The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-08
MAKING FOR THE HYDRAxr.
Method by Which the Engine Always
Gets To the Right One.
New York Sun.

To the bystander who sees a fire engine
come dashfng up to hydrant il might
easily seem, from his confident manner Of
approach. as though the driver had known
from the start just what hydrant he was to
take, and had been all the time making for
that particular one. AS q matter OF fact, the
out knowing what hydrant he is 10 take.
ana he may not know until he Is within a
few seconds drive OF IT. Still there Is
never a moments uncertainty about the en-
gine's movements. and IL never slows down,
IL goes straight for the hydrant without the
slightest delay. In answering ten calls from
many different hydrants: but IL goes TO the
right hydrant every time. and the manner
OF determining what hydrant 1t shall take Is
extremely simple. Every engine hooks up at
every alarm On first alarms Il goes out
only 10 fires within its own district When
en- alarm is sounded the horses rush TO the
engine; catch or two snapped. and the
team stands hooked up ready to start: II il
all the work OF few seconds But the har-
ness is still held by the hanger from which
IL Is suspended, not TO be let go unless the
can Is one which the engine answers The
driver is up. With the last stroke IL II calls
slight twitch of the reins frees the harness
from the hanger, and IL drops into place on
the horses backs. II II is winter the door
dropped. and away goes the engine. with
the horses on the gallop. In the direction OF
the station whence the alarm has come but
without anybody knowing what hydrant It
The only man beside the driver who rides
the engine Is the captain OF the company
or the officer In charge. He rides STANDING
on the rear OF the engine. All the rest Oh
tne company ride on the tender. Two
blocks away from the signal box the cap
tain jumps to the ground and runs ahead OF
the engine 10 locate the fire. He may md
Il before ne comes 20 the box, or IL may be
beyond II: The location Of the fire may be
revealed by flames or smoke; or perhaps.
by the presence of people standing in front
OF the building In which the fire is or nv
persons in the building itself. 1t may be
tnat there are no such Indications; that
there are no visible indications whatever
But almost invariably the policeman or
whoever gave the alarm remains standing
Dy the box until the first engine comes up.
he KNOWS just where the FIRE is, and from
MIN. IN case he has not discovered f. HIM
exceedingly brief space of time.
III may be around the corner. A wave OF
the captains hand, as ne starts on again
Is enough for the driver, who has ali the
the bystanders I'm the side street might cas-
lily imagine that the driver had known from
the start Just what hydrant he was 10
take, for ne sees the engine come tearing
around the corner. the driver calculating
the turn with the greatest nicely. and
STRENGTHENING up and coming down the
street booming, making for that hydra Mt
any other. q
The simple fact Is that, the fire having
est to It: 1T Is always sought to take the
hydrant nearest the fire. He comes up with
a rush, firemen yank or q suction Vff1e ana
connect the engine with the hydrant and
the engine Is ready for business. The cap
whether water Is needed; IL IL IS ne orders
a line OF hose stretched and then begins
the Work or putting out the fre.