Newark post., 1922-02-22
Lady Fire Fighters
Wear Boudoir Caps
First Women's Company in
Delaware is Seriously In
clined, However, and
Long for Blaze

pany in Delaware is frivolous either
in uniform or intentions, but being |
much in earnest over their new jobs,
they laugh at the idea of quick
change before leaving to put out
neighborhood fire.
They all live at Holloway Terrace
about five miles from Wilmington, but
within sight, across hills and fields, OF
factories where fire apparatus is
manufactured. They compose what
will be known as the Holloway Ter
race Ladies' Fire Auxiliary.
They have been organized a week
with a dozen members, who have
pledged themselves to drop their
brooms, frying pans and washboards
at the sound of clang from the
heavy but musical iron tire suspended
on a scaffoldng on hill in the centre
of the small community.
That fire bell is imposing. To one
part of the community it is source
of pride, which resents the laughter
it arouses in certain disinterested
citizens who can't see the necessity
for volunteer fire company and have
refused to join. These last say it's
Joke"
Objection to that huge circle of iron
which casts an important shadow over
square hole nearby which is the
foundation for a new tirehouse,
amounts almost to a neighborhood
feud.
1t has made the women who are
backing their men folk in their deter
mination to protect themselves against
fire, very angry.
Their fire department, housed tenn
porarily in a tin portable building and
consisting of three chemical engines
purchased at a government auction
sale at Pigeon Point, is only four
months old.
1t took lot of civic pride and
everything, to think of it and carry
the plan into execution, and they've
no love for anyone who "knocks" it.
"Those two women who live over
there won't join," one Of the fire
fighters said, adjusting her boudoir
cap and taking a hitch at her Topping
goloshes "The one woman's husband
won't let her and the other doesn't
like one of the women who joined.
Awfully foolish, say |.
when the men get two of these
chemical engines mounted on a small
truck chassis we're going to learn to
run it. In the meantime we're going
to have fire drills and learn how to
operate these machines"
"These machines" are of the type
known as "scout" chemical engines
and have been little used, so little, in
fact, the red paint on them is still
shiny and the seventy-foot hose new
and ready for action.
The tanks hold forty-ive gallons.
Every time the lady "hosemen" have
demonstration with the apparatus
it's going to cost the department one
dollar.
Incidentally it costs the curious Hol-
loway Terrace citizen who hits the
"bell' when there is no fire to justify
it, one dollar fine.
A delicate question arises occasion
ally, as when the youngsters perform
on the iron circle and flee, unfined
into nearby woods.
They decided to have fire drill on
their account. Before going to bed
they built bonfire down in the
woods.
around midnight" narrated one OF
them who was wearing an older
brothers service cap and uniform with
a swagger that hid it's bulk, 81 jump
ed up and wanged the bell. Two OF
the fellows came with me, and while
everyone was wonderin' what it was
all about, we put the bonfire out"
Houses in the Terrace are widely
scattered. The community has beer
divided into five districts bounded by
its three avenues and nine streets anC
the alarm code locating the fire on one
of these avenues or streets, will fol,
low prolonged sounding of the iron.
It's going to cost 81 800 to build the
new house in which to place the ap
paratus, but the fire fighters plan tc
do the labor themselves, assisted by
the women who have outlined plans
for enough pie socials and bazaars tt
raise twice that amount of money.
The ladies had their first lesson il
fire-hghting Saturday.
"Oh, hope the first fire will be {
good one," breathed one stout member
who, red in the face from exertion
was helping to push the engines bacl
into the tin building.
$50 say we all" flashed in the grin.
of the others.