The Washington times., 1921-02-01
LIFE OF A FIREMAN
N0C|NCH, HE SAYS
Reporter Who Tried II Couldn't
Sleep for SnarIs Of Depart
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pennies. They couldn't. Article
xviii. section So. that's why.
Like all ambitious men. I want 10
advance. So, l got out the regula-
tions and read up on the captains
| duties.
SKIPPER Is A HOUSEWIFE.
! find, though. that the captain is
like a housewife: he's got TO see that
the beds are made and that they are
clean. He's got 10 see that the metal
10 polished and that water doesn't
flow into the street In cold weather.
He's got to see that the horses are
educated so they'll know what to do
when the gong rings.
He has to politely escort visitors
through his house" and must shoe lit.
tie children on the grounds. He must
keep the gutter clean.
On Sunday he IL the SKY pilot" and
must keep the boys from playing
cards and other games.
He must keep track OF every bit Of
equipment and horse feed, or gasoline
and oil II motor equipment Is used.
He must familisrize himself with
"all buildings. structures. hydrants.
streets and roadwsys In his district"
and see that his subordinate officers
do likewise.
Every time a member OF the com
pany goes out into the street for any
purpose the captain must play daddy
and see that the boy has his shoes
shined, his hair combed, and that he
has a shave and a clean. well pressed
uniform.
| CAPTAIN IS UNENvIED.
On second thought / don't think I
will be a captain.
Lieutenants and sergeants don't get
II in the neck so much, but even their
jobs are bad enough. ! think--clang.
clang. there goes the alarm. I'm Off.
On the way to the fire the driver.
obeying article %, section o, was COM
| PEELED to slow his horses to a walk In
turning corners. He made pretty fair
speed anyhow. In passing movie
theater. which was open. the captain
had TO order the warning signals dis
continuedso as not to disturb the audi
ence. article o. section 90.
Arriving at the fire the first thing.
as prescribed by the rules. was to see
that the horses were embarrassed
and led away.
Several persons were trapped on the
and one lady. when carried her
down, offered me 500 for saving her
life. I had to remind her, however,
that mo officer or member of the de-
partment shall accept any reward,
gift, or donation. for services rem
dered In his capacity as a member of
the Fire Department, without the ap-
proval Of the Board of Commits
sioners."
Then. too, the rescue could not be
made part of my personal record,
because / hadn't risked my life or
run any danger of personal injury and
| hadn't shown extraordinary tudg-
ment. zeal, or ingenuity" in effecting
the rescue, as pro--ed in the gen.
eral rules.
j knew that II the board did ap-
prove OF the lady giving me the money
i probably would not get IL anyhow,
as Article Xxx provides that "all re-
wards, proceeds of gifts, and emolu-
ments that may be received by any
member of said department (for ex-
trS ordinary services), except such
part thereof as the said Commits
sioners may allow to be retained by
member of said department" would be
turned into the policemen and fire.
mems relief fund.
NOTHING TO DO BUT WORK.
We returned from the fire and
cleaned the equipment while awaiting
the next call, which came about an
hour later. This was Just small
blaze, caused by a defective fiue, and
was soon stopped. When the third
alarm came I was pretty tired. There
is section referring to fatigue
which says that "in no case shall
fatigue from duty at a previous fire
be accepted as an excuse for failure
to answer an alarm" There is an.
other nice rule which says no MEM
ber shall perform his duties in a
| spiritless manner. Imagine a chap
acting full of pep when he's dog
tired!
One of the boys began walking
back and forth.
Ssh! sh!" cautioned the stable de-
tail. shut up, you idiot, you are dis
turbing the horses. They are lying
down. II you want to walk take off
your shoesw
Whereupon he read section so Of
the general rules, providing that
horses shall not be disturbed when
they are lying down.
Though we were tired we were not
permitted to go to sleep. Section 116,
paragraph B, general rules, stating
that mo member shall sleep while on
day duty" God knows why this or
der was written. It's easy enough to
wake a man up when he's needed
Finally @ o'clock came around and
the shift was relieved. On the way
home had to stop at the police sta
ton and tell the desk sergeant where
he could find me IL was wanted dur
ing the night. This Is a strict re-
quirement any man being liable to
call at any time of the day or night.
No excuse will be accepted for failure
to tell the police where you will be at
every hour when OF duty.
THEATER DUTY IS NICE.
Now / want TO tell you about thea
ter duty. That's something nice.
All flremen assigned to theater duty
are required to report at the theater
three quarters of an hour before the
performance and must remain until
the theater is emptied. The first duty
is to tap in from the fire alarm box