The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-01
RECALLING SOME
 STIRRING SCENES
City Fire Department Requires
 Much ArddouS Work
SAD CASUALTIES RECALLED
Truck Driver Gives His Experiences in Which Brave Men Were Killed. Bremen Always Ready to
 Respond to Duty.
BY r. G. HAYES.

Hazardous callings were being discuss ed by group of men one evening dur ing the past week. Every occupation was touched upon. including the dangers en- countered in many avocations, when the question turned upon the life of fire man in city fire department.
 The fireman has a strenuous life in every way. He Is continuously on duty for twenty-four hours every day in the year except, during vacation time which is not more than ten days, and on his off day. The of day. allows the firemen to re- main away from his respective station when there is no fire. but when the alarm sounds he Is supposed to respond. To the credit of the Birmingham firemen it can be said that he always answers the call to duty.
 In the Birmingham department the highest salary paid captain is $75, no matter how long he may have been a member. Laddermen. truckmen, drivers and hosemen receive for the first year s60: the second year s65 the third year s7O, which is the limit
 A request for more salary made to the city council by the members of the Bir- mingham fire department is pending be- the Mayor and Aldermen. It Is believed that the request of the firemen will be granted during the present year.
 During 1905 three members of the Bir- 1ningham department have been killed in the performance of their duties. By a strange coincident E. B. Huffman, w. G. Spruell and Oscar Keith, the men who lost their lives were connected with the hook and ladder company at the central station Spruell and Keith were assist ant drivers and Huffman was the cleo trician, buts always went to fires rid ing on the truck.
 T have lifted the limp bodies of two of the three firemen killed during the year. said Fred Hawkins, driver of the truck. T placed the dead body of spruell fin my arms; lifted his body from the ground at the Collins fire on Morris avenue last July. Keith was killed at the Loveman, Joseph & Loeb fire and by a strange colncident 1t was my arms that caught him and assisted in laying his dead body out of the way.
 'tOur life is a dangerous one," con-
 
 fire we never think of the danger. We know that the citizens of Birmingham expect us to perform what I believe to be a solemn duty and make every effort to save their property from the flames. We often discuss serious and dangerous conditions in which we have been placed during fire. While fighting the fire we did not realize our position. Bremen are usually too busy during a confagration to think of danger. Their only thought is how to extinguish the blaze and save the property of the tax payers"
 Every time the alarm calls out a fire man he places his life in jeopardy Rid ing on hose wagon, truck engine or other department equipment. behind ani- mals going at a high rate of speed is considered dangerous. but this is the easiest part of the firemans life. On ar irving at the scene of the blaze, he must alight from the fire wagon while it is in motion, and help string a line of hose and attach it to a plug, and many times while this is going on the flames are rag ing.
 After the hose has been laid the water is turned on and the fireman rushes in- side of d burning building and the bat tie with the fire demon is on. Sometimes buildings are entered by the fire fight CTS where it is known that high explosives are stored. They know the danger, but with a determination to conqueror the flames remain steadfast at their work Walls fall around them, but they still remain at their post of duty until called away by the chief.s