THE GERMAN FIREMAN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1622, 29 February 1884, Page 2

THE GERMAN FIREMAN.

The Germans are a proverbially slow phlegmatic people, but the following account of how .theirJiremen operate' is a gross exaggeration, but as it has been published in,the daily papers* of this country, we give it spaoo for the purpose of discrediting it. Tho Berlin Fire Brigade is known to be an excellent' one aud its officers men of intelligence and capaoity. We append the burlesquo account of thoir manner of working; ,

l When a fire breaks out in Germany there is no alarm-not the slightest-, •ho'excitement; -writes a correspondent •from Berlin. I don't think that one could discover anything which in the most remote degree, could be said to resemble excitement. I know of nothing more solemn or sadder in this life than the calling out of the German firewhtr. It is n painful sight to see the brave men who compose it dragged out of their chairs, where they may have been just about to tab the first wink of sleep they have had for an hour. More painful still is the reckless haste with which they are expected to dress for the terrible work before them. I think the average time allowod for putting 0 n rubber coats, boots and cap docs" not exceed twenty minutes, It is 110 wonder that these men invariably die young, as have been proved by Prof. Schmidt's recently published statistics of tho Berlin Fire Department. Well, when the Chief has called his men around him, or rather when he has stood them all in a row before him, he calls the roll. An attendant then hands each man a coil of rope and a sort of battle-axe, made after the Norman the blade being shaped like that which Minerva wears on her Skull-cap. While this is being done the other attaches ot tho firewehrm not idle. Oh, no! A horse and waggon appears in front of the >«ki«,andin.this"waggon can be seen, if one will look' closely,'a couple of ladders, either of which' is at least ten feet in length. There. is also some more rope, and there are also somo more axes, in' case of great" emergency, are distributed-among tho populace. Tho house, is burning all this time, but that doesn't matter.

There aro generally oighl men and a Chief at each fire station, The Chief stands in the middle of the street, a crowd of admiring citizens surrounding him, and puts the eighteen through a course of drill, At the conclusion of the manoeuvre two men take their places on each side of tho waggon, like pall-bearers, two in front and two behind, the Chief walking ahead with a gold-plated trumpet in his hand, and the driver mounts to his seat, and tho funeral procession moves on, Slowly and sadly the mournful cortege wends its way, the Firemen shouldering their battle-axes and keeping tho regulation military step. Nqw and then the horse shows signs of impatience, but ho is immediately checked by the driver. The Chief turns ever and anon to see if any of his bravo followers have fainted from fatigue; but finding that they are still where lie left them he sounds an order on his trumpet, the men change their battle-axes from tlie right to the left shoulder, the driver steadies the horse, who is anxious to walk faster, and the pageant moves along, The fire is still raging. The flames have spread until they now envelop ian .entire block. Tho sky is blood red and the reflection lights up the city, firewek mwt bo moved by scenes like this. It ii used to them. The question now in the mind of the Chief is: "Can wo reach the fire just afterthe .walla have fallen in and when there is nothing more to be done J" If he is an old Fireman and understands his business ne will know how to time himself.

As tho procession nears tho' neighborheod of the fire the Speed of the horse is slaokeiied and the men walk slower. The Chief consults his watch, and calculates as to the length of time a, black requires to burn and the wind blowing'as it is to-night. Having satisfied himself that thero is at least fifteen minutes to spare, the wagon stops in front of a beer hall, the men fall into line, and, led by tho Chief, they select two of the most comfortable tables and order beer.

The men are so weighted down by heavy rubber clothing, the coils of rope and battle axes, and the helmet caps that they are scarcely able to speak for a few moments. When they regains conscionsnesa one says to the other: _ "Do you think we will get there in time to return before bedtime f " I think so,'" is the answer. "I never knew the Chief to miss seeing a fire go out of its own accord yet," " Well, I faopo he is calculating all right now, I told my wife I'd come home at ten o'clock to night ; it is now half past nine. I will be an hour late, I cannot stand this life."

"Neither can I," says tho other, emptying bis beer, mug, «I got vet at a fire, the other night, and I was so hoarse that I couldn't sing at the Monnserohor "Come," says the Chief, "if you are rested sufficiently, we must be going." The men form in line once more and are put through another drill, after which they tato their places around

the hearso, and they aro on their way to the fro again. Before they have gone very far, however, they meet the crowds returning, and a policeman steps up and informs the Chief that the firo is out, the block having been burned to the ground. The Chief reprimands tho policeman for not notifying him before. The policeman tells him that he could not have dono so unless ho had walkod fust, which was forbidden by the regulations, as it would make him perspire, thereby soiling his collar. The explanation is considered satisfactory to'the Chief. Ho givo his orders for tho return, and tho horse and men travel much faster. Tho station is reached in half an hour; the horso and wagon are put away ; the battlo axes and rubber suils are hung up; tho kerosene lamp is extinguished, and the Fire Department sinks into a heavy slumber. A mail must know how to rest before he cari become a Fireman in this country."