El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-10-01
Riding In Real Fire Engine
And Army Tank Makes Trip
To Fort Bliss Full OF Sport

Is more truly thrilling. but 70 the
I uninitiared. the practice run was exc
] lllararlnE, 10 say the least While
T waiting for the alarm" we were
I taken through the fire station and
1 shown the equipment which is as up
I city and includes two small chemical
cars. one Of which IS the chiefs, two
I bumpers. and one combination
I chemical and pumper- All but one OF
/ these cars IS q part OF the new
I equipment obtained since last Feb
ruary. We even saw the dormitory or
I whatever IL is called.
Rides With the Chief.
One thing which impressed up very
much was the preparations for speed
which are made BY the boys" BY
the side Of each cot stands q pair OF
T boots 4 pair Of trousers. with one
t leg rolled down over each bootton
I provides a handy method Of dress
I ing" in just about as little time as
I is possible. The alarm comes in, the
Z fireman springs out Of bed. steps into
the boots, pulls up his trousers and
slides down the pole, where he
finds his coat and helmet
Being a guest, we are allowed 70
ride with the CHIEF and as a further
courtesy. even allowed TO turn the
crank which grinds out that unholy
noise known as the fire siren Minus
Windshield and TOP. and going at
81 miles an hour, We get IN the way
Of quite a bit OF breeze which only
adds TO the fun- We adore the way
IN which everything and everybody
makes way for that outrageous siren
and We long for Mills and Oregon
streets al some busy hour Sc that
our importance might have even
greater scope for action.
Rides a Real Tank.
The nFafafnrr-~- 81 unrs--
fire department IS well demonstrated
by the run which would be interest
Ing as an exhibition alone It is com
plete, even TO attaching two lines OF
hose and turning on huge streams Of .
water.
The force comprises Is men on two 4
shifts OF p hours each.
We are next allowed 10 participate .
IN the exhibition OF the tank corus ]
comprised Of 10 tanks. -Four OF these I
we're used 1or the review, which /
passed the reviewing stand. made a i
circle and climbed quite a stiff little
nil a hundred OF so feet nigh and
nearly perpendicular. Each tank has
e crew OF pilot and gunner. We are
me gunner We don a queer looking
-eaLner helmet. climb over the front
part OF the thing and enter through
a small 'front.' aperture. With the
loors closed, we have but a narrow
sllL through which 20 watch our I
progress We leave the doors opeu Z
and acquire e. first class working
.1no7velcge OF the quality and quantity
~ texas sand as adjacent 20 and con
lected with the fort
Suppose II would Turn over
With a fearful clatter and bang the
ming starts out at fully four miles
IN hour, though they tel Us that b
an and has made as much as eight
SO ride eeFenelV for a few Yards ]
~ men mere is a frightfui wrench
--4 alleiFl1e szluuluE effect which ]
makes us grab for something 10
lang onto and ask what's the mat
en- We learn that we are merely
ni1tinE our course and that this ir
llr customary way OF doing IL We
'lso learn that last year, while max
-5 tlls exhibition, three OF the tanks
urned over Standing as we are.
FeQged IN an upright position with
.ot more than an inch OF room 10 I
pare on al sides, we aren't as 7ror-
ga as We might be a. the prospect
Pc value OF that padded helmet
fnlch receives various knocks as we
ursue our rough path
we adjust ourselves as comforta b1v
3 possible In the limited space ana
ecome quite blase as time goes On
"a nothing appens-nothine but
olse ana sand Our pilot makes a re-
--Ik ABOUT the heat but we think he
speaEing Of our comfort and saw
On, quite thanks" But he doesn't
ear US any more than we hear him.
o it's all right
The End OF a Perfect Day.
Our calm eyes become rather Wild
We see on looking out again. a
-Eu-ar mountain OF sand. ahead OF rs
ward which our pilot Is making with
le most evident determination TO
.-t y ~ rignt now We gaze fasci-
ateo and after awhile come to real
e that We are more than Ialf yvav
2 and that nothing has hauuened
eL 50 we begin 10 enjoy ft and
ute regret the ultimate reaching 81
pc TOP as the huge numbering thing
tiles with a mighty hears into
.snt SIDE up position again and our
.de IS over.
We finished the day exceedingly
lsIy with thin veneer OF nice
lack grease and we finished. con-
need that the military carnival IS
oins 20 De wonderfully interest
3 ana spectacular event It win BE-
sp-endld demonstration and exhIbf-
On Of the beauty and efficianrv
1d skin OF the different phases ~
orE and life az the fort
2 inally, remembering that we didn't
ave 10 see ourself in that helruer. We
a-lze that there was ABSOLUTELY
7tning 10 mar a perfect day.
A Q rue ra-f-z . . &C. 49,.