Year: 1877

A loud. sounding bell breaks the silence
with several imperative strokes following
each other in quick and startling success
sion-the cause an electric current, the ef-
feet like the crack of doom in a limited
area. The iiremen spring out of their beds
simultaneously, without losing the tenth Of
a second in hesitation or surprise ten pairs
Of legs are simultaneously thrust into the
trousers by the bedside, and two bitches
pull on both trousers and boots. The trous-
ers close upon the hips, so that no time Is
lost with susT enders or belts, and the mir
aculous toilet Is complete, while stand
confused by the distressing suddenness Of
things. The noise in the lower room Is as
though the foundation Of the building were
being blasted by dynamite. The bell is
still striking, repeating the signal Eve times
over, and the last fireman is halfway down
stairs before recover myself and hastily
follow him. Below stairs horses are hitched
to the engine, the driver is on the box, the
furnace is lighted, the men have taken their
precarlous positions on the tender, the
doors leading to the street are wide open,
and one minute has not yet expired since
the first stroke Of the bell The engineer
taps me on the shoulder, and orders me in
to place on the narrow platform behind
the engine. "IIold on for your lilep' The
The advice is scarcely In my ear when the
horses plunge forward, and the machine
rolls off The smooth floor of the station on
TO The cobble-stones of the street, which
seem TO hy out Of their beds in the rebound
of the wheels. The excitement bewilders
The stores and houses along The route are
indistinct for a moment our feet are shak-
en- from under us as we sharply turn a cor
ner then a greater ease in motion tells us
that we have LEFT tue cObble-slUne or Bel
gian pavement for asphalt or macadam;
the tremulous finger of the steam gauge
indicates high and higher pressure; the
furnace blazes with increasing vehemence,
aud the SIN e-stack emiIs dense wreaths
of min glcd smoke and sparks, which are
blown back upon us, and inclose us in their
sunocating blaekness. The experience is
thrilling beyond measure 10 novice, and
the absorbed expression of the men who
have been used TO the thing for years shows
that il also has some effect upon them. The
engine stops abruptly in front Of build
ing out of which some smoke is drifting;
the hose is uncoiled from the tender, hy-
drant is tapped, and in less than i've min
utes after the first stroke of the alarm a
the station stream of water is thrown up
on the fire by the engine, which gasps for
breath, apparently, at the haste. Within
those five minutes Twelve or thirteen men
have been aroused from sound sleep and
have dressed themselves, three horses have
been taken out Of a stable and attached 10
vehicles, and the vehicles and men have
Travelled five blocks. But il one should
speak to the men about it, they would dep
recate admiration. During the first visit of
the Grand Duke Alexis TO New York, an
alarm of fire was sounded at the Clarendon
Hotel, in Fourth Avenue, anda stream OF
water was turned upon the building by an
engine within Two minutes and thrty-five
seconds, the engine having been manned
and brought four blocks in the meantime.
1t is not unusual for the engine 10 be out
of the house and on its way 10 fire with


in forty seconds of the moment when the
| bell first strikes.


We will not remain with the men at the
fire, which may do little damage, and occu-


ny them for an hour, or reduce millions of
dollars worth OF property, and occupy
them for a whole night.


As soon as they return 10 the station, no


matter how tired they may be, the engine


is restored 10 its original condition of bril-:


liancy, the horses are groomed, the harness


washed in CASTLE soap, the hose is readiust-
ed on the tender, and an hour aflerward, or


less, the company is fully prepared 10 an
swer another alarm. Each man places his


hat and Goa. in his seat on the tender, and


puts them on after he has started for the


ere; he also has particular place and a


particular duty assigned to him in hitching


up the horses, which is done by electric


snaps, and in getting the engine out Of the


house, the entire performance often con-


suming no more than ten seconds.-Hdr-
| per- for OCTOBER