The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-01-07
THE EERLIN FLREMEN.

THE EERLIN FLREMEN. 49,.
How tho Department Is Organized, and
How Fires aro Managed.
Correspondence OF the Boston Advertiser.l
BERLIN, December Is.
1t has been said by foreign observers that
the American cities have as good steamers
and as good telegraphio fre-alarms as there
are In the world. lam inclined to add, also,
as good systems OF water-works. Indeed, two
of these, namely, the steamer and the water
supply systems, ave superior to those OF any
continental city with which am ac-
uuainted. The fremen are individually as
brave, as cool and as skilful as there are In
the world. Why then do Chicago and Boston
end Portland burn, while European capitals
resist not only accidental fires, bnt organized
incendlarIsms? Without protesting to an
swer the question, may give some facts
which will help you to answer 1t yourselves.
The fire engines of Berlin, as Of Paris, and,
80 lar as know, OF all continental clies, are
hand machines and OF little power. They are
drawn, however, by horses. The water mains
are we'll distributed, but the hydrants are ap-
parently less plenty than In American cities.
As a rather clumsy but very efficient substt-
lutte, great hogsheads of water follow the en-
glnes to the scene of the fire, and can be
drawn, like the engines, right Into court or
q porte cochsre. A short supply of water is
thus obtained Immediately, and is of more
value than the copious floods drawn later
from the distant hydrants. The hose, the lad
der, and even the extra men, are likewise
drawn by horses. That which is often seen In
Boston-namely, struggling tremen, hall
dressed and half awake, running to fire
after the engines.is never seen IN Berlin.
Large wagons, built for the purpose, stand in
the engine house, and on the first alarm the
force assigned for duty, seated In this convey
ance, is whirled along toithe fire. Every man
is in complete uniform, calm and steaGy as
soldier.
The men composing the Berlin fire depart
ment are carefully selected. In general they
are discharged soldiers, who have distinguish
ed themselves for courage and endurance; 10
that they enter the department trained to
habits OF discipline, and In the other Qualities
essential to their new position. The chief is
veteran fireman, enjoys almost absolute
power. and has perfectly safe tenure 30 long
as he does his duty. The several grades are
administered according to the sirlctest MILL
tary discipline. The men themselves are en-
listed for long term, and are well treated.
Accordingly the veterans In any squad greatly
preponderate; and they work against fire In
the most admirable harmony. They know ex-
sctly how to begin, and each man has bis
part. There is no confusion, or discord, or
noise; everything moves like machine, and
though there Is no more. Individual herolsm
than In America, there ls much more ell
Client general activity.
The telegraph alarm IS somewhat different
from that OF Boston. The bells are not struck,
and there are no street. boxes. The alarms
are given by the police from the regular police
stations, which are very numerous, 1t lS CAL
culatsd that fire at any point In The city can
minutes at the longest. An alarm sounded
from any station goes directly to all the other
police and IRE stations, and nowhere else.
The city is not alarmed. The idlers and
thieves are not put on the scent OF amuse-
ment or plumber. The way to the fire is not
blocked up with people before the engines ar
rive. The private character OF the alarm has,
of course, It's disadvantages, and am NOT sure
theri ia, on the whole, so good as the more
public system OF Boston, but 1t has at least the
merits which have enumerated. ought to
add that the engines are not kept, as In
America, in separate houses. The corps
is rather divided Into. squads or dl.
visions, and lodged in sort of
caswnss Each squad comp comprises two tVSso.1 OF
two or three mounted hogsheads of water,
and wagons for the transportation Of men.
The force is divided into watches, and large
body of men Is ready to move night CT day on
o moments warning. My apartment is at the
intersection Of TWO main thoroughfares, and
In the line by which two different fire
squadrons reach large portion OF the city.
should say that there had been on an aver
age one alarm per day In this quarter during
the last two months; and 10 the best OF my
knowledge but two of these alarms were
thought worthy of notice In the press.
should say. however, that with the exception
of the single element Of discipline our Ameri-
continent of Europe. The difference is not
there. The European cities understand prac-
tical economy, and spend less for cure than
for prevention. They have laws regulating
the construction Of buildings, and they enforce
them. 1t ls long process to build fine
business block In Paris or Berlin. but when 1t
is finished the block does not fall down
nor burn down. l have heard Amerl-'
cans ln Europe-generally from the West
sneer at the slowness of q French or German.
constructor. but some OF them are wises~to-'
day. They begin to see that the stupendous.
growth of Chicago, for example, ls not an un-
mixed glory. Many can even see merit In
the plain. 'inelegant, but massive blocks OF
Be7lln. They satisfy the reason II not the
flames, and they help him farther by adding
an element of certainty to bis plans. The
last point has not, think, been raised in
America, but 1t Is very Important. When q
German fireman sees the flames attacking q
certain wall, he knows exactly what resist
ance the wall will offer. he knows just how
the wall is butlt-that Ia to say, he knows just
how the law prescribes that 1t be built, which
in Berlin is the same thing, and lays bis plans
accordingly. Stone or brick main and party
walls, hre-proof roofs, iron columns and
standards, thick plaster and often stone parti-
tions, are the great enemies OF fire In Berlin.
This is the law, and when add that laws are
enforced In Germany, the whole story is told.
have been to q number OF 1res IN holm
Berlin and Paris, but never yet saw hremen
working on the outside OF building. why
Because never saw fire which reached the
outside of q building. Visit the scene Of fire.
soon after the alarm, at Berlin, and what do
Won see Not great array OF putting steam
ers. not flames breaking out through wooden
roofs, not great crowds of people obstructing
the Hremen, not tenants throwing bedsteads
down upon the heads Of the engineers
Ing Of the sort. When the fire breaks out the
aremen and police quietly take possession OF
the house. Not an article can be removed
Without their consent. The latter draw ropes
around the premises and keep back the crowd.
The hogsheads are brought up TO the door u
the hydrants are too far away, and the hre-
men walk right inte the scene OF the trouble.
They attack 1t where and when 1t breaks
out. The early flames, instead OF being
fed by combustibles, meet resistance IN
every wall and partition. Thus It's frat pro-
press is slow, and precious time Is saved. It
has been said that fire like that OF Boston or
Chicago, If once started In London or Paris.
could as little be controlled. The remark