Evening star., 1896-10-24
CHINESE FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
Primitive Methods of Fighting Flame
Engines of Antique Type.

Primitive Methods of Fighting Flames
Engines of Antique Type.
From the New York Tribune.
If Ii Hung Chang would submit to an
interview on the subject, it would be inter-
esting to know what his feelings were as
he sat upon the grand stand at Union
Square and watched the exhibition of one
of the most efficient fire departments in the
world. The difference between the work.
ings Of that department and the one which
he has known in Peking must have aroused
forcibly his remarkable powers Of COM
parison.
slight inkling of his impressions, how
ever. may be gained by brief outline of
the workings of the fire departments to
which he is accustomed In China. These
departments are considered very effective
even by foreigners to that land and 1t may
be they are when the construction Of Chi
nese dwellings and buildings Is taken into
account. There is scarcely a house there
over two stories high. But even for houses
of that diminutive height the Chinese
method of fighting fires must appear very
crude compared to the system here.
In the larger cities of China there are sta
toned throughout their length and breadth
fire watchmen. Upon bamboo poles Is built
a sentry box with narrow balcony cir
cling. These sentry boxes are stationed at
regular intervals say, the distance Of five
or ten of our city blocks apart. and in each
enc a watchman is on duty day and night.
The instant signs of fire appear in his dis
trict he sounds the alarm either by voice
or by gong, and the dread cry is haStened
along to the nearest fire engine house. In
these houses, which are none too numer-
Gus, are kept hand engines somewhat like
the antique types known here. They are
dragged by running Cinnamon, and at the
alarm the engine Is rushed eff to the scene
of the fire with really creditable rapidity,
and the engine pipes are put in connec-
ton with the nearest canal These canals
are so numerous throughout the large
cities that one Is nearly always within
reasonable distance of fire. If there be
not one near. well or cistern Is utilized as
the source of water supply. There is little
organization in a Chinese fire department.
but the crowd that gathers lends a willing
hand. and can usually extinguish a fire in
the building in which 1t originated. AS the
buildings are only of two stories, as al
ready explained, the difficulties presented
to the Chinese firemen are not great. Should
the fire get beyond control, however there
is precaution which the Chinese alone of
all nations have adopted to prevent it's ex-
tenSive spread AT frequent intervals in
the crowded parts of the cities fire walls
of brick have been built. These walls in
clude fixed areas. beyond which no flames
can travel
Besides these engine houses and fire walls,
are maintained, IN the city of Canton at
least, one or two stationary engines near
central points upon the banks of canals for
use In case of fire: The engines are in
buildings designed for them, much after
the manner Of reservoir pumping stations
here, but, of course, of much less elab-
crate design. From these engines iron
pipes run over the roofs of neighboring
houses for some distance, and from fire.
quent outlets along the line of pipes water
can be distributed in time Of fire upon
threatened points.
When the ambassador of the Chinese en-
peror beheld New York's splendid machines
In full operation, the primitive method of
fire protection in his own country must
have seemed crude indeed.