Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-11-25
MADE THE BRlTONS GASP.



London.
Rarely does an American get
chance to shock staid old London. But
there was one man in Chicago who
lately gave the town authorities and
dignitaries a spasm of astonishment
that they will not soon forget.
He is small man with just
sprinkle of gray in his inky hair. He
has a deeply sparkling eye that never
blinks, and is as quick and alert as the
tight, snugly knit and wiry muscles
on his iron legs and arms. His mouth
is that of disciplinarian, and yet is
capable of the warmest possible smile.
He is Chief George G. Hale, of the
Kansas City Fire Department. He
has but recently returned from the in
ternational fire congress at London,
where he and his nine agile men, with
their trained fire horses, water tower,
swinging harnesses and a score of other
odd devices, We're not only made the
lions of the hour, but also awarded
handsome gold medal each as the best
fire fighters on earth.
Chief Hale briefly related his expert
ence in the tight little island. He said:
THE contest came off. There was only
one company entered against us-one
of the metropolitan fire brigades of
London. They went first. l watched
them jump out of their hunks, button
up their coats and buckle on their great
belts. / had brass poles provided for
my men to slide down on. The Eng
lish firemen looked at them suspicious
ly and then scrambled down the less
dangerous stairway.
They went into the next building for
their horses, as the sanitary laws of
London do not permit horses to be
stabbed in buildings containing sleep
ing apartments. They had to put on
the harness and slip the tongue Of the
engine in place. Finally when they
came out the great crowd went mad
with enthusiasm.
when the judge announced the time
one minute and seventeen seconds, Il
crowd gathered about and began to
banter me. 'Eh, America, what do you
think of thatT one old man cried, clap
ping me soundly on the shoulder. [
told him it was good work. | knew
we could get out in less than a minute,
but | wanted to increase the English
agony as much as possible. We got
all ready. At the clang of the bell we
tumbled out of bed, down the poles we
ripped Clank went the harness on
the horses, and they rushed to their
places unaided. There was rumble
and we were out, spick and span.
Everybody looked at their watches,
and when the judge announced eight
and one-half seconds the people fairly
gasped.
Then they broke loose in a regular
hurricane. A half dozen grabbed me
and pulled me along. What's the mat
ter| l yelled, apprehensive of violence.
They didn't answer. l was pulled and
hauled up into the royal box and intro.
| duced to Sir Somebody and Lady SO
and SO, the Lord Mayors of London.
Dublin, York and a score of provincial
mayors in gold cord and powdered
wigs.
We were dined later by the Lord
Mayor of London.
THE London fire brigade did not
show up again. We were invited to
give daily exhibitions.
We did. You should have seen those
English crowds. They were thunder
struck with our exhibition of climbing
with pompiers. They said we We're
better than a circus. Two of my men
john Egnar and Herman Greggs-
used to be circus tumblers. You can
| ~
ons when one of them would rush up Il
ladder twenty feet, throw himself into
midair, turn a couple of somersaults
and light on his feet, grab a nozzle and
turn handspring and then tear up
the ladder again"
Chief Hale and his men We're the only
Americans present at the competition.
Representatives from Russia, Portugal.
France, Germany and Belgium We're
also in attendance. Mr. Hale further
gave exhibitions in the Royal Agricul-
tural Hall at Islington and Victoria
Park, London, and in Glasgow. He
says that while the foreign fire depart
ments are crude, buildings are con-
structed with more care and with a
view to greater protection from fire in
Europe than in this country
| lnteP-Ocean.