New-York tribune., 1897-01-30
FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Since history began featS Of strength DARING
and endurance have been the fertile themes OF
song and story Every nation has had Its heroes
and few have won their laurels on any other
field.
The Greek strove for priceless crown at the
Olympian games The Roman bore his victorious
eagles TO every quarter of the known world, and
Rome's millions paid homage ut his chariot
wheels on his return. In leudal ages the gallant
knight rode to single combat for his lady's
glove and held his honor worth hundred lives.
Those DAYS have passed. but the Old World
sent across the sea the best of her blood. an6.
the stuff that makes heroes took quick root in
American soil. These are the piping times of
peace" and laurel wreaths may again be count
ed more than gold but ladies' gloves and the
trophies Of war have little place in the annals
Of modern heroism Guarding the 30o0000 lives
and 600 600 homes Of this greater city is a corps
of 1000 chosen men, who have been put to the
test and are made Of sterling stuff as ever
hero Of olden time. They get little glory when
their deeds are done. Few ever hear the story
Of a life laid down to save fellow man.
But the records Of a great city's Fire Depart
ment tell much that the public should read
and long remember. Fire is mans omnipresent
and relentless foe His life, family and prop
erty are ever subject to its destruction When
other calamities threaten. friends and neigh
bors may bring needed aid. but the wild cry OF
Fire" in the night strikes terror to the stout
est heart Strong men stand helpless as flames
seethe and roar. drowning the shrieks Of help
less women and children who are facing death
in it's most awful form.
Reader. have you ever witnessed such mid
night scene when your heart stopped beating
and the very blood froze in your veins. as you
saw life hang on a thread and the very thread
on fire?
II not the wild clang Of the fire gong. beat
ing clearer and faster. and the ring of hoof
steel on the paving stones, telling that fire.
men come. mean little to you. But If you
have been In such a waiting th.ong, when
heroes rode to save the lives Of men. you
have seen the bravest deeds Of war outdone
by horse and man. Wild flames leap on in
fendish glee to do their work before their foe
men come; men shrek and fly. or. helpless.
stand and walt for those Of stronger nerve
and greater skill moment and then family
comes the cang OF engine gong. Another
and another echoes through the night on
every side they come their need unknown, their
duty blindly plain-to ride for life as warrior
never rode and find. perchance In death. they
rode in vain.
need urge them in their noble fight they know
their duty and they never quail Death bars
the way at every curve and rail. but the Cang
of the gong behind them means more TO horse
than a man They seem 10 scent the danger
from afar They trust their driver and they do
their best Far down the street they see the
anxious throng perhaps a tongue Of fame and
hear a cry. And then-ye gods.-are horses
brother men?-for man do no more than
horses then. With bloodshot eyes and nostrils
spread and hot, sharp bursts Of breath that tell
Of fires within. the hoof-be quicken on the
stony street. they hear the shout that cheers
them TO their goal; with straning necks and
swelling hanks their muscles knot like molten
steel The gong beats fast and faster louder
rear the wheels the hoof-clicks clatter like n
rain Of steel. the cry goes up that help has come
in time, and the are fully at their task
caressing hands have led away the noble crea-
lures whose good work is done
There is little chance for glory, he the fire.
mans action ever 80 heroic for his work is done
in cellars and garrets. dark halls and narrow
stairways. where alone in sufccating smoke or
scorchnS flames he risks his life in the silent
unseen discharge of humble duty. No one knows
his orders but his chief. II his work be well
done no counts him deserving praise. If he
fail Of what he attempts there are many to con-