THE FIRE FIGHTER OF TO-DAY 225 



different companies have been called out to fires is perfectly 

 understood ))y all of the commanding ofTicers of the depart- 

 ment and by all of the firemen. The public may not know it, 

 but this feature of work in the Chica<2;o department nms with 

 such absolute accuracy that, no matter where the fire is nor 

 how larf!;e it is, the districts which have sent their regular 

 companies to fight the flames are not left unguarded. The 

 central office in the city hall is, so to speak, the nerve center 

 of the whole department. The printed schedule with which 

 every fireman is familiar, shows at a glance which of the mar- 

 shals and battalion chiefs must go to each fire as indicated by 

 the box number from which the alarm was sounded. 



For instance, if the schedule says that I must go to the 

 fire and that the first assistant and the second assistant are 

 also gone, the next man in rank knows that he is to come to 

 the central office and from there dispose of the companies 

 which are not at the fire in such a manner that no district is 

 left unprotected from later fires. Comphcated as such a 

 system may seem at first glance, yet it is thoroughly under- 

 stood and always works without friction. Every engine house 

 keeps its own record, not only of its o\vn runs but of all the 

 companies that participate in any fire, and also a table showing 

 to what houses the company went to do what you might call 

 guard duty during the progress of fires. 



The practical side of a fireman's life is sure to be a busy 

 one for the good fireman. In this respect it is like any other 

 business. Lazy men, loafers, careless members never become 

 good firemen, and they seldom last long. The industrious, 

 thoughtful, observant man, if he is fitted physically, is the one 

 who lasts and who rises at last to the position of authority. 

 The sluggard and the coward have no business in the depart- 

 ment. The Chicago department is exceptionally free from 

 either. It is a hard life at the best, and, like all hard lives, 

 brings out the best that is in a man. Everybody knows that 

 it requires courage and strength to be even an average fireman. 

 But quick intelligence, continual study of the details of the 

 work and its chances, absolute devotion to the service at all 

 hours and under all conditions — these are the least showy 

 features of a fireman's life, and they are just as necessary as 

 bravery and a powerful body. 



Vol. 10-15 



