The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-27

The changing of fire bells so frantic
that wayfarers thought the whole town
was ablaze and above the din a harsh
voice shouting stop EN- they're run
ing away" caused 200 or 800 people to
assemble at the corner of First South
and Main street in quick order about
9 o'clock last evening. Their hearts
were in their mouths fearing some aw-
full catastrophe had happened or was
about to. They were somewhat dis
gusted when the apparatus slowed up
as it crossed Main street and turning
around slowly made it's way back to
the fire department headquarters and
they realized it was only an exhibition
run and that they had had their scare
for nothing. Those who were in on the
play thought they had the laugh on
those who were not.
1t was the occasion of the house
warming at the new fire house at head
quarters, which has just been COM
pleted and which was occupied for the
first time last evening. The run was
made for the benefit of the members
of the city administration, who had
assembled at headquarters at the invi-
tation of Chief Devine of the fire de-
partment to officially inspect the new
quarters and take part in the opening.
The run was made at the suggestion
of Councilman Mulvey and Chief De-
vine issued instructions to have an
alarm turned in from box Is. The
voice that aroused the fears of the pop
ulace was that of Councilman Billy
O'Meara who thought it would be
fine thing to take ride on the hose
wagon. He tried to explain afterwards
that he was only yelling out of his
eXuberance of spirits and to exercise
his lungs, which was doubtless true,
as he was in unusually good spirits"
even for him as everyone Will testify
who was present and partook of them,
but it was told quietly around late in
the evening that the drug store had
run on that tonic known as nervine.
How much truth there is in the story
could not be learned as the stores
were all closed when the report was
heard
At all events it was a great run and
the distance between headquarters and
Main street was never covered in
quicker time. The spectators enjoyed
it if it did throw a few of them into
spasrs.
The event of the house warming
commenced at 7:30 in the evening, when
the mem bers of the council and fire
and police commission and other city
officials and a few friends began to
assemble he OllCldlS W IlO dllSUQCu
were: Commissioners Louis Cohen and
II. J. Dininny, Councilmen Mulvey,
O'Meara, Dale, CalliSter, Hayward,
Wiscomb and Buckle. Mrs. Callister
and Mrs. Dininny accompanied their
husbands. Other officials were CHIEF
Paul of the police department, eX-Chief
Ottinger, now chairman of the exam
ming board. Max Lippman another
member of the examining board. Citi-
zens who were noticed in the gather
ing were: Mr.. and Mrs. T. q. Weber,
Mr.. and Mrs. John Van Pelt, Chief
Hansen of the Eureka department was
also present and observed the work of
the department with a great deal of
interest.
At about o'clock word was passed
to the men that practice would begin
and a moment later the gong sounded.
Half a dozen bitches followed which
were made in the exceedingly quick
time of from three to five seconds.
The best of these exhibitions was
when the men were all sent to their
quarters, the lights put out and the
hitch made as though in the dead of
night. The men came down the poles
as though moved by electricity and
made the hitch and were ready to
start in a little less than three sec
onds.
Then came the run which was as
pretty an exhibition as a fire depart
ment could be asked to give.
After the inspection was over the
visitors were shown about the building
and an informal reception was held in
Chief Devine's Office where excellent
brands of liquid refreshments and ci-
CARS were served to the gentlemen.
With the occupancy of the new build
ing, the fire department headquarters
is most admirably equipped An ex-
J
published in The Herald a few days
since.