National Republican., 1876-11-23
THE FRKMKN.
0fieial Visit to the Engine Houses oaiek

Time.
The members Of the Board Of Fire Commis-
sioners made an inspection tour of the engine
houses ast night. A number of gentlemen
interested In the fire department accompanied
them at their invitation, and a cosy little party
was made up. About $50 o'clock they left
the Columbia buildings. A large "bus" car
ried most of the party, but the carriages Of
Chief CIonin ami Assistant Chief Drew were
q 20 brought into play.
The first place visited was the 'fre-alsrm
telegraph office, on Louisiana avenue. The
party mounted the stairs and were welcomed
by Operator Richards, who explained the
workings of the system. The mysteries Of the
automatic repeater were fully discussed, one
or two tests were made and the big gong was
sounded. The visitors expressed great sur
prise at the perfection which has been. attained
III instantaneously transmitting an alarm to
every part of the city, and left for the truck
house, on Massachusetts, avenue, near Fourth
street.
THE TRUCK HOUSE.
When the party, headed by Chief Cronin,
ertertd the truck house two men were found
on duty. Everything looked clean and neat.
The visitors were huddled together in one cor
ner so as to be out Of the way, and q gong was
sounded to arouse the men. "Clang," went
the gong, and in an instant q big hustle was
heard up stairs as the men jumped from their
beds, and then half q dozen eager fremen
came rushing down the stairs, some pulling
their coats on as they came, and took their
position beside the truck. "Clsng, clang p
two men spring into the stable for the horses.
The hsrnessed horses are freed, and bound
across the brick floor to their places, on either
side of the pole of the truck, and are hooked
up before they get fairly there. "Clang,
clang, cIang," and the men are In their places
on the truck, the nervous horses are chafng
and dancing, and all that is needed is the
word, and they will go bounding, rushin e,
tramping, laundering through the streets,
waking the slumoerers, and causing many
window to be thrown open and nightcapped
heads TO be poked out In the darkness. All
this was done in twenty six seconds.
After this trial the visitors were shown
through the rooms up stairs, including the
sleeping room, with lis TWO rows OF cots, most
of which had occupants when the gong was
first sounded.
NO. 5 HOUSE.
From the truck house the party was driven
to Columbia engine house, No. 8, on Delaware
avenue, near G street northeast. This is the
newest AMI most perfect engine house in its
construction in the city. Right behind the
engine and hose carriage are four stalls, with
doors opening out into the main room, 80 that
when the doors are opened the horses can jump
out and take their proper places. When an
alarm is struck wire draws peg, which let's
the dUors fly open, and the opening of the
doors unfastens tie halter. Such Is the per-
lection of the system that when a man pulls
down the lev er in fire alarm box in George
town he not only sets q myriad of bells in
motion, but opens the stall doors and uufas-
tens the halters in No. 8 engine house, on
Capitol Hill. A test was made here with re-
suits as satisfactory as that at the truck
house.
When wire connecting with the gong was
pulled the freed horses sprang out of the
stalls, and without any confusion ran at q
quick pace to their places in front of the
engine and reel. At the same time the men
were tumbling out Of bed and down stairs, and
the horses were hooked up In an instant. At
tap Of the gong the men sprang upon the
engine and reel, and the engineer was at his
place with lighted torch, ready to put the
blaze to the fuel In the fire. box. The first
trial was made in thirty-two seconds; another
was made in eighteen seconds.
NO. HOUSE.
No. house, on Virginia avenue southwest,
was the next point. Here the horses are freed
and led out out by hand, but the time made
was remarkable. Twenty-Five seconds only
were consumed in getting out of bed and down
stairs, hooking up horses and mounting the
engine and carriage. The magnificent, large
horses belonging to this engine attracted the
attention Of the visitors.
No.2.
Franklin engine house No. Q, on D street,
between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets, next
received the visitors. The system for freeing
the horses, described above In connection with
No. house, has lately been introduced here,
and works like charm. The boys were ali
up, and so very little time was needed for
getting them ready for q run. A tap of the
gong brought them all down stairs, and the
horses clattered out to their places. They
were hooked up, and the men were on the
reel and engine ready for the start In ten sec
onds. second test reduced this time one Sec
ond.
NO. HOUSE.
From No. the route was taken to Union,
No. /, engine house, on K street, near Seven
teenth. The same neatness was found here
as at the other houses. Foreman Parish re-
ceived his visitors and showed them through
his nicely-furnished house. Then came the
test. The time required for getting out at
this house is somewhat greater than at the
others, because the men have to run across a
little yard to get 10 the stalls, Ind have to
cross it again in bringing up the horses.
The gong was sounded, and the usual rush
up stairs was heard. Two men darted out
into the yard, and IN an instant all seemed to
be in confusion. Horses and men rushed pell-
Htll dCIOee buc uOOT. Dut bucTt was TcdiiJ
not bit Of confusion. Each man and horse
knew his place, and In an instant he was in
II. and all was ready for lively run. The
time for hooking up and mounting was forty
cur seconds. A second trial was made In
hlrty seconds.
In passing through the sleeping apartment
p stairs the visitors had an opportunity of
seeirg how fireman manages to get out of
bed and dress so quickly. There was little,
black heap in the corner by one of the cots,
and sn investigation showed that 1t was pair
of boots and q pair of breeches. The boots
were stuck into the legs of the breeches, and
the breeches were rolled down over the tops
of the toots, so that by pulling the straps of
the boots man has boots on and the most
difficult part of getting his breeches on over
come. A fireman will step ont OF his bed
into his boots; and will complete the rest of
his toilet while running down stairs. As one
of the commissioners said, "When they get
their boots on they're dressed"
no. HOUSE.
The visit to Henry Addison engine No. 5,
Georgetown, finished the night. Foreman
Lowe welcomed the guests and made ready
for the test. The horses were brought out
the first trial 10 twenty seven seconds, and at
the second in twenty-five seconds.
Among the other things seen at the house
was a leather helmet, provided with glass
for the eyes and breathing apparatus, in
tended TO be used in places where the smoke
is so voluminous as to be fatal. This is an
invention of Chief Cronin's. .a ... ..
The satisfactory, Interesting and pleasant
inspection tour was finished here. The libra
ries which are being built up at each engine
house was one of the noticeable features Of
the visit. 1t was apparent that the arrange
ment for freeing the horses used in houses
Nos. and could be introduced with advau-
tage all the houses, yet the short time re-
quired in getting ready for run at the differ
ent houses was remarkable, and furnished an
excellent illustration Of the effects of training
and discipline. ...
DIVORCE. ....
Abandonment and Adultery in One Case.