Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-11
BELIEFS OF FIREMEN
euPERSTiTiONS OF THE BOYS WHO
RUN WITH THE MACHINE.

RUN WITH THE MACHINE
How They Scheme to Win the Smiles of
the Goddess of Fortune-Mascots Large
and small-Power of tho Black Mans
Touch-when They Expect Fires
Superstition, fanaticism, whichever or
whatever you please TO call it, belief in
direct agency of superior powers, in certain
extraordinary or singular events, or in omens
and prognostics is an inherited trait, peculiar
to every child of Adam. Even In this en-
lighted century of steam cars, steamships,
telephones telegraph and a thousand and one
other devices originated for mans comfort
and prosperity, a tinge of superstition courses
through the blood of the most intellectual
II Is almost impossible TO find any one IL one
will acknowledge it, but has some ''sign" or
vague act in which they religiously and
truthfully believe. This marked feature or
common popularity is nowhere found 50
strongly prevailing as in the minds Of mem
bers OF the fire department and In mention
ing this particular calling we speak compre-
hensively, including every member of the
1900 departments of this country and like
organizations the world over.
For these fearless men, the expression ''they
carry their lives in their hands" might have
been originated. To ascertain II possible to
what extent this feature prevailed in our own
department a Globe reporter was detailed to
visit the several houses and interview the
members.
TOUCHING THE NEGRoS HAND.
The simplest and probably the oldest pre-
fapAol ,f etc,,1 l,,l 10 thn Gnl md
picking up of pin. The oldest and newest
Is the rubbing up against or touching the
hand OF a colored man. This simple process
Is warranted by believers" to forever init
ate you into the good will and graces of the
god OF luck" and through the simple me-
dunn of a male colored gentleman your lot
can forever be made lucky, and conse-
quently happy and enviable one. The engi-
neer of engine company No. would in ali
probability rather refrain from eating for a
whole month, resign from the work which he
loves, anything in fact, than be summoned to
fire with the guilty conscience OF not having
come in direct contact with darky shortly
previous He has been known TO follow a
'son OF Africa" three blocks in a pitiless
downpour OF rain for the satisfaction of hit
ting his hand as he passed him When col
ored man comes into the engine house this
fireman would as soon renounce his birth
right as to permit that darby to leave the
house before counting the buttons on his coat
and woe betide that firemans peace of mind
If the number happens to be fatal thirteen {"
One OF the call men of No. wooes the "god
OF luck" 10y dropping penny down the back
or his neck and watching which pants leg 1t
comes out of.
former member of No. used to count 10
81. Il.
it went to the right, the man was happy; if
to the left he always found some pretext to
skip the next fire and thereby save his life.
member of No. l always takes a rainy
day to discover his destiny, and the first two
consecutive pair of black hose that he sees
under feminine skirts controls his fate.
A brave member of No invariably
soothes his peace of mind by crawling into
his bed from the foot and roofing up between
the clothes like hedge hog, and never will
he allow the top layer of the hose on the reel
70 remain thirteen, for that means poor luck
and disaster
No. 5, 1.-The pride of the hill" is saved from
everlasting ruin by a dutiful member of the
same dipping his four fingers and thumb In
milk and then watching which aasii Il their pet
poodle laps first; each finger represents Ger.
tain tnings and ths peace of the company is
controlled s. the result
A DOG, OF COURSE
Among the many other signs and symbols
connected with this superstitious belief none
are more prominent than the SO called
"mascots," which may consist of almost any
thing from white elephant to suspender
button. The hook and ladder company are
possessors of a real, live, genuine mascot" In
the form of a handsome bull terrier named
Isabelle, or Bell 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 she well cares for her charge Is saving
little Seldom if ever does the sonorous voice
of the great fire bell tell the waking or sleep
ing citizens of Hartford that the red destruc-
tive fire fend 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 the truck boys
futter with dread if her form was not seen
through the dusk at her place in front Of the
noble black and gray which draw the great
new aerial truck.
The truck was called TO Box 81 for a small
and unimportant fire. The rain, which had
continued all day, was coming down in tor
rents; the mud was hub deep, and the great
eiSuIl LIuch WIS SJtilleu on FRONT
street. BELL" owing to domestic duties
which at that time were taking up her undi-
vided attention, was absent; had she been
there the truck would have passed over the
mud like a ball over a waved floor. Last SUM
mer the truck came into collision with pro
peller No 4, on Asylum street "Belln was
absent then, owing this time to her inability
to slide down the pole from tho bunk room
These instances are only two Of many which
space forbids US to relate.
There are many more peculiarities in con-
nection with this subject, but tho most con-
spicuous Is found in connection with our de-
partment, but outside OF it, Fires as a fact
occur In SUGGESTIONS of three at q time and
when one has occurred the remark Is fire.
quently and invariably heard, well, won
der when wen have tho second one" The
hremen also as q rule believe In this, and after
a run are prepared for the second and third
Another strange coincidence is the fact In re-
gard to Saturday night or Sunday runs.
Months, sometimes year, will elapse before
q fire will occur on these special days, and
then without regard to time fires will rage on
several Saturdays or Sundays consecutively.
Whether there really is anything in super
stition or fanaticism, whatever you please to
call It, We dare not say, but will echo with
Job, "It's queer, very queer."-Hartford
Conn Globe.
1t Tempts Them to Steal.