The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-14
FOR FIRE FIGHTERS
Benefit to Be Given to Equip
Gymnasiums.
Members VIII Be Shown in
Moving Pictures.
WERE TAKEN AT WORK
Operation of Steamers and Use
Of Life Nets Included.
Pictures of Crack Fire Depart
ments to Be Used.
WE'RE TAKEN AT WORK

Within few days moving picture
experts from Chicago will be in Topeka
to make a series of photographs of the
Topeka fire department in action.
On April % these pictures together
with many others of fire fighting, Will
be exhibited at the Auditorium as a
benefit entertainment for the Topeka
IRE department and the proceeds viii be
used to equip gymnasiums for the four
fire stations of the city.
This is the first time, so far as any
body can remember that the people Of
Topeka have been given an opportunity
TO show by a public demonstra ton their
appreciation of the splendid work of the
Topeka fire Department. Chief Will
marth said this morning.
1T is our object to keep the expenses
Of the department. down as low as we
possibly can consistently with good SER
vice. We have felt the need OF some
physical apparatus at the fire stations
Al headquarters we have a few pieces
of apparatus but nothing at the other
stations, AS it is customary with de-
partments all over the country to raise
money by means of balls and entertain
ments we decided that this entertain
ment would be good way to provide
funds to buy gymnastic equipment for
the stations. In this way we avoid call
ing upon the city treasury for this i'm
portant addition to our facilities for
developing the men. 1t is not fully de-
clded yet how the money viii be spent,
but L think that the sentiment of the
men Is that it should be used for phys
ical apparatus. I talked the matter
over with the captains yesterday, and
that was their idea about it,"
The contract for the moving picture
show was signed up Monday with rep
resentatives from Chicago, and the en-
inv he
most remarkable and interesting ever
given in Topeka.
Moving pictures of fire departments
and fire fighting have been collected
from all over the country Firemen
climbing aerial ladders to reach the
tops of buildings from which the smoke
and fire are belching six ton steamers
throwing out pillows of in5y smoke and
pumping steams of water a hundred
feet into the air: life saving by means
OF ropes, life nets and pompier ladders;
an these are shown in actual movement
and action.
The entertainment promoters who
were here Monday had letters of recon-
mendaton from Fire Chief Mushet of
Chicago the late Chief Foley of Mil
Waukee. and a great many other chiefs
OF national repute They also had
newspaper clippins which showed thar
the fire pictures have met with enthus-
lasuc commendation wherever they
have been shown
hH new / DIX department IS shown
nghting fire in the sky-scrapers of that
city, the work Of the fire boats is also
depicted. The story of the fire alarm
from the time it is sent in until the
fire is eNtinguished, is told by the pic
lures.
Last year at the annual convention
of fire chiefs of the United States held
I'm New York city moving picture
exhibit of fire fighting was one of the
evening entertainments provided for
the delegates Tt was one of the bic
hits of the entire convention. One OF
the pictures shown was New York al
Midnight" The scene opened with a
long avenue extending into the dis
lance, and a solitary policeman pacing
his beat Suddenly the policeman dis
covers q fire in a neighbOring building.
He rushed to a fire alarm box pulls
the lever and in a few seconds three
white horses pulling an aerial ladder
come into view at the further end Of
the long street. They come nearer and
nearer. and the orchestral effects OF
the clashing hoofs. changing gong and
rumbling apparatus are carried out to
perfection. Soon a big steamer, be1ch-
ing smoke and sparks. turns into the
street from some other department. and
this lis followed by hose wagons and
chemicals and the whole line of ap-
paratus comes laundering down toward
the audience. So realistic was the eff
feet that people in the front seats start
ed to get out of the way. and women
screamed. One by one the pieces OF