El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-30
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT
HOW 1T IS ORG AIMED AND WHAT
THEDaILY DUTIES ARE.
One OF the Beet Equipped Small De-
partments In the Country The
Eireman's Work IL ksver Done.

Thai FL Paso has fret class IRE
department IL q fact that no one Will
deny for moment, and although DO
one thinks IL Is TOO expensive still
there are people Who seem TO think
that the paid man OF the department
do not earn their salaries. But 40 In.
yestigation of what The duties OF the
fireman are will convince any one that
the boys deserve every cent they re-
eeive.
The chief OF the department, Frank
Powers, has complete charge OF the
men AID apparatus, while J. J. Red
Sullivan 10 house captain and the men
are subject To his orders. Each man
ha. HE regular work TO do and IL must
all be done al The regular time.
The engineer Is held responsible for
the care OF his engine. BE must keep
IL in fret clsss running order, and must
at all times, day or night, carry i've
pounds Of steam ia his heater. he
must also have bis engine ready that
he may light n fire in q moment's
novice go thaI by the time he gets to a
fre tie will have sufficient steam to
force the water.
The drivers of the different wagons
are required TO feed and groom their
horses three times day. Between
the hours of aud Z q NJ, ll:3c a. m.
and II. and At p. N. they must also
exercise their horses, and muss never
60 over two blocks from headquarters.
The men must also eat a. regular
hours and must always dress in uni
form. unless they have permission from
the chief for q day of when they are
required TO dress citi1en's clothing.
Each man IL allowed "a hours every
eight days off, but az all other times
they are on duty day and night. They
take turn about on watch az one man
10 required to be on the floor At all
times.
That Is not their hardest work
though by any mssns. In case Of DIRE
they are always In danger but they
perfor their duties with q will. They
aud have absolute right Of way over
any street 10 the city. John 7. Sui
livsn whose daring work and fast runs
20 fires as driver of hose wagon No. 2
have always excited comment, said
this morning: Il know every street in
FL -Paso and as soon as hear the
alarm know a. opas where TO go;
Then | must think quick which is she
shortest and best route TO take.
would much rather make a run to q
fire at night than In the day time, for
at night the ssreets are clear and l can
urge my horses but In the day time 60
macy thong htless people run ont in the
street TO see US make our run and l al
ways go with prayer on my lips that
| will not run over anybody. But some
one will have to get hurt before the
people will learn to keep to the side
walks when we are coming. Then
often people 10 bugeies and wagons
will try to keep the road In front of me
thinking that they can R9t to the fire
fret. They have no right to do that
as VIC hsve the right Of wav and must
make good time TO get to fire."
The men employed 1t the depart
ment. with til cir duties are IS follows:
J. }. Sullivar, house captain and driv-
err OF the ste amer; Sherry Fsulconer;
engineer and electricians; John T. Sui
livsu, driver of hose No. 2; w. ].
Schacker, tillermsn of the hook and
ladder truck: James Long, driver of
the chemical: 8. h. Bsrrstr, extra
driver: Jake Davis, driver OF hook
and ladder truck; J. M. Kinnie, jan
ftor
Besides the men named above Chief
Powers receives q salary, Ia and slso at
the head OF the splendid volunteer de-
partment. The volunteers number
ove- ooe hundred, and include leading
business and professional men The
organization Is perfect, and she di--
cipline strict. All the apparatus is
new and MP to date. Altogether FL
Psso is better protected from Ere than
any other oity OF its sizs in the coun-
~.