Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-05

explicitly stated, we'll as the positions
to be taken by each person when two or
more men are on q ladder)
ITO guard against collisions and acoi-
dents when proceeding to fires, the bells
and gongs on all apparatus Will be runS
at short intervals, and always Wnen ap-
preaching crossing. =,
And this rule shows how the fireman IS
expected to exercise common-sense cduuoi
at all times:
while performing the duty of policing
in or about company quarters oncers anu
men are not to stand on WINDOW slIis, M
tells cornices or projections of any klnd.
except when equipped with belt ana heid
In the same manner as instructed at anu
prescribed by the school OF instruction
when climbing by pairs
Think of It'll Fire laddes-men who are
not afraid to dash into smoke filled pulia-
ing at the word of command, VINO slue
down steep roofs to cornices 10 save nveS
and cling on by the Skin of their teeth -
made to wash windows with even more
caution than Is observed by the Ordinary
s7-a-Week skyscraper window cleaner! ana
think also of firemen being retired De-
cause of seniity. as not tnfrequehtlg hap-
pens In little old New YORK
The Fireman as an Asset.
The uniformed snoke-eater is a constant
ly increasing asset to his employing munfc-
ipality. Through him a steady reduction
in the average loss per fire has been taking
place for the past thirty years or more
all over the country. Take the record OF
the New York laddie. for instance.
Forty-one years ago the average loss per
fire in that city was over $1,000. The num-
Der of fires was 798. In 1880 the number OF
fires was 1,7S3. the average loss per fire
about 81, 500. Ten years later the figures
were 3,4T9 fires, loss about 81 200 and dur
ing the first year of the new century 6.499
fires, loss 81 400. Four year ago the aver
age loss fell to SI6o. the fires numbering
500 Because of the low averages during
the past fifteen years the average fire loss
In the metropolis for thirty-seven years,
beginning with 1866. was only S1,570.0T.
And in that time some very big confagra-
tons took place.
The efficiency with which the modern
fireman tackles his tasks is revealed in the
statement that the loss at each of 1,291
OF the 1851 fires which occurred IN two OF
Greater New York's boroughs four years
ago was less than SO. In other words, 45
per cent of the fires resulted in nominal
losses only
Taking the country by and large. It is
the little match that leads in the number
of fires started In community where
g. 100 fires occurred In the course OF a year
carelessness with the phosphorous-tipped
sticks caused TAT fires and loss of $780,
CO., BY gnawing matches left exposed rats
and mice started twenty-five fires, and
before the hremen could put them out
damage entailing $4,000 was done. Chill
dren playing with matches caused the en-
loss was $4,000. Thus, total of 1.017
fires were due to carelessness with matches.
But one item In the causes OF nres is even
larger. 1t Is mot ascertained, and In the
group of 500 fires those started In ways
not discovered by the fire marsha1s inves-
LEGATIONS numbered 1,22S. The loss was
over three millions; the largest item In the
loss column is usually set down to the fires
causes not ascertained-
Carelessness the Great Cause.
Carelessness in all guises is the greatest
of fire starters. beyond question OF the
800 fires already mentioned carelessness
with matches caused 1,0f7 fires, careless
ness with candles and tapers, 327; with
cigars pipes and cigarettes, 312; with fire.
works, SS; with ashes placed too close to
woodwork, 20, and with cooking, ia total
OF 1,S41. And many Of the fires started by
the upsetting of lamps, gas and oil stoves
and by explosions in kitchen We're also
caused by carelessness either on the part
of maids mtstresses.
A source of not a Few flreS IN new 1Ofh
Is the boys election night bonfire. one
year sparks from these bonfres resulted III
hfty-five fires, and two years later elghly-
two
-FOUR heart thrills and your work Is ar
rested whenever you hear, afar of, the
shrill whistle or the dangerous peil OF the
fire engine. Your pulse leaps as IL oasneS
nv horses full speed, the driver showing
arms and face of stone. Your admiration
| for every mothers son of the helmeted men
| clinging to the careening machine Is vast,
unadulterated, unconfined- Would you put
this admiration to practical beneht Tor the
| Are Iaddies? Then stop being careless
| when you are making or working about
| fire. .S,a
| If every one of US were to make this
| resolution and stick to 1t, Uncle Sam would
| soon have TO disband @ considerable part or
| his formidable army OF fire fighters, both
regular and volunteer. What an imposing
| line all his far-hungs regiments OF smoke =.
| would give every honest breast to behold a
| parade of the modified army-every man
| a. hero and ready to do and die, as mere
| matter OF business. and not pecaose "
| some great transcending passion, dominant
| 80 +ba time heing only.