Waynes Stuff 13

HEY GUYS HERE ARE JUST SOME OF THE PIKE POLES VARIOUS FIRE DEPARTMENTS USED.
OURS WERE BASICALLY LIKE THE TOP LEFT CORNER WITH SOME VARIATIONS

BESIDES THESE HOOKS THERE WAS ANOTHER "HOOK" ON A HOOK AND LADDER TRUCK, THEREBY GIVING IT ITS NAME.

THE ABOVE IS THAT HOOK. I HAD TO CREATE THIS PICTURE AS THE ONLY PICTURES I FOUND WEREN'T VERY CLEAR...

IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS ABOUT 12 TO 18 INCHES IN DIAMETER FROM THE PICTURES I SAW. IT WAS ATTACHED TO A LENGTH

OF CHAIN ABOUT 10 FEET LONG. THAT WAS THEN ATTACHED TO A THICK ROPE.

THE HOOK WAS EITHER THROWN OVER THE ROOF BOARDS OR POSITIONED BY THE OTHER END OF A PIKE POLE INSERTED IN

THE HOLLOW END OF THE CIRCULAR HOOK. THEN THIS ROPE WAS ATTACHED TO HORSES TO PULL DOWN THE HOUSE IN

CREATING A FIRE BREAK.. THIS FIRE BREAK PREVENTED THE FIRE FROM LEAPING FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE AND

DESTROYING ENTIRE BLOCKS.

AT TIMES CITIES USED GUNPOWDER TO BLOW UP HOUSES TO CREATE A FIRE BREAK

THERE IS STILL ONE MORE POLE THAT WAS CARRIED LONG, LONG AGO. I HAVEN'T FOUND ANY PICTURES OF IT TO CREATE

ONE. WHAT IT WAS IS A LONG POLE WITH A "SWAB" ON THE END. THE FIREMEN DUNKED THE SWAB IN WATER AND USED IT

TO BEAT OUT FIRES ON THE WOODEN SHINGLES OF HOMES.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

HEY GUYS I KNOW YOU REMEMBER THIS, ESPECIALLY YOU OLD TRUCK GUYS.

THE HARDIE GUN

REMEMBER YOU HELD ONE HAND ON THE HANDLE AND THE OTHER AT THE FRONT ,KIND OF LIKE A MACHINE GUN AND

ATTACKED MR. FIRE.

THE TRIGGER HAD , I THINK, THREE CATCHES THAT ALLOWED YOU TO SET IT ON THE DESIRED WATER FLOW.

NOW I ALSO KNOW SOME OF YOU SENIOR CITIZENS FORGOT WHAT WE KEPT IN THE GLOVE BOX

THE HARDIE GUN ELBOW

NOTE ,I HAD TO CREATE THIS AS I COULDN'T FIND ANY PICTURES OF ONE.

WHILE THE HARDIE GUN WAS ABOUT 2 FEET LONG , THE ELBOW WAS ONLY ABOUT 5 TO 6 INCHES LONG

ALSO WE JUST HAD THE ELBOW IN THE GLOVE BOX. THE TIP YOU SEE ON THE END IS UNSCREWED FROM THE GUN AND

SCREWED ON THE ELBOW, THEN THE ELBOW ASSEMBLY IS SCREWED ON THE HARDIE GUN END.

REMEMBER WE USED THIS SETUP TO SHOOT UP FURNACE CLEAN OUTS AND APARTMENT INCINERATOR TRASH CHUTES.

THOSE WERE THE GOOD OLD DAYS, WEREN'T THEY GUYS

NOW GO TAKE A NAP WHILE I CREATE ANOTHER ONE OF THESE "WAYNE'S STUFF" COLUMNS, "YOU OLD FARTS"

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY

HEY SOME OF YOU REALLY OLD TIMERS
DO YOU REMEMBER THESE

I CAME ON IN 1962 AND IN 1963 I CAN RECALL BEING IN THE BASEMENT OF LADDER 22 AND SEEING ONE OF

THESE SPITTOONS, ALSO KNOW AS CUSPIDORS I NEVER SAW ONE IN ACTUAL USE. THE FEW TOBACCO

CHEWERS WE HAD ON THE JOB WALKED AROUND WITH A POP CAN OR BOTTLE THAT THEY SPIT IN.

I FOUND THREE NAMES FOR SPITTOONS

CAST IRON GRANITEWARE SPITTOON

WHITE STONE SPITTOON

GUTTA-PERCHA SPITTOON

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ABOVE ARE

I DID FIND OUT THAT THE YOUNGEST MAN CLEANED THEM.

THERE WAS ALSO ANOTHER NAME I HEARD ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. THEY WERE REFERRED TO AS

GABOONS

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY...................................................AND IF YOU'RE CHEWING, SPIT, DON'T SWALLOW.
WAYNE

THE ROCKWOOD AND THE ELKHART NOZZLES

NONE OF THOSE NEW FANCY PIPES WITH PISTOL GRIPS FOR US .

NO, WE HAD TO STRUGGLE WITH SQUEEZING THE LINE UNDER ONE ARM AND HOLDING ON THAT HANDLE

WITH THOSE FIRST ISSUED YELLOW DISHWASHING GLOVES OR THE RED BALL GLOVES WE

BOUGHT ON OUR OWN. I DON'T THINK THE GLOVES THEY ISSUE NOW WOULD EVEN FIT IN THE OPENINGS

OF THOSE OLD HANDLES.

NO FLUSH FEATURE ON EITHER ONE. IF IT CLOGGED FROM THE JUNK IN THE HYDRANTS , TOUGH LUCK.

I KNOW YOU REMEMBER HOW THE ROCKWOOD BEING SO HEAVY THAT EVEN IF YOU STUCK IT IN THE

MIDDLE OF THE BUNDLE WHEN YOU MADE IT, IT WOULD A T TIMES POP OUT WHILE CARRYING THE

BUNDLE TO A FIRE. THEN IT WOULD BASH INTO YOUR KNEES. YOUR KNEES ARE HURTING EVEN BEFORE

YOU HAVE TO GO TO WORK AT THE FIRE.

AH YES, MEMORIES

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DID YOU KNOW

THE MAIN PURPOSE FOR THE TRAPDOORS THAT COVERED THE POLE HOLES WAS NOT JUST TO PREVENT

THE FIREMEN FROM FALLING THROUGH TO THE FIRST FLOOR . POLES WERE INSTALLED DURING THE

HORSE ERA AND YOU KNOW WHAT COMES WITH HORSES, HORSE AND HORSE SHIT SMELL ALONG WITH

FLIES SINCE THE FIREMEN SLEPT UPSTAIRS THE TRAPDOORS PREVENTED THE SMELLS AND FLIES FROM

ENTERING THEIR EATING AND SLEEPING AREA. ALSO HORSES HAVE A HABIT OF GRINDING THEIR TEETH

, STOMPING THEIR FEET AND MOVING AROUND THEREBY RATTLING THEIR HARNESS CHAINS. THE

TRAPDOORS PREVENTED THIS NOISE FROM DISTURBING THEM.

DID YOU KNOW

THE "MYTH" ABOUT THE CENTER HORSE

SINCE I HAVE BEEN DOING THESE COLUMNS I HAVE BOUGHT ALMOST 40 BOOKS ON FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

I HAD ALWAYS HEARD THAT THE CENTER HORSE OF A THREE HORSE TEAM WAS THE DUMBEST AS HE

DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS AS TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT, HE JUST FOLLOWED THE LEAD OF THE

TWO OUTSIDE HORSES.

TWO WELL KNOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT HISTORIANS, CLARENCE WOODWARD AND PAUL DITZEL WROTE

ABOUT THE CENTER HORSE.

FROM CLARENCE WOODWARD..........THE CENTER HORSE WAS THE MOST GRACEFUL OF A THREE HORSE

TEAM.

FROM PAUL DITZEL..........THE CENTER POSITION WAS WHERE THE BEST HORSE WAS TRAINED TO GO.

ON TURNING .............THE CENTER HORSE HAD HIS REINS PULLED FIRST TO TURN. THEN AS HE

BORE TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT THE TWO OUTSIDE HORSES STARTED TO FOLLOW HIS LEAD. AT THAT POINT

THE DRIVER WOULD PULL THEIR REINS AND THEY WOULD ALSO NOW TURN LEFT OR RIGHT

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

FROM A WEB SITE

Detroit Fire Dept. horses dash into history

The Detroit Fire Department acquired the first motorized fire engine in the world, a Packard. Objections by firefighters and Detroiters over the replacement of their beloved horses continued for years. The horse, it was argued, was much more reliable. Motorized vehicles started with difficulty and broke down frequently.

The firemen joked about the ridiculous purchase, nicknaming it the "Hustle Buggy."

Over the years, some 500 horses served the Detroit Fire Department, with an average working life of four or five years. Pounding hard city pavement at high speeds took a heavy toll on the animals. Always, after dousing a blaze, the firefighters cared first for their hard-working horses.

Inevitably, the reign of the horse ended as engineering improved on automobiles.

On April 10, 1922, more than 50,000 people gathered to witness the historic last run by Detroit Fire Department horses. The last five -- Peter, Jim, Tom, Babe and Rusty -- dashed down Woodward Avenue on a symbolic final emergency as a fake alarm sounded at the National Bank Building. Nostalgic spectators lined Woodward from Grand Circus Park to Cadillac Square, cheering while the fire department's band played Auld Lang Syne. Many in the crowd, according to The Detroit News, cried as the horses passed.These last five hoofed firefighters retired to an "Equine Elysium" in Rouge Park.

It was the economy and efficiency that dictated the change. In Chicago it began in 1917 under the direction of John F. Cullerton, the fire departments business manager. Horses sold for approximately 265.00 and cost an additional 3,621.00 on an average per year to feed and care for. Motorized vehicles cost about 1,000.00 per year to maintain. The savings in fire losses alone were estimated at about one million annually. This was a direct result of the speed and efficiency in responding.

But, just as in Detroit, progress was relentless throughout the United States. In April of 1921, the Chicago Fire Department still had 350 horse drawn fire apparatus. Committees were sent to other cities to see how the motorized engines and equipment were working. When they returned, they were ecstatic. The manager, Cullerton, rattled off figures to demonstrate how the gas guzzling engines would serve the city better than the horse drawn carts.

Not everyone supported this change. One of the drivers, William Moir from Engine Company 105 wept as his horses were retired from service in 1922. "I never abused you, but I made you get over the ground," he told them as they were led away. "I feel like I've lost my best friends." Moir was twice decorated for saving lives in the line of duty. He joined the department because of his love of horses. He announced that he would quit the day his two "black beauties" were sent out to the pasture.

Still, tales of smart horses abounded. Babe at Engine Company # 106 was said to have stolen tobacco from firemen's pockets and oats from the feed box by learning to pick the lock with his teeth. One of the horses actually led a lost driver not only to the fire, but also to the closets hydrant, this with the help of the Dalmatian.

But on that historic day in February 6th., 1923, Chicago's Mayor Bill Thompson joined other dignitaries, the Chicago Fire Department's band, Fire Chiefs, firemen and their families, as well as thousands of spectators to watch the horses respond to their last fire bell. Buck, Beauty, Dan and Teddy answered their false alarm as if it were the real thing. They never returned to the station...

Buck and Beauty were sold to a country pastor. The fates of Teddy and Dan were not documented. However, seven months later, an ex-fire horse named Ted was hit by a speeding auto while pulling a milk wagon. The accident took place at 47th Street and Michigan Avenue. None of the drivers were hurt, just Ted.

Thrown to the ground with his leg and hip broken, Ted lay still as people gathered and a police patrol car sped to the scene. As the police unit approached with its bell clanging, Ted, conditioned to respond to the bell, pulled himself off the ground. He rose to three legs, plunged ahead a few feet and collapsed.

A veterinarian, with tears in his eyes, ended Ted's misery with a bullet.

That was his last alarm...

MAKE SOMEONE REMEMBER TODAY
WAYNE

BELOW IS WHAT I FOUND ON THE WEB ABOUT HORSES OUT IN CALIFORNIA , NOTE THE NAMES WERE JUST SIMPLE NAMES TO AVOID CONFUSING THE HORSE AS YOU HAD TO SHOUT HIS NAME, NOT LIKE RACE HORSES THAT HAVE MOSTLY TWO WORD NAMES

The fireman's day started at 6 a.m. If a driver, it started at 5 a.m. when upon arising he removed bedding and separated the straw in the horse stalls. He then watered each horse and put hay in the boxes. If the driver drove a first size engine he cared for three horses. The same number of horses drew the larger trucks. Wagons required a two horse hitch. Following the first chores of tending the horses the drivers were then free to take one hour for their own breakfast. Upon returning to the engine house the stalls were then flushed out, the horses hoofs scraped, the mouth and bridles washed. Each horse received a currying daily.

Other members upon rising took care of routine house work. The lanterns were put out and trimmed. Coal oil was replenished and the lanterns prepared for the next night. All assisted in washing and soaping the harness and polishing the brass. After the drivers returned from their breakfast other company members were permitted an hour to eat, usually two to three men at a time. Later on the privilege of taking two one and a half hour meals was permitted in lieu of three one hour meals. This was the fireman's daily routine seven days a week. Allowance was given for one twenty-four day off a month.

Engineers were pump operators and were required to have a license to operate a steam boiler which required the passing of a test and the payment of a yearly fee. In the outlying areas the engineer did his own stoking while in the high value and heavier districts a stoker was provided and rode the "tail board" of the engine with the engineer. At large fires the stoker had a back breaking job to keep up the required steam pressure determined by the engineer at the gages on the side of the engine. Coal was delivered to the engine by a fuel wagon which was summoned by giving short blasts on their steam whistles corresponding to the company number.

When the engine was no longer needed it was permitted to return to quarters ahead of the wagon which it often did after emptying the ashes on the grate into the street. Upon arrival home the engineer blew out the fire box and stack and built a new fire makings. This he did by filling a cup under the grate with a mixture of potash and sugar. Over this was a wire cage containing a vial of sulfuric acid. A plunger broke the vial when the engineer desired to start a fire in the box. The reaction of acid and the potash-sugar mixture caused a violent fire which ignited a bed of excelsior, kindling wood and coal. The plunger was pushed breaking the glass vial just after the engine cleared the engine house doors thus preventing smoke from filling the building.

These men became very skillful at maintaining pump pressures. One case known of to the writer during an underwriter's test when the pressure varied only one pound in a four hour period. Great pride was taken by the various engineers in their ability and the stoker was often chosen with care.

Alarms of fire frequently interrupted the routine of engine house life. In those days there was no HOLDOUT SYSTEM which meant frequent rising at night for all 15 companies THE HOLDOUT SYSTEM WAS WHERE RATHER THEN A BOX COMING OVER THE TAPE AND BIG BELL TO EVERY ENGINE HOUSE IN THE CITY CENTRAL OFFICE WAS ABLE TO JUST SEND IT OUT TO THE TAPE AND SMALL BELL. THAT WAY THE NONRESPONDING COMPANIES COULD GET THEIR REST AND NOT SLIDE THE POLE. The average just before the two-two platoon adopted in 1915 was four boxes nightly. In cases when companies would respond on second alarms the horses were to remain hitched for ten minutes upon receipt of the first alarm. The officer called the roll on each alarm marking the presence of every member in a book after each box was received. In the event there was no runs after midnight during a 24 hour period it was necessary to hitch the horses to the apparatus and exercise them for 30 minutes each day. Except in the downtown areas this often meant an additional clean up since some officers preferred to exercise in the afternoon. Downtown companies usually exercised their horses during early morning hours before the business traffic of the day took to the streets.

In the event of working fires at night companies upon return to their quarters were required to prepare themselves for service immediately regardless of the hour. This entailed cleaning the equipment, changing the hose, "cooling out" the horses, which consisted of sponging out the mouth, washing the harness and bridle, sponging off the horses with a bucket and sponge (the use of cold water from a hose was against regulations and considered cruel treatment and was not done except by special permission) and blanketing them until they had returned to normal temperatures. Six sips of fresh water was given to each horse from a bucket. The company was then ready for another response after the equipment and animals were cared for, the men could look to themselves. As can readily be seen the "night life" of a fireman on occasions could be rather extensive.

Engine seats and tillerman seats were equipped with a heavy leather strap and snaps to secure the drivers in their seats while making breakneck runs down the avenue. The brake pedal or rod extended the entire width of the floor board and the driver kept one foot on it at all times when the apparatus was in response to an alarm.

Yes, the modern-day station has more the appearance of a first class hotel whereas the station of former days was more in the nature of a barn, with sleeping quarters for the men upstairs, which had to be guarded by means of trap doors around the sliding poles to keep the flies and odors from the horses below from entering the sleeping quarters of the men above. And these same horses were quite a disturbance all night long, with their grinding bits as they munched the hay about their feet or their bedding. Horses are animals which do little sleeping and as fire horses were well cared for and well bedded down each evening for the night they had plenty to munch on during their resting hours, eating up their bedding.

. The grinding bit to which I refer was the bridle bit which the fire horse was required to have in his mouth both night and day to allow for a quick hitch-up when the alarm sounded. The only time this bit was removed was when the horse was fed his grain. The bridle bit was the only obstruction in the way of rapid hitch-up and the only solution was to keep the bridle on the horse and the bit in his mouth. The horse was so used to this method that it did not interfere with his eating his hay. If this bit had not been kept in the horse's mouth it would have been difficult to get the animal to take it in case of an alarm and valuable time would have been lost, especially if the hitching-up was done by a new or relief man. All those experienced with horses could get the bit in the horse's mouth very easily by simply putting a thump between his back teeth which would cause the animal to open his jaws and the bit then was put in place and snapped to the bridle.

. The system was mostly volunteer and the regular men were on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days in the year, except the annual 10-day vacation. When a man wanted to lay off he had to pay his substitute at the rate of $50. per month while he was off. This was the rate of firemen's pay.

Athletics have received a big boost in the department and are greatly encouraged, as they should be. In the days of the single shift the men were required to put in all their time around the fire station with the exception of meal hours and their annual ten-day vacation and even on their meal hours they were required to "answer in" on all alarms and for their services they received the munificent salary of $50 per month, with $75 for drivers and $100 for engineers. This was later changed to a scale for hosemen of $60 to $80, drivers $80 and $85, lieutenant $90, engineer $115 and $120, and captain $120 and $125, being first and second class. The distinction in class for drivers was in two horse and three horse hitches. The three horse hitch was used on the steamer and the driver received $5 a month over the driver of the two horse hitch as used on the hose wagon. The distinction in class for engineer and captain was in the location of the fire station, the down town stations being designated as first class and the outlaying stations being second class houses.

The hours of duty were also changed with the salary, the men being allowed time off for meals, also two days a month or 24 hours every 15 days. The $60 to $80 for hosemen was for first, second and third year of service, an increase of $10 annually being allowed for each of the three years until he became a full paid man. Hosemen were allowed to take a lieutenant's examination after six months of service, that is, they could go up for promotion any time after they had served six months as hoseman. They were also allowed to take the examination for driver at any time and many were the hosemen who were anxious to take the driver's examination and get the increase in pay as a first year hoseman at $60 a month who was successful in obtaining a driver's job would be increased to $80 a month. In 1906 the Battalion Chief was added to the department, two being appointed in the persons of Captains Chas. B. Casey and John G. Todd. The salary was fixed at $150 a month, while the Assistant Chief received $175 a month. Quite a contrast with the present day salary in which a Captain receives the same salary as the Chief did at that time and a new man joining the department starts at a salary which is within $5 a month of what the Assistant Chief received at that time.

There was a horse attached to Engine 6 which seemed to delight in stamping in his stall in the early hours of the morning, much to the annoyance of the men sleeping above. To cure him of this habit a barrel hoop with a lot of tin cans was rigged over his stall in such a way that it would be raised and lowered by means of a small rope from above. When Mr. Horse started his usual stamping this hoop was dropped and raised suddenly, giving him such a scare that he was soon broken of the habit.

The intelligence of fire horses was really wonderful and we have had horses which showed almost human intelligence. There was the big dapple gray "Eddie" of Engine 16 who delighted, when he was led out each morning for his hour of exercise, to break away from his master and run down the street for a block and look back as much as to say "Come and get me." About the time the driver would get up to Eddie and reach out for his rope, the horse would break away and make a dash back for a block or so when he would stand and wait for the driver to come and get him.

Horses were great pets among the men sometimes and nothing seemed to delight them more than to be given a lump of sugar or an apple. There was a roan horse attached to one of the companies who seemed to have a contempt for paved streets and each time he was driven up on a paved street he would politely lay down in his harness. He was sold to the Chinese vegetable man.

Of all friendships formed among animals I believe none is stranger than that between horses and dogs. A new team of horses had been purchased for use by the department and by their appearance they had come from some farm. This team was sent out to Engine 21 to be broken in for service. About three days after the arrival of these horses there came to quarters a half starved dog which had the appearance of having come a long way. This dog attached himself to quarters and would be constantly with or near one of the new horses as though they had been together before. We surmised that they had both been on the same ranch and when the horses were taken away the dog determined to find his friends, so started out and finally located them in our fire station.

The faithfulness of the fire horse to duty was really wonderful. In one instance of a fire in a store building where the heat was terrific, owing to the nearness of the fire to the street and the narrowness of the thoroughfare the engine driver was forced to drive his team past the fire in order to reach the fire hydrant. The faithful animals dashed through the heat and brought the engine safe to the hydrant. The paint on the engine was scorched and the near horse received burns about the head which, though not severe, showed evidence of the heat through which the faithful animal passed without hesitation.

New horses when bought for fire department purposes had to be taught their duty the same way a new fireman and the way these animals learned was sometimes almost unbelievable.

There were only two places for the fire horse. One was in his stall and the other was under the harness. A new horse was placed in his stall and then at a tap of the gong the chain in front of him, and which held him in his stall, was dropped and the horse led to his place under the harness. There were only three snaps to a set of harness necessary to make the hitch. One was in the collar and the other two were at the end of the reins which were then snapped into the bit which the horse was required to have in his mouth at all times (except when eating his grain). The snapping of the collar around the horse's neck automatically dropped the harness upon his back and the snapping of the reins into the bit completed the harnessing of the team to the apparatus. In teaching new horses, the horse was led from his stall to his place under the harness, then by means of a rope tied to the wagon tongue and the other end to the edge of the stall, the horse would be urged from the rear when the gong was tapped and the chain dropped. The animal would soon learn to take his place and it would be but a short time before he was broken to his duties.

Dogs were great pets around the fire stations on account of their intelligence and partly for their friendliness for men and horses, and these animals would live for years in a station, but cats have proven a failure around a fire station. Owing to their desire for warmth they would usually find a spot to sleep under the engine boiler in which steam was kept up at all times, they being provided with a cozy resting place. Unfortunately for the cat, however, when the engine was driven out in response to an alarm the cat would be too slow in getting form under and would be crushed by the heavy wheels of the apparatus.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

Fire Hydrant Colors

Fire hydrants are painted different colors to allow firefighters to quickly identify the flow rate of any fire hydrant. Knowing the flow rate of a fire hydrant tells them how much water it can provide for firefighting operations. The four basic colors of fire hydrants and their respective flow rates are listed below.

More On Fire Hydrants

REPRINTED FROM A WEB SITE OF A 1909 FIREMAN

A fireman started at the large salary of $75 a month, working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the meal hours ran in three periods, as follows, dived up in shifts from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. for breakfast, and so on until supper time. You could take three one hour meals, or two one and a half ones, or one three hour meal. Anyway if you had a family you only saw them three hours a day. Hardly enough for your wife and children to know you.

The driver of horse drawn apparatus and officers usually had the first meal hour. As the drivers arose at 5 a.m. their first duty was to water horses out of a bucket, give them a feed of rolled barley, pick up the bedding of straw from under the horses, put it in a box on rollers, wheel it outside quarters, then hit the pole or ring the bell to get up the rest of the company, who were on the apparatus floor for taps and roll call at 6 a.m. After which all the men turned to and swept the apparatus floor. In some companies the horses were hitched up and the apparatus was driven out on the street for exercise of the horses for one hours. As the driver returned he had to curry the horses all over, wash out mouths, clean teeth, hoofs and polish halters, flush out stalls, give the animals a feed of bran at noon, at night bed them down, and give them a feed of barley hay. Besides, if a run was made and horses were wet, they had to be taken out in the street and walked to cool them off. Quite a bit different than drivers of the iron steeds of today who only have to shut off the motor.

Floor watches were stood from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The duty of the man on watch was to keep the floor of the stall where the horses stood clear of all matter, etc. As the alarm system was connected so that any fire alarm sent in from any part of the city came in to each fire station and every member had to get up or be ready to respond, you can see how many hours of night and day the officer had to call roll. It was the rule, and each time roll was called it was kept in a book. Sometimes twenty of more alarms came in at night and you did not go out. Thus a lot of sleep was lost, and written on the dash boards of some hose wagon were the words "We never sleep." Oh, yes, the firemen had to unload dirty briquettes (used to heat water and heat up quarters) then a load of hay or barley came, besides changing hose and general duties.

The engineer who rode on the rear of the steam engine had a time keeping from being thrown off in responding to alarms, as the wheels of the drawn engine had steel tires and skidded all over the streets. The driver of the engine, upon arriving at a fire, had to unhitch the horses, take them some distance from the engine and tie them up Drivers of the hose wagon and the engine were strapped to their seats. It was a thrill to see the horses plunging at full speed to a fire, giving their best, and they were beloved by the boys as the stations.

The engineer had the duty of building fires in the fire boxes of the steam engines, which was as follows: First a layer of excelsior, then kindling, then some coal. And when an alarm came in he was to light a coaloil torch on the engine which he lighted up the fire in the fire box. Some engineers thought up a better idea. They had a contrivance under the fire box which held a mixture of sugar and potash. Near it was a bottle of acid. As the response to the alarm was made, a chain pulled by the engineer broke the bottle of acid, causing it to mix with the potash and a flame was ignited in the excelsior. In a few moments steam was raised and sometimes the engineer had the stoker or fireman shovel coal into the fire box at the fire. And did those fire boxes eat the coal. To hear the even exhaust of the engine and see sparks and smoke flying out of the stack was a thrill. When coal was needed a shrill blast on the steam whistle at the engine called the coal wagon to come. The engineer had his troubles if the boiler foamed. His eyes were on the water glass at the boiler and pressure gauge. Often, far into the night, the engineer, after returning from a fire, had to work filling the oiler, greasing and getting the engine ready.

On pay day you went to the City Hall for the pay. Two per cent was taken out for pension, and always near the City Hall were a few loan sharks who were so willing to loan you money at a rate of interest which kept firemen in their clutches. If a fireman wanted to lay off he filled out a form, put up cash for time off, and an extra fireman was called up to work who was paid after he finished work. The Chief had a hard time getting extra men to work; their only wages was what extra work they got. Anyone could get on extra.

The nice blue flannel shirts which opened at the side, with a lot of big pearl buttons around the chest was the uniform shirt. The shirts were made to keep us from getting a cold. It was quite an honor to be a fireman, and we were proud to be a member of the fire department, but the long 24-hour day, seven days a week, was a long time to be on duty, and that strain and the constant waking up tended to break down men. So you see the firemen did not have the life of Riley.

BAGPIPES TRADITION.................................................................FROM A WEB SITE

The tradition of bagpipes played at fire department funerals in the United States goes back over one hundred fifty years. When the Irish and Scottish immigrated to this country, they brought many of their traditions with them. One of these was the bagpipe, often played at Celtic weddings, funerals and ceilis (dances).

It wasn't until the great potato famine and massive Irish immigration to the East Coast of the United States that the tradition of the pipes really took hold in fire departments. Factories and shops had signs reading "NINA"-No Irish Need Apply. The only jobs they could get were the ones no one else wanted -jobs that were dirty, dangerous or both - fire-fighters and police officers. It was not an uncommon event to have several firefighters killed at a working fire. The Irish firefighters funerals were typical of all Irish funerals-the pipes were played. It was somehow okay for a hardened firefighter to cry at the sound of pipes when his dignity would not let him weep for a fallen comrade.

Those who have been to funerals when bagpipes play know how haunting and mournful the sound of the pipes can be. Before too long, families and friends of non-Irish firefighters began asking for the piper to play for these fallen heroes. The pipes add a special air and dignity to the solemn occasion.

Associated with cities such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, pipe bands representing both fire and police often have more than 60 uniformed members. They are also traditionally known as Emerald Societies after Ireland-the Emerald Isle. Many bands wear traditional Scottish dress while others wear the simpler Irish uniform. All members wear the kilt and tunic, whether it is a Scottish clan tartan or Irish single color kilt.

Today, the tradition is universal and not just for the Irish or Scottish. The pipes have come to be a distinguishing feature of a fallen hero's funeral.

First Water

The term "First Water" actually goes back to the 1800's. Back then Fire Departments actually competed with one another. There were very few regulations governing fire department operations. When two departments were in the same area the city or town would often pay the first fire department on scene, while the second received nothing. In other areas it was a matter of pride. The first department to put water on the fire would claim "First Water" and in a way, get credit for fighting that fire. Some departments even hired young kids who would race to a fire on foot and throw a single bucket of water on the flames. This usually did very little or nothing to fight the fire, but it would earn that department the right to claim "First Water".

The phrase is still used in some areas today. When a department is called out to a fire they will often refer to three events: Dispatch time, On scene time, and time of First Water, the moment when the first fire stream actually begins fighting the fire.