Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1894-12-26
FIGHTING A FIRE.
how the New York Department
Does Its Work,
A dangerous Ordeal and Fright
full Heat.

lul lGdI.
1t is a cellar fire--a bad one-and in
a factory. Clouds of dense black
smoke pour up from the basement and
ont OF every crevice around the big
folding doors that form the entrance.
Bits OF falling glass tell lis that the
pressure of smoke and of the gas
generated by the combustion going ON
within the building is beginning to
break the windows in the upper part,
and II we are not active the flames
wifSet the better of us. Our fore.
man is everywhere at once, directing
the captains of the arriving compa-
MES 10 their different positions.
The vatchman of the factory can
not be fonnd. Our foreman shouts,
"Quick! the battcring-ram. Break
open the big doors!'
One is quickly unshippcd from its
| place underneath the truck, and with
n man on each side, at the command
OF the captain, the ram is lunged for
ward at the big doors. Crash-the
doors qniver under the impact of the
combined weight of the solid mass of
iron and the two heavy men. A few
more blows and the lock give way, the
doors fly open, and into the black sti-
fling smoke we force our way, dragging
the heavy hose with us.
We can see no tire~-nothing but
thick, dense smoke, choking our
throats, and making the water run
from oul eyes in streams. Meanwhile
the men from the truck.company have
been at work with the butt-ends of
their axes, and have broken open the
headlights and grating in the front
over the basement and the basemet
doors, The fire having shown up
there, we are ordered to "back out"
and "work in" the basement an order
easily given, but not so easily obeyed
for the smoke is now thick and so
sitting that people in the crowd on
the other side of the sire ct are obliged
to beat a quick retreat before it. But
We tiremen are there to obey com
mands, not to question them, and
down We 90.
A shower of glass greets us as we
back ont, for it is now raining glass
and bits OF window frames from above.
+ SpCrs baving been r"ia"'l 60 ~; ~,
per krn,.', we TrUckmen are making |
al opening for the pipemen of other
companies that they may be on hand
should the fire get above the first
floor. Another shower, this. time OF
red hot plaster, greets us as We work
our way into the Easements and the
fire, now spreading all over the cell
ing, brings more down around us. The
heat is frightful there, and We turn
our fire hats back foremost to protect
our faces as best we can. We slash the
water around, knocking over burning
beams and piles of packing boxes, the
hose squirming and quivering under
the pressure Of the tons of water be-
ing forced through it every minute
the united strength of three or four
men is required to control it. All at
once one of our number gives a gasp
and tumbles down at our feet, face
forward, in pool OF dirty water and
plaster, overcome by the smoke and
heat. Another drops his hold upon
the hose and stoops to assist his fallen
comrade. 1t is now red hot in the
bas ment. and we cannot breath much
longer
II We do not back out soon, it will
be all over with us; but tiremen, in
the enthusiasm and excitement of the
momeut hate TO retreat until actually
driven out, we still hold our position.
at last we cannot stand it, and we re-
treat to The doorway.
The fireman who was overcome, as
sisted by one or more companions,
reached the foot of the stairs. A bat
talion-chici, IN command on the pave
ment above, seeing our position,
shouts, Here A man hurt Down
in the basement!" In second
dozen brave fellows dash down the
steps, and, lifting up our injured COM
rade, carry him tenderly up to the
street, and then over to one OF the
patrol wagons. where, with plenty OF
fresh air and brisk rubbing, he is soon
brought TO his senses. st Nicholas.