Evening journal., 1898-12-21
CHANGE IN SlGtALS
IMPORTANT NATTER OF FIRE
SERVICE CONSIDERED BY CHIEF
SASSE'S ORDINANCE.

SASSE'S ORDINANCE.
After January /, 1899, two strokes
of the fire bel will indicate that the
fire is cut and the companies housed
instead CT one as is now used to indd-
cate the fire is under control.
Although II may NOT be generally
known, this is one of the most import
ant changes made by the proposed new
ordinance OF CHIEF George w. Sasse.
That Portion OF the rules governing
the fire companies which relates to the
Engle alarm et present reads as fol-
lows: when a portion OF the depart
ment answers an alarm, and should
another alarm be given from any
other box before the single i.troke is
given, an companies in quarters that
respond to said box on first and second
alarms shall Immediately respond
That is an very we'll so far as II goes,
but just in this clause a hitch comee
in. Suppose. for instance, an alarm
comes in from box No. 13, at Filth and
French streets, TO which companies
Nos. 2, 4 and Z respond on the first
alarm, and Nos. /. and on the Soc
ond. Upon the first call the Reliance
Phoenix and washington companies
go out. and the Friendship, Fame and
Liberty remain in their houses, with
horses hocAed up awaiting the second
alarm.
Arriving at the fire the companies
who respond find that, tlc>ugh Il Is a
blaze that may require an hours work
It can be controlled by the companies
on the ground, and the single tap Is
sent in, signifying that the fire is un-
der control. The second Alarm com
panfes, with all the rest in quarters.
unhitch their horses and send them
back.
Now supposing a short time after
box No. 13 strikes, and while the frst
companies TO respond are working on
the fire. and though II may be under
control, yet they cannot leave II with
safety. an alarm comes in from box
No. ll3, at Thirteenth and Lombard
streets. To this alarm companies Nos.
2 and and !. G and 8 also r>eDOnd
upon the first and second calls. All
companies, OF course. ali once hook ND
and there they stand az. although the
single tap has been sent In indicating
that the fire is under control. the COM
panies that respond 10 the first alarm
may still be at the original fire, and
those that go out on the second alarm
are not permitted TO leave their engine
houses until such an alarm comes in
as by the single tap previously sent IN
the other companies are supposed tC
have returned from the fire at box No
IL and to have gone out on the alarm
from box No113. or course the fact,
could be learned by the use OF a tele
phone, but in cases Of fire IT is not al,
ways advisable to use a phone to 10.
cate the different companies.
This Is not the only instance II
which the same companies respond 3,
different boxes on the same calls. i
occurs at boxes Nos. 2 and Z. Is am
III. p and no. % and 112, and sew
eral others. or collrs,ss eslh an In
: stance may be of rart crc trenl,e. In,
the Old saying, IF YOU need II You nee
II BADLY. applies in most cases 10 In
need or engines at a FIRE, and every
ming possible should be done 10 N
scene. y"
Ohu'r the proposed new plan. chang
ing the number or box 2 to 143. an
sending IN two strokes when the com
pahles are housed any mistake will h
avoided Tor. unless the two stroke
come in, Che companies that respon
10 a box ON a second alarm, KNOWN
tne hrst alarm companies are s.irl ON
vail respond TO the first alarm fror
b any other box. which CATS out the on
sines already in service. to which the
I are required TO respond on a eecon
call Chief Sasse1s plan is a good on,
ana should meet the approval OF a
q the firemen.