The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-03-26
GETTING TO A FIRE.
Splendid Horses of the American Fire
Department and Their Training.

Oh uOTScS lOI tuc hulcl 1Clbu uI0 tAOphIV
ments. Mr.. Dellenbaugh says: When
fire breaks out in America, it is
necessary to reach it at once. The
telegraph was brought into service in
sending the alarm. In Munich some
years ago the method in vogue was to
hang out red flag by day and red
lantern by night from the top of one
Of the Frauenkirche towers, on the
side in the direction of the fire, but in
America such o system would have re-
suited in the destruction Of the whole
town. The telegraph is the only thing
for us.
But it is not enough to know imme-
diatel y the exact location OF a fire; it
is also necessary to reach it imme.
diately. The steam fire engine was
splendid machine, with steam al
ways up and everything in readiness
for instant departure, but how to
secure this instant departure was
question. Horses were kept stand
ing in their stalls with the harness on,
but this was not quick enough. Each
seconds delay meant loss of life or pos
sibly millions OF property destroyed.
So the first swinging harness was in
vented; a harness contriyed in such a
way that, while always attached to the
engine or other apparatus, it could DO
mado to drop instantly on the horses
back and fasten there. This seemed
to solve the question, but there re-
manned one more step, and this was
the training Of the quick horse. Not
only must the engine and the harness
and the men and the horses be ready,
but the horses must be in harness at
once-the operation must be as nearly
instantaneous as human ingenuity and
brute intelligence together could con-
trive. In every fire-engino house in
the United States to-day, therefore,
we may see and admire the "quick"
horse, sleek. limbed, clear-eyed, with
an alert, intelligent air, standing not
far from the machine of which he is
the moving power.
The casual visitor saunters in. He
thinks the life Of q fireman is quiet
and easy one, Judging from tho ap-
pearance Of the quarters. All is serene.
The machines are immaculate in pol
ished brass and red paint. Some of
the men are reading, others are play
ing game of checkers.
Suddenly there is tinkling some.
where, and tho stroke of gong. A
snap, q click and through the wide
open doors the various machines fly,
one after another, until the visitor
views in establishment an empty house.
It is like magic-a wonderful "trans-
formation scene" He gazes up and
down the street, but the galloping pro-
cession has vanished as if it were
dream.
The quick horse has done his duty
and once more exhibited the power Of
organization and training. Within
the time required by the fremen Of
the olden time to throw open the en-.
gine-house doors, the complicated ma.
chimes Of to-day are throwing water on
the flames, and tho brave fremen, hav-
ingscaled the building with the agility
Of acrobats, are dealing well-consid-
cred blows against the fire foe.
In almost every city there is prac.
tice drill at least once day in the en-.
gine-houses, and the visitor may have
an opportunity Of inspecting the ad.
mirable development Of the American
fire system and the fine horses so
splendidly trained. And he may also
have an opportunity at the same time
of Iamenting that other branches of
our public service are not conducted
with equal efficiency.