Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-17
Prompt Help
Is Sent From
Baltimore.
DEBT OF 1904
QUICKLY REPAID
90 Firemen Rush to
Capital at Top
Speed.

Baltimore has repaid a 24-year-old
debt to the city of Washington. 1t was
a debt greater than any financial obli-
gation-the obligation to serve neigh
Dor in time OF need.
At 10 o'clock this morning 10 COM
panies of the Baltimore Fire Depart
ment. including about 80 firemen and
officials. swept out of this city on their
way back to Baltimore after fighting
shoulder to shoulder with Washington's
firemen throughout the morning to
check the series of incendiary blazes
that aroused the city.
II was in 1904 that Washington fire
fighters battled for two days beside
those of Baltimore TO conquer the dis
astrous fire that swept Baltimore's
business district. For "a years Balti-
more remembered the debt and stood
ready to repay it when the time came.
The call came this morning.
A few minutes after O'Clock this
morning Fire Chief Watson telephoneo
succinctly to the Baltimore depart
ment. I'VE need help" Less than 10
minutes later Tenth Battalion Chief
George D. Otter's little red car went
dashing through the streets and into
the darkness on the 4o-mile run to the
Capital.
Wild Ride Over Road.
Behind him were Deputy CHIEF Lew
in II. Burkhart, Capt. Charles 7, Gal
lion. superintendent Of machinery. ano
p w wilkinson. secretary Of the nre
hoard And behind them. at one-uin-
ute intervals. came the 10 companies
and an ambulance III charge OF Dr. e.
n. Ogden. surgeon OF the cepartInen1
IL was q Wild ride as the huge nre
fighters. with headlights blazing ai.o
sirens wide open. went snrieAihs
through the darkness. Cars scuEr'eo
TO the side OF the road. lights nared ur
in houses and curtains were raised n
the mighty cavalcade plunged past.
The little red cars were lar III the
lead. skimming over the road at n oixxs
pace Behind them. packed CLOSELY to-
gether. were the engines. swaying
bouncing and lurching from side 70
side. bur keeping up their speed. III
the rear. ready for any emergency was
the ambulance
A few minutes after 3-leSs than Sc
minutes from the time he left his mouse
Chief Otter drew UP at No. 10 engine
house. The other officials were close
behind him. and not many minutes
later the entire force was here. NO. 10
engine oi Baltimore made the run IN
exactly hour and II minutes,
Burkhart stationed flve OF his COM
panies---Nos, &. 10. 5S. Sc and 2i--at
No. 10 engine house. and from there
they were called 10 the fire at Four
ieenth and w streets. where they fought
side by side with the District iiremen
until Sis o'clock. Other companies
were sent To Nos, J. and Is engine
houses 10 take the places Of local COM
panies that were out lighting the fsteS,
The other FIVE Baltimore companies
we're Nos. IA, I, 20 81 and s. All saw
active work before the night vas over,
Visitors Complete Job.
BY Q O'Clock most OF the work was
done The Baltimore firemen returned
10 their local stations for rest. sand
wiches and coffee Bnrkhart and Will
kinson went for tour Of inspection.
They returned Just before 10 and an
nounced that the work had been done
without single accident,
The motors started again, More lei-
surely this time the detachment drew
away from Washington. while In their
ears echoed the cheers Of Washington
!iremen for debt we'll paid