The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1864-12-03

FRIEND OsNlN-Allow me the privilege.
through the columns Of the FgEE TRApEE. OF
calling the attention Of the people of this city
TO the subject Of fires. 4 series of which we
have experienced Of late. Within the short
space of about two months We have had three
serious cpuiia-ratIons. which. had they not
been STAYED in their progress lr the indymita-
blc energy and pl,tcE of the little Fire De
partmeut, wo1li have consumed the most Of
the business portion Of the city. The citizens
Of Ottawa do not fully appreciate the position
of the bows associated together as iiremcn, or
else they would pursue . different course at
fires. 1t is fact, which must be apparant 10
all, that both the fire companies OF the city
are but teebly supported III the manual labor
necessary 10 perform their work. Though few
in number, the material i a good as can be
found anywhere. These devoted little bands
of heroes have always nobv responded to
calls of duty. and for hours have batt.cd the
dcyouriuc element. Standing n the breaks,
,rork!Hq tie mGcLiGe.' until nearly exbaus-
ted. they have never q'tit until ordered by the
officer in command to DO SO. At such a time
assistance is needed and q call for help IS
neTer made unless stern necessity demands 1t
in order to keep the haGchine going. The
fircmen are entitled to this assistance, and If
their ranks cannot be sweled to a competent
active force. it must be had when at the scene
of action. This assistance has been frequent
ly asked and as often stUbbornly refused. Is
it not a shamc-nay, worse than shame-that
this call Of duty is so feebly answered?
The ent-catcs of the Engineers, city ofiici
ais and police officers are too often unheeded.
4 large class Of eieguU ioutcTS stand gaping
and looking on, viewing the devastation of
the surging waves of fire, while the labor of
the heroic fireman, whose duty 1t Is to stay
the ravages. calls loudly upon them for relief;
only. as it were. for few short moments.
Have these idlers no shame Tor such n course
cf conduct? When the boys at the brakes
are almost sinking from exhaustion, have
they no sympathy for them? We are com
PEELED to say. that when they are called upon,
they sneak away to some nook where they
can peek ont and play the pretty Let me ask
all such, if they do not feel like some 1chiPped
spanie! fleeing to tie kc9nel. This state Of
things should not exist. Are these people
aware Of the fact that az ordinance rcgltia-
tina tie Fire Department Is IN existence,
wherein very unpleasant penalty Is Proyld-
ed for refusing to assist when called upon by
the proper authorities One would suppose
that the many admonitions they have received
would lead them to reflect upon the subject:
vet at every demand made upon them they
turn a deaf ear and stand aioot from every
consideration of necessity. If determine
ton 10 shirl1 the responsibility imposed upon
them for the public good be their intention,
then they should be made 10 feel the severity
of the law and suffer the consequences. fla
persons health Is not good enough to work at
the brakes when necessity demands it, they
should avoid the night air, stay at home, take
little catnep tea, soak their feet, and keep
their beds this is the advice of an old Fire
man ; if this advice IS followed, a great deal
of bad feeling will be avoided. If such peo-
pie viii idle around upon such occasions and
refuse TO assist when called upon, then the
CdldbO0Se is the proper place for all such
glorious sneaks, and | trust that those whose
duty it is to attend to it, Will see that the wise
provisions of the ordinance" will be carried
into effect The alternative Of the duty of
the citizens at fires, is here presented from
the laws of the city, which will they prefer?
Are these nice felIO1cs or glorious togfers that
hang around at fires afraid of soihng their
clothes? Or is the duty of working on the
brakes too polluting to the touch, to justify
their cooperation in such labor? fthe for
mer reason actuates them, then they had bet.
ter stay at home or come prepared to work,
no one has any business at a fire unless pre-
pared to 60 in on his nerve. If the latter