A long time ago in America, early firefighting efforts included the use of bucket brigades. The art of transferring water from a source to the fire with long lines of people using buckets. The first ones were made of leather, and later out of metal. We're sure that when the fire was out, at some point someone tossed a bucket of cold water on another, and a water fight was on. Fast forward to the use of fire hose and pumpers, and the tradition continued - firefighters are often very competitive, and both bucket brigades and water fights with hose streams became a regular part of fire musters in the 20th century.
We will be telling the stories of various sporting competitions held within the Marin County fire service, including hose cart races, water fights, musters, tug-of-wars, softball leagues, and more. This week we are starting the feature page on water fights. Research has so far uncovered water fights starting in the late 1940's, and continuing into the 1980's. We may learn of more. FD's participating in organized competitions included Novato, San Rafael, Corte Madera, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Tiburon, Kentfield, Alto-Richardson Bay, Sausalito, and more. We'll first feature the ones held in Larkspur, since we have some great early film footage and some good photos of the early days. Click here to go to this feature page: With thanks to researcher and author William "Bill" Lellis, this week we are sharing the story of San Quentin Fire Chief Norman Selby. Also known as Charles "Kid" McCoy, he was a World Champion Boxer who first fought competitively in 1891. Weighing in at barely 160 pounds as a young boxer, he won the middle heavyweight and then the heavyweight crown. From Champion to murderer to inmate to Fire Chief, the Kid lived a fascinating life.
According to a brief biography written by famous sports columnist Ring Lardner from back then, "Kid McCoy lived by violence, by trickery, and by women. He fought 200 fights, and was beaten in only six of them. He married eight women—one of them three times—and shot another to death. For the murder, he paid a light price, lightly. There was vanity in him, and guile, and wit, and cruelty, and some larceny, and a great capacity for enjoying himself. Above all, there was self-satisfaction..." Read the story in our Special Recognition and Award Recipients under the More Menu, or click below. |
AuthorOur Blog announces new site content, and gives the context of the topic and it's relationship to fire service history. Written by Bill Lellis & Paul Smith Archives
August 2022
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