Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-07-22
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THE FIRE COAT.


THE FIRE COAT.
Ding-a-ling-a-ling! goes the Are
Alarm.
The truck and hose wagon are got
ten in readiness, the captain gives
the word, William the goat rises
quickly to his feet and is harnessed
In the twinkling of moment, the
doors Of the chicken coop are fung
wide open and Woburn's junior fire
company proudly appears, ready to
battle with the demon fire.
The company is not very strong
numerically. There is James. the
captain, who is - years old. There
Is brother Thomas, who acknowledges
the age of 10 years and who is the
lieutenant, and then there Is Frank,
only six years, but is the one whose
prowess has won for him the dis
tinction OF being the driver of William
the goat.
Only three Of them, although Will
liam insists on being counted as a
member and not as horse; but no
fire company ever worked with great
er vim and will.
The sheeran boys are well known
In Woburn. So is William.
| No sooner does confagration
threaten building in the town and
the real fire ladies appear on the
street than the Sheeran company
comes in the wake of the real APP
paratus, and Woburnites give sigh
of relief, for the boys have come to
be known as true mascots. and, with
them on the scene, battling with the
flames is nothing short OF play.
The idea OF forming fire company
first originated with James, as it real
Ily ought to. for James is the Oldest
OF the trio. It was simply shame
to let William pass his days in in
dolence without an honest effort in
. practical direction, and William is
far from being an ordinary goat. His
intelligence, declare his young mas
ters. is simply extraordinary. So
William was decided upon as horse.
The chicken coop in the yard Of
the boys home at % Clinton street
was just the thing for barn. OF
course, there were hens to be rec
koned with, but the hens were not
very numerous and the coop was
very large, so the young fire fighters
petitioned the powers that be. and
the hens found themselves minus
part of their former possessions.
A horse and fire house on hand.
the matter of wagons was compare
lively simple proposition. It took a
great deal Of tinkering, and many
toys Of fond memories and great
pride had to be sacrificed in con-
STRUGGLING them, but. at last all the
difficulties were overcome, and the
wagons were ready.
I'VE need tackle, just like the one
in every well regulated and properly
orderd fire house." said James, and
Thomas and Frank echoed the senti-
ment
With, Infinite care and untold la
bors, the tackle was finally construct
ed and when a niece Of garden hose
was procured nothing hut uniforms
I lacked to make the 5neerans com:
pany read property saving institu-
tion OF Woburn.
Oilskins were deemed essential for
uniforms, and it was decided to get
them. What is more, the boys got
them Some oil waterproof coats
came in Just handy, three somewhat
dilapidated but still seryiceable SOU
westers were pressed into service and
properly decorated with tinsel and
other ornaments, and, presto! the out
fit was complete.
Fire drills were Instituted. Daily
practice was ordered. Everything
went serenely, but for William who
was ready to do anything, but was
unwilling to play the passive part OF
horse.
OF course, there we're compensa-
lions in the part he had to play. but
staying cooped up in chicken coop
rebellicus. By much suasion. moral
and other, .Williamp was made to
see the error OF his ways and learn
ed to take his position under the
tackle, upon which rested the har.
ness. the moment the alarm bell rang.
But aWilhamr was getting lone.
some waiting for the bell. and so he
occasionally rang it himself causing
in this way much grief in the hearts
OF his owners, who insisted upon a
strict discipline. In the course OF
time he was weaned Of this habit also.
and now he is fully as severe a dis.
ctplinarian as Captain James himself.
I'VE love william, say James and
Thomas and Frank. Eve don't care
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