New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-23
Union heart. and hand. and mind,
For the good OF eli mankind.
THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.


WEEKLY FIRE DRILL IN THE PAUL FAMILY-A SUD-
DEN ALARM NEAR THE GRAND UNION-HOw THE
ORDERLY sARAToGIANs RUN TO FlRE-THE
PROFESSIONAL BRIEF SERMON on MUNICIPAL
DUTIES.
fFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRTBUNEl
SARATOGA, Aug. 18.-DiscOvering by some
subtitle analysis that we had become so accustomedtot
dumping OF ice under windows, that it did MT dis
turb us much break Sleep they got an alarm of
fire under our window about O'clock this morning by
way Of variety, thinking probababy that this would
fix us completely. Since Saratoga burned down,
year OF two ago. the villagers have been very much
afraid OF fire. On Fourths OF July fireworks shut
off entirely and nothing infiammabe is allowed on the
streets; even redheaded girls forbidden to show
themselves. During the seasons, Col Johnson and
two or three other residents patrol the
streets all night long to make
that everything is right. So much afraid OF fire
the villagers in fact that when occurs they either
rambe off in a contrary direction else stand still
the Sidewalk yelling fire, but keeping as far away from
IL as possible. Well out Of bed this morning and
had my forces marshaled at the first alarm BY way Of
providing against possible contingency, always have
fire drill in my family week. In consequence.
when an alarm is given each member ought to know
what to do. Paulina should roll herself up in small
compass as possible and stand ready TO be pitched out
OF the window Mrs. Paul is instructed to wrap herself
in sheet and stand the windowsi in the traditional
attitude Of Roman virgin shrieking. Save, oh,
me 20 The head Of the family is expected to slip his
swallow-ta put his wifes best back hair in the rear
pockets get by the nearest stairs speedily
is consistent with the secondary duty of picking up on
the way any valuable portable property that the neigh
bors happen to dropped In hurried fight On this
occasion discipline failed Mrs Paul rushed to the win
dow whispering In duloet tones, "Pich me out" Pau
lima crawed under the bed, shouting 81 am savedp
And the head of the family reaching for his swallow
| hat had pPn nm bap md
down the middle till IT looked for all the world like
nair OF saddlebags struck by lightning. That came Of
lending 1t to johnson for the last promenade concert
This is about the order that apparatus always
IA IN when wanted, and 1 rather imagine
that my experience illustrates pretty nearly
what all fre-drills amount TO when IL comes
to the real thing By the time that we'd all have been
done TO nice crisp not entirely burned up, had the
fire been within q couple of blocks had the satisfsc-
ton of learning that 1t mile OIL on another street.
The villagers however showed themselves equal to the
occasion by turning out, every mothers son OF them
standinR resolatey their doOrsteps Qhe Few that
did MT mt themselves in battery under my window,
meant aud yelling like coppercolored Indians over the
OF captive This sort Of thing went on for an
bour by the watch. Enough noise was made, and sui-
eieut Jubilee got up the burning Of Boston, In about
half an hour from this time an enterprsng resident
who lived on the came along and said that III WAS
only small stable. and the fire was ont-the natura re-
sult of the building being burned down. All TINS whe
we were wondering where the Saratoga ire depart
ment was In twenty minutes or SO more the mystery
was solved by the appearance Of the institution ITSELF
steam fire-engine, drawn by two men and boy came
dashng along in its mad career, and stuck ID tbe muu
directly under window Evidently the5 khe" TINT
the cemen were of duty and we had begun 70 thk OF
going 10 sleep Just sit up minute longer" said a
resident who, on informed that the IRE was on''
determined that IL mia duty TO go IT, lana won
show yOn something worth seeing. They've lad meet
ing at the Town Hail aud determined 10 do something
50 we "sayed up" Sure enough just before day-ofeaA
a band OF music auiibc IN Inc distance, aud anon
body o. hove N si:ht and halted urder Our WIN
doVs II ;Ac lIinlea programme banded round was
right. tnc profession made up IN the flioHng
order:
rEoc lssloS 10 PUT OUT THE FIRE rms MONDAY
MORNING.
ANY rnh,n rot rehponAn " Lhs notice within three