Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-03-30
Something like a Flash.

Engine Company "a IN New 1Orh- Is
said TO be the quickest in the world IN
bitching their horses to the machine.
Captain William Mclaughlin was fo1nd
recently in his room on the second floor
He sald, when asked how long it took TO
hitch up; Excuse me, decline TO state.
Whyf Because you'd think me liar.
Do YOU know how to use stop watch!"
81 do"
The Captain walked down stairs TO the
first floor, where his men were stanoinS
about in little groups. The floor was as
clean as could be. Every little bit oi
metal work on the engine was glistenine
Ike polished glass. Within fourteen feet
from the head of the shaft OF the engine
were two horses in stalls directly beside
The wheels of the apparatus Formerly
tbs horses had to rIln from the rear OF the
building. Twenty-four's horses are mag
uifcent animals They are perfectly
matched eighf-yeer-old grays, nearly NJ
teen bands high, with clean, taperlng legs,
perfectly arched necks,, small heads, and
fiery eyes. Recently, when waiting for
the stroke of the gong, ready to jump for
ward under the harness, they were pictures
seemed TO melt away, and they became as
1.-THE and agile as kittens, paving the floor.
throwing Their beautiful heads high III the
air.
They know there's something in the
wind muttered the CAPTAIN; mighty
clever beasts
The CaptaiD handed watch to the re-
porter, say ing: That watch belongs TO
Capt. Eusles, the oarsman. 1t was used
by William b. Curtis TO time Courtney and
Hanlsn at " ashlngton. Ii registers an
eighth of a second. When i strike the
gong, you push that little knob. When
the 0nver shouts Ready you push that
one. If you hear click. OF see any part
Of the outfit uIclasped, don't stop the
Walch until it's remedied. l am going 10
hitch up ten times.
Tie reporter stepped within little en-
closure on a line wuh the end of the pole.
The harness, already attached to the en-
gne, was suspended by system OF pull
leys over the places where the horses were
to Stand. Tie collars were hinged at the
top. but were open a. the bottom. and they
hung ike pair Of open scissors. When
the horses Lick Is beneath this collar il is
only necessary TO let il drop and close it
around lis reck, when il clasps automatic
ally " i'll the same movement the reins
are clasped 10 the bit, which the hoise al
WAYS has in his mouth, and as the whole
narLess q Is upon tie animal, at the clasp
oi Tie collar he stands completely harness
ed.
The Captain approached the gong. The
fIeDon were all ON the floor. The horses
were ON the alert.
'Clangp
The watch was started; the horses,
Whose EalteTs were unhiiched by the same
CuIIent OF electricity that rang the bell,
lesIed forward, ana stood like rocks un-
Der The harness with their necks held up
ready for The collars, which two fremen
spIsng ioiWaId anu seized. 1tere was a
guICk chok, lie driver vaulted lnto his
seat, seizeG The IeIns and shouted Ready?
Tie watch was stopped. The horses were
examIned, ard found TO lie perfectly har-
nesstd and ready to start. The Csrt.In
asked the reporter
How muchf
One second and Eve. eighths.'
If l'u said that I'd been called liar.
syid the Captain.
The huises were released. They ran
back again 10 their stalls and were halter
ed. 1Ltre was another irIal and the team
Was hliCLId ana haInessed in one and one
half seconds. This mace the Captain
smile. lie line occupied by eacn OF the
oihIr eight uials Was express sed in seconds
as follows; 2, ), 2, Il, z, /, and II.
Fire Commissioner GOrIIun, who has
,ecn cOnLtcted with the fire service since
$40, Was round III his office in Mercer
SrveI- he said:
'lne New York Fire Department does
not hlIch up ior boasting, nvalry, or wa
.cis, lut iCr Duslhess. Their ingenuity is
aAeu tU lie utmost to get 10 fires as early
Is possible. Ne know, in fighting fire
Il oIy goods district, thai enc second
aTler is often worth one million dollars.
)ur Companies are classed and timed, and
/ they are late they are Iepriuanded. We
nave perfect sA STEM. anu carry II out 10
he letter Take, for instance, fire on
J. cen street lltar Grand. The alarm Is
enI from box loo, On the corner of the
sueIls BGmed. Now We open tins lIttl
10 Ik, and see that the engines should ar
i've al this point with No. l3 first, No. 20
second, No. 50 third, and No. 81 fourth.
f NO. 20 arrives before No. l3 we want
10 know why. If l3 ran into a car, Was
bloch AIDED or run over somebody. ali right;
DIT Al l3 was slow, then she must learn to
be laslef The morning alter every fire we
receive The reports OF The Captains of the
different engines. These Ieports tell who
Was hrst On the scene of the fire, what
they uld, bow much pressure of water they
USED, how long they were there, and who
was IN charge.
lie reporter then went to the house of
Engine No. 81. and asked Captain McGill
no" long II takes HIM to START
BIZ! pull a lever and away we 90.
Our engines q self-propeller. We keep
about eighty pounds of steam on her, and |
the instant The gong sounds she's off,
Assistant Captain Montana, of No. 3 |
SAID:
There are lots of engines that hitch |
under three seconds. Every company has |
two men near the pole OF the engine all |
night l.Dg. line instant the gong rings
the horses are loosened and they jump for
ward. The frenen are there and they
clasp the harness while the driver is rum
mng down Stairs. The engine is all ready
In three seconds at any hoGr of the night.
LIEUT. DusenberTy Of No. IS, In Mercer
street, sald he has charge during the illness
OF Captain Goiding. He hIiched up
twice, making two and three quarters the
fIst tine and IhIee seconds the next
Capt. John sullivan of Hook and Lad
der Truck No. was away His ieuten-
ant Join Dwyer, ssld that they had
made TWO and quarter, and were on re-
ccld al Headquarters al seven and three
qusIters seconds tor three bitches.
We ale suIe,' lie said, that We can
hitch irsiCe OF two and half seconds