The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-01
T1RE,rEN MADE A QUICK RUN.
The Department Called out for a
sunday Afternoon Sprint.


A very successful test run OF the fire
department was made yesterday after
noon. Fire Chief Mcguire decided that
as it was a quiet Sunday afternoon with
the streets all clear, 1t would be good
time to have a test run, as there would
be littlo danger of collision with We
hicles.
BOX No. g. near the Morning News,
was selected for the test, being one Of
the few down town boxes 10 which the
entire department, with the exception of
chemical engine No. q responds. In or
der not to cause any unnecessary alarm,
the big duke was switched off, so that
the alarm would only be sounded ON the
gongs in the engine houses.
Just before leaving headquarters Chief
Mcguire called up Assistant Chief Mouro
and requested him to come down and
make an inspection of the rice mill prop
erty. This was TO put the firemen off
their guard. Experience has proven that
the hremen make better time on any run,
whether for test or display, when they
have received no previous notice. If ex-
pecting a test alarm to DE pulled they get
nervous, run over each other in their
eagerness TO hitch and get on their ma
chimes, and are liable to make bungio
of the whole business.
There is a very active rivalry among the
several companies which would tend to in
crease the anxiety of the men if they knew
a test alarm were pulled. In fact, expert
ence has shown that the department turns
out quicker to a night than day alarm.
In the day the men are scattered about the
houses, but a. night they jump from their
beds, slide down the poles snap the har-
ness on the horses and are gone before the
Ina he crin Tn 81 . n
the alarm.
Chief Mcguire Assistant Chief AIouro,
Electrician Cleburne, and Morning News
reporter met at the No. box at the foot
of Whitaker street. AT 4:27 o'clock by
the assistant chiefs watch, the little hook
which gives the alarm was pulled. For
the information of those who have never
sent in a fire alarm, but who may have
occasion to do so, some day, 1t is well to
state that all that is necessary to do after
unlocking the door of the box and opening
it, is to pull down the little iron hook to
be seen there. A light pull with forcing
er Is all that is needed and the hook should
only be pulled down once The little indi-
Gator inside the box can be heard sounding
the alarm, which is being received al the
same time in all the engine houses in the
city.
People on the streets were surprised to
see the fire engines and other apparatus
come tearing along the streets, no alarm
having been sounded and hundreds follow
ed the machines. thinking there was a fire.
Hadsbox sounded on the big duke there
would have been thousands instead of
hundreds and many people would have
been unnecessarily alarmed.
No. engine from West Broad street
was the first to appear on the Bay, having
only a short distance to go. but with sew
eral blocks yet to reach the box. Aerial
truCk No frOp1 duuqrtQFs haaf al
Corners, arriving at the corner of Bay and
Drayton street in / minute and AZ seconds
after the alarm was sent in and opposite
the box at 1852. No. engine made a good
second, arriving at 2:@. No l engine and
wagon from Broughton street, responded
promptly in minutes and - seconds. No.
3 apparatus arrived in 220 and the chem
ical engine in 2;35. There was look of
disappointment on the face of Driver Bob
Glass of No. engine because he did not
get there ahead of the team from No l.
The indicator at No 3 had shown up IA,
however, and he~had made for the corner
of Broughton and Abercorn streets, cutting
across the square to do so. Not finding
the fire there he had to follow the ma
chimes which had gotten the right direc-
ton. II was also his first run with his
new team. At No. engine house also the
indicator worked badly.
The machines from out south had long
rum the Instance DclnB ABOUT q nile from
No. and over a mile and a quarter from
No. s. Both engines arrived with steam
up and ready for work. No. truck ar
rived in AZ minutes, engine No. In 4:33
and engine No. in Cos. The engines made
for the different hydrants as they arrived,
and If there had been a fire to fight the
arrangement of the machines could not
have been better.
That's nice way to inspect a rice
MILL" exclaimed one of the firemen from
headquarters to the chief, as he jumped
from his machine.
There were several slight casualties
on account of the run. One of the en-
gines collided with a milk wagon and
spilled the milk. Foreman Toshach and
Fireman Lamottee of No. engine, col
lided with each other in jumping for their
places, several bruises to the physiogno-
my of each being the result. A valuable
Cuban bloodhound, belonging to Mr.. Pat
O'Neill, undertook to run with the No. 2
hose wagon. He received a kick from the
big gray, which laid him out, and when
the wheels of the wagon had passed over
his body his usefulness was ended. on
the way back the same wagon ran over a
Shanghai rooster name unknown, and
broke its leg.
Chief Mcguire considered the test a very
satisfactory one. A large number of
people, who gathered to see the fire, was
disappointed.