Page 29 - History of the Colton Fire Department

It was moved by Bostwick and seconded by out for a practice run. The route was always in the same
Thompson that the department request the city trustees to direction around the block. One day an alarm came in
make it a misdemeanour for anyone not a member of the for the real thing and with the adrenalin flowing, the cart
department or police officer to get on the fire truck at any flew out of the barn but turned in the wrong direction.
time. Membership also requested that the trustees to give Needless to say, that his exercise program had to change.
the fire chief complete charge of the fire hall, equipment But now that Prince was getting old and being replaced
and driver. by fire engines, the fire department asked the city trustees
to take care of Prince. They asked that he be placed in a
1915 corral with a shelter and on pasture in the summer.
For many years the hose carts where man powered until A committee was formed to discuss salaries with
1907 when the horse drawn hose wagon was put in serv- the city trustees to see if the monthly pay could be raised
ice. Now with the arrival of the motor driven fire engine, from $12.00 to $15.00.
it was time to retire the hose wagon. There were stories
about John Wenck and his horse Prince. The horse that
would pull the wagon was always supplied by the driver.
For 8 years, John Wenck and the only known horse to pull
the hose wagon. There was not that many fires to run on,
so once or twice a week John would take his horse Prince Al U’Ren as chief - fourth from left with Nick Carter to his right.

29