AN AMERICAN FIRE STATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 226, 15 November 1880, Page 4

AN AMERICAN FIRE STATION

A Californinn correspondent of the "Christian World " furnishes the following description cf the Insurance Fire Depot at San Francisco :—" On (he lower storey of the building are the horses, which stand harnessed in their stalls with the carriages dloseat hacd. On the upper storey the men live aud sleep, remaining on. the property day and night.. In each; block of the city is a fire signal connected with this station by telegraph. When tbie signal begins to strike a bell, a marvellous series of simultaneous movements takes place. The clock is stopped, a piece of chalk begins to register each stroke of the bell in case any should not hove been heard.. A heavy lash falls at the same moment on the back of each horse, and the feeding box in front of each stall swings back, when, with one bound he springs to his own place in the shafts. The front doors fly open, and the back door shuts and bolts. Trap doors on the top of slides connecting the upper and lower storey fly back, and (be men elide down these shoots to their places. From the time of the first stroke until the horses are harnessed and all ready to start, occupies five seconds if during the day, and eight to ten seconds if in the night. If I bad not eeen it I should regard thit os impossible, as probably many of your readers will when they read this. Captain White was kind enough to set my doubtß at rest by striking the signal and going throogh the operations" It iB not surprising to learn that one gentleman from an up-country town in America, who saw the performance, and returning home, told his neighbors what he had seen, was politely informed that, though ho bad been regarded os a man to be believed, he was lying now. To eati&fy themselves op Jbe TO&Her,

they raised a subscription to pay the expenses of a deputation to go to San Francisco and ccc , for himself. The " deputation," however returned convinced and astonished at what he had aeenj ■ -.-:.,,. .... - A ...-....,■.-.