Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-17

as tho marchers passed that tho su-
pcrheatcd flannel shirt. and tho steel
like helmet, would overwhc,m tho
wearer and bring him to his grove
prematurely as one looked on.
visits OF companies from one town to
another. and rounds OF gaycty and
banquets, u swapping Of gifts. OF pho
tographs Of individuals or groups ana
when the intimncies became very
close. there would be the bestowal OF
horns. with formal presentations, that
sometimes prolonged the visits and
attendant ceremonies week or long
er, the apparatus Of the visiting COM
pany being absent, and consequently
out OF service for that period.
With Steamers Came Rivalry.
With tho coming OF tho steamers
there were contests as 20 the rela-
tive squirting capacities Of different
makes and rivalry as to which com
pany could drag the heavy machines
with long ropes first To the fire, OBJ
tain possession of the nearest fire plug,
and get the first stream on the flames
Then later with horses as the pro-
pelling power, there We're hot "brush-
es" along the streets I'm the direction
of the fires, the race often dwarnnt
the Importance of the fire M the esti-
mate of the participants.
There were, indeed. many thrills In
tho life of the fireman of half a CEN
tury ago. or earlier, and there seemed
to be much pleasure To be extracted
out of the volunteer service, which will
all give way now to work which has
become serious. perilous labor along
well-deflned lines, more or less scien-
ktifically prescribed The task OF a
fireman requires greater skin. too in
these days. when the buildings are
tall and sections of cities are built up
closely ana filled with electric light
and trolley wires. all carrying death.
When tho Horses Came.
It was four or five years after the
acquisition of steam fire engines that
horses We're employed as motive
power. Then the development Of fire
service was thought to have reached
4 the highest possible point OF ef-
/ flciency. The horse was, indeed n
great advance, and added 70 per cent,
possibly. to the ability of the compan-
/ les. He. too, increased the pictur-
esque side of the service. for the horse
| lent action and spirit TO the work OF
getting the apparatus TO fires that
was thrilling. One could not imagine
any combination so typifying speed
power and vigor than two. and n,
times, three, horses abreast. and leap
| ing In long strides and bounds
snatching the heavy steamer to fire
With flashing eyes and nostris emit
ting smoke-lilse vapor on cool days
they eXcellently envisioned action and
eagerness. for the horses came TO en-.
Joy the run quite as much as the
men. The Delaware Co. claims to
have introduced horses in the depart
m snt.
There were some splendid animals
I'm the department. and there are still
stories told of their intelligence which
illustrate how closely the equine and
man can be brought into cooperation
under the proper kind of influence
In the parades they showed to fine ad.
vantage, Tor they We're we'll cared foi
and enjoyed tho ponIp of pageantry
and the admiration OF spectators.
The auto engines followed the hors-
cs, but they are only OF recent inno-
walton. They mark another big ad-
Vance in speed and efficiency, and the,
today seem TO mark the highest de.
gree Nf perfection that tho fire service
can attain. But there, unquestionably
will come something that will render
the auto, and perhaps the engine. too
obsolete. for advancement and devel.
cpment follow fast these progressive
days.
Not Minute Lost These Days.
These days, too. much depends OF
arriving at the fire with the least pos
sible loss of time. for &c is conceded
at the outbreak of the flames that
minute makes a great difference il
the destructive work resulting n,
more would there bc tolerated the "ol,
watch" that used 10 sit in THE towc
of City Hall, and scan the city'a house
tops from horizon to horizon at night
with eyes supposed TO be keenly aler
for the sparkle OF flame or the tell
tale curl OF smoke. The old fire watci
gave way to the present effective
Gamewell alarm system, which was In
stalled in 1882, and in operation OF
July 4 of that year.
In view OF the slothful methods Q
fire service of the earlier days, es
pecially of century ago, Il in re
markably fortunate that wilmingto,
escaped SO well as she has iron
flames.
That there were not greater mum
: ber of disastrous fires is due TO tn
fact that the early builders erecte,
, their houses and stores detached or Il
groups Of not more than two or three
They rarely exceeded two or thre
stories In height and often were onl,
, one story tall.
} In the early days the fire fighter
were almost all property owners or
ganized for mutual self protection
and for the community welfare Their
J was more real public service and pub
! lie spirit in those less selfish days
for the people gave of themselves in
, dividual, personal effort. not alone o
their money in taxes for the advance
: ment and betterment and protection
of the community.
Prominent Men Ran With "Masheen.
The personnel of the early fire de
partment is interesting inasmuch a
II brings to mind almost all the promi
nent business and professional men c
that period. Indeed. the service en-
listed the efforts of the most progres
sive citizens and q roll Of some c
the oldest companies would seem lil
. a page Of a social register. Carso
Wilson, for example. was one OF tn
\ first TO enlist under the banner c
the Friendship co. He was the firs