Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-07

(the horses by ropes and when the driver
pulls the ropes the harness drops onto
the horses. a few snaps are hastily Sc
cured, the driver mounts the seat, glanCes
at the indicator or the lift that tells the
location of the fire, and then pulls rope
that orens the front door of the house.
The team is OFF on its run to the fire.
all in much less time than it takes to tell
the story. One of the drivers, al Cush-
noe hose house, has the record of having
harnessed and driven to Water street in
exactly one minute. The average time for
this trip, however, is about one and one
half minutes. The run to the C. A. Eaton
shoe factory, when a false alarm was
rung in by two men, some time ago, will
be remembered. 1t was made in just four
minutes from the time the first tap of
| the bell was heard at the hose house on
Bridge street. The distance from the
house is nearly Il mile, SO il is easy to
imagine the speed that that hose wagon
made that particular night Inside OF
half an hour the firemen, with the assist
ance of the police, had made an investi-
CATION and located the men who rung IN
the false alarm, and later had them tried
and sentenced.
4 One of the drivers tells the story OF Il
run to a fire in the winter when his
horses We're smooth shod. 1t had been
planned that day to have tie horses
sharpered but the fire alarm was run5 in
about the time that the horses were going
to the shop. OF course it was a case then
Of 90 to the fire without sharpening the
caulks in the shoes. All went we'll Until
the descent of a hill had to be made and
then the lack of caulks showed. The
horses We're being driven under the whip.
for if they checked their speed they
would certainly fall on the icy roadway
At times horse would slip and slide TO
% feet before making Il recovery. 1t was
n ride that would put the famous ride o.
John Gilpin in the shade. The driver says
that it was the most thrilling ride in his
experience and that he did not expect at
times that he would get down the hill
without shicing the team or breaking hi,
own neck But skilltul driving ana flee
horses won in the race against heavy
odds and the bottom of tho hill wa
reached without accident.
This city has the reputation among In
surance experts Of being the hardest city
in New England for fire department to
get about in. The hills are SO numerous
and so steep that It requires hea.y horse
to haul the heavy hose wagons and the
| equally heavy hook and ladder truck. But
| in spite of all these disadvantages the
runs to tie fires are made i'll remarkably
short time. all the teams being fleet OF
| foot and willing to 90 at the sound OF
the alarm. They are kept in line Condi-
| ton all the time by their drivers. for each
time trip, either for business or for OK
ercisc, Is made the larr"sa is cleaned
| thoroughly ara the horses gr0n-Hed. Ii
| Is a matter Of fact that it takes at least
five solid hours work each lay TO car
! for the horses and other appurtcnancCs
All the harness and brasscS are kept In
aprle-I.ie order all the time and should q
visitor look at the appliances one day ana
wonder at thei: thin appearance he will
also find them In the same CO ndition the
neXt time he calls. be it {. day or 4
month.
On the way to a fire men are picked
UP on tie street all the way more or
less. rs a usual rule. The larger part
OF the Augusta department is com
posed of men who work about the city
and when the alarm sounds they drop
everything and make for the fire with
all speed. Some times the hose wagon
OF the hook and ladder truck comes
along and then the men rush for the
sides. where rods are placed to afford
hand hold. why, believe the
| men would leave a funeral" said Chief