THE WAY TO FIGHT FIRES.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 6009, 12 October 1887, Page 4

THE WAY TO FIGHT FIRES.

A correspondent of the Napier Daily Telegraph, at present on a visit to San Francisco, writes as follows on the subject of the Oakland Fire Brigade and the way they handle fires in that exceedingly pretty suburb of 'Frisco : — The fire brigades are maintained by the city, and I find the cost for the last year was 35,000 dollars. There are four steam fire-engines with their companies, two horse power companies, two hook and ladder companfe?, and forty-eight alarm stations. I am mentioning these details as I think they may be of use. They have 21 horses ready night and day, and 6550 feet of rubber hose. The other day I was standing just in front of the City HalJ, when a tremendous boom sonndod from the belfry. I looked at the clock and found it was 3.25. I wondered what it meant, when another boom ?ras heard. I thoaght. it must be a fire. At that ins! ant out issued a b team fire engine with two horses afc full gallop, and I heard " Fire ; Washington Street !"

So away I followed with the crowd. The distance was about as far as from the post office to Neal and Close's. The place Beemed full of Bmoke. A large block of buildings used as a steam laundry was on fire. When I reached the spot it was literally soaked with water — three steamers at full blast, the hoße all over the street, and the men on the top of the building, and in twenty minutes the engines were back in their sheds, the hose rolled xip and the fire completely out. The whole block of wooden buildings, that would reach from about Neil and Close's to Higgin's, were in danger, but the whole thing was over and the street again clear. So little, indeed was thought of it that the papers had only a four-line report. I could not make out how the horses were ready in so short a time, so I went to the station to see whether the harness was always kept on. No : there stood the horses feeding as if nothing had happened, with nething but the headstall and the bit loose on one side. I looked at the engine, and there the mystery was solved. The shafts were raised up, and the whole of the harness was ready poised. Dirjefetl^ the bell sounded, the horses, with^one] jerk, were out of their stalls, walked' toy the shafts (each )to his - own; OLe% 'down; •dropped the shafts, everything closed frithC a spring, and away. The"- harness jwtifl j Invented by a young saddler in 'Frisc<|J He sold his patent for lOOOdols, and Jfc y now in use ail over the States. _'. ! ., (. I ■%.

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