Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-29

ment done it's work with the improved APP
paratus that the insurance rate in Larch-
mont is 80 cents which is only cents
more than the premium asked in New
York, and from 10 to 80 cents cheaper than
the rate in the smaller cities. This efficien-
cy has only been reached by hard work and
rigid discipline. No favoritiSm is shown by
the department commanders. The wealthy
members of the organization take their full
share of the hard work, this being the only
department where the same treatment is
accorded all.
One of the most interesting summer
sights in EarchmOnt is the training school.
where the men are drilled in the life-Saving
manual: AS in the New York department,
every fireman is supposed to be able to
handle the scaling ladder, to go UP and
down the ropes, to jump to the net, swing
from the windows, and employ various
other tactics included in the manual. The
men are also supposed to be able to take
an unconscious person down the ladder, to
carry him down a rope or to swing him
from one window to another. AS the men
are trained in squads, very often the spec
tacle may be seen of man worth several
million dollars carrying down the ladder
the coachman who drove him to the school,
1t is matter of chance whether the mil
llanalre carries the coachnan or the other
way around; since each is supposed to be
able to perform the duties, it does not mat
ter in the least to the Instructor which way
1t goes. Every member must be up to the
standard, and trying the constant drill
ing Is. the men never shirk it. Men who
under ordinary circumstances would never
enter a gymnasium go to the training
school and work as hard as though thew
were being paid by the day; and it NAV be
SAID right here that the Iife-saving drill is
no Joke To climb up the side of a house
on pegs projecting from a long pole and to
carry another of these poles with you as
You go Is not the simple matter it appears
to be to the spectator.
Exhibition of Skill
AT recent tiremen's convention in Yon-
kers the Larchmont department was Sc
lected to give an exhibition drill Specta-
tors Informed to volunteer fire depart
ment affairs stated that there was no 9TH
er unpaid department which even approx
mated the efficiency of the Larchmont or
gahlzatlon: After a course of training at
Larchmont man is qualified to Join any
one of the big paid departments for he
has received exactly the same schooling
ana the same amount of practice aside
from the actual work of fighting fires as
he would have had in New York city for
instance.
In the period covered by the last annual
report but four alarms were sounded, and
the prompt eXtinguishng of these blazes
reflects great credit upon the department
Property insured for $4,000 was threaten
ed, yet the actual damage done to build
ings and contents was but 81 $50. Part of
the credit due for this record is to be
found in the patrol of fire wardens who
work the same system of fire inspection
as is employed in New York This does
away with dangerous conditions before
those conditions are permitted to become
threatening.
Larchmont Is not yet provided with fire
alarm telegraph, but the place is a town
OF telephones and an alarm may be sent
in quickly over the wire. A fire In the
yachting season is a highly picturesque
event. At the first clamor of the big
alarm bell which serves to call the mem
bers, the local storekeepers and their
oil rkC no hlln tI1a
rushing up in their shirt sleeves Then
come the permanent residents closely fol-
lowed by the contingent from the yacht
club. Finally from the spck and span
yachts at anchor In the harbor small
boats put out, madly racing for the shore,
and from them leap men in starched trous-
ers and pipe clayed canvas shoes who
sprint for their posts of duty, tearing off
neckties and collars as they run.
Evening Dress Shows.
When an alarm comes in the cool Septem-
Der evenings, the Larchmont department
can turn out greater number Of its mem
bers in evening dress than any fire organi-
cation in the country. Before the horses
were used. when the engines were manned
by the men themselves, some one said that
an evning alarm of the Larchmont depart
ment suggested a parade of Mystic ShrincrS
save for the fact that the men We're mostly
barehcaded instead of wearing fezes.
After Hugh Bonner was retired as chief
of the New York fire department. he and
Frederick w. Gooderson, chief of the 7th
Battalion. were the guests of Chief Bron-