DON’T BE BASHFUL.

Shannon News, 29 May 1923, Page 2

DON’T BE BASHFUL.

“When there, is 'a fire, don’t be bashful about giving the alarm,” said Superintendent A. H. Rogers, of the Gonville and Castlecliff Fire Brigates, Wanganui, when discussing fire matters ,with a Wanganui “Chronicle” reporter recently. His remark did not apply to the borough area, where the Duplex street alarm system' is installed with glass faces on the alarm inviting a “bash” by any method, should that occasion arrive, hut to the suburban areas, where the method is by telephone or telling in some other way.

On the occasion of a recent outbreak, the firemen who sleep at the Castlecliff station were awakened by a gentle “tap, tap” on the door. “What do you want?” wias a brisk but gruff response from inside. “Is this the fire brigade station?” inquired a mild voice. The answer wlas in the. affirmative, coupled with an inquiry why the information Was sought well after the witching hour.

“Are there any firemen in?” was the quiry that gently followed. By this time the firemen answered with one collective voice.

“Well, there’s a fire up the road,” was the mild announcement in a halting tone. The superintendent paused for a moment reflectively, and then mentioned the case of ia lady who called at the Castlecliff Fire Station one day, and after receiving a satisfactory assurance that it was the right place, remarked sweetly: “I’m so sorry to trouble you. but my house is on fire.” The superintendent also told a story of a man staying for the night at an hotel—it wasn’t in Wanganui—who had been entertained by some friends well hut not wisely. In the state popularly described as deshabille he descended to the lounge and demanded another room. “Go to bed,” was the kindly advice tendered to him, but he was insistent on his desire for a change. It Was not until the maudlin one had settled himself down on a couch, to see the rest of the night out, that it wa& discovered that the inebriated one’s desire for another bed was the fact that his room was on fire.

The superintendent iadded another word of advice for those who may discover & fire in an incipient stage. “Don’t merely say Smith’s or anysimilar,” h© said, “because there may be several people of that uncommon name in the locality. Give the brigade a. definite address to set out to, because it is one of those occasions

whien time is the essence of the contract,"