New York as Seen by a Londoner.

New York as Seen by a Londoner.

The latest contribution to the literature of the fire service comes from an Englishman who visited this country and writes about the New York fire service in a recent book published by him. He says: “The fire brigade service, however, is brought to a wonderful pitch of perfection in America. As oon as a fire breaks out the news is communicated from the principal office to the subsidiary ones by means of a deep bell which conveys the intelligence by numbers. Thus, if the fire is at No. 6 Eleventh street, Fifth avenue, the bell sounds five for the avenue, eleven for the street and six for the residence, and goes on tolling at intervals till the brigade is assembled. The firemen sleep on a framework bed. which, on touching a spring, slants downward and slides them into the truck in which their uniform is already placed, and they dress as they go to their destination, whilst the horses in the stables stand under their harness, which descends in one piece upon their backs. This appears almost incredible, but it is a fact.”

The latest contribution to the literature of the fire service comes from an Englishman who visited this country and writes about the New York fire service in a recent book published by him. He says: “The fire brigade service, however, is brought to a wonderful pitch of perfection in America. As oon as a fire breaks out the news is communicated from the principal office to the subsidiary ones by means of a deep bell which conveys the intelligence by numbers. Thus, if the fire is at No. 6 Eleventh street, Fifth avenue, the bell sounds five for the avenue, eleven for the street and six for the residence, and goes on tolling at intervals till the brigade is assembled. The firemen sleep on a framework bed. which, on touching a spring, slants downward and slides them into the truck in which their uniform is already placed, and they dress as they go to their destination, whilst the horses in the stables stand under their harness, which descends in one piece upon their backs. This appears almost incredible, but it is a fact.”