New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-05

Commander Lionel Wells, the executive on
Ger OF the Brigade is one Of the most accom-
plished officers Of the navy. and is In tho prime
of life about thirtyeight. Born in Calcutta he
was educated at Cheltenhan. and after entering
the navy employed for nine years in the
torpedo service. rising TO the rank Of commander
and becoming senior officer ~ the Devonport
torpedo boat destroyer squadron. He is n rigid
disc!plnarian. laying great stress upon constant
drilling Of the force at the stations. and he ham
dies his men at n fire with the commanding air
and readiness OF resource Of naval martinez.
] have no structures upon his conduct at
the Crippegate fire. He is generally credited
with managing the force with remarkable ability
and GOODNESS.
The headquarters Of the Brigade in South
wark. close to the spot where Mr. Micawber. in
the Kings Bench Prison. waited with che rful
confidence for something to turn up. That IS
perhaps a characteristic attitude for iremcn.
who. with horses harncssed, the freboy OF tho
steamer warmed with a gas tube. and the doors
ready to open automatically. are ever waiting
to don their helmets in answer to fire call.
Here are the superintendent and chiefs rooms.
bristling with telephones and electric apparatus
connecting headquarters with all the principal
stations Of the metropolis Close by are the sta
repairing shops. with a force OF skilled me-
chanics; and every day there are fire and rescue
drills In the open court. Squads Of recruits are
taught all the details OF the service-how to leap
upon the machine when II Is IN notion how to
load and unload the ladder trucks and to handle
fire. escapes: how to jump from garrett windows
into canvas sheets; how to mount high ladders
and rescue men in peril. There Is nothing. per-
haps that IL novel in the system OF training,
but the thoroughness with which the drills. es-
pecially those in rescue work. are carried on
day by day Is conspicuous The Brigade may
lack water towers. chemical engines and some OF
the most recent appliances used In America, but
in auickness. vigilance. training and discipline
II leaves little to be desired
CRITICISM OF METHODS
The commonsst complaints made by censo-
rious critics relate to the hardness OF the force
in reaching the scene Of the Cripplegate fire
and the insufficient number Of engines avaa-
HE The system Of electric alarms Is now so
co,nplete that there Is no delay In communicate
ing warning and summons so thorough Is the
training that hardly more than n minute passes |
when the signal has been given, before the |
engines are In motion. Whatever delay there |
may have been in the concentration Of the force |
at Crippiegate ii 10 ne e&piaheu ny the I'M
probability Of dispatch when engines and
trucks are forced to traverse the most crowded |
centres OF London traffic at midday Forty-fve |
engines were In the narrow streets and maze
OF alleys: and 1t is doubtful II a larger num-
her OF machines could have been employed in |
40 contracted and inaccessible n quarter. AS |
there are only nifty seven steam fire engines in !
service and as half q dozen or more OF them |
were in the repairing shops the Brigade Writ |
ually brought all its best appliances into reQui-