Year: 1877

a loud-sOunding bell breaks the silence
with several imperative strokes following
each other in quick and startling success
son-the cause IN electric current, the ef-
feet like the crack of doom in limited
area The tremen spring out of their
beds simultaneously, without losing the
tenth of II second in hesitation or surprise I;
ten pairs of legs are simultaneously thrust
into the trousers by the bedside, and two
hltches pull on both trousers and boots


The trousers close upon the hips, so that
no time is lost with suspenders or belts,
and the miraculous toilet is complete,
while stand confused by the distressing
suddenness of things. The noise in the
lower room is MS though the foundation of
the building were being blasted by dynam-
ite. The bell is still striking, repeating
the signal five times over, and the last fire
man is halfway down stairs before re-
cover myself and hastily follow him. Be


low stairs horses are htched to the en-
gine, the driver is on the box, the furnace
is lighted, the men have taken their pre-,
curious 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 u place on the narrow platform behind
the engine Hold on for your life" The
advice is scarcely in my ear when the
horses plunge forward, and the machine
rolls off the smooth floor of the station on
IT, the cobbles-stones of the street, which
seem TO fly out of their beds in the rebound
Of the wheels. The excitement bewilders


The stores and houses along the route are
ndistinct; for II moment our feet are shak.
en- from under us as we sharply turn Il
corner; then u greater ease in motion tells
rs that we have left the cobbe-stones OF
Belgian pavement for asphalt or macadam


lhe lremuous finger of the steam-guage
indicates high and higher pressure; the
hrnacc bazes with increasing vehemence
and the smoke-stack emlts dense wreaths
Of mingled smoke and sparks, which are
Blown back upon us, and inclose us in theil
suffocating backness. The experience is
thrilling beyond measure to II novice, and
tle absorbed expression of the men who
have been used to the thing for gears
shows that i. also has some effect upon
hem. The engine stops abruptly in front
of building out of which some smoke is
drifting; the hose is uncoilcd from the ten
der, IL hy irant is tapped and in less thar
FIVE minutes after the first stroke OF the
alarm at the station II stream of water is
thrown upon the fire by the engine, which
sasps for breath, apparently, ut the haste
" Mithin those five minutes twelve or thlr'
teen men have been aroused from SOUND
sleep and have dressed themselves, three
Iorscs have been taken out ola stable anl
attached TO vehicles and men have travel
ed five blocks. But if one should speak tC
he men about it, they would deprecat(
admiration. During the first visit of The
Grand Duke Alexis TO New York, III
alarm of fire was sounded ut the Claren-
don Hotel in Fourth Avenue, and o stream
of water was turned upon the building by
an engine within two minutes and thirty
i've seconds. the engine having been mann
ed and brought four blocks in the mean
time. 1t not unusual for the engine tc
be out of the house and on its way to iir'
within forty seconds of the moment when
the bell first strikes.


We will not remain with the men at thu
fire, which may do little damage, and occu
Nv them for an hour, or reduce millions o
dollars worth of property, and occup!
them for whole night.


As soon as they return to the station, NJ
matter how tired they may be, the engine
is restored to its original condition OF bril-
liancy, the horses are groomed. the harness
washed in CASTLE soap, the hose is read
lusted on the tender, and an hour after
ward, or less, the company is fully prepar
ed to answer another alarm. Each MAJ
places his hat and coat in his seat on tn
} tender, and puts them on after he ha
started for the fire; he also has particula
place and particular duty assigned t.
him in hitching up the horses, which i
done by electric snaps, and in getting tn
engine out of the house, the entire per
formance often consuming no more thai
ten seconds. .--Harper'S for October.