Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-21
FIRE DRILL TEST
HELD At SCHOOLS
Irving and Grant Buildings
Emptied in Less Than Two
Minutes.
NO CONFUSION Is SHOWN
Pupils Evidence Results of Careful
h.. Training a. Trial Il Un-
announced
NO CONFUSION is SHOWN

In line with The Argus editorial OF
Monday might, calling attention to the
need Of FIRE drills IN the public schools,
Superintendent h B. Hayden yester-
day afternoon invited a representative
of The Argus to accompany him to sew
erl OF the buildings and learn from &C
tual observation just what Is being
done IN the Rock Island schools.
Two institutions we're visited, the
Irving and the Grant Neither of the
principals at these schools had been
informed of the fact that a visit was
contemplated, 1t being the desire of
Superintendent Hayden 10 take the
pupils unawares and in this way pre-
sent a fair test OF the fire drills. Ev
cry pupil in the Irving building was
out of doors in less than a minute
and half after the first alarm had
been sounded, while the Grant build
ind was emptied in one minute and
forty seconds. This is especially good
after taking into consideration the fact
that during the cold months it is de
cidedly impracticable to conduct the
drill and ask the pupils to go out into
the cold air, and also when it is re-
membered that the new pupils who
have begun their studies this semester
have not had the opportunity to be
come entirely familiar with drill regu-
lations.
GONG SOUNDS ALARM.
At the Irving school, the pupils had
Just come in from recess and as soon
as they were comfortably settled, the
gong in the hall was rung three times.
Immediately after this first alarm is
sounded the pupils arrange themselves
In lines. After a wait of a few sec
onds the second alarm was sounded.
One ring OF the gong means exit by
way Of the front doors, two rings
rear doors and three rings all exits.
The second alarm was three rings
and Immediately eight boys rushed
out and threw open all the doors.
These boys are known as the fire pa
troll and after throwing the coors
open, it is their duty to stand guard
and assist any pupils who might fall
down or in any way become weak or
exhausted. Another boy has as his
special duty the care of the telephone
and in case of fire he is supposed to
phone the fire department.
TEACHER LAST TO LEAVE.
Before the pupils leave the room,
each teacher sees to it that all of her
pupils are in line and she is the last
10 leave the room. Immediately after
the doors had been thrown open the
pupils passed out of doors in double
file, the smaller pupils through the
rear exit and the older ones by way
of the front door. Although they
walked very briskly, there was no run
ming or crowding, and perfect order
was preserved throughout. In just one
minute and twenty-five seconds after
the fire alarm had been sounded every
one of the $50 children was safely out
OF the building, a record of which
Miss Witherspoon NAV we'll be proud
inasmuch as the test came without
warning.
GRANT PUPILS WELL TRAINED.
The Grant building was next visited
Here the same general good order wa'
preserved. there being no attempt a
rushing or crowding. AT this school
all OF the 230 pupils were out of the
building In one minute and forty sec
onds. This time is slightly in excess
of that consumed at the Irving, blu
the pupils at Grant school are 10
the most part smaller, while a grea
many OF them are also new.
During the spring and fan month";
these drills are practiced regularly
and the attendant results were plainl,
evidenced in the behavior of the pu
pills.
JANITOR ALSO INSTRUCTED.
The janitors OF each school hav
within the past few weeks been give