The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1905-11-30
FIREMEN OF A CITY.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN
ALARM COMES IN.
ertness with Which the Several
'"mpanies of Fire Fighters Re-
Spond-Methods of Noting Alarms
Peep Into the Department.

An alarm Of fire! How much this
suggests to the mind-the fright, the
eohIuslon, the destruction of property,
'le possible loss Of life-the putting
engines and the shouting men! How
Tue blood tingles as after the clang Of
tne lire bell comes the sharp sound Of
the engine gong, its iron voice crying
Jargon OF warning! What excite
ment 1t causes! Truckmen hastily
urlve their wagons to the curb; street
cars are brought to halt and pedes-
trians leap nimbly aside. Then down
tne street. under clouds Of rolling
olack smoke, comes the fire engine
Inc punging horses are going like
nau ana the glistening body OF the ap-
pafatus sways from side to side with
the terrific speed. Leaning far out
from his little iron seat, the daring
urlVer urges the naddened horses to
even greater speed. With a roar and
clang the engine flies by Then
'o'nes the sharp, staccato sound Of a
single horse at furious gallop, and
the hre chiefs gig flashes by In the
distance there is the wild ringing of
'he Dell on the aerial truck Three
magnificent horses plunging along at
Top speed and behind them the mon
ster hook and ladder careening along
with its sides lined with men, Far
down under the ladders. hunched up in
his seat or iron. is the tillerman, who
steers this monster apparatus. Upon
Hlm depends the safety Of all his com
RACES. NO use for the driver to han
die MS horses with the hands Of
master If the steerSman lose his head
LOT single Instant In the tllerman's
seat must be a man with calm head
ana nerves of iron. Amid the sway
Ing and lurchiug, the crashing and
yelling his eyes never waiver from the
driver. \ sharp turn TO the right, he
holdS his tiller steady until the ladders
nave Strengthened out on the turn, and
then he tugs with might and main to
twist the rear wheels into their new
path. Then the long dasll-straight
away, with his watching, waiting for
the next turn, and above him the tire
less bell crashing out its warning.
1t IS an inspiring slght-this watch
Ing hremen answering an alarm, but
how many realize the intricate agen-
cies which start these great machines
almost on the instant Of the call? Let
us step into a fire house and become
acquainted. The first thing we notice
after Slanclng ut the shining appar-
atus and the great alarm gong, are the
books in orderly array in a desk. The
most important book is the house Jour
nal, which contains a record Of alarms
of fire received, whether this particu-
lar company is called or not, and the
exact moment they are received. The
movements of the officers and men are
also recorded here. the hour and min
ute Of their leaving quarters each day
FOR meals, and the time of their return
and an entry IS made OF any event
pertaining to the workings Of the de-
partment which might have to be re-
ferred TO later
Tracing an Alarm.
Let US trace an alarm. This leads
us into the mysteries of the fire alarm
telegraph system, without which the
science Of fre-fghtinG to-day would
be utterly inadequate. \ barn is dis
covered on fire The owner runs to
the nearest box. He opens the door
and pulls down the lever on the in
side once. Then what does he hear?
Only the buzzing Of machinery at
side, \ pause and then. ting, ting,