The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-01-28

~ WoS os8 AI0-tuOIc was nO oOuOS
about it. In Constantinopls and New
York, fairly big events of the sort oc-
casionally occur. and are ma 1c much of,
but to see King Fire in sll his awful
power and glory. Japan should be visit
ed. Although we had been pretty
prompt in observing the alarm bell.
we found that the fire had already
made considerable progress, and ct first.
unprotected Is we were BY helmets Or
hoods. we found it dif6rcnlt even to
look at the raging scene before US.
All we could make out WAS vast cx-
oance Of dancing fame. intersectsd by
jets of smoke, and the black outlines Of
burned or burning buildings. BY de-
grees we became accustomed, and we
saw our brigade double up into action,
place the engine in position. squirt at
the flames, which seemed to have the
most undisputed mastery everywhere.
and send toward the hook aud ladder
men-dare-devil fellows, who seemed
to have the utmost contempt for flames
and falling timber. and who went into
the danger as if they were going to .
wedding. To us, accustomed to the
stern, silent business-like manner of the
London fireman. there was something
savorin& the burlesque in the efforts Of
these Yedo brigades to combat the
flames. The general effect was that of
what is known of a pantomime "cAll'
every one bowling. shouting, running
to and fro, and upsetting one another,
amid = shower of beams, tiles, and ar
ticles Of furniture. without any appar-
ent order or method. There was q
great deal Of movement and q great
deal of uproar. and. during the whole
performance, the flames seemed to Yaifs'
der just where they pleased. singeing
here. blistering there, but, as a rule.
completely cutting what they came in
contact with. Meanwhile, our engine
had come TO utter grief But this. to
our eyes, was Of very little consequence.
as it had served simply to dampen the
jackets of the firemsn so it was rs.
moved. and all the energies of the bri-
gade wore devoted to the object of pre-
venting the spread of the fire by the
wholesale demolition of houses. With
this object in view the hook and ladder
men were sent forward into the houses
which were more Immediately threat
ened with obstruction, while the batter
ing rams-huge piles of wood with tre-
meudous iron forks at the ends--were
run up under the charge of the most
stalwart coolies of the brigade. The
captain, armed with huge standard.
was sitting straddls legged on the roof
OF a house. and by his movements those
of the brigade were directed. Until
he retreated not man dared to dream
of yielding an inch. and we trembled
for the safety Of our fine old friend as
as we saw him apparently alone in q
blaze of flame, or half hidden in the
dense volume Of smoke, which rose from
the burning masses ON all sides Of him.
And here we may remark that although
the discipline of the brigade, their
methods OF procedure. and their total
unbusiness-liks air OF doing everything
were to be condemned in toto, too high
praise cannot be bestowed on the indi-
vidnsl pluck aud agility Of the menu
bers. We in Europe are now familiar
with the cxtraordinsry feats Of Japan
ese aorobats, but to, see the skill and
agility put to practical use one should
sassist" at Yedo fire. When the word
is given for the hook aud laddcrmen to
go into action, it is treat to see some
score of muscular. activs-limbed young
fellows, not one OF " HON pause moment
to look at the danger into which he is
going headlone, dash into the houses
already tottering to their fall, swarm
on the roofs, swing from rafter to rafter.
struggle up almost perpendicular slopes
of loose tiles, often with rope in
their mouths. jumping over yawning
chasms Of flames. as 1t they were
two-foot bitches, fasten the Rrapples
to the blazing timber, jump down aud
signal an "all right" TO . gang Of coo-
lies below, who are hanging TO the
chain or rope The wall totters back
ward for q minute, but extra mettle is
put into final pull. and down comes
the whole blazing side of house. bury
ing half dozen firemcn. sending up
huge pillar OF smoke and sparkle to the
sky aud calling forth . tremendous yell
from the admiring crowd. Scarcely has
it fallen when . dozen active fellows
are hard at work with their fre-hooks.
From one heap of timbers jump out
two or three Of the hook and ladder
men who rub Their bruises and laugh
frAntically. Out of ascsvern Of amoul-
deriug ashes crawls another. with an
arm broken: while from the inrsrmost
recsssea are pulled out two or three
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