, 1898-09-21
FlREMEN in CAMP.
tFrom the Daily Telegraph
Blenheim. Sunday al Aug.

ANS" iA ~ 'H6 AAANNAA W ~ ~
rio demesne presented to the first Duke of
Marlborough by tho nation in recognition Of
his great services, and tile white tents for
fhrir Accommodation g~listened in The sun
like great heaps of snow rising with IL sense
of GOODNESS out of the dark green of the wide
expan3e Of sward. The Duke Of MarIbo.
rough il the President of the National FiIe
Brig ldes' Union, and it is owing to his kind.
~ patronage that the camp IS established
here Oh this occasion. In his Grace's Splrn-
did grounds $50 tents have been pitched for
officers and men to sleep III. Besides these
there are a number of others-'he officers
and mems mess tents, offices for the VatiOus
Committees of management, and %canteens IN
which the predictions Of teGt0tallers are not
forgotten.
The camp, which was opened last night
will not be broken up till Wednesday. There
are 500 officers and men, representing about
900 brigades established in Norfolk, Suffolk,
Essex, Middlesex, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, lamp
shine, DorsetShire, DevOnshlre, I ornWall. som
p,setshire, GlouCestershire, Lancashire. Cum
belland, Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, BedfordSllile,
aud North and South Wales. The expenses
for the officers are los u day for meals aud
IGr for the whole period for u tent aud kit,
while tho men pay IS Sd a day all found.
In point Of convenience aud completeness
the place is really a model village. For The
purposes Of the two kitchens and the camp
alone no less than 500 yards OF piping for thu
supply Of water has been laid from Wood
stock. Capacious tanks have been put down,
from which the W ,ter for The fire drills will
he drawn.
Upon the grounds there is an interest,
ing exhibition Of all the latest inventions
in fire oxtinguishing appliance5-stelm
Au0inno InOI which ofpom can H.. got nm
in FIVE and u half minutes, aud which can
suck up between 200 and 300 gallons OF
water per minute, sending out one or two
streams "a great distance with enormous force.
Instead of the old screw Joint for connecting
The various lengths Of hose, there is now an
instantaneous spring coupling. Two lengths
Of hose are brought together, and with %
little pr Ssure one cup fits into the other.
The appliance is made of aluminium, as
are a large number Of other parts, which
arc consequently more easily handled be.
Ing less than half the weight Of the brass
fittings.
This morning the camp was inspected, ana
at ten o'clock the Rev. j. Il. G.. Farmer con-
Quoted o drum head service on the grass in
The shade Of the trees. 1t was attended 10y
the Duke and Duchess Of Marlborough and
"A number Of the inhabitants of Woodstock.
Tomorrow (Mondoy), Tuesday, and Wtdnes.
day there are steam engine manual, and
horse cart competitions, athletic sports aud
exhibitions. On Wednesday there will be q
general review, i'll which over q thousand
men will take part, and between $50 aud
200 fire engines, some two and some four
horse. The sam afternoon her Grace will
distribute the prizes won by the teams.
The camp is not without its amusemen's.
Concerts and dances have been arranged.
aud there will also be a grand toIchlight
procession, organised with great care and
skill by Captain Banbury, OF the Blenheim
and Woodstock Fire Brigade. The private
grounds and Palace have been thrown open
by his Grace for inspection by the iremen who
are also permitted at $50 i'll the morning to
battle in the spacious lake, which is suOh an
ornament of the Park.
Representatives of he fire bligades abroad
have been invited to stay at the camp during
the manoouvreS. Amongst those accepting
are officers from America, Cape Colony,
Johannesburg, Victoria, (Austlali") as we'll
as from various parts Of France, Germany,
al d Belgium. These officers come over and
see how hres are dealt with in England, and
in tuln will be asked to offer friendly criti-
cism and suggestions. Next June some 800
English frcmen ale going to Client, where
two small streets of old houses, which have