Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-06-07
RUSSIAN FiREM EN-.
The Fire Department Going to Conha-
grafton In st. Petersburg.

The Fire Department Going to Conf1a-
grafton In st. Petersburg.
One of the characteristic and pecu-
liar features OF Russian towns, one OF
the absolutely novel details in the sill
houette of roofs and architectural con-
tours that rise against the sky, is the
watch tower. In the more modest or
more ancient towns these towers are
built OF wood; in St Petersburg they
are, like the other monuments OF the
capital, constructed OF brick coated
with stucco, which the frost amuses
itself by cracking and peeling of, with
the providential intent to give employ
ment to the masons duriag the sum-
mer. These towers are OF various
shape, round, square, octagonal, some
very lofty, others less tall, but for all
the general dispositions are Identical
On the top OF the tower is a watch
house with windows in every direction;
around this house runs a gallery. and
above 1t is a mast and rigging for work.
ing system OF signals. consisting OF
combinations OF coiored spheres by day
and OF colored lanterns by night Night
and day one or two men walk round
and round this gallery scanning the
horizon, and the moment they see the
smoke OF fire they hoist red flag or
red lantern as the first signal Of
alarm; then by means OF the code OF
colored spheros or lanterns they indi-
10. Ia he. Il tat. .i,,t nj
section Of the city In which the fire is
This signal Is repeated from watch
tower 90 watch tower, the telegraph
ticks from one fire station to another,
and in n few minutes all the tiremen OF
the capital arc on the alert. The police
hurry 10 the spot; In important cases
the soldiers also hasten TO the scene of
tho fire; meanwhile the engines come
tearing along. First OF all man on
horseback. an outrider. shouts at the top
sian voices arel look outl Clear
the way for the firemen" Behind him
follows the engine. drawn by four
horses abreast, Russian fashion, two at
the pole, and two fons harnessed with
short reins that keep their heads turned
outward and ob,ige them to canter or
gallop Thus the horses gallop along
fanwise- Above the engine flutters IA
flag, the color of which indicates tho
section to which the engine belongs.
Behind the driver fireman stands and
rings the bell, that sounds with rapid.
shrill silvery vibrations, very piercing
In quality. On another cart follow the
hose-pipes; on another the fre-escapes
and other appliances. In costume and
apparatus the st. Petersburg ilre-bri-
gade closely resembles that of Paris.
The aspect OF a fire In st. Petersburg Is
similar to that Of "A fro anywhere else,
except, perhaps that tho military ele-
ment Is more conspicuous and the rush
and the shouting more notable. Tho
great moment is Mt the beginning, when
police. troops and fro engines arrive
all at once from every point Of the COM
pass, vying with each other in speed
and zeal. getting over n kilometre Of
ground In two minutes and Il half. all
In perfect order, admirably disciplined.
The horses, Nke the flags, vary in col
or with the different sections black,
gray, roam. white, piebald etc, In a
second tho steam-pumps are in posi-
ton, the hose unrolled, tho fremen.
9th their long leather aprons coming
down to their foet ply the pipes, the
ladders are hoisted against the walls,
and the men are at work. The bravery
and agility of the St Petersburg fire.
men are admirable. and the men them
selves are splendid specimens of mus
cular and masculine humanity. Har-
per's Weekly.