The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-16
THE CITY'S STAR DRIVERS.
A Pretty Exhibition of Skill BY Firemen
I'm a Hurry I'm Sixth Avenue.


There is no better driving seen in city
streets. or anywhere else, for that matter,
than that done by the drivers of fire appa-
ratus. They can turn. for example, without
ever slackening speed. from cross streets
into avenues in which elevated railroads
run, rounding the supporting columns
and getting in under the elevated structure
with the horses on the run. and driving out
the same way, without ever barking any
of the pillars. ,....
Fire drivers do this with seventy-foot
hook and ladder trucks as well as with
the much shorter fire engine. In the case
by the skilful steering Of the tillerman,
and all drivers Of fire apparatus are now
much helped by the modern rubber-tired
wheels, which don't slide when the apparatus
swings
The fire drivers. of course, are helped
by the cooperation of all other drivers.
Let the whistle or bell OF gong of fire
and all motormen Of street cars stop. For
instance:
Here ia the driver Of horse car going
west along Twenty-ninth street. When
he ia half way across Sixth avenue. under
the elevated structure he hears fire engine
coming toward him along Twenty-ninth
street from the west
The car driver doesnt have 10 deliberate
before he decides on what to do He sets
his brake right where he is at the moment
that sound catches his ear; and he couldn' I
be in better place for the good of the COM
ing fire engine. The fire engine driver can
pass the car TO right or left If he wants to
keep straight on; he has the width of Twenty
ninth street to sweep in, before coming to
tha ha 10 uni 10. ft,rp ar
south there, and the horse car ia far enough
back 40 as not to be in the fire drivers way
if he wants to turn. ,r
And standing there in the middle OF the
avenue the driver of the horse car can stop
people approaching from either direction on
the avenue. Now he holds up his hand, not
hurriedy or excitedly, but calmly, and
Just sort of casually motions with 1t, to a
motorman coming up the avenue with car
from the south, and then he does the same
to one coming down from the north. And
this easy, off-hand signal il enough. The
motormen don't need TO have somebody
come along with club, besides, to make
EN- understand, and in second they hear.
themselves. the engines whistle, at which
everybody stops, all drivers and motor
men, to give the fire driver the right OF
way
And here he comes with the big team
Of three horses abreast a-booming He
turns the corner here, rounding INTO the
avenue and in under the elevated structure
with horses on the gallop without the
slightest trouble; whistle screeching once
or twice as ne rounds in. This seems not
now TO be note Of warning. but just a little
screech for pure fun as the driver thus
swings the big engine in and straightens
her out in the stretch.
A second later comes the white hose
wagon, with it's team a-lopin' along with 1t
like pair Of big greyhounds and their
driver takes them in after the engine just
AS slick and easy as can be.
But the motormpn and the various drivers
halted all around, including the driver
with his horse car occupying the centre Of
the scene, didn't all start up on the instant.
They waited a second and then they heard
the gong of another piece Of fire apparatus
coming along Twenty ninth street, this one
from the east. A truck, this was,
and 1t came up. IA the engine had done.
with its great team at a galop, the driver
turning them in under the elevated strIct-
ure, without the slightest difficulty
or hesitation, the tillerman putting
his end OF this ponderous apparatus around
just as slick and easy; and then they
straighten out and away they go up the
avenue.
my, but they we're birds!' said man
who stood on the corner and saw these
three drivers make the turn. They were
brides, tell you, every one