The sun., 1894-09-09
Mr.. SUMMERS THREEFIRES.
FoRr LEE FTREMEN WERs TIRED
orr M THEM,
Fer NJ. s---er Live. st the Tee sr the
Hin ssS the Essins Heuse 1s ss the
Wstte--Tks Eseins Hs Heavy, Toe.

Fer NJ. Ss--er Lives st the Tee 90 the
HIn sd the Esstns House 1s st the
pstse=-Ths Eseiss Hs Heavy, Toe.
Away up on top Of the hill at Fort Lee stands
= three-story frame house. which Is occupied by
= retired musician named Summers, his wife.
and two sons and two daughters At the bot
tom OF this hill stands a one-story frame build
ing over the door Of which is painted IN lurid
red letters. Protection Engine No. L." They
only have one fire engine in Fort Lee but they
have numbered that one. and IL is the
pride and JOY Of the village and OF the
Volunteer Fire Department, which includes
every bodied man and small boy in the
place. Whenever the engine comes home from
a Ere the girls turn out and decorate II with
flowers and ribbons, as snrt of tribute 20 its
services. The engine is one OF the old fashioned,
hand pumping affairs. but 1t cost the village
$780, aud Is formidable fire extinguisher when
there is any fre to be eXtinguished.
There used to be village law in Fort Lee 70
the effect that the man who got TO the engine
house first with a team OF horses and hauled
the engine to a FIRE would receive s5. This
worked well enough until it was discovered
that q leading citizen OF the place had
his son out ringing in false alarms while
he laid in readiness with harnessed team in
order to be the first on the scene. After that
the rule was abolished, and ever since the en-
sine has been hauled 20 fires by the members Of
the department. Nov. the engine IL no light
weight, and as every fire must lie some distance
the river edge, the hremen have all the work
they want to do when they are called ou5.
in false alarms is not regarded in friendly way
by the members OF the Fort Lee Fire Depart
Is n oShs S he Of t
either a Joker or an incendiary. tue fremen
iPGS ;ey 9Sh nT fRd ,hsy SsP on
or her. for circumstance would make IL appear |
that the miscreant is as likely to be a woman ss
The homo OF the Summers family being on |
the top OF the hill. is about mile from the en-
weary when, on Thursday night, they were |
hauled out OF bed by an alarm OF ire from Tay. |
LII Is ea ASus
fully, however. and the old engine was hauled
Of rs n9u'e ,bs and FIRE gns sas. nd
up the hin with IL. II was hard haul, but the |
sT sns %Ds
had been informed on the way up the fre was, |
when they were stopped by ayoung man who
::SNsy, Y yyoa feller,. 90 back"
"out.s gasped Beger. e f 81 don't r Seiie1e IL I,
can't be out when the 1remen haven't been
the ens3e again the Sss. q tse
house they found Mr; Summers
Don't believe it can be-" said Foreman Bey-
ers, and he began shifting the air Nov Fore
.er in e Ts
his companions were not at all surprised when
a few - seconds IA later he exclaimed:
to search the house" and so Beyers and one
the former finding bundle of rags shoulder
Ing In closet. The fire was extinguished. and
,hen the hremen went back again aud went
At about 8 O'Clock on Friday morning. Just
gner 5as worthy yaanis vIsntsess ] wsrs RIepssng 70
tre alarm In front OF the engine house. stiff as
hey rs1s 1rSn a ine hes OF 5he
house, and hauling out the old engine started
mp the hill again. Once more they were In
was on fire. and once more they strained every
nerve to get TO the house as soon as possible.
At the gate they again met Mr. Summers.
Fire somewhere mere" he said. but dinged
Il know where IL Is"
,ugh search BEGAN. II took half an hour to find
he fire, but IL was finally discovered in a closet
he house from where the frst fire had started
As before, lot Of rags were shoulder
summers and ali his family were tammoned
md closely questioned; but nothing could be
sosSea son the Origin o he Ee. Sey ss9
md begged that some drenen be left 10 watch
he house.
Two OF the weary volunteers were left behind
While the rest hauled old No. down the hill
gain. and after carefully housing her went
bout their respective duties
The fnal stroke came st about O'Clock on
friday night when another alarm came In from
lie Summers house. The fremen groaned. but
nee more got their machine out and hauled IL
~ the hill and once more were confronted by ,
dr summers, who really didn't know where
he fire was.
Another search OF the house was made and .
q another closet on the second floor a pair Of
tockings and some rags were found burning. ,
The fire was put out and then the Summers
amily were once more examined. Mrs- Sum-
ners and her two daughters wept and said they
new nothing about the fires, while Mr.. Sum: ]
ners and his Two sons clenched their iists and
wore they'd Kill the man or woman who was .
for the fires II they could lay hands
n them. .
The family keeps no servants and 10 one lives
nth them. Much perplexed. the fremen went
ark TO their homes and turned in, expecting I
ny moment to be called out again They were s
OF disturbed again during the night, however,
nd at last accounts the Summers residence
Tas standing and in good condition
The good people Of Fort Lee are much per-
lexed over the fires, however. and IL Is said will
ave the Summers family before the village
rustees within day or so for examination.
he Summers deny al knowledge OF the origin
the fires, and say they will pay reward TO Z
NY " hO will find out " no started them.