Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-03-06
RUNNING TO A FIRE.
Response Of New York's Department T.
sA Alarm of Fire,

e.n Alarm of Fire.
An Alarm of Fire 10y Telegraph
is the subject of an article by Charles
7. Hill in st. Nicholas. After de.
scribing the outbreak of fire in &
kitchen in West Sixteenth street and
the pulling of an alarm from a cor.
ner box Mr. Hill says: The alarm
has been sent. 1t may seem like IN
age to the owner as he stands wait
ing for the tiremen to appear, but ii
is II matter of only few seconds,
for within 20 seconds this station
number is ringing in score or more
of engine houses, and within IL
minutes six companies of apparatus
are on their way to this box.
He looks up and down the avenue,
and what does he see.
Turning into Seventh avenue at
the intersection of Greenwich ave-
nue., five blocks to the south of
where he stands, Il fire engine APP
pears, drawn by three plunging gray
horses. AS it straightens out in the
broad avenue they dash madly to-
ward where he stands. A hose wag-
on follows, filled with sturdy men
donning rubber coats and fire hats.
The bells of both engine and wagon
are ringing furiollsly, and the whis-
tie of the former keeps up series
of short shrieks.
lis truly an inspiring sight, and
he almost forgets the destruction
that threatens his home.
AS he looks up the avenue he sees
approaching from Twentieth street,
four blocks to the north, another
piece of apparatus-a heavy affair
that sways from side to side as it
swings from one car track to anOth-
en-. This is Il truck on hook and
ladder company, and it is preceded
by light wagon containing two
men, one driving, while the other
looks eagerly ahead for the appear
ance of fire This is the chief Of the
Seventh battalion, who afterward
has charge of the fire. Whistles and
bells in the two adjoining streets to
the north of him tell of the approach
of more engines. One is coming
from the east, the other from the
west. Tho engine approaching from
the east turns the corner of Eight
zenith street, two blocks above, Just
as the one coming from the south is
over block away. 1t is now mad
race between tho two to see which
will first reach the box. The one
approaching from the south has the
advantage of a clear run up the ave-
nun, however, and arrives at the cor
ner before tho other. The man at the
box indicates by pointing to his
home the location of the fire, and
the driver Of this engine, who knows
the MIGRANTS in his district as wei
as he knows thu stations, turns the
corner ON a run and pulls his horses
up beside a hydrant nearly opposite
the fire.
Another truck company has fol-
lowed this first appearing engine,
also coming from the south. An
other battalion chief has turned the
corner OF Fourteenth street, coming
from the east, and following him
looking apparatus-a four
wheeled wagon, carrying what ono
might almost call an enormous can
non with an inverted muzzle. This
is a water tower Still another
dashes toward the box
from the north. This is big red
wagon, drawn by two noble ami
mails, that are covering the ground
with great leaps 1t is filled with
men wearing white rubber coats and
red fire hats.
This is a section of the fire insur-
ance patrol, and they come to pro-
tect property from damage by water
and to save what they can. The
third engine, coming from the west,
follows and pulls up at hydrant on
the corner and "awaits orders"
The first company 10 arrive have
rushed into the basement with their
hose. The engine is at work in an
instant, and a few dashes of water
extinguishej the fire. The fire in
surance patIolmen go through the
building, opening windows to let
the smoke escape and ascertain the
amount OF damage done. Men,
bers of the first truck company to
arrive assist the men from the ell
CINE company in putting out any re-
traces of fire by pulling
down woodwork, plaster, etc, in the
kitchen. The other companies stand
ready to get to work until ordered
'to quarters by the battalion chief,
and soon there is little evidence Of
fire beyond Il wet pavement and
badly wrecked kitchen.