffirm the Mayor, or any three of the Aldermen, who
b and are hereby authorized to infiict a fine on every sue.,
offender in -a,sum not exceeding fifty dollars, to be reco-
I *tred hy warrant or execution .issued under the hand and
I seal of the Mayor, .or the hands and. seals ot the affire&n
I iffiree Alderonju. , , , .• ,
VI. be it further Qr4a'ui(d 3 by the au.hqnt ,
I aforesaid, That the said Fire^MA£te rs _^b'^U 1^'e to
I examine irubTne situation of any ehiiTUie.v or c.uer e
I place m and if tliey, or any thre 0 wan#
shall think the samq -dangerous to tlien|jgbbDVhp,od, or 1
that fire may be communicated theifßy, ijiey ? w any
three ot them, are hereby empowered- and requited to or
der the same to be pulled down, altered, ur removed, im
mediately; and in case the owner or twutf sfiaM refuse or
neglecf to alter, remove, or pull dfowiithe same, the
Fire-Masters, or any three of them, shalucuusq the same
to be altered, removed, or pulled down, a| the expence of
such owner or tenant; and,-incase Qj oppjsitipn, it shall
be the duty ot the Fire-Masters to made report to the
Mayor, who is hereby authorized tP ordej the City Marl
shal to cause the same to lie pulled jJbwn/ altered, or re
moved, at the expence ot such owner or tenant, and shall
Issue his warrant and levy the exprnces of the saint, and
H'fine not exceeding fifty dollars lor every refusal or ne
glect.
VII. And be it further ordained, by the authority
aforesaid, 1 hat the Fire-Masters and managers are hereby
required, once in every month, to have the several engines
played off, and to see that the ladder*, hooks, buckets,
ropes, &c. are in good repair and fit for use; and iu case
the managers shall not, once in every month, play eft'the,
said engines, they-shall be liable to fine not exceeding
‘thirty dollars cacti for every such neglect, to be recovered
by complaint before the City Council: And, for the en
couragement ol those who belong to the fire companies to
be active in carrying the said engines to extinguish fire, a
reward ot thirty dollars shall be paid for the first engine ar
riving, filled with water, and ready 1 to discharge on said
fire when directed; and in case any dispute shall arise con
cerning, which engine was first carried to the place where
the fire broke out, the same shall be determined by the
t ire-Masters aforesaid; and tbe Maypr is hereby directed,
on the person, or persons producing a‘ certificate to him to
that eticCt from said Fire-Masters, or ally three of thun,
to order tlie aforesaid sum or gratuity to be paid by the.
City ireasurer, and which said sum shall be divided a
mong tlie Negro men belonging to the said engine.
\ IIJ. Andbe it further ordained , by the
aforesaid, 1 hat the managers of the fire engines, after
they have played off their engines a,s afbre.t tid, or after
any fire shall be'extinguished, shall secure and deposite
their engines, buckets, and oilier” implements belonging
to the same, and the persons appointed tp have tlie care
and management of the fire hoots, ladders, axes, and
ropes, do secure and deposite the several articles intrufted
to their charge in such places as shall be appointed by tlie
Fire-Masters, under a penalty of being obliged to replace
the articles so lost or damaged by their lyglect, and be
further liable to a fine not exceeding ten dollars: And if
any person or persons shall detain or sccriitt any buckets,
axes, or other public articles, he, she, or they, shall for
feit and pay a fine not Exceeding fifty dollars for each
bucket, axe, or othor article, so detained or secreted.
IX. And be it further ordained, by the authority
aforesaid, ‘1 hat the Fire-Masters are hereby required and
authorized to have sunk such a number of deep and targe
wells and cisterns, in the ipoyt public and necessary parts
of the city, as they shall judge expedient, provided the
same be approved of by the City Council, and to .examine
and see that the several public wells and pumps in this city
are kept constantly in complete repair; and are hereby
further authorized to examine all accounts of expences ac
cruing the icon, and that their Chairman do sign tlie said
accounts to be returned to Council.
X. And he it further ordained . by the authority ,a
forts'ud, That, in case a fire shall happen to break out in
Savannah in the niglitd.me, the offietr of the guard fo.r tjie
time bciirj shall cause the inhabitants of sh.e city to he a
- Firmed, by beat of drum, ringing of belts, or otherwise;
and the Mayor .and Aldermen of the city shall assemble at
the fire, with their staves, .by which they may be distin
guished, to be in readiness to give diredtions.for the speedy
removal of the goof Is pf such may’ be en
dangered by sucli fire, to confer with tjie Fire.-Masters,
and to command that cider and regularity-whjcb iS so ne
cessary jn time of fire; and the Fire-Meters, and their
assistants, shall likewise attend such fires, With tlje’ir usual
fire and the City Marshal, and Constables.of tlie
city r are hereby directed to assemble at (said fire, to be
ready to receive such orders and diredlionsjas the Mayor,
or any of tbeAldermen, shall give them frobv time to time
during the said fire; and, in case tbe City Marshal,.or
.any of the Constables of the city, shall be ajeent from any
fire within the said city, or Ahall come without his staff,
and cannot shew a reasonable and.sufficient excuse to tjie
City Council, tlie City Marshal, and tverj Constable, for
every such offence, shall forfeit a sum not exuding ten
.dollars. ■ ” J ’** -
XI. And be it further ordained, By the authority
aforesaid, That it shall and may be.lawful for either or
any of the said Fire-Masters, or managers of fire engines,
jo command ao.y.person or persons whatever, when any fire
.breaks out, to aid and assist .-in such fanner pr way as
shal l be ordered or .commanded by the said Fire-Masters
or managers, and in conveying tlie engines, ladders, and
buckets, to tlie pi ace, or places where the fire shall be; apd
in case any person or persons sliall wilfully and pbjtinately
refuse the or neglect tp give reaspoable aid and as
sistance in any manner or way whatever tending to the
eXtuigvbbmeut of the fire, removal pf rubbish cr property
of any .kind whatsoever, wfien commanded by ;he Mayor,
.or.either of the Aldermen, pr either of tlie said Fire-Mas
ters, and any pexsqp pr peisQ9 s s>hU oppose,
molest, or roafe use,of any opprobrious kmgoage, or ob
stnya’tbe said fer^qn
or persons who shall be by qrthe
or any of tlie Aldtrnifn, jq the pxevqtion qf t|ieir duty , or
assisting iu cxtiiiquislmig the Raid fi> e, or
l hf? gopcls and edeefi of tlje citizens endangered Ijy tjij: firp
to places of safety, pr who shall opnpie the guard or firp
toinpany liayptg charge of jjucb geuds and eiletds, lit;, slic,
npthqy, shall forfeit a fine not exceeding ope hypclmj dpi
lars for each and every; ot|ence as aforesaid, apd, pn cojir
viction, the Cle)h of tiie Ckmhc’d shall publish tlje
w ‘ri J the party’s name,at least once in theGazetfe of this city*
4?4, be it further ordained, by the autfiori*r
atorefaid, and hat a majority of tlie Fire-Masters prescuf,
or > ‘h. their juiy two with tfia
Mayor, or any pr more Alderrrivn, or> qp
are ait band, any three pr niore Alderpieji
present at any fire, shall and may, and tbpy are hereby
authorized and empowered to give directions, and to com
mand any person or pe:>-pns to pull down crfilow up wy
hpus£ oy houses, or other buildings, a$ may be judged ne
cessary by them to be pulled down or )i)ovfn Up, tor
renting th.e farther spreading of the sirs.
XIII. And be it further ordained, by tlie authority
aforesaid, 1 hat if shall not be Jairful for any person op
persons whatever to be riding through the squares, streets,
Qf lanes, in wliiefi t)ie inhabitants are assembled ,£qr
purpose of extinguishing fire, except the lylYPr or Com
mandant of the Militia, with such officers and attendants
as they may concejve necessary, pr any of tfie Hoop of
light horse that may be ordered on duty; and should any
person or persons, not of- the abpve description as herein
excepted, attempt to ride along or through thp squares,
streets, or lanes, -in which persons are assembled for the
purpose of extinguishing tjie fire, shall, op convi&icqi
thereof, be fined in a sum not exceeding fifty dollars for
every offence so committed.
XfV. And be it further ordained, by the authority’
aforesaid, That, to prevail, as much as may be, this
great confusiqfi which rh?y arise from too many men jbe-
ing under arms at the time of fire, it shall be tlie duty qf
the Mayor to request of the Commander of tlie Militia
for the time hying to fix the number of men necessary to
be under arms in time of fire, by a rotine once in every
three months, who shall be posted in such positions as may
be most conducive 10 the protection of the property of tfie
inhabitants of this city. t
XV. And be it further ordained, by the authorityrx
aforesaid, That, wiilun three months from and after tfie
passing of this ordinance, every house within the limits
and jurisdiction of the city, occupied and tenanted, shall
be .supplied with buckets, at the experice of the owners of
said premises, to the number of at least the number of firp
placcjg in the same, including such as are in the out -
buildings, and the said buckets shall be equal in goodness
and size to those procured for the use of the city, and
painted, on which shall also be painted, in visible charac
ters, tjie name of the owner to whom said buckets belong;
and, incase the ownerof any house or tenement should
refuse or negleCt to have the said buckets supplied agree
able to this ordinance, it shall and may be lawful for tlie
tenant to procure the same, deducting it out of his rent;
and furthermore, it shall be tlie duty of the Fire-Masters,
each to go through his ward at least once in every three
months, and examine the state of the buckets in each
houre, and, in case of deficiency, to summon the delin
quent before the next City Council, and, 011 conviction,
he, .she, .or they, shall be fined two dollars for every
bucket lie, she, or -they* are short of the number required
by tills ordinance; and no person shall make use of any
bycket so procured for any other purpose but that of ex
tmguishing fire, under the penalty of one dollar for each
and every offence; and, in case any person or persons
shall wilfully detain or secrete from the lawful owner any
bucket procured as aforesaid, lie, she, or they, -shall, on
con viction, forfeit a sum not exceeding ten dollars for <-
yery fire bucket so detained or secreted.
XVI. And vibercas tlie stores under the Bluff, and
others in this city, have few, and many of them no chim
nies, be it further ordained , That the owners of every
improved wharf lot in this city shall furnish, within three
months, twenty buckets, for the building or buildings on
£iich wharf, and distribute them proportionately among
the buildings; and that the owner of every other store in
the city, that has no fire-place or places attached to the
same, shall furnish two fire buckets for each store, of
such kind, and under such regulations, as other landlords
are by this ordinance compelled to do.
X VIL And be it further ordained , by the authority
aforesaid, That every owner of a wooden house or
or brick or stone houses covered with wood, occupied as
dwellinghouses or kitchens, shall, within three months
after the publication hereof, provide the same with a suf
ficient ladder, or have a scuttle or door cut through the
roof of such house or houses large enough for a man to
pass through conveniently, under the penalty of a fine noc
exceeding twenty dollars.
XVIII. And he it further ordained , by the autho
rity aforesaid, That it shall be the duty of the City Sca
vengers, on the breaking out of any fire, to order their
carts to the different places where buckets, fire hooks,
ladders, and rppes, are kept, and to assist in conveying
tbe same to such place or places as may be dire&ed by the
Mayor, cither of tbe Aldermen, or the Fire-Mastere;
and, after tlie said fire is extinguished, shall repair in like
manner with their carts, and collcft all the sere buckets,
books, Udders, and ropes, and have them conveyed to
such .place qr .plasfs