New-York tribune., 1901-11-03
THE JAPANESE FIREMAN.
sPOILTNG FOR A FIGHT. BRAVE AND
VAIN-HIS SHIFTLESSNESS md
HIS EXTRAVAGANCE.
BRAVE AND


frequently arrested by what appears to be
gang of ordinary laborers engaged in laying the |
foundations of d new house. They are the most |
leisurely and deliberate workers 1 ever saw /
walking delegate" could find no fault with
them, and even a plumber might secure some
points by watching their operations. They are
working a pile driver 10 the accompaniment CT |
q tune. singing in chorus. dropping the tup al
tl,z end of each verse. The length of the verse
is not SO much designed TO illustrate the poetry
of motion as to insure the comfort Of the oper-
ator 1t results in sending the piiing home at
the rate ot about one blow every five minutes |
Their IS absolutely chance for any one to gel
excited. The dignity OF deliberation character |
Izes The whole proceeding.
These men are net professional pile drivers. |
however but firer1en- In Japan. it seems. these
useful members cf the community engage In |
building operations when not actually busy put |
ting ont fires To one accustomed at home to |
see a well trained fire brigade maintaining its
efficiency by constant drills therefore this shit
ing Of occupation appears trl.te odd, ana As
likely 20 interfere seriously with the morale OF |
The service Here it seems to have no such !
effect Indeed frcm the japanese point OF view |
il is argued that if frenen We're successful IN |
preventing fires minimizing their ravages |
their occupation as builders would suffer. |
Hence also. the fireman is under suspicion !
whether rightly or wrongly. l do not pretend to |
say-of sometimes facilitating the spread OF |
fires. The suspicion has some foundation, II Is |
true in the presents which many wards give
regularly to the firemen and the contributions |
which wealthy merchants are in the habit OF
making TO fremens funds whenever IRE
breaks out in their neiShborhooc, with the re-
suit usually that the fire doesn't reach the |
premises OF the liberal and intelligent slver- |
On -ba other hand these gifts are hut poor
offset 10 the risks and dangers which the men
run. More or less serious injuries are the rule
at a japanese fire and deaths are by no means
infrequent-
The average japanese fireman is a pusnaclous
individual If all the accounts L have heard are
correct. he would rather fight than eat HIS
greatest pleasure is 10 pick quarrel anu
brawls are a necessary element Of his life I'm
I'll very recently he was almost nvarla bly, tat |
4ooad in gorgeous colors. the beauty OF Whlch
was his constant boast. As preliminary TO the |
sc,1ffle he would slip his clothes off his shoul- !
ders and make his opponent sick with envy al
The sight of his wondroUs tattooed hgure. He |
had a peclIliar habit of rolling UP his tongue |
and giving a strong trilI to his words. HIS |
fsyorite posture was to sit awkwardly, one heel
,1non the other with a towel on his shoulders
This towel was an important article with him |
for he could not summon sufficient courage for
4 quarrel unless it was tied tightly round ms
head r,robably to secure his pate from being
broken by his enernys club
present herewith d picture Of one OF these
eniri1e6 citizens Of Toxic. The spirit of the
srernen indeed is said to have reached at times
such heights that the government fouhd IL IN
convenient 10 take notice Of their peculIarltes
teathe- than risk a refusal TO appear at hres
tho government closed its eyes to the Draws
s+,rra5 nv them The most notorious OF these
fights is said TO have been that III Whlch ''oi
freuen set upon sixty-three Wrestlefs IN lhe
r,reci,crs of a shrine in the southern part OF the
CITY The magistrate who was ordered TO IN
o,,ira into The case found il TO be the wiser part
of discretion not decide against either parry
and so he promised to pronounce JuoGihell dltei
the laFpsa Of fifty thousand tine days a 500
rnon indeed, But then, all this Was IN ule
"good old DAYS. The restoration sttTniE re-
rqasses these manifestations Of surplus energy
and as a result Toxic has fire brigade TO-DAY
that attends strictly TO business
The firernen are under the control OF the Mt'I"-
,,5.a, Police Board Their present strength
3 1G.o as against 1o:5tn little more thah
5r,v Years ago The reduction is due to the in
+-oductfon of modern fire engines. which have
greatly rnitigated the horrors OF a nre IN town
Of wooden houses These engines nave also I'M
-,rassad the firemen with sense OF their wan
io,, in,portance for they have no longer abso-
In.a control over fires. The authorities OF to-
day are content if the annual fires DO not cover
moro than one-hundredth part of the city