Fighting Fire in Corea.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8055, 23 February 1906, Page 4

Fighting Fire in Corea.

The land where they think least ali.-mt a house on lire is perhaps Corca. When several dwellings are in danger, however, even the Coreaus think it time to bestir themselves. Then a hundred or more soldiers :ire sent out; they calmly view the. tire, iiml[offer to help if necessmy." Should tbcj rea.'ly decide thiit the matter is tliev set to work in what would to our eyes seem a novel manner. They usually bring along with them a ship's anchor fastened to a long] thick rope. This anchor they fix in the burning beam, and fifty or sixty men pull at the rope in order to bring the" beam i).wn. It is when the sparks resulting from this operation are driven by the wind across the street that it peculiar and characteristic method of protecting their property is resorted to by the Coreans. The owncrsof the endangered houses, with their (rinnds, male and female, procure climb on ti. the roofs, standing in rows upon the upper edges of the structures. Then the men strip o!T tlieii coats, and the women their large cloaks, and using them as fans, wave then l rapidly in order to create a counter hrcf-ze .".id Jriwi tiie .sparks invay. The tight is a Strang: one, aii'l c.hiM b(» scrii iiinvh'n l u-Ity but in Corea. While the fanning is g„ing 011, prayers are offered to the spirit of the fires and the spirit of the wind.