STATE OF KANSAS
County of Segwick
City of Wichita

We the undersigned, do solemnly swear that we will support the constitution of the United States, and the State of Kansas, and faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of firemen of the City of Wichita, so help me God.

The men who signed their names below this solemn oath were as follows:

• J.B. Carey
• Wm. Griffenstine
• Otto Weiss
• J.P. Allen
• George Mathews
• Horace Mathews
• Richard Cogdell
• George Kessler
• C.A. Phillips
• Wm. King
• Cecil Viney
• Charley Viney
• Jake Balderson
• J.W. Davidson
• Charlie Rogers
• Charlie Hunter
• A.T. Massey

Charlie Fuller was mascot of the fire company and later was given the job of torch boy. As a torch boy, Charlie would go ahead of the fire boys with a torch and light the way, ballyhooing for everyone to get out of the way. The firemen bought him a uniform and after awhile as his duties increased, he was paid $8 per month.

C.A. Phillips was elected foreman. Several of these early volunteers later served as Mayors of Wichita.

The funds to purchase the first fire truck were raised by popular subscription and the fire alarm bell was purchased and paid for by members of the company. A constitution was adopted which read as follows:

1. roll call;
2. reading and approval of minutes of last meeting;
3. report of officer;
4. report of committees;
5. admission of members;
6. excuses of absentees;
7. election of officers;
8. miscellaneous business;
9. no person shall be admitted as a member of the company unless his name shall be admitted;
10. the admission of all members shall be by ballot;
11. a majority of all members present shall be sufficient to admit any person as a member of the company;
12. any member wishing to speak at a meeting shall arise and address the chair and shall be considered out of order if he acts otherwise;
13. no member shall speak more than twice on the same subject, unless permission shall be granted by the presiding officer, nor shall anyone speak over five minutes unless given special permission;
14. no member at a meeting shall be allowed to indulge in personal language reflecting on the character of any member;
15. nine members shall consitute a quorum for the transaction of business;
16. these by-laws may be amended or approved by a two-thirds vote of active members present, notice of which shall be given in writing at a regular meeting and the same acted upon at the next regular meeting thereafter.

There was another meeting on Saturday, September 21, 1872, at half past seven in the office of Martin, Phillips and Company. All members of the hook and ladder company and as many as would like to join were requested to meet on this occasion as the recently purchased apparatus was to be delivered the following week. The apparatus apparently arrived as scheduled and a small frame building was built at 220 North Market and designated Fire House No. 1. The firemen were trained to use the ladders by climbing the highrises of 1872.

The first skyscraper in Wichita was a two-story frame hotel, The Wichita House, located at Main and Third Streets. In 1871, it was moved back on the lot and a three-story addition was attached to the front and in 1872, it was renamed the Empire House. Since the hotel was the first skyscraper in Wichita, the hook and ladder company drilled their firemen by having them climb the ladders that were placed on the high structure to gain experience as a seasoned metropolitan fireman.

On Christmas, 1872, five inches of snow fell and the temperature dropped to 3 degrees below zero with the Big Arkansas freezing solid enough for teams to cross over the ice. Three-fourths of all the pumps in town were frozen even though they were wrapped with piles of blankets. While the citizens were trying to thaw out the pumps by pouring hot water over them, the city had a big fire. It was a livery stable which was curiously stored with a stock of tea and no horses. The whole city turned out to fight the fire, unsuccessfully, as the water and pumps were frozen solid. This led to the following gibe at the expense of the City Administration in the columns of the Eagle, "Whenever you hear the alarm of fire given, take the first water pail you can get hold of and start for the conflagration, but stop along the route and fill the pail with water from one of the city wells, if you can."

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