The Washington times., 1915-06-25
China Fights Fire With
Yells, Gongs, and Noise
Mark Twan's Immortal Advice to Firemen Improv-
ed Upon by Happy Peking Throng- Apparatus
Now Used Dates Fro Antediluvan Period.
By OSCAR KING DAVIS.

guard OF yeilers came the banner men,
My first impression of these was that
they were guards of the police line,
badges of authority to help keep back
the teeming millions OF Peking. who
swarm to fire Just as they do to a
dog fight. or any other evidence OF
But a few minutes observation con-
vinced me that the banner men were
really there to add entertainment for
the crowd. They ran back and forth
throughout the entire contest, yelling
all the time and waving their banners
frantically, and I could not make out
that they ever did anything else
Arrive the Lanterns.
Behind the manner men came a file
of others bearing paper lanterns on
tall poles The lanterns were large and
of various shapes, each of one tallow
candle power They took position close
| to the walls Of the burning building,
and 1t presently appeared that their func-
| ton was to light the hosemen to the
| fire, so that the fighters could see ex.
| actiy where to turn their stream OF
water. e.
| Next arrived one of the larger en-
gines, took position at the we'll stretch.
| ed line of small garden hose and
manned the brakes.. With the engine ine
scattered about the space In front or
the gate and began to encourage the
men on the brakes to pump and Keep
pumping.
ed the nozzleman up, TO within hfteen
feet Of the fire and indicated the spot
where he was to play his stream The
engine BEGAN to work. the water TO to
|, fight was on. Also the yelling.
Into the midst of that turmoil came q
group OF small boys beating lot OF
brass gongs. Following behind them
were two Of the smaller engines.
No wells were available for these en-
gines. None was expected. They brought
their water supply with them. 1t came
In tub for one and In cart for the
other. The tub was about the size Of an
American washtub, but deeper, and was
half full of water. 1t was borne by two
| coolies.
Are Thoroughly Happy.
The cart carried eight of the five gal
lon tins made familiar to this country
Iby the Standard OIL Company. Each was
half full OF water. The cart took posi-
ton beside one engine. the tub was
placed beside the other. The water was
poured into the engine. the brakes man.
ned, lines of half inch hose ran out, and
the re-enforcements were at work. All
the time the bugles sounded. the gongs
were mauled and the whole crowd kept
yelling.
The tub men and the tin cart went
away for more water preceded by a sec
ton of gong beaters. Everybody was
thoroughly happy and the fire burned
brightly. The lantern men stood theii
ground close to the blaze, despite the
danger to their equipment, and despite
the fact that without them there woulc
be obviously no method OF informing th'
nozzlemen where to throw the water.
so the Peking department fought tina
fire. Z
II Then the American marine guard ar
rived on the scene. The fire was mex
, to their quarters, where they have
sure enough water supply and a stean
pump Then ran a line of regulation
, hose down. jumped into the fire, an,
, put II out, thus bringing to an un
. timely close an excellent entertainment
, The disciples Of Mark Twain wer
still yelling.
Copyright. 1915. by the Chicago Tri
'bune.)