Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-12-23
FUN AT PARIS FIRES.
Brief Sketch of Typical Scene in frances
Capital.

In a Paris letter to the Chicago
Inter Ocean," an ex-fireman of New
York City tells as follows of the hum
orous happenings which mingle with
the tragedies of Partisan fires and
make 1t an occasion to praise the
American fire departments, which, he
says. are unequaled throughout the
world.
Late one afternoon In September the
reading room of the American banking
house in the Boulevard Haussman was
crowded with travellers. Suddenly
there arose from the street a pande-
monlum of shrieks. Everybody ran to
the balcony, upon which the four win
dows gave. Among the Americans
who took up his stand upon the ball
cony was stately old man. "A fire."
he said. and Immediately took out his.
watch. Nobody knew what he did that
for until afterward.
Several people who craned their neCks
over the balcony saw a little thread of
smoke coming from the doorway of the
shop directly beneath the banking
house, which occupies the second
floor. The place was a lamp shop.
Three converging streets form tri-
angle in front of the site of the lamp
shop. On one hand of the triangle is
the rear of the opera house, and the
covers about a quarter of an acre.
The police had this space and all the
streets leading to 1t cleared within five
minutes. The alarm had been sounded
from two boxes in the neighborhood
and everything was ready for the fire.
men.
The engine house nearest to the
scene of the fire is distant Just about
seven hundred meters. which is a little
farther than four short city blocks.
AS time passed and no engine came In
TO view, the Americans on the balcony
became - 81
made sarcastic remarks.
Az last there was a peculiar footing,
unlike anything else In the way OF
sounds, in the distance. II was the en-
CINE. toy In American eyes, coming
UP the street. The horses were at n
smart trot only; there was nothing of
the Wild gallop by which the fire en-
CINE horse is distinguished from a dray
horse in America.
Seventeen minutes ten seconds" an
nouneed the old man with the open
watch, solemnly. when the engine drew
up in the cleared space below "They've
beaten the record over a minute today"
~ nose car, supply wagon, and
another wagon full OF firemcn had come
up in the wake of the engine hut when
they We're all on the ground there was
stu delay. The men scrambled out
nnd were drawn up In military line by
IN under officer. Then they waited
Presently an open cab was driven
iufiously up the street. II contained an
officer gorgeous to behold He was
only a lieutenant of sappers and min
ers, but when he dismounted he looked
like general at least His uniform
was spotless; he wore pntent leather
shoes, with spurs, white dogsldn gloves.
and carried a sword at his side and a
monocle In his eye. The monucle pro-
claimed him to he u nobleman. He
was young, hut he had on his breast
two medals. The crease in his trousers
was perfect, aud is seemed for the next
hour or 50 az IL that Wcie o strong
point with him.
When this lieutenant arrived he took
charge OF the fire. There was some
trouble in finding water, because there
are no FIRE plugs in Paris: the things
which take the place Of fire plugs are
little springs nush with tine sidewalk.
which are mainly used for washing out
the cutters; they are consequently not
conspicuous, and the tircmcu have To
hunt for them, When they finally
FOUND one, block away, most serious
state of affairs was discovered The
IRE IN the engine, lighted automatically
IN the engine house at the TING Of leav-
ing had gone out. Rather It had not
gone out, the engineer explained, hut
the door of the tirehoN had logged loose
on tine way 10 the fire, and il Ind
iluwn out '''N
50 the lieutenant gave orders To at
lach the hose to the spring direct. hut
hstead Of q beautiful. strong stream
coming out OF the nozzle when thu Are
men braeed themselves to hold IT, how
sNsr' me water merely trickled. ON