The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-05
ORGANIZED FOES OF FLAME.
EXCELLENT STANDARD MAINTAIN
ED ny CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
HitcAing Up to Answer an Alarm
How the Men Work When
Called to Dusy-Strfct Discipline.

IAlSE LOCK as the GlSlso oA l@2e Nc~akA-S
IRE department. He stood n engine
house No. ! surrounded by all the me-
chanicai devices invented for the saving
Of precious seconds and within call OF
alert active men, who seem almost
part Of the machinery. 80 direct and we'll
planned are their movements
How long does il take us TO be ready
for Are? Wal, and you shall see"
Chief Cook ssgnaled with his hand and
gong sounded. There was a sudden
swinging open Of doors. quick stamping
O. horses feet, 3remen came from watt
ing room at one side and others came slid
ing through hole in the ceiling from the
aoor above. Almost before one could ar-
prec.ate that there had been confusion il
resolved itself into order. Six powerful
horses stood iulpatsentiy harnessed to three
heavy wagons. and drivers and men were
In place for a rush to any part OF the
city.
BY device. simple but most effective.
the first stroke Of the fire alarm had
thrown wide the doors combining the
horses In their stalls at the rear OF the
house. and the weL-trained animals had
trosted to their places beneath the drop
the leather bands and collar had fallen
and been clasped. 1t had been calculated
to nicely. and not q supertiuous move
wac made.
A Trick OF Dressing.
On a real alarm In the daytime the men
last stroke o. the gong has told the ioca-
ton Of the fire. The time required =
about ten or eleven seconds. AT night,
when the firemsn are sleeping on the
floor above, an alarm will bring them TO
e i's ana r nooE tn To ss ss a an
Dressing IS simplified by a little trick that
would appeal to the lightning change
artist. Each man sleeps in his under
clothes with blue oversh.rt; By his
bedside Is a pair Of boots with pair
of trousers drawn over them and folded
down The awakened fireman literally
and slides down a brass poe to the floor
below. On his wagon he has coat and
hat. These additions to his toilet he as
sumes while riding TO the fire.
Engine house No l. which Is known as
fire headquarters and is typical OF the
other houses in the city. is on the corner
OF Seventh avenue and Columbia street
Swinging In a cupo.a above the roof iss
the great bell which clangs warnings Of
fire 10 the city. The building is OF two
stories. The face of the lower floor Is
Behind these is hall in which stand two
trucks. a hose cart and a chemical en-
CINE. In the rear OF these are the horses.
Over the main hall on the second story
Is the sleeping hall of the men. with its
long rows OF neatly tucked, spotlers cots
and its weird-iocking assortment OF OPEN
mouthed pantalooned boots In the door
are four holes large enough for a man
10 pass through, and down the center runs
smooth brass pole. the firemans stair
way. In the rear over the stable. is
storeroom for feed. and in other rooms
are baths and gymnastsc apparatus.
The Floor Watch.
During the day the men usually stay In
waiting room on the ground floor. In
this room. too. sits the officer known as
the floor watch" Each watch lasts two
hours The most important duty OF this
temporary officer is TO answer all tele-
He .&@%{
board. just as in the central telephone
office. and all engine houses must be CALL
ed up through headquarters When a
DIRE Is announced TO the central station
the man at the switchboard calls up all
the fire houses in the city, and gives the
reported location. Those companies with
in the described district respond at once.
AT headquarters three companies are
stationed. Chemical Company No. l. Hose
Company No. l and Truck Company No. ?.
lightweight truck Is held In reserve for
fires in outlying districts. The greatest
care is taken of the engines and they are
in constant readiness for use Shou q an
alarm find any of the apparatus out OF or
der 1t would mean the suspension or dis
charge Of the officer responsible, The tanks
or the chemical engine hoid eighty gallons
each The hose cart carries. if5a feet of
nose. This hose Is never allowed TO re-
main on the reel or wagon. wheu damp.
more than twenty-four hours. After use
It Is always washed clean and died. In
been longest in the service and is most
liable 10 burst. Is put on first finishing
with that last placed In service.
The horses are grooned with the utmost
care They are fed with grain three times
day and at night are hedded in sawduss
Quantities they snail eat regulated.
The effect Of this care is seen in the
splendid condition IF the animals. One
magnificent equine specimen has been in
the department since volunteer DAYS. He
l Is somewhat Of q crank now and preserves
certain auerulous dignity that forhids
fz~ -. at
strong and are selected with View TO
thelr endurance ana speed They must
also be fearless IN the presence OF fire and
able 10 stand without tiinchng the grs az
hea, 10 which they are sometimes neces-
sarily subjected.
About the headquarters and In all inter
course between officers and priva ses, the
most rigid discipline - maintained The
men are daily drilled and each one knows
his exact duty under almost any clrcum-
stances that N ight arise.
Duties of Ofnccrs.
The duties Of the various officers Is TN
ntstakably outlined in the published rules
% the fire department. record OF the
conduct OF the men Is kept by ths chic.
| and sent monthly 10 The csvfi service com.
mission. The assistant chef visits each
company once week. fnspects Tire COM
tnea and everything about the company
quarters. and reports the condition Of
things to The chief II is the duty Of IRE
assistant chief 30 attend all alarms ana as
sumo command until IL Is taken by his su-
pe-sor officer Assistant Chief Cook is one
Of the most competent men wh1 has ever
held this position. He has been with the
department nine years. rising 10 his pres
eat Office from pipegasn His acQuaans
anee with the city and It's buildings is prob
ably no; exce.led by any ether person In
Sea tie.
The captains rank next 10 assistant chief.
The first captain TO arrive at FIRE
sgSass control until relieved ay a superior
officer. In going TO ard fr9m fires they
direct the. driver The captains in com
yaarG OF TIRE FIRST Fwo engine companies 30
arrive "a fires on the first alarm, secure
hyaTanrs and lead out their lines while
those IN command % other engine COM
p2nies On their arrival report 20 the cogn-
sGsanarg officer after setting their engine
asia before laying their lines A captain
IL supposed 70 Inspect all buildings, sx-
cerf dwellings. within his i.ssries In order
70 become familiar with their construction
ard contents. TO SO II tbs entrances stair
ways. halls and exits are accessible and n
learn the mast sx1ealsns manner 81 attack
IN case q fire. Each lieutenant also makes
ar examination u ssteh bssn5irxs
The drivers have tire care 81 the horses
~ driving 10 fires they are REQUIRED 30
siacken speed fn cSning TO aud turning
aseS wis. -