The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-09-11
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT-T OLD AND


on tuesday afternoon, they stand adjourned until
Thursday afternoon a: 5 o'clock.-Adjourned
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT-TRE OLD AND
THE NEW.
The efficiency of the present Fire Department is
conceded by all Even those ardent adherents of
'he old volunteer system, who with ominous shak-
ing Of the head prophesied the failure of the new,
and at the same time lamented with a sorrow which
refused to be comforted, the demise of the old
have slowly, ia some instances reluctantly, but in
all cases certaiLv, admitted the superiority of
the steam department. To day Baltimore claim
the most thorough and complete Fire Department
in the United States, and It may be, in the world
Efficiency and promptness Were not the only OBJ
jects which the friends of the paid department ex-
pected as the results of its successf,l operation
Inseparaby connected with the old System were
evils of grosser magnitude than want of activity
or ability in combating the raging element. The
old system, actuated as the several companies wei,
by laudable spirit of rivalry, and anxious
eacn company was to outstrip the other in celebrity,
deeds of daring and selfsacriicing devotion for
the preservation of property or still more precious
| life, school in which brave and generous men
were trained to high pitch of perfection. Could
this eflciency-ths selfsacrificng, disinterested
devotion, have been secured without entailing evils
of the most frighttul character, might plausi-
bly, have protested against the destruction of sys-
TEN which bore such fruits, for one untried and
| promising to impose greater expense.
The system, however, not only trained expert
| fremen, but each engine house became a hot-bed
| for the growth of. lawessness and depravity.-
Youths not controlled by parental restraint, soon
as the shades of night closed in, sought the engine
houses, where hours were spent in the rehearsal of
deeds OF violence and crime, the planning of at
tacks on rival companies, or, what still worse,
in scheming for the application of the incendary's
! match without danger of detection. Nightly, how
ever, their conversation would be interrupted by the
he which inritv IF ipeto 1u
heralded the intelligence that the iucendary had
| been at work. The apparatus would go forth amid
hoOtings and howlingS of their followers and the
flames, fierce they might be, would be as fercely
| fought by the iremen, and when subdued, ifnot
| while they were still raging, the insulting taunt
would be thrown out, and then wild scene of riot
would follow. Some would be taken to the police
stations, whilst others, with bloody heads, returned
to the engine house to be the heroes of the next
| few hours.
These riots were created and participated in by
certain class known ''hangers-on" and s'run-
ners." Many most worthy citizens belonged to the
companies, and deprecated these turbulent exhbi-
tons while they exered their utmost to prevent or
check them. The system mad become a standing
outrage. The spirit of rowdyism which had grown
up under 1T, not satisfied with occasional de-
monsration at fires, turned to the highways, and
with wantonness without parallel, assailed the
inotfensve citizen as he walked quietly to his home
Political feuds were added to company fights, and
the climax was an open warfare, not only as COM
panies but individuals, and the sight of mem
Der of rival organization the signal for an
attack. The respectable portion of the fire depart
ment lamented this evil, much and more than
citizens not connected with it. Suggestion followed
suggestion, restriction followed restriction in the
vain hope that remedy could be found for the
evils without the destruction of the system. Each
effort only proved the utter mpossbility of attain
ing the object sought and, at last the most active
and Jealous men of the department naugurated the
first step towards its dissolution.
The old system was power 1t was child's
rOln To liah h. Lal,s
and needs of years had made living thing, and
which was endeared to the people by acts of the
nobest heroism. The advocates of the department
could point to half century's unpaid TOLL to acts
OF bravery, for which comparisons could scarce be
found; to deeds of daring, which would nave
appalled, the sternest warrior. All these deeds. and
all this halfcenturys toll, had been given without
reward, or, at least, none other than a knowledge
that a whole community grateful. They
claimed for the members of the companies exemp-
tion from the charge of being riotous, and asked
for protection against those who used the depart
ment for these disgraceful exhibitions.
On the other hand those who favored the change
saw plainly the impossibty of separating the two
elements. Nothing but the destruction of the good
and commendable part would eradicate the evils
which all deplored They conceded the historical
facts of which all were so proud, but, at the
time, pointed to the disgrace which INSOFAR.
ably connected with the department. They assert
ed that volunteer department and acts of lawleSs
cOncomitants. Two years were spent in
a struggle between the friends of the two systems,
when finally the First Baltimore Hose Company
purchased the steam-engine Alpha, and few ex-
hibitions of her wonderful power soon demon
strated, beyond all cavil, the superiority of the
steam over the hand engine. Men were loath to
acknowledge the fact. 1t was like giving up our
own flesh and blood for stranger.
The Vigilant Company followed in the purchase
of the celebrated "Comet," and the public mind
was so thoroughly convinced of the utility and eff
ficiency of the proposed change, that, with one
voice, it was demanded
The different volunteer companies still stubborn
" opposed the system, but at the same time their
members were busy in securing subscriptions for
the purchase OF steamer, and thus by their acts
acknowledged the error which they daily, by
words, attempted to maintain.
The steam engine had triumphed but its triumph
at one time, it was feared, would not secure the
great objects at which its advocates aimed The
friends of each of the companies always liberal,
now became more than generous, and in response
to calls for money to purchase steam engines, an
swered most laviShlv. 1t was found that almost
every company in the city would have steam
apparatus, and the system would still be volun-
teer. All the evils which the great objection
to the hand-engine volunteer system would still
atftict the department., and the gangs of "funners
would still riot and bring disgrace and shame on
the otherwise fair fame of the tiremen. 1t became
evident that nothing but the complete destruction of
the volunteer system would secure the results de-
sired.
The ordinance creating the paid system was
passed, and following close on its passage was its
institution. The volunteer system retired. The
adherents of the system, chagrned at the
cavalier manner in which they had been disposed of,
met nightly to speak of the ingratitude of the
people, recount the valuable services which had
been rendered, recall the crowd of reminis-
ceuces which were the glory and honor of the de-
partment. All the deeds, which were to them as
precious jewels-the heroism which only ended
with the sacrifice of life-the winter midnight
scene-the generous rivalry to risk life and limb
| the hours of toi-al all were poured into sympa-
thizing ears. One after another of the martyrs,
who at the post of duty scorned danger and
| courted DEATH were reverted to, and as the vir-
| tues and heroism of each were truthfuy recount
ed, many eye that had looked fercely and def
anty on the glaring flame, grew dim with manly
| tear.
| But while these brave fremen were sincerely
| mourning for the destruction of system which
they loved for the good it had done and still could
do, there another class who were lamentng its
demise for entirely different reasons. This class
| were those who styled the apparatus 'de masheen'
who said ''nahp' and 'yaas." They regretted
! its destruction because they would have 'no more
muses." They cursed steam engine as it passed
them Oh the street, and called it "lummir.'' This
class was sorely greved that they could not chunk
| any more,' and the wsest of them prophesied the
| failure of the system.
| Overcoming the few obstacles which were thrown
| in its way, the system was inaugurated, and
almost two years have since elapsed. The results
| which have followed are the best encomiums which
can be paid it. Instead of hearing the startling
alarm bell at almost any hour of the night sending
forth notes of horror from their brazen throats it
is now heard on an average but thrice week.
The institution of the fire alarm telegraph, which
is the great auxiliary of the department, is another
| great blessing. The alarm comes noiselessly over
! the wires, telling its tale with unerrng accuracy
and is Immediately followed by the ured stroke
of the alarm bells, giving the exact locality of the
fire. At the first stroke of the signal box in the
engine house, the tiremen spring from their places,
rush to the horses, and in another moment the har
ness is on and the intelligent animals, apparently
eager to reach the of the fire, stalk unbdden
to the apparatus. The match is applied, and in
another instant they on their way. Nothing
is heard but the ruubling of the wheels of the
gne and hose carriages the quick step of the horses
and the occasional sharp whistle which is given,
route, only to show that in five minutes and a
half from the time the signal received, the en-
gine was ready for work
In less time than it takes to recount the mode of
procedure, reaching the fire, the engines are
at work. There loud words spoken-no
hooting howng-nor blasphemy. The same
daring-the same herosm-which characterized
the volunteer tiremen is displayed by their
sors. Tremendous streams of water poured
necessarily on the burning building, and as the
CRY flames burst out, the fiat of the fireman goes
forth, "thus far shalt thou go but no farther"
Sinew and muscle will fail-the strength of men
will grow to weakness, but the iron muscles and
steel arms of the steam engine tireless. No ex-
ertion exhaust them-no labor affect them.
AS soon the fire is extingushed, the horses, ap-
paratus and men are returned to their places.
Such is the practical working of the Paid Fire De-
partment.
But there is another noticeable feature connected
with the system That is the order and good con.