James “Cappy” Smart

Calgary Fire Chief

Born: 12 July 1865 near Dundee in Scotland
Married: December 1892 in Calgary, Alberta to Agnes Leishman
Died: 25 July 1939 (age74) at Calgary, Alberta
Buried: Union Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, plot S:16:026
Contributor: Jim Benedict

The Early Years

James “Cappy” Smart came to Calgary from his native Scotland in 1883 after his father, a sea captain, was lost at sea.  As a young lad, he heard the story of the unsettled land of Canada and wanted to come to the wild prairie lands.  By 18, James travelled by cattle board and train and reached Calgary by October 19, 1883, at the end-of-track at that time on the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Calgary was just a small collection of huts and tents at the junction of the Bow and Elbow rivers.  His uncle, Thomas Swan who accompanied him from Winnipeg, and James pitched a tent on the bank of the Bow River, and then James took a walk through the tiny settlement.  His first job was in the sawmill of Col. James Walker.

Fire Chief

In 1885, James joined the volunteer fire brigade, first as a hookman.  Back then, it was just a bucket brigade with hook-and-ladder equipment, under George Constantine, the first fire chief.  Sporting the hat of a fireman, he picked up the nickname of “Cappy”.  “Cappy” moved up to horseman and by Dec. 1, 1891 he became captain of the hose company.  By March 21, 1898 he was named Fire Chief, and held that post for 35 consecutive years, retiring on March 31, 1933.

As chief, “Cappy” Smart would never send a man into a situation into which he himself would not go. He was thus injured several times on the job. He also had a rather interesting way of assuring that spectators never got too close to a fire: he would turn the hoses on the crowd.

He was much beloved in the city and served as the official starter at all the car races and referee to all the major boxing matches. When fighters got in a clinch, he would bellow, “Break or I’ll fight you myself!”, a threat which he was quite capable of carrying out. “Cappy” also led the Stampede Parade yearly until just before his death.

Smart had good relations with the native people in the area and helped organise their participation in pre-stampede country fairs. In 1904 the Duke and Duchess of York visited Calgary and were introduced to a number of local dignitaries, including a number of native leaders and “Cappy” Smart. When the Master of Ceremonies for the event got to the appropriate point in the reception line, he introduced the fire chief as “Chief Smart”. The Duke responded by turning to his host and saying, “My, what a magnificent savage!”. According to the old timers, “Cappy” Smart set the Duke straight in typical Scottish fashion.

“Cappy” Smart saw the Calgary Fire Department change from a volunteer bucket brigade to a modern mechanised force. In the days when fire fighters still relied on horses to get them to emergencies, “Cappy” Smart personally chose all the animals. Calgary Fire Department horses were legendary and were trained to run into their harnesses when the fire alarm sounded. Fire fighters could harness, hitch and be out of the hall in a matter of a couple of minutes. One horse, Old White Wings, once arrived at a fire with no one at his reins. The driver had been thrown from the wagon when it hit a bump, but Old White Wings could see the smoke from the fire and knew where he was needed.

Undertaker

In 1886, the year following the formation of the brigade, “Cappy” formed the city’s first undertaking company, under the name of “Smart and Company”.  Previously, funerals had been conducted through co-operation of a druggist and the church in town.  He conducted the mortuary until 1891, when he sold out.

Marriage

“Cappy” married Agnes Leishman, an Ontario girl, in December, 1892 in Calgary.  They had two children; Minnie and James “Bud” Smart.  Bud died in 1905 at age 11 but Minnie lived on.  Minnie worked for several years in No. 1 fire hall, as secretary to her father.  She had a specially made uniform which she work most of the time.  Agnes passed away in July, 1932.

Calgary Stampede

“Cappy’s” connection with the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede goes back to the beginning in 1116.  He took part in the first “fair”.  He also was a member of several boards of the early exhibitions and in 1904, was president of the board of directors.  That year, he was appointed marshal of the opening parade, and held that position for the rest of his life, starting every stampede parade.  One of his prized possessions was a pistol, with which he started the annual parades.

Final Years for “Cappy”

When “Cappy” Smart retired as Fire Chief in 1933, the fire department left the alarm bell in his home.  Just for old time’s sake,” “Cappy” said.  It always rang for daytime fires – until the day he died.¹

He had a final ride on one of the big red fire wagon engines, departing from headquarters at No. 1 Hall to the Union cemetery, after funeral services at Knox United Church.  The long funeral proceeded along the streets of Calgary to the cemetery, led by all available firemen in uniforms with white gloves and white-helmeted and white-gloved policemen.

Legacy

“Cappy” was a great lover of music and the Fire Department band still bears his name, as does an elementary school in the city. Cappy Smart Elementary School is also partnered with the Calgary Fire Department.

1. Calgary Albertan 26 July 1939 p.1 [↩]