Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1897-08-06
/ FIRE ENGINES IN TEXAS.
nat Times for the Natives When the
Bells sound tho Alarm.

h.s.t Times for the Natives When the
Bella sound tho Alarm.
6, Larkins, of III Paso, Tex, was
standing at the door of the Arlington
talking with Washington friend q
few days ago. when fire org.rc ard
hook and ladder rushed Fast with
great changing of bells en- route to the
fire.
"Great spectacle, that" remarked
the Washington man.
"Yep, considerable show" responded
the Texan.
"Never see anything of that sort
down in FL Paso, s'poee?" said the
Washingtonian, with questioning in.
Fiction in his statement.
The Texan turned and gave his friend
a searching look, in which pity ard
contempt seemed to struggle fer the
mastery, and then proceeded to give
him a few pointers OH fires and fire de-
partments us he knew them ut home.
"Why,' snorted Mr.. Larlins, ''if we
couldn't get up better show and more
enthusiasm than that when d fire broke
out in our town we'd let her burn
down and move over into TGsso del
Norte and live in 'dobos with the
greasers. Talk about treat spec
tacle!' You'd think it was universal
panorama if you could see the fire de
partment of Ell Paso turn cut once.
"Why, man, it is counted the greatest
honor that man in our town can have
conferred on him to be elected men,
Der of 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 fire comes on
Sundays that teachers all dismiss their
congregations with q mighty shor.
benediction and hoof it for the scene
Of the conflagration.
"Then you ought to see our engine.
She's daisy. and don't you forget it.
Double handles at each side. and room
for four men at each handle. Every
thing painted red ard brass eagle
on the top of the pump larrcl. We
keep four Spanish mules standin' in the
stable all the time, harnesscd and
ready to pull out at moments no.
tice. Hank Tompkins, the driver, is
the slickest man in his business in the
whole southwest. When h pulls out
for fire you can bet your last simolcon
everything else has got to stand from
under. He turns the corners so fast
that the boys on Red retscy, as they
call the engine, have to hang on to the
outside curve to keep her from upset
tin; sometimes she goes clean over,
but not often, and it only takes a l.!in'
ute to right her agin. Sometimes the
boys do it before Hank gets the mules
to dead stop, and off they 60 agin.
oh! I tell you it is a grand sight to
see Hank comm down the street with
his whip a-crackin' and tilcn two little
blue leaders just a-standin' on tEeiI
hind feet and clawin' out at the ri,
like. When he passes it takes half an
hour for the dust to settle where he
went along. An, then, you ought t1
see the crowds. Why, you never SET
anything like it. Men, women ant
children all turn out to see the boy
mex the fire. When they go through
'Dobertown Hank mos always run:
over two or three greascr kids; They're
always so slow bout gettin' out or thu
way. And dogs, oh, Lord! I'll bet w
seen 400 If there was one all runnin
an rippin' an barkiR' benin Hanl
and the engine. Sometimes Hank run.
over eight or ten of EN-, Lut he can
stop for dogs or nuthin' else for tina
matter.
Say, pard, deed you never have seel
fire turnout in this town, if tina
which just went by is sample
Washington Star.