Identifier: exemptfiremenofs00exem (find matches)
Title: The Exempt firemen of San Francisco; their unique and gallant record
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors: Exempt Fire Company, San Francisco
Subjects: San Francisco (Calif.). Fire Dept
Publisher: (San Francisco : Commercial Publishing Co.)
Contributing Library: San Francisco Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: San Francisco Public Library

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n Works,and on October 28, 1853, was appointedan officer in the San Francisco PoliceDepartment. On December 5, 1854, hewas promoted to an assistant captaincy,and in July, 1857, became captain ofdetectives. He retained this rank untilApril 7, 1897, when he was promotedChief of Police, and on January 2, 1900,in the full possession of his physical andmental strength and of his accumulatedknowledge and experience when the newCharter went into operation and thePolice Commission under which heserved so long was superseded, from a 72 SAN FRANCISCO FIREMEN sense of duty and at his own request hewas retired on half pay. He had thuscontinuously served the municipality ofSan Francisco for more than forty-sixyears, and had filled the longest termknown in any police department, cer- and other solid citizens in the organiza-tion, under the volunteer system, ofCalifornia Engine Company, No. 4,which rapidly became noted. Thesegentlemen erected an engine-house, attheir own cost, at the intersection of
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EX-CHIEF OF POLICE I. W. LEES tainly on this continent, and probably inthe world. Roger OMeara of Pittsburgis the next in order to Captain Lees inthe length of his service, which has ex-tended to thirty-five years. As early as October, 1850, CaptainLees joined the late William T. Coleman Market, Battery and Bush streets, andthey purchased a fine engine, for whichthey paid four thousand dollars. CaptainLees afterwards became foreman of thiscompany, and he also served in the Boardof Delegatesfor the Fire Department. Onthe list of Exempts he is the first member. SAN FRANCISCO FIREMEN 73 This short recapitulation of facts coversthe most important period of the growthof this commonwealth of the UnitedStates, and indeed of civilized nations.Beyond doubt the biography of CaptainLees will ultimately be written and thedetails of his career brought together inample form. The purpose of this sketch,however, is purely suggestive and itslength necessarily circumscribed. itsimmediate object is to s

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