The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-08-07
Firemen Must Be Heroes.

No public servant today has so many
opportunities to show the heroic qualities
in his makeup as has the iremen. The
physician may often save lives, but as
a rule no monument perpetuates his
deeds after he has gone, although he veri
ly may have laid down his life for his
patients. The policemen on his daily
beat is the guardian of the public peace
and good order and often is called upon
to risk his life in his work, but seldom
has policeman been exalted on pedes
tai by the applauding public.
Scarcely ever is there big fire in
which lives are imperiled that some fire.
men does not win glorious laurels.
There is something so spectacular about
his work He scales ladder in full
cues a woman or child from impending
death OF plunges into the dense smoke
with line of hose to find the fire at
closer range, all the time daring the aw-
full flames and falling walls. He takes
his life in his hands. The coward has
no place among fremen.
1t is only at the fire that the firemen
comes under the public eye. Who knows
anything of his life in the long watches
intervening between alarms when he
must ever be ON the alert for the I'M
expected call? The quiet monotony of
that part of his existence is quite in
contrast with the thrilling excitement
that comes with the alarm. 1t seems
very thrilling when one hears the clang-
ing of the gongs, the clatter of hoofs and
| the rush of the wheels and runs down TO
watch with quickened pulse, the swift
passing of the wagons, but the man who
stands ON the curbstone little knows
of the dull monotonous moments of
waiting that the fireman must endure at
the station OF of the peril and disaster
that he must next confront.
The fireman's life is one of rigid dis
| cipline. The fire laddies must ever pe
ready for the call The horses and APP
paratus must be prepared to go within
the shortest possible space of time to the
scene of the fire, for every second counts
for life and property. Whether asleep in
bed or lounging comfortably about the
station, the fireman must be able to
jump Immediately into his rubber boots,
his waterproof coat and hat and take
his place for the wild run.
There may be several calls in one
night and then there may be several
nights and days when not single call
will be received. In these intervals the
firemen must amuse themselves, They
have their games of cards, pool or bill
lizards, they may box or they may read.
In the summer they may play ball out
side the station or have their friendly
bouts. At some of the stations there is
room for little gardens and the fremen
take pride in raising trees, shrubs and
flowers.
The care of their horses almost
lamountsto an amusement for the firemen.
They take great pride in their steeds,
and the bonds of sympathy are almost
human between the men and those fine,
intelligent beasts. The horses themselves
seem to take as much interest in their
work as the fremen and eagerly respond
to the calls and strain every nerve to
make the best time to the fires.
The work of the firemen is very eX
hausting, nevertheless. His is con-
slant strain. He is in suspense night
and day While he is on duty he never
knows at what moment he will be called
upon to risk his life in behalf of his
fellow men and property of others. Ii
he has wife and children his posl,ion
is one of more extreme solicitude, for u
is no small thing to have set before your
eyes night and day the possibility of
making your wife a widow and your
children orphans, even in defense of
others lives and for the preservation of
property. Many of the firemen are mar
ricd, and are most content with their lot.