Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1902-10-30
EXPRESS GRATITUDE
For Appreciation Shown of Depart
ment's Work in public's Behalf

ment,S Work in Public'S Behalf.
| At the special meeting of the Warren
hre department held Oct "a, a resolu-
ton was passed extending to Mr.. G. C.
winchester their most sincere thanks
for his liberal treatment of the fire
laddies after the disastrous fire of Oct.
20. On the evening Of that day, at
few minutes before 6 O'Clock, the fire
bell sounded, calling the fire boys out
to tight their enemy. They responded
promptly to the call. The fire was in
the Sheaf building, and even before the
alarm rang out that building was past
saving. But Mr. Winchester's big store
was threatened, and all efforts were
directed toward saving it, and through
hard work it was accomplished And
1t was hard work! We will just say,
that as the nozzle men went in between
the burning building and the store the
heat burned the clothes on their backs,
and had it not been for others who
threw water and wet blankets over the
boys the latter would probably never
respond to another fire call. The fire
boys fought in mud and water till very
late, and without supper. What did
Mr.. Winchester do? He called the boys
into the store and dished up the best
there was for lunch, supplied the boys
with mittens and stockings and coats
After the fire was under control, he or
dered supper for all the fire boys at Mr.
Rodseth sand there was nothing small
about that, either Refreshments of
all kinds and cigars were passed around,
and then to cap the climax Mr. Win
chester presented the chief with his
check for $50, to show that he appreci-
ated the work Of the fire laddies. The
chief on being presented with the
check made short speech and proposed
three cheers for its donor-and never
before did twenty worn out fremen
make the welkin ring with such rous-
ing cheers. AS the boys went home
that night they all resolved that, should
Mr.. Winchester ever again be SO unfor-
tunate as to have close call from fire,
they would be with him as one man.
Voluntary fire departments are often
criticized for not putting fires out
quickly enough; it takes them too long
to get steam; if the water had got there
a little sooner, they could have saved
the building. We hear these things
every time there is fire. We want to
ask the public just one question: Have
you ever realized that we are not at the
fire barn all the time? In the daytime
we are at our several places Of business:
at night we are home in bed, probably
8 to 10 blocks from the fire house. We
have to dress at night and run to the
barn, which takes some time. And if
you think the boys do not get there as
quick as possible in the day time, just
take a look at them at the fire and see
if they have taken time to put on old
clothes! You will find the clerk from
the store there in the clothes he wears
when waiting on customers, the bank
employe in his business suit Don't
this prove that the boys respond as
promptly as does the soldier to the
bugle call?
Again we wish to extend our most
heartfelt thanks to Mr.. Winchester,
who is among the few that appreciate
the work of the fire boys
WARREN FIRE DEPARTMENT.