Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-11-14
OUR NEW FIRE system.
Something About the WORKINGS of
the Gamewell Alarm,
A Visit to the Engine House at Feed.
ing Tfme-Th Locanon or the
different Boxes and Their
Numbers--- A Model
partment.

Very few perhaps. of the many peon,e
who view with qualification the great
change that is being wrought in the man.
sgement of fire in Rock Island and
who admire the promptness ard appear.
ance OF the paid department in get,ino
out realize that the run to the fire is No,
half as important as the time consumed
in getting out and under way. Every
second after the alarm is received ia of
the utmost Importance in an engine house,
and to avold this hundreds of different
devices have been patented to save a
moments time or the fremen an extra
step. The Gamewell system, which is
the one to be used in Rock Island Is
equipped with all the latest devices for
the saving of time and labor, and when
In complete operation will be second to
none in the country. The Gameweu
company is now almost ready to turn
the system over to the city, but there are
some details yet to be arranged before it
viii be put in operation, as the company
does not wish to have any trouble with il
after it is once in working order, but
1t is now thought that the public will
have the bentf1t of the system late next
week. The system includes three indica-
tors 10 register the location of the box
from which the alarm is turned in. One
nj hnuG hoe ~.
engine house, one in the police station
and the other in the wsterworks, and af-
ter the introo uction of the new system
the waterwoIks will blow the number of
the box from which the alarm is received
so that the public generally will have q
better knowledge of the exact location
of the fire.
For instance, if the alarm came from
box 80. the wsterworks would indicate 1t
BY blowing three short blasts with
psuse-and then two blasts, which would
indicate box 30
The instant the hook is pulled at an
alarm box 1t registers the number of the
box in an Indicator. striking the gong in
the central house, and automatically
opening the doors to the horse stalls
An ARGUS reporter, who visited the
Central engine house at noon today, was
surprised ard gratified at the head way
that is being made in the way of training
the horses for prompt action and the
manner in which every minute detail
about the house is looked after.
A few moments before.12 O'Clock two
firemen stationed themselves in front of
each truck. Alta given signal from Chief
Ramskill. the gong sounded. the doors
to the horses stalls fl w open and both
teams ran out of their stalls under the
harness in q manner that II fleets great
credit on those who have them in charge,
and would do credit to much older de-
partments. The collars were snapped
about the necks and they were kept there
while two other, firemen put the feed into
their boxes, after which they were IN.
hitched and backed into their stalls, as
they are not allowed to turn around. nor
do they even seem to wish to, as they
back in as willingly as if they had always
been used to it. They are never fed in
any way except this, it being done in
order to make them keep it constantly in
mind, and when they are fed in this man.
ner it is an inducement for them to come
out in a hurry.
The firemen are nearly all uniformed
now. Chief Ramskill has new white he'll
met and coat which are very flashy.
With few weeks practice with the new
system, no citizen of Rock Island will
need to sneak back in an alley in shame
when he hears a fire alarm for fear some
stranger in town will guy him about the
fire department.
The location of the different alarm
boxes and th cir numbers is given below:
Fifth STIR ct and Seventh avenue.
l3-sixth street and Fourth avenue
i Ninth street and Third avenue.
2I-Nnth street aud Seventh avenue.
% Twelfth street and Third aveeue.
2a-Twelfth street and Seventh avenue.
3i-Fifteentt street and Fourth avenue
s2-Fifteentt street and Seventh avenue.
3S-Seventee1 nth street and Second avenue.
4f-NineteenL b street and Sixth avenue.
g2-Twentietl street and Third avenue.
43-Twentietl street and Eighth avenue.
5i-Twenty-third street and Fourth avenue,
81 Twenfy-third street and Seventh avenue.
53-TweDty-s ixth street and Fifth avenue.
6I-Twenty-s eventh street am Eighth avenue.
62-1 hirteth street and Seventh avenue.
63-Wagners brewery.
T1-Thiriy-eighth street end seventh avenue.
72-Forty fourth street and Fifth avenue.
In addition to the above private box
will be placed at the G, B, & Q depot,
and one for he use OF the plow, glass
..ora