The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-08-16
The Garman Fireman.


and no excitement, writes correspon-
dent from Berlin. | don't think that
one could discover anything which, in
tie most remote degree, could be said
to resemble alarm or excitement.
know of nothing more solemn or sadder
in this life than the calling out OF the
German tfrea0ehr. 1t is painful sight
to see the brave men who compose 1T
dragged out of their chairs, where they
may have been just about to take the
first wink of sleep they have had for an
hour. More painful still is the reckless
haste with which they are expected to
dress for the terrible work before them.
/ think the average time allowed for
putting on rubber coats, boots, and caps
does not exceed twenty minutes. 1t is
no wonder that these men invariably
die young, as has been proved by Prof.
Schmidt's recently published statistics
of the Berlin fire department Well,
when the chief has called his men
around him, or rather when he has
stood them in row before him, he calls
the roll. An attendant then hands each
man coil of rope and sort of battle
ak. made after the Norman fashion. the
blade being shaped like that which Min
erva wears on her skull-cap. While
this is being done the other attaches of
the freaOehr are not idle. Oh, no! A
horse and wagon appear in front of the
frehduS, and in this wagon can be seen,
if one will look closely, a couple of lad
ders, either of which is at least ten feet
in length. There is also some more
rope, and there are also some more axes,
which. in cases of great emergency, are
distributed among the populace. The
house is burning all this time, but that
doesn't matter.
There are generally eight men and
the chief at each fire-station. The chief
stands in the middle of the street, a
crowd of admiring citizens surrounding
him, and puts the eight men through a
course of drill. At the conclusion of
the maneuver two men take their places
on each side of the wagon, like pail
bearers, two in front and two behind,
the chief walking ahead with gold
plated trumpet in his hand, the driver
mounts to his seat, and the funeral pro-
ceSSiOn moves on.
Slowly and sadly the mournful cortege
wends its way, the tiremen shouldering
their battle-axes and keeping the regu-
lation military step. Now and then the
horse shows signs of impatience, but he
is Immediately checked by the driver.
The chief turns ever and anon to see if
any of his brave followers have tainted
from fatigue; but, finding that they are
still where he left them, he sounds an
order on his trumpet, the men change
their battle-axes from the right to the
left shoulder, the driver steadies the
horse, who is anxious to walk faster. and
the pageant moves on.
The fire is still raging. The flames
have spread until they now envelope an
entire block The sky is blood-red and
the reflection lights up the city, but the
freaUehr can not be moved by scenes
like this 1t is used to them. The
question now in the mind of the chief is:
"Can we reach the fire just after the
walls have fallen in and when there is
nothing more to be done?" If he is
an old fireman and understands his
business he will know how to time him
self.
As the procession nears the neighbor-
hood of the fire the speed of the horse
is slackened and the men walk slower.
The chief consults his watch and calcu-
lates as to the length of time block re-
uuires to burn, and the wind blowing
as it is tonight. Having satisfied him
self that there is at least fifteen minutes
to spare, the wagon stops in front of a
beer hall, the men fall into line, and,
led by the chief, they select two of the
most comfortable tables and order the
beer.
The men are so weighed down by the
1. 4. Il L., g
the battle-axes, and the helmet-caps
that they are scarcely able to speak for
few mmoents. When they regain con-
sciousness one says to the other:
''Do you think we will get there in
time to return before bed-time?'
Il think so, l never knew the chief
to miss seeing q fire go out of its own ac-
cord yet
"Well, 1 hope he is calculating all
right now. told my wife I'd be home
at 10 o'clock tonight; it is now half past
9. will be an hour late. l can not
stand this life"
Neither can IT, says the other, emp
tying his beer mug. Il got wet at fire
the other night, and l was SO hoarse
that oouldn't sing at the mannerchor
yesterday"
Come says the chief. 'If YOU
are rested sufficiently, we must be go=
ing"
The men form in line once more, and
are put through another drill, after
which they take their places around the
hearse. and they are on their way to the
fire again.
Before they have gone very far, how
ever, they meet the crowds returning,
and a policeman steps up and informs
the chief that the fire is out, the block
having burned to the ground. The chief
reprimands the policeman for not notify
ing him before. Ihe policeman tells
him that he could not have done SO un-
less he had walked fast, which was for
hidden by the regulations, as it would
make him perspire, thereby soiling his
collar. The explanation is considered
satisfactory to the chief. He gives his
orders for the return, and the horse and
men travel much faster The station is
reached in half an hour; the horse and
wagon are put away; the battle-axes and
rubber suits are hung up; the kerosene
lamp is extinguished, and the Fire de-
partment sinks into heavy slumber.
A man must know how to rest before
he can become fireman in this country.