Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-03-25

suction bose; thar " should never, N anu a.
casson, be played without it, and that to a oe
J gleet Of this Indispensable precaution the un-
fortunate accident which occurred, is, in
great degree, attributed. The water. on this
occasion. was dipped up and poured into the
Engine, which never should be done. and
thus having been used from the tan-yats in
the yard, quantities of tanners ooze and filth
got INTO the pipes and caused il to burst -
They believe further that the neglect in ia
king the Engine 20 the creek near at hand,
so that the converting hose might have been
used with great effect is to be ascribed part
~ to that anxiety TO administer immediate re-
ilei which was exhibited to the credit of the
Company and the citizens generally; but
more to the unhappy want Of discipline, hur-
ry, and confusion which was but too suscep
tibie, and which must forever render the best
intentions worse than useless, unless il can be
substituted by silence, presence of mind, and
that readiness to obey instead Of an eagerness
to conmand, which should ever be the char
actenstlcs OF men united for the very purpose
OF performing arduous and important duties
well and speedily.
The Committee win proceed to make some
suggestions as TO the mode of conduct during
a fire. The respective duties Of the officers
and men are easily understood, and, in the
general, are sufficiently detailed in the Con
stitution.
/. 10 the first place, the Captain must
have the command of all operations of every
department-his duties extend over every
person; as he has the responsibility of every
thing done, so must his orders be implicitly
obcyed. 1t is utterly impossible, where dan
ger is imminent and active exertions required,
that there can be any separate duties indo-
pendent OF his command; -and on his part,
there must be the most perfect GOODNESS, self
possession and decision in his department and
commands.
=. SILENCE is the most important requ- |
site on the part of every member of theCom |
pany--lt should be commanded imperatively |!
III every place--it should be the first command !
uttered, and every officer and man should |
enforce il in his department and set the ex-
ample by speaking in low tones in giving his |
orders. The citizens should be required to !
observe it; and they should be Immediately |
ordered to different duties under some mem |
bers OF the Company as soon as the Compa |
ny meets at the place of fire.
y. The different guards under the COM |
mand of the Lieutenants ought to be consid- (
cred and should consider themselves as as
sistants or lieutenants under their respective
In the Water Guard especially |
they should assist in forming housekeeping !
silence, attending TO the buckets. &c.
4. There should always be a large tub or
half hogshead used for the suction hose, where
there is no clear deep water to place it in.
D. The officers and members Of the Com
pany should never suffer oficious and intru-
ding persons to interfere with their commands
and duties. They are authorised by law to
form themselves into a company, and prop
erty security, and life itself, requires that |
proper operations should not be interrupted.
q. Buckets ought to be procured in great
er numbers as soon as possible.
7. Ladders Snd Hooks that are light should |
be procured as soon as practicable
s. The Captain Of the Water Guard should |
if possible have his lines formed by the time !
the Engine arrives. where he should await |
the orders Of the Captain as TO the position of
the EngiRe; and this should never be placed
too near the fire.
This Committee, in closing their report, !
will say that, although there was great deal
of lamentable confusion and disorder gener-
ally, yet they can say with perfect truth that
there is not in the members Of the Company,
nor the citizens, any want OF zeal or activity,
or sympathy for the situation Of those in dan
ger-indeed, they feel it their duty to state
that there never was population under their
observation so devoted, active, and even d.
ring as the citizens of MAJ tinsburg, in time
OF fire; and they are bound to add that there
perhaps never was, among the same number
ofpeopie on such occasions, more noise, con
fusion, and want ofdisciplina and system.
w. G. ANDERSON,
WIN. n. RIDDLE,
G.. G. CONRADT.
JOHN DOLL.