St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-09-21

the special wires running to police head
quarters. From the central telephone
exchange a special wire runs to fire
headquarters, used solely to re-
port fires from private tele-
phones. When a fire is reported
by private telephone, American district
telegraph or mercurial alarm, the ope-
rator touches a key, which closes the
circuits on the repeater, and rings two
blows on the gOngs of every engine
house in the city. This is repeated four
times, and is called a ''still" alarm. An
other key rings the alarm three times on
the Market house bell. Everything is
in readiness to turn out, and the opera
tor informs by telephone the various
companies i'll whose district the fire is.
AS each engine house is ON a certain
circuit, they all hear at the same time
the message over the telephone. They
proceed TO the fire, and the other COM
panles are notified what apparatus is
out. The district in which the fire is. is
then under the care of the nearest dis
trlct, and in the event of a ''boX" being
Slgnaled, they cover the district for the
absent companies. When an alarm is
sent in from a regular box it rings
the number on the indicator. The OPP
orator taps this number four times and
every gong in the city by means
of the repeater, which connects the
various circuits. By means of the card
hanging in each house. which shows the
location of the "box," every company
knows where the fire is. The apparatus
of the district respond, and dash to the
co~nfagratiOn; the rest OF the companies
do not go out, but unhitch the horses,
which go back to their stalls. The
chief or n of his assistants go to all
fires, and if they find that more appar-
atus is needed, proceed to the alarm
box, and with a small key open an in
ner door. By means of a telegraph key
he strikes OH the Indicator at head
quarters two taps, followed by eleven
taps, then pulls the alarm in the usual
manner. This is called a ''second
ALARM" The two eleven'' and the
number of the box are rung on the
ators, and the apparatus whose duty it
is to respond according to the hanging
card, turn out. The alarm is
also rung on the market house.
A third alarm" is three eleven" taps,
followed by the number of the box.
This calls out more apparatus. A
Fourth alarm" is rung when a fire is
first reached and it is found a very seri-
GUS fire is raging. Four taps, followed
by eleven, on the telegraphic key, to-
gether with the regular box alarm, calls
second" and ''thlrd'' alarm. "SiX,"
followed by ''eleven," taps and the
number of the box, is %a''generai ALARM"
and calls every piece of apparatus in
the city out.
AS soon as a company return from a
fire headquarters are notified, and the
operators inform engine houses what
engines have returned, chemical COM
panies what chemicals have returned,
and hook and ladder companies what
hook and ladder companies are home.
A clock at headquarters is stopped by
electricity when all alarm rings. show
ing exactly the time when the box was
pulled.
A telephone switch board connects
every house in the city with head
quarters, who can put any one house in
communication with another. The
GLOBE editorial rooms are placed on a
regular circuit, aud receive the notifica-
ton on a gong in the same and
at the same time the engine houses do.
A large room is stored with batteries at
headquarters for working the various
alarms.
Every thirty minutes, day and night,
all lines are tested, and delicate galvan-
ometers show if there is a break ny
where. A 1ineman always is at head
quarters, n instantly turns out and
repairs the broken wire.
The sleeping apartments of the men
of the department are above the engine
houses. Each man has his large rubber
boots, to which his pants are attached,
standing at his bedside. The first stroke
of the loud gong wakes the men. who
jump into boots and pants, which have
a snap buckle. and slide down the brass
poles to the floor below. Hats and coats
are on the apparatus, which are put on
while travelling to the fire. Everything
i'll the houses is kept in a manner that
would make the best lady housekeepers
enviOuS. Not a Speck of dust or dirt
anywhere to be seen, and the apparatus
always as bright as it was on the even
ing of the parade. The men receive GER
tain hours during the month, when they
can leave the houses, butmust not leave
the city. and on hearing an alarm from
the market bell must proceed to the
fire.
Although a good portion of the time
of the men is spent in the engine
houses, there is always a vast amount
of work to be done in the shape of drills,
repairs, painting etc. In their spare
time the men take advantage of the cir
culating literary the department pos
sesses, the books of which have been
dinated by citizens. The men greatly
appreciate the standard works they
have. and are anxious that the literary
may become larger. With this end in
view, the captain of Engine House No.
l. Fort and Ninth streets will be pleased
to receive any gifts of books for use in
the department..
The men are always pleased to show
visitors through the houses and explain
the working of the apparatus.
A. a. l..