The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-05-04
4 French Fire.
[Puck.]

PUCK
There was a fire in Paris the other day. 1t
destroyed alarge dry-goods store called 'lhe
Printemps'< and 1000, 900 worth Of prop
erty.
1t cannot be said that the Parislans are al
together unused to fires. They had a pretty
good supply during the brief reign or The
Commune, and they occasionally have a little
one now: but a. million and a half dollar flare
I'D is something quite unlocked for, and the
means at their disposal for fighting such a
thing are quite inadequate. Not that Paris
hasn't pompiers enough for the usine OF
extinguishing fires, but their appliances are
not quite so extensive or as useful as they
might be.
The Partisan fire-brigade is a regiment
consisting of so officers and 1890 men, Ihe
French are a military nation, and are inclined
to carry their military methods into every
thing they do. They never feel perfectly
comfortable unless they have a sentry mount
ing guard over something, if it be but q heap
of dirt, and they make fires no exception to
the rule.
When a. gendarme discovers q fire he i'm
mediately waits on the Project Of Police and
informs him of the fact. The Project OF
Police then communicates with the Minister
Of War, who sends a special messenger to
the Colonel of the fre-brigade.
Lots are then drawn to decide which com
nany shall first start to the fire. With band
playing and colors flying, the troops, armed
to the teeth, with Chassepot rifles and sword
bayonets, ground arms in front of the burn
ing building.
By this time the flames have made consid-
cradle progress, and the chief commander is
convinced that there are good and sufficient
grounds for sending for the engines. Anoth-
er messenger is then dispatched to order two
or three forward, but out Of compliment to
the Colonel of the regiment, who lives at St.
Cloul, those kept in that village always have
first choice. The Partisan fremen keep no
horses for their work; but 9 little thing like
this does not occasion much delay; they press
into the service those belonging to any stage
or express wagon that may be passing along
at the time.
The engines were somewhat late at the
"Printemps'' fire, owing 10 the Colonel Of
the regiment having, in the goodness Of bis
heart. allowed a cartman to deliver a load Of
goods st Asnieres before placing his horse at
the disposal Of the fre-brigade.
The engines being now on the spot, and
prepared for action, nothing now remains
but to find q fre-plug. Uutil last year there
were but three hundred throughout the
whole city Of Paris, now there are nine hun
dred altogether, but most Of them are outside
the barriers, out Of respect to the idiosyncra-
sizes Of M. Grevy, who prefers them that way.
A plug is at last found, and then the hand
I'M get to work and a moderate stream Of
water is thrown On the fire.
Should the flames spread, the authorities,
after holding q council OF war, decide on
sending for q steamer. In about az hour and
a half the steamer arrives, and after two or
three soldiers have been dispatched tor coal,
wood and matches, the furnace is started and
the machine works.
At the s'Printemps' fire it was discovered,
after the fire was alight, that the pump Of
the largest steamer had been taken out-the
engine could not, therefore, be used. We
afterwards learned that it had been lent to
the proprietor Of . neighboring 6rasser5e who
was a friend Of the Minister of War, and also
bottles pek Gle.
BY the time the steamer gets into full play
the fire has burnt itself out, and the regiment
marches back in triumph.
Few Partisan fremen are we'll acquainted
with the streets OF their city. It has been
proposed to attach a Paris city directory to
each engine in the place, that the members
Of the brigade may know how to find their
way with facility to the scene of q conflagra-
ton, and that they may find out the name of
the occupant and number Of the house where
it has broken out.
Bismarck and the Actress.