Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-24

An INSPECTION OF the Engine Houses by
Party OF Substantial Citizens
Rapid Time Made by the Eiremen-
The Inspecting Party Glide Down the
Pole.


A bus. loaded with twelve mufied figures, stole
out from the shadows of street at nine o'clock
last night The driver followed the movements OF
q carriage in front. The carriage contained Chief
Engineer Cronin, and in the bus were seated the
officers OF the Columbia Fire Insurance company,
about to maze their annual nocturnal inspection OF
the engine houses. The party included MessrS H.
A. Willard, F. B. Mcclure, C. C. Clover, G. Fl. B,
White. w. NJ. Gait, II. K. Willard, John A. Baker,
ThoS. j. Fisher, Robert |. Fleming, T. j. Fisher.
Jr, Watson Boyle and E. ]. Stellwagen It was
calculated BY one OF the nathematicians present
that the bus contained 1000 pounds OF solid clti
zen. The first stopping place Franklin
engine house No 2.
All was quiet when the party entered, the watch
man being the only member Of the company present.
Chief EnglneerfCronin placed the inspecting party
about the stairway and other points where they
would not BE- in danger OF being tramD.Sd upon Dy
horses or winied by collision with huTryins -lire-
man. The gong was then sounded. The gates Of
the stalls few open rs Il by magic. trap-dOorS in
the ceiling fell apart, and four horses plunged out
to their proper places in front OF the engine AMI
reel The most startling and interesting part OF
the exhibition was, however. the sudden descent
OF seven nTeInen, one after the other, down
THE VERTICAL BRASS POLE,
which runs from the dormtory above to the ground
floor. FEemen do not have time to come down
stairs They throw themselves upon the brass rod
and slide down in q twinklng. Where the horses
stood the harness suspended above them, on
as the horses and, in an instant, had the harness
buckled ana strapped Another tap of the bell, and
the men sprang nmbly to their places on the appa-
ratus and the drivers held the reirs ready for the
start. Another tap. and they were disnounted and
arranged In line for inspection. 1t was II or ~
seconds from the time the bell was first tapped
til the company was ready to leave the house. The
men came down the pole In their shirt sleeves.
Their hats and coats were on the apparatus to be
pulled on as they shot out OF the engine house. The
inspecting party visited, in turn truck 4, on Capt.
toll nil, where the time required was thirteen sec
N -harn II,a -r-I--n
seven seconds; truck b, on New Hampshire avenue
where the time was ten seconds and No. l house.
on street, where the time was put down as nine
seconds.
SLEEPING WITH THEIR BOOTS ON.
At truck house the Inspecting party concluded
that at the next house they would like to watch
the men leave their beds. The next house was No
s. 1t is thought that No. company must have
got wink b. telephone before the party arrived.
The twelve mutfled figures glided into the house
and stole noiSeeSSly upstairs before the gong was
STRUCK sur OK, me dornitory was dimly lighted When
the bell tapped figure sDrang from each bed and
plunged down through the trap-door The move
meut was sudden and startling, but still some OF
the more Se!f-pOSSeSSed OF the inspecting party
took note or the fact that the fremen were in bed
with their boots on This manner of sleeping ena-
Died No. & company to reduce the time to seven
seconds.
CoMBINATIoN BOOTS AND PANTAIooNs.
At No. house it was decided again to take OBJ
SeryationS IN the dormitory. Here the members of
the company We're caught fairly mapping. The
party stole noiselesslv up to of the rooms from
which they could overlook tho rOw or cots The
sound OF heavy breathing now and then develop
Ing into snore was perceptible. By each cot
STOOD pair Oh DOOtS, Which appeared to be wrap
ped up In pair OF pdntaioOno- Iue gong was
struck. The blankets few from each cot. 4 PAIR
OF feet were thrust in each pair of boots, and in
twinkling the men were rushing towards the pole,
Juggling their pantalOOns into place as they ran.
As the foreman explained it, the pantaloOns are
turned down over their boots in such way that
when they pun their boots on they pull their PAN
falcons on too.
THE DIRECTORS TAKE SLIDE.
The board of directors decided to Slide down the
pole AT every engine house, after the drill was
over, the members of the board assembled TO the
upper floor and again descended with much gravity
Dy way OF the pole. The legs wound around
the pole. which is at the time tightly graSped
by the hands. When a director reached the bot
tom he stopped, the sensation Of stopping varying
according TO the SuddenneSS Of his descent. TO
some gentlemen Of portIy girth, the pole at first
seemed 10 offer lnSuperabe difficulties but under
the leadership or the president OF the COMPANY,
the gentlemen present took all the poles, except
Mir. ThoS. j. Fisher and Mr.. John A. Baker Until
truck house was reached these gentlemen
watched the descent OF the Others, then turned
away and walked down stairs. AT truck house,
after the others had descended, figure was seen
whirl1ng through the air. When IL reached the
ground it was recognized as that OF Mr.. Fisher.
All eyes were turned upward again, eXpectantly,
and were rewarded by the sight or Mr. Baker slowly
swinging down as gracefully as If he We're leading
german. These gentlemen then declared that
the sensation was delightful. Some OF the gentle
men attempted at first to descend with their urn-
breas under their arms, but the struggle In Md
air with an umbrella was found to possess SO many
difficulties that Afterwards the umbrellas were
LETT In the bus. The members Of the party and
Chief Cronin were entertained after the trip
which ended before midnight by Mr. and Mrs Wi,
lard at their home ON street, and discussed the
adventures OF the night over well filled board.