Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-09
FUN THA7 IS C0S7[Y'PRED1CT HOT FIGHT
Cy Endangered by Numerous Campaign for Mayor Opens in
False Fire Alarms. Baltimore
lREVEW OF THE CONDITIONS CANDIDATES ON THE STUMP
Chief Suggests Penalty Of Both Tmanus Promise
Heavy Fine and Imprisonment. to Avoid Mud Singing
EVILDOERS ELUDE OFFICERS MAHOOL BACK IN THE FOLD
O.
Of Defeated n
and Trouble Primary
City Endangered by Numerous
False Fire Alarms.
REVIEW OF THE CONDITIONS
Chief Wagner Suggests Penalty of
Heavy Fine and Imprisonment.
EvILDOERS ELUDE OFFICERS
Desire to See the Engines Run
Source Of Great Expense
and Trouble.

A cold. rainy night outside. a company
of f1remen snoring peacefully in the dor
mitory-and clang. From the beds they
jump. into trousers and boots which are
always laid SO that one poking motion OF
the feet clothes each man fully; down the
brass poles and up to the stations on the
apparatus in less than a minute.
Then, when they reach the box from
which the alarm came over the wires a
thorough search reveals the fact that
some blithering idiot pulled the alarm
Just to see the engines run"
Bane Of Fireman's Life
This false alarm mania is the bane of
the firemans existence. 1t is distasteful
personally to each and every man in the
department., to use the expression in its
mildest form: but, aside from that, no
one who has not figured out the cost and
risk and danger to the community at
large has any idea Of the real cost of a
false alarm.
Eleven false alarms last month-one
every third day-g1ves some idea of the
prevailing frebug mania. AT present the
northeast section of the city is getting the
heaviest share of these alarms, according
to Frank Wagner. chief of the fire de-
partment. Chief Wagner said today that
he is in favor Of increasing the penalty
for turning in false alarms to 500 fine
and year in jail
Il think it would have great moral ef-
feet If the penalties for false alarms
should be increased heavily. At present
the penalty is fine from 81 to 500, or
six months in jail, or both 1 think the
penalty should be put up to $500 Or a year
IN Jail, or both, and furthermore I think
the warning and penalty should be painted
prominently on every fire alarm box.
No Way to Check Evil.
We have entirely too many false
alarms, and there seems to be no wav
of catching the offenders 7 understand
that Capt. Daley of the eighth precinct
has been posting men out to spot Ger
tain boxes with little or no success. The
nremen cannot go out and watch boxes
oed tser mere are few men in company
ana there are so many extra details such
as tneaters and gatherings, that it would
weaken the department considerably to
uetail nrenen to spot these idiots who
tiiiLk IL run to endanger whole section
OF the city by calling out all the fire
protection apparatus as a joke"
Men have been injured seriously on
raise alarms, and al least one man has
been Killed, according to the memory of
some OF the fire department officials
The cost Of a false alarm, when figured
up accurately several years ago, amount
ed to an average of $50 in money. At
that time n less number of engines ran
TO a hre than now and the engines had
put TWO horses. Now. with from four
TO SIX engines and several trucks and
perhaps water tower running on a first
alarm the cost is figured at between $50
and $780, WV
Situation Averaged Up.
10 illustrate what a false alarm means
10 the city In men, horses, wear and
tear and lack Of fire protection, let 1t be
assumed that false alarm is turned in
from box $50, at 18th and r streets north
west, In the heart of the business dis
trict. Engine company No. is first due,
as 1t has but a short run down 10Th
street from its house between G and II
streets. 1t brings with it an engine,
dhree horses, a combination chemical
engine and hose wagon. six horses and
eight men. Following No. 2 in close or
der would come engine companies Nos
Id, IA and 9. each with the same equip
ment OF. apparatus, horses and men. The
water tower. three horses and four men,
would run up the steep 18th street hill
stationed with No. 3 truck, which would
also run with eight men and three horses.
No. truck would also run with its
eight men and three horses. Deputy Chief
ooiAA' dAAs Will d uOTSe ana driver. and
Third Battalion Chief Proctor, with
horse and driver, would be due.
Total Of Force Summoned.
In all. that false alarm would call out
ffty-six men and thirty-five horses.
Should it be a slippery day, every horse
would have to be ''roughed'' on returning
home, cost Of $35 in money and much
IN time, and more still in inadequate pro-
lection while 1t is going on. While the
men and apparatus are out q tremendous
circle OF the city of Washington Is left
unprotected in case OF a real fire. which
might break out just as the engines
were leaving their houses ON the false
alarm.
If an outline should be drawn on the
District map showing the nearest en-
gines to the unprotected business section
during the minutes occupied in finding
false alarm 1t would be seen that the
nearest engine companies to the heart Of
the city's industry would be No. /, on K
street between 18th and 18th streets: No
4. on Maryland avenue between ~ and
9Th streets, and No. 3. on Delaware
avenue and G street northeast great
circle. with its limits a mile away from
the center of the section to be protected.
Resulting Delay and Labor.
The lack Of protection extends over
Sdiy1HS ieHSIH OF Time. Inc engines go
back slowly. When they do reach the
house for a few minutes there is the
work of unhitching cleaning I'D, pulling
out fires and getting back to the shape
necessary for a quick hitch and flying
start on another alarm. If a real alarm
should come in during the process of
getting the apparatus back into shane
the men would lose valuable minutes
perhaps just enough time to make the
difference between ten-dollar fire and a
thousand or ten-thousand dollar blaze
AND all because some one wanted to
see the engines run.
LOSES THREE FINGERS.