The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-04-09
FIRE ENGINES IN TEXAS.
Great Times for the Natives When ths
Bells Sound the Alarm.

Great Times for the Natives When the
Bells Sound the Alarm.
81 Larkins, of El Paso, Tex, was
standing at the door of the Arlington
talking with a Washington friend a
few days ago, when a fire engine and
hook and ladder rushed past with a
great changing of bells en- route to the
fire.
Great spectacle, that" remarked
the Washington man.
yep, considerable show responded
the Texan.
'Never see anything of that sort
down in FL Paso, l s'pose?" said the
Washingtonian, with a questioning in
Election in his statement.
The Texan turned and gave his friend
searching look, in which pity and
contempt seemed to struggle for the
mastery, and then proceeded to give
him few pointers on fires and fire de-
partments as he knew them at home.
"Why,' snorted Mr.. Larlins, eff we
couldn't get up better show and more
enthusiasm than that when d fire broke
out in our town we'd let her burn
down and move over into Passo del
Norte and live in 'dobes with the
greasers. Talk about great spec
taclen You'd think it was a universal
panorama if you could see the fire de-
partment of FL Paso turn out once.
why, man, it is counted he greatest
honor that a man in our town can have
conferred on him to be elected a MEM
s Il ~
citizens belong. When the big bell
strikes you bet erything else stops
until that fire is put out. 1t is the only
occasion when the deal stops at the
| faro banks, and when a fire comes on
| Sundays that teachers all dismiss their
congregations with a mighty short
benediction and hoof it for the scene
of the confagration.
Then you ought to see our engine.
| She's a daisy, and don't you forget it.
| Double handles at each side. and room
| for four men at each handle. Every
thing painted red and brass eagle
on the top of the pump barrel. We
| keep four Spanish mules standin' in the
stable all the time, harnessed and
| lttItly W pun OtlU at d y DU-
tice. Hank Tompllins, the driver, is
the slickest man in his business in the
whole southwest. When he pulls out
for fire you can bet your last simoleon
everything else has got to stand from
| under He turns the corners so fast
that the boys on Red Betsey, as they
call the engine, have to hang on to the
| 4-.J L.
! tin; sometimes she goes clean over,
but not often, and it only takes min
ute to right her agin. Sometimes the
boys do it before Hank gets the mules
to dead stop, and off they go agin.
"Oh! | tell you it is a grand sight to
see Hank comm down the street with
his whip a-crackin' and then two little
blue leaders just a-standin' on their
hind feet and clawin' out at the air
like. When he passes it takes half an
hour for the dust to settle where he
went along. An, then, you ought 10
see the crowds. Why, you never see
anything like it. Men, women and
children all turn out to see the boys
lick the fire. When they go through
'Dobertown Hank mos always runs
over two or three greaser kids; they're
always so slow bout gettin' out er the
way. And dogs, oh, Lord! I'll bet I've
seen 400 if there was one all runnn'
an rippin' an barkin' benin Hank
and the engine. Sometimes Hank runs
over eight or ten of 'em, but he can't
stop for dogs or nuthin' else for that
matter.
Say, pard, deed you never have seen
a fire turnout i'll this town, if that
which just went by is a sample."-
Washington Star.