The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-03-27
The FIREMAN had A DATE
JESS MOLLINEAUX FINED FOR
1T At RUN Joint.
Not Exactly for the Date. Of Course, but
II Kept Him From the Blaze at Mrs,
Cruisers House. Which Burned Down,
SOThey Had 10 Punish the Young Namp.

Long after twilight had fallen and the
COWS had been driven home, the horses
bedded down for the night and the bern
doors locked, Rum Point, or at least the
male portion Of the little town down Long
Island way, assembled in the grocery store
last night to witness Charley Delap and
Frank Woods, the postmaster, play for the
chess championship Of Greenwich Point.
Everybody in Roosevelt who is interested
in chess was on hand, and even those who
don't know the game showed up out Of
courtesy 10 Charley or Frank.
Jesse Mollineaux amt here ternight-
funny. amt it, remarked 81 Winters.
And he amt acomin' neither said Sam
Johnson. He's got a date with his gal
They're goin' up to tn festival
Seen him jest a bit ago driyin' his COWS
to barn. Charley interrupted, moving the
bishop. And he want dressed for no
festival"
And then Of a sudden Rum Point forgot
about chess as the bell in the church steeple
down the road rang out a warning and
sent the chess players flying every which
way, just like the chess men. And it was i
sure enough fire too. Nobody in Green
witch Point had to be told that il was the
home of Mrs. Evelyn May Cruiser that was
in flames, and she certainly was a-going in
grand style.
George Anthony, assistant foreman Of
Alpha Hook and Ladder Company, was
the first man 10 the iirchousc and first on
the rope. A few weeks ago, when Archie
Bulls house was burned to the ground,
George slept right through while tho church
belfry fairly shook as the heavy bell changed
and changed and aroused all tho rest of
the town, and not until the break Of day,
when he vent to milk the cows, did he
know OF the conAagration. And the dis
grace Of il all. George, the assistant fore
man and second in command Of Alpha
Hook and Ladder. slept at the post. 1t
the 81 fine imposed for missing a
that disturbed him. 1t was the dcrned,
disgrace Of 1t. But last night no
was just on the job, 1t was an adequate re-
demption.
Alpha Hook and Ladder worked like
blazes 10 save Mrs. Cruisers house, but the
spread itself deiantly and the building
was doomed before the fire fighters ran up
with the apparatus. And in half an hour
all that was left Of the house was the steel
ANYBODY seen Jesse?" INQUIRED Foreman
Delap as his crew bravely squirted a two
inch stream on the hot ruins.
Nope, he amt
just then Jesse, wearing a boiled shirt,
patent feathers and his Sunday clothes,
40 into THAR harrison ukioh unni ~ The
fire was low then. was narrow,
"Where've you been, JessY' asked the
sternly.
"Dressin',' Jesse replied. Got a mighty
important date tonight"
Didn't v hear tn hell a-ringin'?'
'Snrp, Int 7 was tryin' % get these new
pats on. and by cracky they do pinch"
We'll, do tell exclaimed Charley. And
here you're fined 81 for stoppin to
an bein' late. | never heard the
leat Of IT,"
Jesse paid the fine on the spot andhurried
away to keep his date. And all Rum Point
declared that Jesse was the most keer-
ess fireman in Greenwich Point and that
{ Roosevelt had TO depend upon him it'd
never be safe for a moment.
Roosevelt, Greenwich Point. Rum Point
res. one gets balled up when reporting
he news Of that town. SO doss Rum Point,
Greenwich Point and ROosel cit. The town
las three names Rum Point. because in
he old stage coach days il was the only
,laoe between Hampstead and Babylon
one could get @ nip. Later il became
Greenwich Point, because the decent
,ownsfolk couldn't swallow the disgrace
u the old name. and recently. when II at
lined TO post Office honors and size, IL
ook the name Of the President, because
long as they had that Point on the
lame there remained the reminder Of the
lnsayorY Iaat.