The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-06
How ELL PASO FIGHTS FIRE.
The Department Is In "a Crude Condition,
III Has Lots OF speed and snap

The Department Is In "a Crude Condition,
Ii Has Lots of speed and snap
From the Washington Post.
81 Larkins of Ell Paso, Texas. was
standing at the door of the Arlington.
talking with 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 a
fire.
"Cseat spectacle that" remarked the
Washington man.
Yep; considerable slaax, - responded
the Texan.
Never see anything of that sort
down in Ell Paso, l s'pose?" said the
Washingtonian, with a questioning in
nection 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 departments as he knew them at
home.
Why" snorted Mr. Larkins. IF we
couldn't get up better show and more
enthusiasm than that when a fire broke
out in our town we'd let her burn
down, and move over to Paso del Norte
and live in 'dobes with the greasers.
Talk about great spectacle!' You'd
think IL was a universal panorama II
SCu NO0iO STE the IRE department of
lei Paso turn out once
why, man, il is counted the great
est honor that man in our town can
have conferred on him to be elected a
member or the fire department. All the
best citizens belong. When the big bell
strikes you bet everything 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
oh oil
congregations with a mighty short
benediction and hoof IL for the scene OF
the confiagration.
Then you ought to see our engine.
She's daisy. and don't you forget IL.
Double handles on 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. stand
In in the stable all the time. harnessed
ana ready TO pull out at a minutes no.
tice Hank Tompkins. the driver. Is
the slickest man in his business i'm the
whole Southwest. When he pulls out
for a fire you can bet your last sirno-
leon 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 outshide curve to keep her. from
upsettin'; sometimes she goes clean
over, but not often, and IL only takes a |
minute to right her again. Sometimes |
the boys do IT before Hank gets the |
mules to dead stop. and off they go |
agin.
"oh tell you. it's a grand sight 20 |
see Hank comm down the street with |
his whip a-crackin' and them too little /
blue leaders just a-standin' on their /
hind feet and clawin' out at the air
like. When he passes il takes half an
hour for the dust to settle where he
went along.
An then you ought to see the
crowds. Why. you never see anything
like IL. Men. women and children ali /
turn out TO see the boys lick the fire.
When they go through 'Dobetown
Hank mos always runs over two or /
three greaser kids; they're always so
slow about gettin' out er the way And
dogs! Oh, Lord, I'll bet I've seen 400
II there was one all runnin' an rippin'
an barkin' benin Hank and the en-
CINE. Sometimes Hank runs over eight
Or ten Of them. but he can't stop for
dogs. or nuthin' else. for that matter.
Say. pard. deed you never have
seen fire turnout in this town n that
which just went by is a sample"
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