Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-26
JAPAN'S FIRE BRIGADE.
The Flremen of the Mikatlo's Realm ut TheiI
Gymnastic Exercises.

The Flremen of the Mikado's Realm at Their
Gymnastic Exercises.
From the London Graphic.
No country is SO much exposed to fires as
Japan. In one week recently 5, 900 houses were
burned down in Toxic alone, and in the next
week IL, 900 houses were destroyed in that city,
while Sir Rutherford Alcock states that Toxic
loses as many houses constitute the entire
city every ten years. The houses with the ex-
ception Of the tiles on the roof, are constructed
entirely of wood and the windows are formed
OF fine and often beautiful lace work covered
with paper.
Some buildings in Japan are matched, while
the roofs of others are formed Of little slate
like fakes of wood. but these SO readily take
fire if sparks fall upon them that the Japanese
prefer taking the risk of injury from falling
tiles during the earthquake to being in even
greater danger from fires than they necessa-
rily must always even now be. 1t is strange
that In these days, when SO many young ma
tives have come to Europe to study the
sciences, their acquired knowledge of
chemistry has not caused them to adopt some
means OF rendering the wood of which their
houses are constructed, and even the paper of
the windows, incombustible. They have, how
ever, in the large towns most efficient fire
brigades, and have even the newest and best
I,
but these are OF much less use than might be
imagined, for the supply of water is limited,
and the engine without water il a mere mock
cry. Over every house door is placed o sign
indicating that there ID ole well on the prem
Uses, or sometimes we see two or more of these
signs, indicating that two or more wells will be
found i'll that building, and thus the firemen
know the sources of their water supply and
from these wells alone can water be had.
The scarcity of water renders it necessary
that all buildings surrounding any that may
have taken fire be pulled down, SO that the
burning mass be isolated, for there is no hope
of preventing the spreading Of the confagra-
ton by the water from the engines. and it is this
necessity which causes the tiremen's drill in
Japan to appear SO strange and grotesouc to
the European. Each fireman is furnished with
sort or hook, intended for use i'll pulling
down the houses, but the question arises as to
where the man is to stand while engaged in his
work of destruction. A ladder is held upright
by number OF men, who hold it firmly by
these hooks; and it is up q ladder thus held
that the firemen so to pull down the houses
which are to be destroyed in case of fire.
The chief exercises of the men consist in
ascending the ladder and leaning out from il
in horizontal manner, using the hook while
holding on by the feet, and in all sorts of
acrobatic feats which seem calculated to aid
them in their work. Sometimes q man ascends
the ladder and stands in an inverted position
on the top round. At other times he grasps
one side of the ladder with his hands and
throws his body out horizontally, SO that he
may. have free use of his feet-and it must be
remembered that the Japs can do much more
with their feet than we can with ours-but the
chief exercise consists in holding by the feet
and using the hook with the hands.
The firemen are arranged in corps, each of
which is headed by the bearer of large Ian
tern in the form of some curious distinctive do
vice, from which cut papers. a religious en-
blem, depend, and we have seen a corps slowly
and solemnly marching to fire, headed with
this insignia, just as though it we're taking part
in funeral procession, instead of hurrying as
becomes those concerned in subduing that fear
full element, fire.