The Portland daily press., 1899-09-04
CANTEEN ON FISss.
Soldier. Fight Braveiy To save The
Place.


? At sbouti0. 50 o'clock Saturday morning
s srgeant Corcoran with q few friends was
talking over in the amussment room at
Fort Preble the latest news including
that from the Transvaal and all Of sud-
den he said, "Ibis is not the blood OF an
Epglishman smell or Of q Dutch Boer,-
our canteen Is aiire."
Franticaily he rushed down the stairs
which lead from the second story OF the
frame building where the canteen Is
located and shouted in voice whose
echoes must have reached along the Cape
shore, "Fire In the canteen."
The musician on guard heard the cry,
and quick as thought sounded the well
kncwn fire alarm, and responsive to the
call every one turned out. Having
alarmed the garrison and not waiting for
the arrival of the post fire department,
Sergt Corcoran seized an axe and went
to the bakery, just underneath the can
teen. and found the origin Of the fire in
detective fiue. He swung his axe and
tfoke down the wall Tin doing SO he
nearly killed two men) and called for
water. The hose was given to him and
he turned 1t right into the oven and de-
stroyed three days rations (not embaimed
ones by any means). In the meantime
the commanding officer reached the scene
and the fire ladders were brought into
requisition. Private Stanley took one
ladder and placed 1t against the side of
tine building and up the 30 or 10 boys
scrambled. They, like era fighters, went
through the smoke into the cauteen. de-
spite the fact that flames were almost at
their heels, and were determined that the
''soda fountain and billiard table must
be saved. They saved them and then
directed their energies to fixtures, chairs.
etc. A few light things like cigar boxes,
were thrown out of the windows and
after goud hours fight the fire was out.
The willard Hose company hearing
there was fire at Fort Preble kindly
turned out and started for the scene TO
render aid. The sentinel on guard turned
them back as the fire was under control.
A reporter or the PRESS asked a SER
qeant how the soldiers managed to keep q
fire like this one under control. why"
he replied, don't you know that at every
military post there Is a good fire depart
ment and that at stated times we are
drilled in our fire dutiesY This morning,
when that IRE alarm was sounded, one
man went to the hose cart, another to the
hydrant, this man took q ladder, ETC., and
over all was the commanding officer him.
SELF
Continuing the sergeant said: "See
where we would have been today without
such precaution. The fire was in the cam
teen room, a wooden building, say about
45 by 20, over the bake room, and adjoin-
ing 1t is a long barracks room, all wood
work. 1t had to be nipped in the bud and
We did 1t"
Asked what appliances were at hand
the sergeant replied: 'sWe have two lad
ders, two hose carts and about 500 feet of
hose, with steam power arrangement
which 1t WAS not necessary to use today"
After the explanation the reporter was
enlightened and saw just how a very de-
structive tire was lcontined to a single
room. Ali hands were happy over the
good work which they did. The soldiers
laughed and said they did the best they
tenn" but If ii was to go out by manifest
destiny, they were sorry that the
"cheque book'' survived for that meant
settlement at the captains office next
pay day.
The captain was not seen but no doubt
he felt that men who fight SO gallantly
for the scan teen system" were to be
trusted on any field. and TO use military
expression sthe pipe goes out" save with
this obeervation-without which no fire
story is complete. There is an insurance on
tine oanteen fixtures, etc.. which should
cover the loss estimated at $780,