Morning journal and courier., 1882-01-24
Cutting Down the Time.
Bremen or an Engine Coming Down Stairs a Brass Pole.
 From the New York Sun.J

E o1 DCHh Stairs on a Brass Pole. From the New York Sum- Engine B of the Fire department, Captain Golden, lies in Mercer street, Q few doors north of West Third street Its house is old-fashioned and inconvenient, but Captain Golden and his men are alert and spTy and their work as firemen has made the company one that the commissioners arc proud 10 show distinguished visitors from other cities and from Europe, Commissioner Van Cott and Chief of Battalion Bresnan, who was promoted from the captaincy of the com pany, take an especial interest in it, and the men, being under constant supervision of their superiors, have been put on their met tie. Until Saturday evening last they fan cied they had got the work of hitching up and dashing of to 8 fire down to about the finest point. Twice, successiyely, for the benefit of Sun reporter, they got to their stations on engine and tender within three and quarter seconds. Quick as they were, though, they were no quicker than Jack and Jim, the engine horses, and Bill, the iet-blsek motive power of the tender. At the first note of the.g gong the big animals. as swift footed and sure-footed as cats, sprang from their stalls, and thundered among the flying men to their places under their harness In- deed, Jack, 8 noble roan and the pet of tue company, could be induced only by stern command to wait for the stroke of the gong, but as he saw the captain approach be danced and plunged in his stall, his eyes blazing with excitement.
 After the trials, Chief Bresnan, who, with ex-Alderman Morris, was on visit to the house, directed the men to return to their sitting room. Workmen had been setting up a novel appliance for saving time in getting ready to start for fire It was highly polished brass pole about three inches in diameter, set in a socket in the main floor, and extending, through circular holes cut in the two upperhoors, to another socket in the roof. Capt. Golden ordered four men to go to the bunk room on the second floor and he down on their cots. The two men nearest the pole were to slide down st a stroke upon the gong, and the other two to run down the stairway. The men chosen to run down the stairs were the youngest and most active in the company.
 Captain Golden stepped to the gong and gave one resounding clang. Overhead, for an instant there was clatter of feet Then two objects, clad in dark blue, flashed down the pole, and within three seconds the driver was in his seat, and the man whose dnty 1t was to snap the spring buckle on theHof horse stood, with uplifted hand, at his post. The other men had got only half way down the stairway, and had twenty five feet of flooring to traverse before they could reach the engine.
 That looks safe and easy" exclaimed AL derman Morris, who, though of truly alder manic proportions, is an enthusiastic ana teur fireman. ''II try it.' He hurried up stairs, and few minutes afterwsrd he vas seen slowly, and with a very red but well satisfied face, slipping down the pole. The business like fremen, forgetting discipline for moment, greeted the alderman with ap- pleuse.
 ''This IS the first trial of device that, I think, " said Chief Brennan, twill cut down the average time for hitching up wonderful Iy. don't like to say what the average time will be if this appliance is generally adopted It is the result of one of Commissioners Van Cott's ideas, worked out with some practical suggestions from Chief McCabe, of the de- partment repair shops, and myself With three more poles two at the back, and one at the right side of the engine, all the men can land close to their stations. The probability is that the poles will be used in the new house of the company in Great Jones street and may thereafter come into general use in the department.
 ''The pole is safer, as Alderman Morris has kindly shown" he added, smiling, than the stairway. Ten ortwelve men crowding down a stairway make a dangerous scramble. and injuries that the public does not hear of but which often result in retirement are sus- tained."