, 1877-03-11
OUR FIRE PATROL.

1He feofuary number OF Ihe Retie7c an En-
glfsh insurance Journal, pays the following ligt
compliment to tho Chicago Fire Patrol:
1ne Of The Wany things which oas sea
ourselves is ther system Of Salvage Corps, or Fire
Patrols, In their larger cities The superiority
general organization, which might in justice
be considered not perhaps even. to equal
ct ou1 41e Sut spessa to oe
tsprt excellence OF their captains, and the won.
deEfal rapidity and mechanical certainty to which
they hare Brought the utility Of their orgariza-
tons; In fact, they consider that they have re-
dnced their system to science, and they claim m
electrical rapldity for their time In order to allow
tice Of these claims we Viii submit shott M reports
OF some OF their highest -reputed corps, aud leave
1ne comparisons and Judgments to be passed by
! The crack corps. Of fire patrols in the United
M stales Is most certainly that Of CHICAGO In this
ton and rapidity possible in order protect their
Interests; and It is we'll for them that fn this dan
sesfv G} WHERE their experience has been
an ohiccr Ike Capt. Butlw.nkle, who appears to
haye imbibed for This particular profession that
duce superior excellence.
Ihe =, building of the patrol corps of Chicago is
m district h where the insurances are very heavy
IND IN ,,oad oatldns to itself the stable Offices,
@ oeg m !ns upe9 ar noe , the
cnpicd Us a bi1liard-room. library, and sitf,nr-
room Tor the men. In the Office is electric alarm
with nearly all parts Of the city and the
patrol 10 SO organized that within seven and half
seconds IN daytime, and twelve ut night, from the
time OF the first alarm. the wagon can be ont in the
time has been taken aud certified to by the writer:
out Cnpt, Bullwinkle boasts that he can do the /
same IN ons sx seconds in the day, and seconds
at nlsnt This really marvellous Fapldty is attained
~ sooo Organization, watchfulness to small de- |
latIs many Of which are too minute for us to men
mcnts:
Al the first sound Of the a1arum, and while the /
same continues to strike on. the necessary num-
ness. etc. .nd,estng the district from which the
moment by electricity the great frvnt door Of the
stsb!s; wh.ch being hung to swing back on its own
when holds it, gradually swings VIDE open. Whi]e
This is taxing place, the horses, fully hurnessci In
ae's sfals sh1 are M re.epsed At tho time by
. .ofses trained to tbe doty. immediateIy med ely
r foesd nses a. and ID place themselves in the
aeAed 70 the wagon with simple ring, an inveu-
fon 1nt. OF ~ capt P Ballwnkes by the watchmen on
ng IN the meanwhile taken place up-stairs, away
nl1s nsstarpE tae pairoi r. fn'ly equipped ia order
nshiy aroused by the pn'ling off OF iii their bed
Manh s done d. by the electrical shock
ulley to tie bed-clohes o, @si each bed S1'a rbe
ress OF the men, composed Of one single piece. =
trousers and boots all ia one, Ms easily nut on | II
20 away they tumble down stars, arriving there | ~
f1en before The alarm has finished striking on nc T.
ount or being shot down smooth, creased in :. :.
ned plane, which serves stair In moments Of u
aslc Ihe driver however, has staircase ali to G.
mseA Just by the side of his bed, which drops bv II
le same electric shock TINT has awakened him. Il
10 h1s seat on the boz OF the van. Arriving in ii
= seat which he does whilst his Comrades ore
ldlng down the plane, he seizes his reins cracks
. whip, and away he starts, the other fellows II
tnpiug into the wagon from behind and being al -
oeofe he gets to the street. Tue hats and belts, ~
are I'LL IN the wagon ind the men pace these ei
o. iheF are gallop,ng to the fire. tt
1asse ID nc doubt something pantomimic in this nt
pldltJ and IL isa question whether in Eng]and | an
shoa1d require any such haste; hut in Chicago tl
.ete from small beginnings tires are likely to 1h In
III such all-controlliDg power where The ercat | 81,
tcnWord and fear ia fire. few seconds sayed IN 81 81
UT JlI1ng disaster Is often the salvation ~ ~
mons of insured wealth. There is poss,hIy M Ill!
lfol in America that equal the one at Chica mt
sta!!' that OF San Francisco, under Cant Rus be
hlte. although 1t does pretend to tic pan
a1nc changes Of cur Chicago friends has ali its an
y polnte and Is easily out in the daytime In ten col
oaos. The efficient working OF this corps has | mi
.n repeatedly shown BY their having restrained va
lns Ares INTO dats. and even into roons several ~
ne savage Corps Of New York, Baltimore. me
'.oh. aud philadelphia, etc.. are good. but It q
f1t no particular remark. We can oniy express the
oPc, however, that in New York tIey mav toll
er mare need to require any great services n ren
r patrol: for city with the risks like New nor
X should have an organization OF imneuse ! N
ng1h and unparalleled efficiency. M M