Evening star., 1896-10-03
CHINESE FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
Their Primitive Methods Of Fighting
Flames.

Their Primitive Methods of Fighting
Flames.
From the New York Tribune.
II Ii Hung Chang would submit 10 an
interview on the subject 1t would be inter-
esting to know what his feelings were as
ne sat upon the grandstand at Union
Square on Tuesday afternoon and watcheo
the exhibition of one Of the most enicient
fire departments in the world Inc oii-
ference between the workings OF that de-
partment and the one which he has known
in Peking must have aroused forcibiy MS
remarkable powers Of comparison.
A slight inkling Of his Impressions. how
ever. may he gained by brief outline OF
the workings Of the fire departments to
which he is accustomed in China. These
departmeats are considered very effective
even by foreigners to that land. and 1t may
he they are when the construction OF Chi
nese dwellings and buildings Is taken INTO
account. There Is scarcely mouse there
over two stories high. But even FOR houses
of that diminutive height the Cnlnese
method of fighting fires must appear very
crude compared to the system mere.
In the larger cities of China there are
stationed throughout their leEg-n ana
breadth fire watchnen. Upon oamboo po.es
is built a sentry box with narrow balcony
circling. These sentry boxes are stationed
at regular intervals say, the distance OF
five or ten Of our city blocks apart, ana
in each one a watchman is on duty day
and night. The instant signs OF flre ap-
pear in his district he sounds the diarm
either by voice or by q gong. and the dreao
cry is hastened along to the nearest nfe-
engine house. In these houses, which are
nCpe tCo numerous are kept hand engines
somewhat like the most antique types
known here. They are dragged by running
Chirs men, and at the alarm the engine
is rushed off to the scene of the hre with
really creditable rapidity, and the engine
"p;pes' are put in connection with the
nearest canal. These canals are so nufnef-
Gus throughput the large cities that one 10
nearly always within reasonable distance
OF q fire. If there be not one near, Well
or cistern Is utilized as the source Of wa
ter supply. There is little organization In
4 Chinese fire department, but the crowo
that gathers lends a willing hand, and can
usually extinguish q fire in the building In
which II originated As the buildings are
only Of two stories, as already explained
the difficulties presented TO the Chlnese
firemen are not great. Should the IRE get
beyond control, however, there Is a pre-
caution which the Chinese alone OF all ma
items have adopted TO prevent its extensive
spread. At frequent intervals in the
crowded parts OF the cities nre Wals ol
brick have been built. These walls include
| fixed areas. beyona Which no names can
travel
Besides these engine houses and fire
walls are intalned, in the city Of Can
| ton at least one OF two stationary engines
| near central points upon the BANK:
| Of canals for use in case of fire. The en-
| gines are in buildings designed for them
| much after the manner OF reservoir pump
| ing stations here, but, of course, of much
| less elaborate design. From these engines
| iron pipes run over the roofs of neighbor-
| ing houses tor some distance, and from IRE
| auent outlets along the line of pipes wa
| ter can be distributed in time of fire upon
| threatened points.
This comprises a brief outline CT the en-
| tire fire department which the larger cit
| les of China maintain for their protec-
| ton When the august ambassador of the
Chinese emperor beheld New York's splen
| did machines in full operation. the primi
| tive method Of fire protection in his owr
| country must have seemed crude indeed.