The record-union., 1899-03-19
FIRE LADDIES' LIVELY WORK
TEST OF SPEED IN PREPARING
TO START TO A FIRE.
Chemical Engine and Hook and
Ladder Companies Ready in
Eighteen Seconds.

Chief of the Fire Department Guthrie
gave the men belonging to the chemi-
cal engine company and the hook and
ladder company a test drill yesterday
noon to see in how short a time they
could respond to the alarm signal and
be ready to leave the house.
The house on Sixth street has been
recently repaired and remodeled to ac-
commodate the new chemical engine,
an account of which was published
short time ago in the Record Union"
Instead of the old and slow way of
coming down stairs from the dormitory
in case of a. night alarm, holes have
been cut in the floor of the dormitory
and polished steel shafts inserted, run
ming from the ceiling of the dormitory
to the floor below. As soon as the fire.
man has jumped from his bed and dom
ned his clothes he springs to the post,
clasps it in his arms and quickly slides
to the floor below, taking about a sec
ond, and is ready to harness the horses.
These are as quickly in their places
before the engine and truck, the same
mechanism that sounds the gong hav
ing opened the doors of their stalls and
allowed them to come out. The har-
ness is suspended on pulleys so that
when the horses take their places it is
quickly lowered upon their backs. the
straps buckled, brides put on and the
driver climbs into his seat and away
they go.
"Record-Union" representative was
present yesterday and witnessed the
test. The firemen for the chemical en-
gine were the engineer, T. T. Yager:
pipeman, John Mullenberg, and the
driver, Richard Clark. On the hook
and ladder truck D. Swift was driver
and j. G. Rodgers, the regular driver,
Hugh Ladd, being i'll. Chief Guthrie
sounded the gong for a. night alarm,
the men lying ON their beds in the
dorTlitory. Within five second they had
slid down the posts and were ready to
lower the harness on the horses as they
stood on either side of the pole. In
eighteen seconds everything was in
proper shape, with the drivers sitting
on their seats ready to drive out
The day alarm was afterward given,
in twelve seconds all We're ready to go.
The men knew their work thoroughly,
and there was no confusion or hesita-
bers of the chemical engine, which is
likely to be called most often into ac-
ton, go through all the principal build
ings of the city, SO as to become IA
miliar with their intricacies and do bet
ter work im case of fire. This is a. great
aid, as with a building full of smoke,
a man who knows nothing of its halls
and passages is working at al great dis
advantage. Chief Guthrie, it is stated,
goes through the Easements of the
wholesale houses once month himself,
to keep himself familiar with any
changes that may be made, and this
served him in good stead at the time of
the blind fire in the basement of the
Sullivan Kelly store a short time ago,
as he had been through it shortly be-
fore, and, although the smoke was so
thick that an ordinary man could have
done nothing, he took the hose and
quickly located and extinguished ii.
He is very enthusiastic about the eff
cheney Of the Fire Department, and
says he is not ashamed to put the time
by his men, against any metropolitan
departments work. He says also that
the other engine and hose companies
are equally well drilled and respond
readily to all demands ON them. More
over, he states, the department has Of
ten been praised by the underwriters
for its splendid work and the state
ment made that our city is paying in
surance rates to make up for the de-
ficiencieS Of other cities departments