Evening star., 1877-12-29
JAPANESE FIREMEN,

Ii was a big fire-there was no doubt about
II: In Constantinople and New York. fairly
Dig events OF this sort occasionally occur. and
are made much OF, but to see King Fire i'm all
his awful power and glory, Japan should be
visited. Although we had been pretty prompt
I'm obeylng the alarm bell We found that the
fre had already made considerable progress
and at first, unprotected as we were by hel.
NETS or hoods, We found it difficult even To-
could make out was a vast expanse of dancing
name, lntersected by jets of smoke aud the
black outlines of burned or burning buildings
by degrees We became accustomed. and we
saw our brigade double up into action. place
the engine I'm position, squirt at the flames
which seemed TO have the most undisputed
mastery everywhere, and send forward the
nook and ladder men-dare-devil fellows.
Who seemed 10 have the utmost contempt for
names and falling timber, and who went into
1ne danger as II they were going TO a wedding.
10 US. accustomed to the stern, silent bus
lness-like manner Of the London firemen
there was something savoring of burle>aUp i'm
lhe enorts OF these Nedo brigades 10 combat
tne names. The general effect was that
OF what is known as a pantomime rally
every one howling. shouting, running 10 and
1ro, and upsetting one another. amid shower
Oh Dealns, tiles and articles of furniture. with
out any apparent order or method. There was
great deal of movement and a great deal of
npfoar, and during the whole performance the
nalGeS seemed to wander lust where they
Pleased. singeing here, blistering there. but. as
rule, completely cutting What they came ia
contact with. Meanwhile our engine had come
W Dut lIlS- 10 our eyes.
Ver! little consequence, as Ii had served sim
ply 10 dampen the Jackets of the fremen: 81 IL
was removed, and all the energies of the brig
,I aae were devoted TO the object Of preventing
the spread of the tie by the wholesale demoIi-
lon oil houses. With this object i'm view the
hook and ladder men were sent forward into
me houses which were more Immediately
threatened with destruction, while the batter
ing rams-huge piles of wood with Tremendous
iron forks at the ends-were run mn
Hnder ins If charge ma OF the most stalwart cool
Min huge standard. was sitting
straddle-legged on the roof of a house,
and ny his movements those of the bri-
gade were directed Until he retreated not a
man dared TO dream OF yielding an inch. and
We trembled for the safety of our fine old
h,n Trend as we saw him apparently alone in
volumes OF smoke, which rose from the burn
ing masses on all sides of him. And here We
NAY may remark that although the discipline of
!he Drlgades, their methods of procedure and
thelr total unbusiness- like air OF doing every
thlng, were TO be condemned i'm toto too high
praise cannot be bestowed on the Individual
puck and agility Of the members. We i'm
Europe are now familiar with the extraordi-
nary ieats OF Japanese acrObats but TO see
sh,S sis SSli and agility put to practical use
word is given for the hook and ladder men to
60 into action, Ii Is a treat TO see some score
oi muscular, act1ve-limbed young fellows, not
one OF Mhom pauSeS q moment to look at the
aanger into which he is going headlong, dash
into the houses already tottering TO their faU.
Swdi III ou tue TOOLS. Swing from rafter TO raf-
yer, struggle up almost perpendicular slopes of
loose Tiles, often with rope in their mouths,
lump over yawning chasms OF flame as il they
were two-fOot bitches, fasten the grapples to
the Diazlng timbers, jump down and signal
an AN right" TO q gang or coolies below.
VINO ,sns, are hanging to the chain or rope. The
wall totters backward and forward for A min
ute but extra mettle is put into a final puii-
Sna down comes the whole blazing side of a
mouse, ourying half dozen firemen, sending
up huge pillar OF smoke and sparks 10 The
stky, ~ and calling forth tremendous veil from
tne admiring crowd. Scarcely has IL fallen
Mhen ,ise dozen active fellows are hard at work
Will their hre hooks. From under one hean
ol umoers Jump out two or three of the hook
ana ladder men. who rub their bruises and
iiauen rantically. Out of cavern of s.nolder.
ins asnes crawls another, with an arm broken.
... Willie from the innermost recesses are pulled
OUT Two or three poor blackened mufila iad rs
Ina Malns oi what were few minutes back roll
ncklng dare redeyils i'm the prime and strength
OF manhood These last are gently "a rial .T
ss on shutters, and tomorrow win be followed to
snen iast restlngplace under the cryptomeriss
st a9a IA sLaieas on the hillside yonder, 6y crowd
" " reations and comrades proud In the midst
oI their sorrow Of the deaths met in fbe nnh,ic
cause.-lAa The Year Round. P1''''