The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-06-14
FIREMEN OF a CITY.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN
ALARM COMES IN


An alarm OF fire. How much this
suss>>ts to the mind-the fright, the
confusion. the destruction OF property.
The possible loss OF life-the putting
engines aud the shouting penl How
the blood tin6les as after he clang or
the frS bell comes the sharp sound Of
the engine gong. its iron voice crying
q Jargon of warningl What excite
msnt 1t causes, Truckmen hastily
drive their wagons to the curb; street
cars are brought to halt and pedes-
TRANS leap nimbly aside. Then down
the street. under clouds OF rolling
black smoke, comes the fire engine.
The plunging horses are going Ike
mad and the glistening body Of the APP
paratus sways from side to side with
the terrific speed. Leaning far out
from his little iron seat. the daring
driver urges the maddened horses to
even greater speed. With roar and
4 clang the engine flies by. Then
comes the sharp. staccato sound of a
single horse at furious gallop, and
the IRE chiefs gig flashes by. In the
distance there Is the wild ringing OF
the bell 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 menl Far
down under the ladders, hunched up In
his seat OF iron. Is the tilierman. who |
steers this monster apparatus. Upon |
him depends the safety OF all his com
rades- No use for the driver TO han
die his horses with the hands OF a |
master II the steersman lose his head /
for single instant In the tillerman's /
seat must be a man with a calm head
and nerves OF iron. Amid the sway
ing and lurching. the crashing and
yelling. his eyes never waver from the
driver. A sharp turn to the right. he
holds his tiller steady until the ladders
have Strengthened out on the turn. and
then he tugs with might and main 10
twist the rear wheels into their new
path Then the long dash-straight
away. with his watching. waiting for
the next turn. and above him the tire
less bell. crashing out its warming
1t Is an inspiring sight-this waleh-
ing 1remen answering an alarm, but
how many realize the intricate agen-
cies which start these great machines
almost on the instant Of the call? Let
a. step into a fire house and become
acquainted. The first thing we notice
after glancing at the shining appar-
Rtus 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
IF fire received, whether this particu-
ar company is called or not. and the
exact moment they are received The
OF the officers and men are
ilso recorded here, the hour and min
tie Of their leaving quarters each day
or meals. and the time OF their return
md an entry is made OF any event
to the workings Of the de
'artment which might have to be re
erred to later
Tracing an Alarm.
Let US trace an alarm This leads =
IS into the mysteries OF the fire alarm "
telegraph system. without which the Il
cience OF ire-hghting to-day would a
e utterly inadequate. A barn Is dis Il
overed on fire The owner runs to 81
be nearest box He opens the door 10
nd pulls down the lever on the In o.
Ide once Then what does he hearz "
'nly the buzzing Of machinery at
rst. then ting on a little bell In II
de- A pause and then ting, ting, is
I 4 kNSks=B uuzz.w.~