The morning news., 1889-04-11

Chief Puder said last night that he has
been connected with the fire depart
ment since June Is, 1866, when he joined
the volunteer Metropolitan Company. He
was for thirteen years and six months en-
gineer Of the No. 2 engine, and he has
never known the fremen to pass through
such an ordeal as that which they under
went from Z o'clock Saturday night up to
l o'clock Yesterday morning
FIFTEEN ALARMS IN FOUR DAYS.
There we're fifteen alar ms in four days,
and the men had only about ten hours rost
out of ninetv-six hours. Fortunately there
was not a serious injury, although the red
hot walls of burning buildings fell all
around the men, many of whom have bis
tered faces aud siuged eyebrows. The men
are worn out, and many of them are suffer
ing with colds SO that they can scarcely
speak above a whisper. They were called
the chief and the greater pof-
ton Of the force had no
relief until O'Clock Monday morning.
From the downtown fire, which burned
over the greatest area, they were called to
the Krouskoff fire at Z o'clock Sunday
evening, where they remained until Monday
morning at / o'clock. Tnen the burning of
the Savannah Cotton Mills Tuesday, kept
them busy from o'clock in the afternoon
until ] o'clock yesterday morning.
The repairs to the fire alarm wires and
boxes were completed yesterday, and to-
day the boxes will be tested. The "big
duke" and the bell in the city exchange
tower will be switched off, and only the
gongs in the engine houses will strike. In the
present nervous and apprehensive state of
the people it is well that the two big bells
will not ring, as the regular drill alarm ct
$3.50 O'Clock yesterday afternoon brought
thousands to the street expecting to see
cloud of smoke lowering over some part of
the city.
DAMAGE TO THE APPARATUS.
Reviewing the damage TO 54e AZ equip
ments of the city, Chief Puder said tbat
the CRATE lars Of the No l engine were
burned out, and the CRATE bars of the Wash
ington engine we're so badly warped that
they will have to be replaced. The quality
of the coal furnished he assigns as the cause
Otherwise the engines are in good order.
The men are cleaning out the fues of the
engines and putting them in good condition
for emergencies
The department has lost not less than 600
feet of hose, and there are other sections
scorched which are likely to give way un-
der pressure. The mayors telegraph order
for | 900 feet of hose was to replace that
lost or damaged. Five or six sections of
2-ply cotton hose, borrowed fir I'm the Cen
tral railroad, have bee damaged
Six feet of 30 foot ladder was broken
off, and two small ladders and hooks were
lost Several spanners, used for turning on
the hydrants are missing, and other less
important losses are noted.
Private watchmen were stationed last
night at the Savannah Cotton Mills, and on
State street. and lines of hose were left at
each place to meet any emergency that
might arise il the smouldering ruins should
blaze up.
In ali the four days and nights, trying
and severe on the fremen, Chief Puder
says that not one of his men has been
under the influence of liquor, and the
absence Of intoxicated pers )us in the
neighborhood of the fires has been the sub
ject of favorable comment With refer
enc9 to the willingness of the citizens to aid
the fire department Chief Puder is I'M
stinted in his praise, and the help of the
citizens at the cotton factory fire came at
time when the wOrn-out fireme1 needed it
the most, and it largely contributed to
saving that portion of the city from a gem
eral conhagration.