The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-03-26
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within the glass case begins to whirr, and
what Is the result?

within the glass case begins to whirr, and
what Is the resultP
Simply that without further human in
PREVENTION, and almost simultaneously
with the pulling down OF the lever in the
box at the corner OF Clark and Madison,
fifty -two gongs, located in engine houses,
marshals' residences and newspaper offices
in various parts of the city strike ''thirty-
six and bakers dozen of tower bells
ring out the same number. Within five
seconds the whole fire department OF Chi
cago is on its feet ready to jump, and al
citizens within sound of the tower bells are
informed of the location OF the fire. Magic
could go no further.
But before the reader hastens to one of
the engine houses to see the machines
dash out, let his eye take another look at
the telegraph Office. 1t is an interest
ing spot. Here is the soul of the fire
department-the brain which puts action
into every member. Having sent six en-
giues, three hook and ladder trucks
and three chemical engines to Clark
and Madison, the operator eagerly awaits
developments. In ten minutes the marshal
in command may send in second call,
when the operator taps his instrument a
few times and sends six more engines flying
to the scene of danger. A third call may
follow, when five more engines will be sum-
moned to the assistance of the others The
second and third calls may be combined in
one, and eleven engines started simultane-
ously changing through the streets. There
is also special call by which certain COM
panies may be called, and all of these sum-
mons are issued without the loss of five
seconds time and with unerring precision.
10 <,1a IL,
calls for the entire fire department., but,
happily, it is not often sounded Notsince
May, 1879, when great fire ragged in the
lumber district at Twenty-second and Lum-
Der streets, has this general call senta thrill
of apprehension throughout the city.
CHANGING about the telegraph Office the
observer will see great board, into which
all OF the wires enter, and where the wires
connecting 525 alarm boxes in the city are
frequently tested. He will see big clock,
from which the engine companies occasion
ally take the correct time. And he will be
interested in little apparatus which re
cords the pressure OF water in the mains,
and which is sometimes the operators
guide in asking the water works for more
pressure. The $4,000 gong repeater has
four dials, and can thus be used in sound
ing four numerals, being the only instru-
ment in existence which can sound alarms
from boxes numbering higher than 999.
At twelve O'Clock precisely, the wide
awake operator viii tell you, the moon
test is made every day, to ascertain if all
OF the lines and instruments are in perfect
working order.
More likely than the ominous second or
third call is the signal of fire out This
received, the operator sends the welcome
intelligence throbbing to every engine
house in the city, and records the hour and
minute in q book kept for the purpose
But this isnot all. As fast as the returning
companies reach their respective houses
they must report to the central office, and
as soon as all have returned, and not till
then, does the operator send out the cleo
trio dashes which relieve the engine COM
panies which have not been out from
guarding the districts OF those which have
just returned. For no sooner does one en-
CINE go out in response to an alarm than
another takes its place ready to respond
to call either in its own district or IN
that over which it temporarily stands
guard. Occasionally half-dozen alarms
are sounded within few minutes, but in
nearly every emergency the well-organized
department is found equal TO all demands
The greatest number OF alarms sounded in
one day was July 4, 1884, when the gpngs