Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-11

Ine pulIulngs at newark, n. D.. Scranton Pa,
Troy, n. u, Dallas, Tex, and Springfield, Mo.
The measures involve an expenditure of
81, ,845, 900.
TURNED IN BY BABY M,KEE.
A Fire Alarm From the Box at the
White House.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOES SOME QUICK WORK
A LADDER RUN Up AND STREAM OF WATER
TURNED ON IN AN INCREDIBLY SHORT TINE
1T WAS ALL DONE AS TEST.
A few minutes after 10 o'clock this morning
Benjamin Harrison Mckee put two of his fat
fingers through ring hanging from chain in
a little red box in the second story of the
White House and pulled down hard. In an
instant bells were ringing in the house, ON the
street, in the fire-engine houses, telling people
that box 157 had been pulled and that water
was wanted at the home of the President. In
just two minutes stream was playing in front
OF the house; in five minutes and half q lad
der had been raised to the roof, and in seven
minutes and fifty seconds four streams were
gushing muddy from as many nozzles-as
quick piece of work as was ever done in this
city.
1T WAS ONLY TEST.
But there was no fire. All this racing Of
horses and leaping of men and putting of smoke
was for nothing more than the testing of the
new alarm system which has just been put into
the house. Last evening Superintendent Miles
and Chief Paris concocted a conspiracy and
agreed to have box 157 pulled in the regular
way unbeknown to any of the fire companies.
The White House people were told of the
scheme off iatl
notified to be somewhere around the mansion at
about 10 O'Clock. A slight fire at the aims house
caused short delay, but at 1O:15 all was ready
and word was passed upstairs to the Presiden.
tial household. The President and Mrs. Har-
rison took their grandson to the little red box,
from which the cover had been removed, and
at 10:17:55 the alarm began to strike.
TIMING THE ENGINES.
The folks down stairs, their watches in their
hands, ran out upon the portico to look for
the engines, which were not long coming.
Hardly before they realized the fight of time
heavy rumble was heard and engine No.
l was seen dashing down the west side of
Lafayette square, through the now crowded
gateway and up the broad drive to the front of
the house at l0:l9:40. Here Chief Paris told
Foreman Boss how the land lay and directed
him to throw the stream into the fountain on
the lawn.
THE FIRST STREAM.
In ten seconds after the arrival Of the engine
a stream was pounding the turf By this time
the avenue front of the grounds was black with
people, who still came running in all directions.
Engine No. 2 reached the front of the house at
lO:2ll0, or three-and-a-half minutes after the
first stroke; No. at 10:2l:50, record of 3:55
from the house on Massachusetts avenue be-
tween 4th and 5th streets, and Truck A. from
its house at New Hampshire avenue and NJ
streets, arrived at 10:22:35, or in $40.
PUTTING Up LADDER.
The men sprang to the ground at tho in
slant of stopping and in less than a minute and
half had shot an extension ladder up to the
roof with a man on top of it. At 1O:23:5O en-
gine No. had arrived from street between
9th and 10th streets and at 10:25:45 or in seven
minutes and fifty seconds from the first stroke
of the alarm, four streams of water we're play
ing.
THE POLICE NOT SLOW.
The police reserve from the third precinct
station came marching through the west gates
just as No. engine arrived and took station
near the house.
In short in less than eight minutes after the
baby pulled the string the house was COM
pletely covered by the best service possible,
and III case general alarm had been pulled
as would likely be the case if there were an
actual fire. 1t is probable that the entire fire
department would have been on the spot inside
of twelve minutes. When it is considered that
the alarm would undoubtedly be sounded
within few seconds after the discovery Of the
hre one can realize how very quick this is.
THE TIME MADE.
There was some remarkable running done by
the firemen when they knew the number struck.
Assistant Chief Lowe was on the ground almost
simultaneously with engine No. /, although he
came from NJ and New Hampshire avenue
nearly three times as far. The distances trav-
elled by the engines are as follows: No. /, four
eleven and half; No. Z, seventeen squares
The times are follows, deducting fifteen
seconds from each for the completion of the
first round of ALARM without which the en-
glne cannot start: No. l, 1.30; No. 2, 8; No. 6,
$40; No. Z, $40; truck B. eleven squares, AIS.
A DISSATISFIED CROWD.
Various theories were advanced among the
crowd along the walks, some saying that there
was fire in the attic, but that somebody had
put it out with pail of water One man sug-
gested that the whole thing was an accident
caused by the baby throwing marble against
the glass box. Another declared that it was
''put-up job" and denounced the fire depart
ment for making monkeys of the people,"
There was some disappointment expressed
when it was found that the alarm was a test,
and rather disgruntled throng slowly melted
away and tried to regain its breath.
NOT ENOUGH WATER.
One of the things demonstrated by the test,
besides the efficiency Of the department, is that
there is not enough water at this point to feed
the engines. Nos. and took from the plugs
at the portico, while 6 and z did their pumping
at the plugs on the two short streets at either
side OF the grounds, just south Of the avenue.
None Of the streams were as large as
they should be. But every one was
satisfied, including the household, which
was ranged In the windows of the upper story.
The President stole q few minutes from his
desk to peep out at the busy scenes below and
the babies clapped their hands and talked in
their own peculiar way about the horses and
the bright wagons. Col Ernst wore broad,
satisfied smile and said that he thought that
everything is now as safe at the house as the
TN of mar. 10 al -.