Russian Fire Brigades.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7902, 18 August 1905, Page 4

Russian Fire Brigades.

The most pictures pic building in Russian towns is the lire loik-ont tower. Nearly every place of uny size has at least one. At the t/>p is n small sftriuil pole with many halyards, and two men, dressed in complete uniform, are always on watch. On a fire being discovered tin. alarm is given. This is done during the .day by.means of coloured flag's and ! large black leather sphere*, resembling gigantic looUkills, and at night with coloured lanterns. A St. I'eterslni'rg lire brigade is « peculiar organisation. First coined says a writer in an American journal, a inountKl t.riini|ieter, who plays .is he trots along, certain calls i. i warn people to get out of the way, and to tell them the direction in which Ihe lire is. Nest, <i two-horse waggon, carrying the hose on reels. and four men. (line holds n large fia ■ which designates the company. Xexi comes the engine, 'an ol'.l-i'ushione:) hand affair, with long handles -for eight men to work the,pump. Following are at least three, und som ■ limes t.norc. one-horse waggons, etjiiij ped with large (bar.els. filled with w-. ter iriughl from wells. ll„ring ih lire there is .« Continual fit ream of th ■ Uarri'l wngi-jms. going and coming i. different directhyi*, with th,. N ec s I sary water supply. The firemen themselves 'are very w< i f dressed. rwrticularly tie oflicers, an every man before leaving tlv slalicr miist In- fully uniformed and .ipiippc."

I 'poll reaching Ihe lire every man remains seated ill his place until lb brigade's arrival lias been report c ; The officer of the company dues th' to his innntvli-.it.• chief, who ivpnr • it in turn to oilier oflirials. I until it reaches the romm-intling o I licer of the departinenl. He hljs t! rank of general. Alter about t« 1 minutes', tiv orders having sifted lute ; through the numerous ollieials. lU waiting companies, at a lire the \v;i ter saw. got busy, but much as ai average lnf.iouror would who lias been engag-d on a pi-ce of work, and i paid by the hour. No one was in , hurry, lhoug>:i the entire roof of o:i building was a -mass of flame, and i was last spreading to the-iiwt. Th hand pump was <|arefiilly lilted ~' the waggyn, a hose attached, and • suction pipe put into one of ll' barrels. All was now ready to liegi-n, bu iio.Kuss-iiLfi lie-man would think i so lowering the dignity .of his position as to pump on the engine. Thi must be done by th(e people then - selves to tproleiil! their lioiuvs. ' ' volunteers are not forthcoming, th police pink out strong and activelooking citizens and order them t tret to work. This order is gvnerall obeyed at once, for woe ito (he man who trii-s to ivsist the Hussian ll"perial police.