The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-31
NjfIl}t a8le
NEW YORK'S FIREMEN.
ADMIRABLE QUALITIES REQUIRED
OF APPLICANTS.


Education OF the Men Before They Are
Appointed-Tests of Profciency-what
Constitutes a FIreman-COurage Is Very
EssertiaI--8znst Bear Smoke.
''Firel The houseds On e7er' When that
cry is heard ina bJfilding panic seizes upon
the inmates and indescribabie confusion
ensues. Some one rims 10 a fire box and
sends ipHnralRrDa, which sounds in every
engine houseln this city.
The response on the part Of the firemen
and their horses ~is immediate. There is
haste without laundering, there is no in
reference Of one man with another. Eager
ness to be of and resoletfon TO work are
depicted one each mans faee. In ten sec
ends the drivers are on their seats, lines in
hand, waiting the order TO go. II is given,
and away they dash the horses needing no
urging, the men clinging with one hand to
a rail Of the cart, wriggling into their rub
Der GOATS Not many minutes later they
are on theSgr0und, the hose is attached to
the -by6rant, ladders are run up and the
battle with the ire begiAs
The inmates of tho burning building,
who a few minutes before were panic
stricken, regain confidence. Our firemen,
who, without hesitation. plunge into a
burning building, are men who at one
time In life were as liable as any one to
fire panic" which influences men to do
very foolish and cowardly things. That
they are not so now il due to the training
they receive and the trials to which they
are subjected. Let rs follow the course
which en- applicant for appointment to the
FIRE department. in This city must undergo
before he can wear the badge, which is the
emblem Of courage and fidelity"
TRIAL OF QUALIFICATION.
After being recommended by the fire
commissioners for appointment the appli-
can't is examined Is to his physical quail
1icatioDs. II they are up TO the standard
he is turned over to the civil service com
inissioners for examination as 20 his
knowledge OF the common school branches.
If he passes he in sent to headquarters,
where he enters the school of instruction
Of the life saving corps, of which the drill
master is Mr. Henry w. McAd8ms. He
has had charge OF the school since its organ
ization In 1882. No one can go behind his
returns; there is not political pull enough
il The city to secure the appointment OF a
man whom he rejects. 1t is in this school,
and during the thirty days he is in train
ing, that the applicant proves his fitness
or unGtness 10 be enrolled in the service.
The New York fire department has a
complete gymnasium, where, besides the
apparatus for the development and
strengthening Of the muscles, are all the
appliances it has I'm use Thorough in
49, -. -
McAdanls, himself veteran fireman, as
to their purpose aud proper handling.
Familiarity with these appliances is abso-
lutely Indispensable 20 CELEBRITY on the part
Of fireman. whose essential characteristic
must be qUickness. A slow man has no
chance for appointment in the department.
TRAINING PROBATIoNERs
Practitioners are also Taught morality in
An Indirect yet forcible manner Remem-
boring that their calling demands of them
courage and honesty, the probationer who
is with some company, either in the engine
house or at fire, feels that he is associa-
ting with men who are gentle in their man.
ners, respectful and ooedient to superiors,
ready ct any instant to hold the muzzle
close against a flame that menaces them
with death, and who would not disgrace
their uniform. II he has the true stuff in
him he will soon conform with them in
thought, purpose and demeanor, and on
every occasion emulate them in zeal and
honor.
The cultivation Of good manners and
other qualities that constitute a man is
taught in an unobtrusive WAY. For in
stance, the applicant lea-uz 1story of the
Gre at Chambers stree ma Broadway.
years ago, when the employees of bank
rushed into the street, leaving 100000 in
cash on the counters. The firemsn ran in.
gathered the money together, threw it into
the safe, and locked the safe door When
the money was taken ont and counted only
g was missing, and that consisted Of silver !
dollars, which in the excitement had nrob-
ably rolled away. Hearing such q story
the applicant OF the right material s. very
likely TO resolve co behave with equal hon.
esty at every fire 10 which he s called.
1lEE OF NATURAL COURAGE.
Mon ale natural towards where there's
a fire" said Capt NcAdams to me. Put
I'll BarnUJn's wild animals In thatlot over
there and then drop a child among them,
and in nine cases out Of ten the father Of !
that child viii go in afterit But let there
he an alarm % fare in the house in the night /
time aud tbat sarae man will run into tbs
street and leave his child behind have
never seen mau sufOcated AT a Ere with |
a child In his arms, but have seen women /
lying dead from suffacation with child in |
each Grua. The man s first thought is TO /
gee into the street when he hears the house /
is on TIRE The woman's first thought is |
her children +"
The prObationers are no doubt. naturally |
and each one resolves TO be as |
heroic ss any man who las won the Ben |
nett medal but when there is ire and |
they ago In" with The frsmen their true |
metal isSh0wn. The captains eve is on /
Shem. lhthey wavor he secs il, bot if thew |
hold their faces to the fire and /
obey orders. no matter & the smoke is thick |
enough 10 be cut aud II their teeth are chat /
terfng luud enough to he heard above the /
cracking Of the flames, he knows that thew /
are Of thu right stuff and reports fsvorably /
upon them. II an applicant cannot stand 4
the smoke, which, Capt McAdRms says,
''feels In your throat a. if some fellow were /
wing tO force you TO swallow q 6SS,ball," /
he Is dropped from tie hst.-Epoch.
Nlx's Mate.
Nix's Mate is the nane Of q submerged 4
Il L