Omaha daily bee., 1921-09-18
R !! II
By EDWARD BLACK.

illuminating chronicle in this
manner:
~, the midnight hour OF Jan.
uary u, when the inhabitants OF
Brink Haven were wrapped in ma
lures fond embraces OF sleep, the
wild. weird cry OF Fire! Fire!
Firer rang out in laundering
tones upon the midnight frosty
air. calling in no unmistakable
voice TO the unconscious slcepers
TO fee Tor their lives"
The same book also contains
another cub reporter classic, pub
lished some years ago by lid
Bits. II began:
Paralyzing Suddenness.
The angels OF night had
spread their ebony wings over the
vast city and stiffness as deep
and profound as that which en-
velops the starlit, trackless
prairie was brooding over the
rcd-tiled cottages OF Kimberly
Crescent, wherein the weary
workers, worn out by their Her
culean labors, we're snatching an
all too brief interval OF repose on
the lotus-scented breast OF Nor
phcus, when from out the ccrie
void Of silence there rang forth
with paralyzing suddenncss
stentorian shout OF 'Fire!"
II is said that Nero jazzed up
his fiddle when Rome was being
consumed by the element OF in
cineration, but whether the old
ruler was mctivated by desire
to keep cool, or whether he mere
ly wanted to accelerate the cf-
forts OF the fire department, is a
detail OF history that has not been
Cleared up. The old records do
not disclose that he was a mem-
Der Of volunteer or paid fire de-
partment.
Compelling Appeal.
These who guard property and
life against the ravagcs OF the
fiery element are the minute men
of the community. There always
has been I keen interest in the
spectacular features Of a FIRE and
the dramatic life Of the fireman.
The sound OF the FIRE bell has a
compelling appeal to old and
young. The boy in his day
dream plays the role OF fireman,
cherishing . hope that some day
he might be a real fire-fghter.
Much Of the picturesqueness OF
the freman's life has been re-
placed by modern mechanics and
methods, al in the interest OF
efficiency. The red shirt worn by
fircmen years ago has been dis
carded, and horses which rushed
from their stalls to suspended har-
ness have been replaced by mo-
torized apparatus. No horses
are now used in the Omaha de-
partment. The complement OF
machines consists Of 40 pieces OF
motor apparatus-pumpers, aerial
trucks, water towers, combinas
ticn trucks, chiefs cars and work
cars.
Organized In 1860.
Chief Charles Salter's expert
cnce in the fire department covers
a span Of As years. beginning on
June /, 1876, when he first entered
the ranks as member Of the old
volunteer department.. Omaha
was something Of a country town
when the present chief began to
..run with the machine" The
first organization was known as
the Pioneer Hook and Ladder
company, No. l." started in 1860
by prominent citizens.
When the chief joined during
the centennial exposition year
there were only a few pieces OF
apparatus. The volunteer fire lad
dies worked at their respective em-
ployments and responded when
the bell of the Methodist church
was rung. At first they pulled
the apparatus by means OF a rope,
and it was rather an hcnored po-
sition, that Of city fireman, in
those days. A fireman at that
time held police authority to the
extent that he could command the
assistance of any bystander.
Used Hand Pumps.
Hand pumps were the first ma
chimes used, being displaced by
steamers and horse-drawn appar-
atus. Water was drawn from =
series OF cisterns which were kept
filled with river water, each hav-
ing capacity of 1000 gallons.
On May S, 1885. the volunteer
company met for the last time in
it. official capacity, making way
for metropolitan department.
Chief Salter has been identified
with the department from the days
OF volunteers to its present
strength of 325 men. working on
the double-shift plan, with 23 FIRE
stations and 40 pieces OF modern
motor apparatus.