The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1852-06-03
The Fire Department of London.

The Fire Department LOhUOhs
An American gives an explanation of the man
per of extinguishing fires in London, which must
he interesting to our readers, since there are
no organizations for attending to fires, as in this
country.
ESeveral insurance companies unite and pro-
vide disciplined bands of fremen, who act as
leaders, for the crowd which always gather to
see fire, are made to assist. These bands
have their rendezvous at convenient places, and
are always ready for any calamity.
One of these spots is a singular scene. At all
hours of the day and night you will find several
fre-engines well mounted upon strong cars, to
which are attached two or four powerful horses.
The gates are always open, the horses harness
ed and the lines in the hands Of a driver. Be
sides the driver, there are to each team several
fireman, dressed and ready for action, and there
they stand ready in a seconds notice to fly to
the scene of conhagration. A large number of
engines and horses are on hand for use, and
several are constantly harnessed and manned
for service There are several depots scattered
over the metropolis, from which the engines
start The costume of the fremen is fine, the
horses are always spirited, and the sight when
they are in motion is one of life and spirit.
To insure the quick transmission of news of
fires to head quarters, the policeman who on OBJ
serving fire, first gives notice at an engine sta
ton, receives reward amounting to about 81
so, and still another reward to the engine which
first appears on the ground.
Arrived at the scene of the fire, at once the
hose of the engine is applied to the street plug
for the water companies only obtain charters
on condition of giving all the water which is
needed for fires free of cost. A suitable band
of men for working the engines is soon gathered
from the crowd, by offering shilling for the
first hour, sixpence for the next, and so on, be-
sides a feast of bread and cheese and ale to wind
off with. Twenty or thirty men are needed to
work each engine, but fire never yet occurred
in London where there was lack of men for
hire on these terms.
The trained iremen attend to all the danger
Gus parts of the service, and the common labor
ers merely work the engines. The brigade men
as they are called, wear a compact dress, with
stiff, leathern helmet to protect the head, and
often make courageous and dangerous attacks
upon the devouring element. If it is necessary
to enter a room full of smoke and flames, fire
man with a smoke-proof dress enters at once to
the rescue of the imperiled object The work
goes on cody, but with wonderful dispatch ::
and when all is over, all parties who have wor-
Sed adjourn to the nearest public house to par
take of the beforehand bargained-for bread and
cheese and ale
The Fire Brigade belongs to some eighteen or
twenty insurance companies, and has fifteen of
sixteen stations. There are Superintendent
ana Captains, and the men are promoted accor-
ulns to their energy and trustworthiness. We
need not add, that they are paid well, and those
employed who are stout, strong and full of ex-
peFthess. Here is one of the great advantages
'Hey have over the members of fire companies
IL american towns who do not make it their bu-
0uuesS' They are generally persons of ordinary
strength, and can never be so skilful as men who
--aAe The putting out of fires profession.