Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-19
COFFEE FOR FIREMEN
SUGGESTION THAT FUND BE
RAISED BY SUBSCRIPTION.
Commissioner Macfarland Ready to
Receive Contributions-Need of
Additional Engines.

The suffering endured by the firemen at
the two serious blazes this morning has led
to the suggestion by Commissioner Mac
farland, who has supervision Of the fire
department, that a fund be raised to sup
ply the men with food and coffee, partic-
ularly the latter, while they are working
at fire during freezing weather. There
is now no fund available for any such pur-
pose, even the contingent appropriation be-
ing so guarded as rot to be made use of in
this respect. The firemen are often called
out in the early morning before they have
had their breakfasts. The hour for that
meal and the hours for other meals, as
well. are naturally spread out good deal
by reason Of the fact that not more than
two men may be absent from any one COM
pany at the same time. The firemen may
also be called out of bed in the middle OF
the night and be compelled to remain on
the scene Of the conf1agration for many
hours. When the weather is bitterly cold,
as 1t was today, the suffering Is naturally
intense.
At the Moses fire, shortly after O'Clock
this morning, the firemen were covered
with ice. A number of them had their
ears frost bitten. 1t is quite evident that
men working under such circumstances are
in need of some scrt Of stimulant. 1t IS
against the rules of the department that
they should drink liquor, so coffee is the
ideal beverage for the men. This morning
through the benevolence OF citizens, the
firemen were furnished with conee. Inc
same was true at the Ridenour fire. Here
the men were compelled to work in tbs
basement with water almost up to thelI
waists. From time to time they WOULD
Chamber to the surface Of the street to re-
move their rubber boots and empty gal
Ion or more Of water from each. Replacing
the foot coverings they would again de-
scend to the scenes Of their labor In the
smoke-laden atmosphere.
n Ind -hn 10 in, hr1Si ms
near the scene of this second conf1agration,
sent out and had an urn of coffee brought
into his store. Some Of the firemen were
able to go to the store. while others had
the coffee brought to them in tin pals. AS
many Of these men had been unable to eat
anything during the morning owing to the
rapidly with which the fires followed each
other, the coffee was nothing short of
godsend.
In Other Emergencies.
There are times, however. when condi-
lions may not permit Of citizens supplying
the coffee. In the dead Of night or in
section of the city where the utensils for
coffee making are not to be found the men
would be left to the severe exposure with
nothing to keep them from exhaustion.
Commissioner Mcfarland witnessed both
Of the fires this morning and was i'm
pressed with the needs of the men in this
respect, as were all others who were cog
The Commissioner believes that fund of
$500 or $500 could easily be raised by sub
scriptions from the people, and says he is
ready to receive contributions toward that
end. If such a fund were available and
should be replenished from year to year as
it may become exhausted, he believes
large coffee kettle and other supplies and
utensils might be placed on one of the fuel
wagons which proceed to all the large fires,
and served to the men at convenient inter-
walls Mr.. Mcfarland believes the citizens
will be glad to contribute to fund for so
worthy a purpose and is anxious that 1t
should be established at once, as cold
weather is likely to continue for some time.
Need of More Engines.
The inadequacy of the fire department
was exemplified quite emphatically today,
when the two fires of a serious nature came
in rapid succession. While the Moses fire
was in progress the engines in the outlying
sections were transferred to the more cen
trail stations. The apparatus from Anacos
tia, lexington and other places was
brought to the more convenient houses to
be ready to respond to any other alarms
that might come in. The Ridenour fire was
reported before some of the apparatus had
returned to quarters, and the Anacostia and
lexington companies, Nos. Is and II, re-
spectively, were summoned down town. AS
bad luck would have 1t, the reels belonging
to these engines met with mishaps on the
way to the fire and were temporarily dis
abled.
During the entire morning, therefore, the
outlying sections of the city were left prac-
tically entirely without fire protection Two
fires, more serious than those Of this morn
Ing, may occur at any time, and then, it is
stated. Congress will wake up to the neces-
sity of charging the department. The good
luck Of Washington In the past in this di-
rection may not always hold good.