BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-02-15
SAN JUAN, FEBRUARY IS
LOS BOMBEROS.
For The Formation OF
A Volunteer Fire Corps.

First made evident the Pier Ere. cor
roborated at the Fire in San Sebastian
Street, further proven at the fire 10 San
turce some months ago, the inefiiciency ani
iMpotency Of our local fife corps became ar
established fact at the fire which occurred or
the Marina some days ago. With antiqu'
machinery, with an antique system and
even older methods the members Of thu fir
corps were compelled to stand plscIdIy BY
while policemen. citizens, soldiers and even
women worked heroically in the effort o1
saving an entire block Of houses, the habit
alton of hundreds Of poor people, from con
sumption in the flares.
Immediately after the Pier fire the BO
LETIN brought to the attention Of the pub
lie the great danger to the city In case ol
Ere, and the inability Of our local corps to
extipguish even the smallest cunfagration
The Sights on that occasion were many, and
the hard work performed by all the populaee
could not hide the fact that firemen by cling
ing to their machines were really in the
sosy of the men who were doing good work
ut the fire. About one hour after the Pier
fire started local corps reached the scene
with 10 antique an sg'ne as ever attended q
reunion Of old volunteer firemen in the
States. In attempting to make connection
with the water hydren.s it was found that
either the hose was to- large for the by
draft or that the kydrant was too large for
the hose. After chasing about for another
hour. meanwhile the flames we're reaching TO
the Colonial Bank, happy thought sugges.
ted itself to somsbody, aud the feedpipe was
thrown Into the hay, ind the pumps worked,
After half sn hour the water finally shot out
Of the nozzle. The stream was hardly eqasl
10 that Of decent garden hose. IL q wed
like molasses, and the fellow who handled it
had to place his fager ever the nossls to
mace it reach spot about four feet away.
This was only one of the many ridiculous
sight At the fire which occurred 10 the
buildings Of the Ord, neg Clinic at Santurce,
the same state Of affsirs existed. Toe fire.
nen reached the place about an hour after
the fire started, and then the police had to
get TO work with buckets. On San Sebss
tam Street no connection could be made,
and the building was permitted TO burn to
the ground. Tae other night 10 well remem
bered BY sll Had it not been for Pol'cs
ssd private citizen avery serious confsgra-
ton would surely have occurred.
Many ideas have been suggested 10
remedy this evil. or rather, TO make more
efficient depar msut Of lire extinguishsrs,
but the ous shich seems to be . real sousion
sf the problem, ID the suggestion for voluu
teer frs corps on the same lines - those fol-
Lowed In the smaller cities and tosns In the
Union. With Americans and Porto Rscsns,
yoaog men In plenty who would wiiiiogiy
inn such sa osgAnisasion it sssms that sseps
sksud immsdlsslf be ssksn 10 pssfset .
volan:ssr Gre corps N this eiEy. Ths social
esd Sklspe ivaiurss q the corps would Ear
nssn angle funfs for the sappsrt Of the
esEsais.siea. and ~ sussrpzsas sIaoagss
msrssanss ssd small appropriations trosn
tas Cl<y CsaacsI . lew gosd machines osuisl
~ parsAsssd Backss brsgsd~s sea'd ala
- esx.s;ssd Ins iisa works I'll assr ths
usssa, sAy sss hssf Tns BoLxrrx
wsai& - Ftza - fnssAsr mossmsas o. sA's
kisk ssi y s~sdy % had ~ sa ssd So
pert - - sF<szls&z1ea a Zee eumpsny.
kss - nssx irsm s4bss<sbsn % ~ 60 les.