Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-06-21
UNCLESAM' SF|REMEN
Commanoant Blunt Forms a De.
partment From Among
Civilians.
TO BE DRILLED AND TRAINED

! And be on Duty in the Day Time in Addi-
tion to the Military Detachment Insurin g
an Extra Large Force to Cope With
Flames When They are Most Possible to
Break Out-The Regulations-A Test.
Mai. S. f. Blunt has introduced an
innovation at Rock Island arsenal in
the formation of fire department
made up of civilian employees, who
are specially detailed for this purpose,
and who are to be drilled and trained
to fight flames in Dennis Swenie fash
ion.
There has always existed at the
island department, the members of
which are the soldiers on duty at the
post. They will continue as before,
the addition from among the work
men, who will only respond to alarms
sounded between the hours of s a m.
and > p. m, being to insure a strong
er force during the day time, when
there is greater possibility than at
night for the breaking out of fires. A
system of electric alarms has been in
stalled, and now the moment blaze
is discovered the department is mott
fled by the blowing of the whistle.
The regulations, as promulgated by
Mai. Blunt, are as follows:
1.-The fire department will be in
charge of one of the assistant officers
ut the arsenal, who will be responsible
for it's efficiency, both in men and
material, and who, to promote this
object, will cause proper inspections
and fire drills to be held from time to
time as he may deem necessary. or as
the commanding officer may direct.
2.-The detachment commander,
after consultation with the officer in
charge of the fire department, will
announce in company orders details
from the detachment for the various
positions of engineer, iiremen, drivers,
hose men, ETC., etc, and will from
time to time make such corrections
in these details as may be necessitated
by any changes in the detachment.
3.-In similar manner the master
machinist, after consultation with the
officer in charge of the fire depart
ment, will make corresponding as
signments from among the employees
of the arsenal.
Sounding the Alarm.
Amy person discovering fire
will at once hasten to the nearest
alarm box and ring in the alarm.
This alarm will be repeated by the
fireman in the boiler room at shop G..
who will sound on the whistle short
blasts corresponding to the mum Der
of the alarm box.
5.--Upon hearing the alarm whistle
all mem bers of the detachment, aud,
if during work hours. all civil en-
p.oyes detailed for general fire duty,
will hasten to the fire engine house or
to the indicated vicinity of the fire,
according to their assignments, and
proceed promptly to execute their
duties as previously designated. AS
the civil employees, if present, will
probably be able to report earliest,
their assignments will take prece-
dence and the mem bers of the de-
tachment will assist.
EN- addition to the men detailed
for general fire duty others in each
shop will be assigned by the respective
master workmen to the service of the
shop fire hose and buckets.
In case of fire occurring in
shop during working hours the en-
ployes on the fire details will perform
their designated duties and all others
therein will prepare to remove or
guard property under the directions
of their respective foremen. Other
employees will remain at their work.
SIN case of 4 fire occurring out
side the shops, all employees except
those on fire detail, win remain at
their work unless otherwise ordered
at the time.
9.-In case of n fire occurring out
of working hours, the first sergeant,
as soon as the alarm sounds in bar
racks, will have the officers of the
post notified by telephone or messen-
ger, as may at that hour appear most
certain and expeditions.
1O.-Upon learning of fire all Off
GERS will hasten to the place, the Sc
nior present taking charge af all OPP
erations for extinguishing it and
guarding and saving property
Must Keep Informed.
11.-Officers. foremen and all civil
ian and enlisted memb ers of the ARISEN
al fire department will keep informed
of the location of alarm boxes in case
any are added from time to time.
The present locations and numbers
of the boxes is as follows: No. ,,
guard house; No. II, northeast corner
storehouse A; No. -, Main avenue,
between shops c and ID; No. II, Main
avenue, between shops G and H; No.
10, water power; No. 16, southeast
corner storehouse X; No. 81. upper
stables; No. %, hedge lane. in rear of
officers quarters; No. "a, lower sta
bles; No. %, commanding officers
quarters.
Lieut.. Thales L. Ames has charge of
the department and Capt. Burr is
detachment commander. Aid. j. w.
Lawhead, of Rock Island, engineer at
shop c, is chief engineer officer of
the department. The fire laddies
.,--o1 -. met l,afora uoon +oJo, g.