The Jersey City news., 1903-03-21

noise and tumult. With all due respect
for the old-time firemen, whose heroisn
Was unquestioned, it seems, in recalling
those old fires, as though noise was
deemed as important an element IN extin
gushing fire as Water, and was as co
piously employed. But the. intense ri
valry existing between the different com
panies called for incessant shouts of en-
couragement from their foreman and fol
lowers.
| The citizen of today scarcely ever
knows when there is fire unless it is
in his own neighborhood or he happens
| to see the horses and engines ON the
street. In the old days it was difficult to
escape the knowledge that the depart
ment had turned out. The fremen, with
their hand engines, frequently abandoned
the streets when the mud was deep and
took to the sidewalks, ralling, shouting,
and painting; now and again carrying
away a weak wooden stoop on their route
with the wheels of the engine. This free
nd easy way of choosing the best place
for the engine, on street or sidewalk, was
also practiced in New York City, and
the old residents never thought Of rails
ing voice in protest against it.
The typical volunteer fireman, not to
exalt him above the modern fire-fghter,
as some veterans do, was certainly the
equal of the latter in every way. In
sinew and nerve he was fitted for the
work; and in dauntless courage. coolness
and perseverance he had the. elements
OF hero in him. And when we compare
the superior strength and speed Of the
horse with that of man, we must CON
cede the palm to the old hand engine
in getting promptly to the scene Of a
fire. There was the powerful incentive
u livairy 70 reacn the spot hrst; and
a. eiMes' TINS contest was nercely ex-
s'tink' ss' "neh company was stralning
osc1y aoseie 70 take precedence, q rival
company vsuid COME whirling around
corner ana breast 1t, ~ wss then that
every ounce OF energy was brought Into
equisitlon, ana the foreman OF each en-
gihe gre" WIG and shouted himself
hoarse TO MS men as ne waved his trun-
pet and appealed to them to Jump her,
Doys! Jump her!
In sucn meetings there was always an
element OF danger, because OF the excit=
able temperaments of the men under the
strain imposed upon them, and OCCASION
aily collision OF machines occurred,
sometimes purposely brought about to
Diock the way 4oI Ine slowly gaming en-
CINE. There VIII probably always remain
: - - " - - t--s-> -'f =
the sigma OF braWls and 1ealousies; but
the provocation to such encounters was
greater then than now, because OF the
different methods by which fires were
subdued, and the more provoking environ
ments OF their lives. They were not paid
FOR their hard and dangerous work; their
laurels depended solely upon the results
OF keen competition, and the ability to
capture fire plug and position nearest
the IRE.
Starting for the fire in the old days
was an interesting sight. Not single
moment was lost, although most OF the
men came from their homes partly
dressed, and with their coats on their
arms. The foreman was never late, and
he was intensely in earnest to set his
machine on the way, as he shouted to
the first hlf dozen or so of men to start
her lively, boys" Now and again man
was seen to grasp the rope or tiller IN
full evening dress, wit ha high silk hat
. reveiry % the ensine-house. Inc loren