Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-29
THE NEW YORK
FIRE CHAPlAlNS,

AS a fire signal rings in the quarters
of Hook and Ladder Company No. Z. in
East Twenty-eighth street, near Third
avenue, Third alarm for Broadway
and Reade street. The chaplain goes"
shouts the fireman on house watch A
half dozen men in blue shirts are on
their way down the shining brass poles
to the ground. floor They hear their
comrades words. and all turn to bug
gy that stands beside the big truck.
One OF them leads under the hanging
harness a sleek. well groomed trotter,
who semes to know exactly what is ex-
pected OF him, the harness is lowered,
the swapping of the collar is the work
of a second, and the rig is ready.
This was OH a recent Sunday after
room, and the streets and avenues were
clear for the run. The chaplain's home
is the rectory of the church of st, Vim
cent de Paul. in Twenty fourth street,
near Sixth avenue. In the rear of the
third floor is the study and bedroom of
the Rev. William st. Elmo Smith, ono
Of the beet known members of the or
der of Fathers of Mercy. who was Sc
lected by Archbishop Corrigan to be-
come one of the two chaplains Of the
fire department.
Father Smith knows his wagon is APP
preaching the rectory as fast as horse
can fetch it. His reading of the
priests office is interrupted by
the same signal that has caused the
connection in the truck house, half
mile away.
While the wagon is crossing the city
Father Smith doffs his cassock and
beretta and dons the heavy blue coat
with its gold buttons, and the cap, with
its cross above the trumpets-the uni
form denoting the rank of a fire chief.
His boots and rubber coat and the big
white leather helmet are beneath the
seat of the wagon. He hears the famil-
lar sound of the chime bell at the Sixth
avenue crossing, and he hastens to the
front door TO meet the buggy.
Broadway on a Sunday is favorite
thoroughfare for fire wagons going
north or south There are few vehicles
other than trolley cars moving on it,
and good tinae can be made. Father
Smith has gone the route many times
before, and he decides TO take it an this
occasion.
The changing bell warns every one at
the crossings, and the chaplain urges
his horse to top speed. In the distance
the smoke from the fire and dozen en-
gines that have already got to work can
be seen rising above the sky -scrapers.
Looks like a hot one" the chaplain
remarks to mis- aid, and a touch of the
whip sends The horse along at a livelier
clip.
A few more blocks, and the fire is
reached The chaplain drives over a
couple of lines of hose. and halts by the
side OF a smoking engine. He leaps
from the wagon, and while his assistant
blankets the horse the priest fireman
takes off his shoes and dons his heavy
fire boots From under the seat
he takes his big fire hat,
and rubber coat completes the outfit.
Thus armored for the battle, Father
Smith appears among the nremen ready
to risk life itself to succor them
This is a sample of the everyday life
Of the two chaplains of the fire depart
memt Frequently the alarm sounds In
the stiffness of the night, when the
ohaplains are asleep, and the call of the
bell breaks their rest as it does that OF
the flremen in quarters.
The chaplains have had many narrow
escapes from death at fires. but their