The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-27
SAVING LIFE At FIRES.
Providence Firsmen Keep in Training
for Emergencies.
PRACTICE WITH NETS, ETC.
A Drill THAT May be Invaluable some
time-The Need of a Water Tower
Gossip of the Fire Laddies Through
out the City.

The recent confagraiions In Boston
with the heroic efforts of the firemen In
battling with the fierce flames, together
with the success attending the use OF the
life-saving apparatus. has aroused a deep
interest among the people of this ely In
the condition of the local fire depart
ment
Some Of those upon whom troubles set
esslly have worried over the possibility
of the bip fires of the "Hub" being re-
produced here, and many have gone so
far nc 10 make personal investigations
of the conditio n of affairs existing IN the
department. To these it is only necessary
to state that never In its history mas the
fire department in Providence been Ia
stronger condition and more able TO cope
with the fire element than ,st the ptesene
aay. and the probility Of serious con-
fagrations, except In extreme cases. WAS
never more remote.
Taken as a whole tie tire department
in this city is one of the best In the couh-
try. Thoroughly organized, possessing
ample apparatus 10 work with, ana com
posed or men, brave and hardy,
Afraid of Nothing.
not even the most dang work on
burning buildings with crumbling walls.
dropping their shower of red hot bricks
and burning debris about them, IL would
seem as il the nervous ones were taking
a little too pessimislic view or the ques-
tion.
But in spite of the thorough organiza-
tion Of the department and the success
which usually attends its labor on fires,
there is always chance OF some slip
np." A slight delay in starting 10
fire in answer to an alarm, aud slight
delay In penetrating at once to tue very
heart OF the blaze may result In the loss
OF vast amounts OF property. ana un-
fortunately this city has been the victim
of many Of these destructive blazes. But
these are far between. aud the con inual
vigilance OF the firemeu prevents many
a disastrous confiaRration.
or course, where there Is so much de-
pending ON promptness OF action. II Is
necessary for each man TO know his
place and be always ready to fall into
line at minutes notice, and in order
that both the horses and men may be
always prepared IL has been the custom
for long time to have occasional periods
of drilling and practice. At $50 o'clock
every night except Sunday the stroke oi
the large fire bell is the
Signal for the Horses
o be hitched into the different carts and
pieces of apparatus, aud this is witnessed
nightly by crowds OF admirng kids "
and not u few elders. But this eN rcise
or drill in the hitching up Is not consid
cred sufficient and at frequent Intervals
the various hook and ladder companies
exercise with the life saving nets which
are carried on the trucks. "A bag OF hay
is thrown out of a high window In the
station and the men holding the net be-
low sKillfully catch IL in its descent and
deposit 1t carefully on the ground, and
occasionally fireman will drop into the
net from "A second story window and he l.
a SO carefully rolled off onto the ground
Since the great "Callender building
fire several years ago when so many peo-
ple lost their lives by jump q from
second, third, fourth and even fifth story
windows. there has been no great need ol
use for the life saving apparatus A
the Barnaby building blaze two years
ago the employees in the establishment
were all enabled to escape befoi e TIT
blaze had gained much headway and ii
the other big fires there has been
No Trouble
in getting the inmates out of the build
Ings. But then the chances are a
ways to be considered and consequent.
at intervals the nets are dragged out an
the game with the bag OF hay Is gon
through with once more.
AltnrOugn tue uepdrCncub Is well sup
piled with all the necessary apparatus L
tight the flames yet there is one thin
lacking aud that is water tower. Th
numerous high buildings that line th
business streets of Providence make tn
use OF n water tower almost "A necessity
aud while in previous fires the executio
done by the common hose and Jumbo
has been great, yet lt Is the prevail
ing opiuion that had the CIT
been In possession of the tows
the blazes would have been checked al
extinguisned before much headway ha
been gained. In the case of the fire
the Cooney block on Canal street la
fall, IL was several minutes before an
wafer could be got TO play on the flame
The pressure from the hydrant was Il
sufficient TO force the streams above tt
second story, amt by the time the powe
full engines nal been geared up aud pr
into use the structure was doomed. tn
aud many other instances of like natul
have demonstrated the necessity OF
tower. and strong efforts are being ma'