FIRE!—I HAPPENED TO BE THERE.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 18, Issue 42, 24 May 1907, Page 4

FIRE!—I HAPPENED TO BE THERE.

TO THE EDITOR, Sir,— ll you will allow me space I will comment, briefly, on Friday’s fire in your town. I was aroused from ray home by the pealing of the fire-alarm, and made straightaway for the burning building. Almost simultaneously the hose-reel, raced along by several volunteers, arrived on the scene. When a fire-plug was located the hose was run off the reel, A civilian who had just forced open the door of the burning building, then moved on the reel until he secured a coupling, to which he afterwards attached the nozel—and it was done fairly smart, too. Although the water was absent, a fireman made his presence known by. storming at the volunteer for not leaving the Brigade’s property alone. The firemen could, says he, attend to all the necessary work. Too true! but he omitted to say when they arrived. The firemen who did not see how well the fire blazed, have since been informed. In the meantime another fire-member was to be seen in trouble at the plug, and was then joined by still another member of the Light —I mean, active Brigade. No hydrant! no water!! grand fire!!! The Captain’s stern voice sounded, "go, bring a hydrant from the Station." Anxious to obey his superior officer’s command, a fireman of many, many winters struck out his stiff stumps to secure the hydrant. I don't know the exact distance, but judging by the time taken it would not exceed five miles. If the messenger had not returned with a nozel, instead of a hydrant, the trip was worthy of recognition. A great run was then put in to the hose-reel, where a hydrant was resting, and as the result of good return to the plug the hydrant assisted in bringing the water through the hose to where the young man, who was still holding the branch, had patiently watched for the water to flow, Everything now in going order, the firemen were anxious to handle the branch, so the civilian, giving way for better men, retired, Here a great joke (?) was manufactured. No sooner had the civilian turned to move away than the water was played full oa to him. Although great strategy was displayed, it will remain a mystery to all present how it was, with such a force of water, the victim was not brought to earth. The trick was a mad act, but the surroundings were extremely funny. Laugh! we simply roared. The wetted man soon appeared in the front rank again and invited a continuation of the joke, seeing that the Brigade was only "playing at firemen," The firemen didn’t take it on, and appeared in dead earnest about the fire—which, by the way, they did not want to wet. The branchmen here deserved great praise, for it was only by playing the water truly and continuously on to a wire fence, and occasionally spraying a tunjble-dgwn building not a hundred yards away, that both were saved. But the firemen’s sport was ended when a Brigade official stepped up to the branchmen with the order to play the water on the fire, as it had burned long enough, The order put into execution soon extinguished the light and no more was seen of the building. We then made tracks home, discussing on our way the clever work done by the Brigade—-hide-a-go-seek with the hydrant, the saving of the wife fence and propped-up building in the vicinity, and last, but not least, the idiotic trick of squirting the person who did the creditable work at the fire. Thanking you, Sir, for the space of this letter, I will conclude with a serious hint to your Brigade, Even supposing they wanted to see the building removed by fire, the way the Brigade shaped was little short of foolery —slow to begin, nothing and nobody in the right place, and abundance of bungling generally. Judging from your Brigade performance on Friday night, had the fire taken place in more closely-settled premises the outcome must have meant a clean sweep. A word of mine in time May bring your firemen in line To indulge in a little training; So when the fire-bell rings, They'll speedily get on their things; With the hose not wet peoples’ clothes, But drench the roaring blaze I —RMer. —I am, etc. The Man at the Joiueb.