The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-12-27
THE FrREsrEN's RIDE.

THE FIRESIEN,S RIDE.
Last Sunday at about 10 minutes be-
fore l2, noon, our Mayor and Foreman
Webber received kilograms announcing
the Portland confiagration, and asking
for assistance from the Albany fire.
men. The fire alarm was struck at the
engine house, and in about twelve
minutes the gallant "Onesters" had
the engine out to the depot and mount
ed upon platform car. In five min
utes more the down passenger train
had arrived and hooked on to our car,
and with wild huzza from the re-
manning citizens, and an answering
shout from the boys, the iron horse
ait out" from the depot and sped
away under the pressure of 1S0 pounds
of steam and wide open valve. Con-
ducSor Root had orders from Portland
to pass the boys and engine down free
of charge, and the engineer, Billy
Gregory, was telegraphed to from
headquarters to make as fast time as
the capacity of the locomotive would
with safety permit of; and with Bob
Cagin to fire up and keep her red hot,
YOU better bet she scudded along at a
furious rate. Passing Jefferson with
scarcely perceptible slackening of the
speed, flying past Marion with simply
q blast of alarm from the engineers
whistle, only tipping the wink to a
wondering old cow who stood by the
depot at Turner's, We brought up at
Salem in the spanking time' of 35
minutes out from home. Here we
We're Joined by Capital Engine Co. No.
l, and away we sped, followed by wild
cheers from the men and waving hand
kerchiefs from the ladies of the capital
city. From Salem to Aurora, the best
and safest part of the road-being a
distance of p miles-the train made
''Iightning'' time, nearly taking away
the breath of the boys who rode upon
the platform cars with the fire engines.
At Aurora there came a telegram that
the fire was under control and ordering
the engineer to make only schedule
time. This was fortunate order, as
we were just then entering upon the
most dangerous portion of the road.
where anything over the slowest time
is considered unsafe and inadvisable--
Proceeding on our way at schedule
time we arrived at Portland at 3:35
nrand Immediately proceeded to the
scene of the confiagration with our en-
gine, but fortunately the fire was so
nearly subdued as to be entirely under
the control of the Portland firemen,
and our services were not needed. The
boys housed their engine in William
ette's No. ! engine house, and took up
their quarters for the night at the ele-
giant st Charles Hotel. kept by our for
mer fellow-citizen, j. B. Sprenger,
where they were treated with the
warmest hospitality. A night spent in
the city, visiting the ruins of the fire,
mingling in the general confusion and
tumult of that demora.ized communi-
ty, and exchanging fraternal greetings
with the heroic metropolitan firemen,
and our boys again placed their "Cres-
cent" aboard of the cars and were
brought safely home, feeling consider
ably exhausted, and highly gratified
by the handsome treatment and warm
cordiality of their metropolitan COM
rades. We trust that our big sister
city may never again be so unfertu-
nate as to require our services, but If
ever she does, our noble "Onesters,"
with Foreman Webber at their head,
will be ready to respond as in the pres
ent emergency.