The Dickinson press., 1889-03-02
BELIEFS OF FIREMEN
SuPERSTITioMS OF THE BOYS WHO
RUN WITH THE MACHINE.

SuPERSTITioNS OF THE BOYS WHO
RUN WITH THE MACHINE.
Dow They Scheme to Win the Smiles of
tac Goddess of Fortunc-Nlascots Large
and Small-Powcr of the Black Mans
Touch-Whsn They Expect Fires.
Superstition, fanaticisln, whichever Or
whatever you please to call it, n belief in n
direct agency of superior powers in certain
extraordinary or singular events, or in omcns
and prognostics is an Inherited trait, peculiar
to every child of Adam. Even in this ell
lighted century of steam cars, steamships,
telephones, telegraph and a thousand and one
other devices originated for mans comfort
and prosperity, u tinge of superstition courses
through tho blood of tho most intellectual
1t is almost impossible to find any one if one
will acknowledge it, but has sonlo sign" or
vague act i'll Which they rcligio,lsly and
truthfully believe. This marked feature or
common popularity is nowhere found SO
strongly prevailing as in tho minds of mem
bcrs of tho fro department. and in mention
ing this particular calling We speak compre.
hensivcly, including every member of the
1000 departments of this country and like
organizations the world over
For these fearless men, the expression 'thcy
carry their lives in their hands" might have
been originated. To ascertain if possible to
what extent this feature prevailed in our own
department n Globe reporter was detailed IL.
visit tho several houses and interview tho
members.
TOUCHING THE NEGRo'S HAND
Tho simplest and probably the Oldest pre-
tended omen of good luck is tho finding and
picking up of a pin. Tho oddcst and newest
is tho rubbing up against or touching the
hand of Il colorcd man. This simple process
is warranted by "believcrs" to forever init
alto You into tho good will and graces of the
god of luck" and through the simple mc
dium of mnlc colorcd gentleman your lot
can forever bc made lucky, and consc
quently happy and cnvablc ono. Tho clsi
ncer OF cngino company No. 3 would in all
probability rather refrain from eating for IL
whole month"; resign from tho work which Ec
loves, anything i'll fact. than bc summoned to
fire with tloguilty conscience of not having
como i'll direct contact with Il darby shortly
previous. lle has been known to follow II
"son of Africa" three blocks in Il pitilcss
downpour of rain for the satisfaction of hit
ting his hand as ho passed him. When col.
orcd man comes into tho engine house this
fireman would us soon renounco his birth
right rs to permit that darky to leave the
House before counting tho buttons on his coat i,
and Voc bctido that iireman's peace of mind
il the number happens to bc fatal thirteen" {"
Ono of tho call men of No wooes tho ";sod
of luck by dropping a penny down the back
of his neck and watching which pants leg it
comes out of.
~ former member of No used to count lti
and then watch the tail of tho hose horse, if
it went to tho right, tho man was happy; if
to tho left ho always found somc prctcxt to
skip the next tro and thereby save his life
A member of No. | always takes Il rainy
day To ,liscovc. his dcst my, and tho first two
consecutive pair of black hose that no secs
under feminine skirts controls his fate
y bravo member of No 3 invariably
soothes his peace of mind by crawling into
his bed from the foot and roofing up between
the clothes like II hedge hog, and never will
he allow the top layer of tho hose on the reel
TO remain thirteen, for that means poor luck
and disaster.
No. 3, "thc pride of tho hill, is saved from
everlasting ruin by dutiful member of the
s;imo dipping his four fingers and thumb in
milk and then watching which digit their pct
poodle laps first; each finger represents Ger,
tain things and the peace of the company is
controlled by the result.
"A DOG, OF COURSE.
Among the many other signs and symbols
connected with this supcrstitious belief none
arc moro prominent than the SO called
''mascots," which MAJ consist of almost any
thing from white elephant to sllspcndcr
bvtton. Tho hook and ladder company urt
poascssors of Il real live, genuine mascot" in
the form of Il handsome bull terrier, named
Isabelle, or "l'cl, as She is better known and
loved by the department at large. Upon
Bells small but well developed shoulders
rests the destiny of the company, and to say
that sho we'll cares for her charge is saying
little. Seldom if ever does the sonorous voice
of tho great fro bell tell the waking or sleep
Ing citizens of Hartford that the red ,cstruc-
tive rc licnd is abroad, but what this faith.
full four footed mascot is at her post of duty,
and faster than her four white feet strike the
pavement would the hearts of tho truck BOYS
luttcr with dread if her form was not seen
through the dusk at her place in front of the
noble black and gray which draw tho great
now aerial truck.
Tho truck was called to Box 81 for q small
and unmportant fire. Tho rain, which had
continued all day, was coming down in tor
rents; tho mud was hub deep, and tho great
eighty y-lundrcd truck was stalled on Front
street. "Bcll," owing to domestic duties
which at that time were taking up her und
vided attention, was absent; had sl.o been
there the truck would iiare passed over the
r.ad like ball over Il waved floor Last sum-
Nor tho truck came into collision with pro
pcllcr No. 4, Oh Asylum street. BELL" was
absent then, owing this timo to her inability
TO slido down the polo from tho bunk room
These instances are only two Of many which
space forbids us TO relate
There arc many moro peculiaritics in con
ncction with this subject, but tho most con
spicuous is found in connection with our de-
partmcnt, but outside of it. Fires as u fact
occur in SUGGESTIONS Of three ut time, and
when ono has occurred tho remark is fire.
qucntly and invariably heard, "Wcll, wor
der when we'll havo tho second onc." The
lircmcn also as rLlo believe in this and after
run are prepared for tho second and third
Another strange coincidence is tho fact in re-
gard to Saturday night or Sunday runs
.Ionths, sonctimcsa u year, will clapse before
q iire will occur on these special days, and
then without regard to timc fires will rage on
several Saturdays or Sundays consccutively
Whether there really is anything in super
stition or fanaticism, whatever you please to
call it, VIC daro not say, but will echo with
Job, Its queer, very queer. ."-Iiartford
tCo:in.) Globe.
1t Tempts Them to Steal.