The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-05-16
GETTING TO A FIRE.
The Splendid Horses OF the American Fire
Departments and Their Training.

/
ticle for st. Nicholas ON ''The Quick
Horse" devoted to the training of
horses for the American fire depart
ments. Mr.. Dellenbaugh says:
When fire breaks out in America,
it is necessary TO reach it at once.
The telegraph was brought into
service in sending the alarm. la
Munich some years ago the method
in vogue was TO hang out red flag
by day and red lantern by night
from the top of one of the Frauen-
kirche towers on the side in the di-
rection of the fire, but in America
such a system would have resulted
in the destruction of the whole
town. The telegraph is the only
thing for us.
M But il is not enough to know i'm
mediately the exact location of "a
fire. II is alsonecessary to reach il
immediately. The steam fire engine
was a splendid machine, with steam
always up and everything in readi-
ness for instant departure, but how
to secure this instant departure was
aquestion. Horses were kept stand
ing in their stalls with the harness
on, but this was not quick enough.
Each seconds delay meant loss Of
life or possibly millions of property
destroyed. So the first swinging
harness was invented-a harness
contrived in such a way that, while
always attached to the engine or
other apparatus, it could be made TO
drop instantly ON the horses back
and fasten there This seemed To
solve the question, but there re-
mained one more step, and this was
the training of the quick horse.
Not only must the engine and the
harness and the men and the horses
be ready, but the horses must be in
the harness at once-the operation
must be as nearly instantaneous as
human ingenuity and brute intelli-
gence together could contrive. In
every fire engine house in the United
States today, therefore, we may see
and admire the 'quick' horse, sleek
limbed, clear eyed, with an alert,
intelligent air, standing not far
from the machine of which he is
the moving power.
The casual visitor saunters in.
He thinks the life of fireman is
quiet and easy one, judging from
the appearance of the quarters, All
is serene. The machines are i'm
maculate in polished brass and red
paint. Some of the men are read.
ing; others are playing a game of
| checkers.
Suddenly there is tinkling some
where and the stroke of gong. A
snap, a click, and through the wide
open doors the various machines fly,
one after another, until the visitor
views in astonishment an empty
house. Itis like magic--a wonder
full Transformation scenes He
gazes up and down the street, but
the galloping procession has vanish
ed as if it were dream.
The quick horse has done his duty
and once more exhibited the power
of organization and training. With
in the time required by the tiremen
of the olden time to throw open tho
engine house doors the complicated
machines of today are throwing wa /
ter ON the flames, and the brave fire.
men, having scaled the building
with the agility of acrohats, are deal
ing we'll considered blows against
the fire foe.
In almost every city there is a
practice drill at least once a day III
the engine houses, and the visitor
may have an opportunity of inspect
ing the admirable development of
the American fire system and the
fine horses SO splendidly trained,
and be may also have an opportunity |
at the same time of lamenting that |
other branches of our public service
are not conducted with equal eff.
cheney.