CHAPTER XVII
THE ENGINES ARRIVE
There was instant excitement in the hall. Everyone seemed to betalking at once. The boys of the town were standing together, cheeringfor Herbert. Mayor Appelby was vainly rapping for order. At last Mr.Sagger made his voice heard above the others.
"I say if that boy is made head of the fire department none of us menwill join!" he shouted. "We'll stick to the bucket brigade!"
"That's what!" declared several of his cronies.
"I wish you to remember one thing," replied Mr. Bergman. "I am payingfor this improvement, and I think I ought to have something to sayabout it. Another thing, the town ought to be glad to get a good,up-to-date department. If you don't accent my offer then I must considermoving my lumber yard to a location where there is better fireprotection."
This was something of which no one had thought, A number of the men ofLakeville found employment in the lumber yard, and if it went to someother town it would mean quite a loss.
"Then there is one last point," went on Mr. Bergman. "These boys knowmore about fighting fires than you men ever will. They have showedthat already, and I want to give them due credit. I think Herbert Darehas proved that he knows how to handle a blaze, and how to use hisforce of boys to the best advantage. I have learned that his fatherwas a regular city fireman. Either he is to be made chief of the newdepartment or there isn't going to be any department."
This was plain talk, and the objectors knew Mr. Bergman meant it.
"I, for one, would be only too glad to see the boys run thedepartment," said Mayor Appelby. "They have more time than we have."
"That's so," agreed a number, as the sentiment began to swing aroundthe other way.
"I'd like to say a few words," spoke up Herbert, rising in his seat.
"Go on!" invited Mr. Appelby encouragingly.
"This offer of Mr. Bergman's is a complete surprise to me," said theboy. "I never sought the position of head of the new department."
"We know that," spoke a friendly voice.
"And I want to say that if there is going to be any feeling over thematter I'd rather not have it," went on Bert. "We boys will continueour own department and--"
"You'll do nothing of the kind," interrupted Mr. Bergman. "Lakevilleis going to take a step forward, and you boys are the best persons tohelp her."
"I don't want to take the place, and feel that there is jealousy,"added Herbert. "I admit I would feel proud of the honor, but--"
"He's the best chief we could have," interjected Cole, "and with myforce pump--"
"That'll do you," put in Vincent, pulling Cole back to his seat forthe seventh time.
"Let's vote on it!" called a man. "I'm in favor of the boys everytime! Remember, they'll be men in a few years."
This brought matters to a head. There was considerable morediscussion, but, with the exception of two or three, everyone was infavor of Mr. Bergman's plan, for he had used arguments that appealedto the majority.
A vote was taken, and was almost unanimous in favor of accepting theoffer, and putting the boys in charge, with Herbert Dare as chief. Asthere were to be two engines, Vincent Templer was made assistantchief, to be in charge of the second apparatus.
Other officers were named from among the boys, and, as there were tobe two companies, located in different parts of the town, places weremade for all the lads who cared to join.
It was decided to keep the old hand engine for use in emergencies,and, as there would be no need of any one operating the new engines,since they worked automatically, the young fire fighters were advisedby Mr. Bergman to develop themselves into a sort of salvage corps, tosave goods at a fire, while one or two boys were at the chemicalnozzles.
This much being accomplished, Mr. Bergman went into financial detailswith the officials of Lakeville. It was decided to have a simple alarmsystem, with boxes located at the more prominent places in thevillage, and an arrangement whereby the signal would be sounded on abig bell, which would be erected on a steel tower.
It took some time to put these improvements into shape, but in aboutthree weeks they were finished, and the two chemical engines hadarrived from the factory.
"Say! They're beauties!" exclaimed Cole, happily, as he and the otherboys went down to the freight depot to see them. "I wonder if they canthrow a stream as far as my force pump?"
"Are you still talking about your force pump?" asked Tom Donnell.
"Well, it's a good pump," replied Cole, defending his invention.
"Wait until you see these," said Mr. Bergman, who had come tosuperintend unloading the engines.
Each chemical apparatus consisted of a large copper tank on fourwheels. It had a long hose, on a reel, and a rope to pull the machineby, similar to the old hand engine.
But the principle of the new engines was entirely different. They shota chemical stream at the fire, instead of one of merely water, andcarbonous acid, or, as it is commonly called, carbonic acid gas, wasgenerated. Fire will not burn where this gas exists, so that a smallstream of the chemical was more effective than a big stream of water.The gas, being heavier than air, forms a sort of blanket over a blaze.
In the big copper tank was placed water, in which was dissolved somebicarbonate of soda, the sort mothers use to cook with. Then, in asmall receptacle, fitting in one end of the big cylinder, was somesulphuric acid, or oil of vitriol. The two liquids were prevented frommixing until the proper time, by a simple arrangement.
When a fire occurred the chemical engine was to be hurried to theplace. The hose would be unreeled, and then a lever and valve wheelwould be turned, breaking the glass receptacle in which the sulphuricacid was held. This allowed the acid to mingle with the solution ofsoda water, and a strong gas was at once formed. The gas was undersuch pressure that it forced the combined soda and acid solution outthrough the hose for a considerable distance. It could be played onthe fire, the gas would be generated, and the blaze would beextinguished in much less time than if water was used, and there wouldbe less damage done.
"Those are certainly fine engines," declared Bert. "I guess we'll haveto have some practice with them before we'll know how to run them."
"They are very simple in operation," said Mr. Bergman. "We'll arrangefor some tests soon."
"We ought to have a parade," suggested Vincent. "Let's take 'emthrough the town, and show the people what we've got."
"A good idea," declared Mr. Bergman. "And, while we're about it, whynot have a picnic."
"A picnic?" repeated Bert.
"Yes. Why not? Every village fire department has a picnic once a year.I don't see why Lakeville can't. It will stir the people up, and getrid of some of this jealous feeling."
"I guess the boys would like it all right," replied Bert.
"Then we'll have it over in Tillman's grove. I'll make thearrangements, and let you boys know when it's to be. Now we'd betterget the engines into quarters."
It had been decided to keep one engine in Cole's barn, and another inthe basement of the town hall, as these two places were far enoughapart to give good protection in case of fire. The alarm system hadbeen installed some days before, and Lakeville was now in good shapeto take care of a blaze. Several members of the bucket brigade madeapplication to join the new department, and they were taken in. MosesSagger and some of his cronies, however, still held out.
As the boys dragged the new chemical engines through the town, quite acrowd came out to look at them. The machines glittered with brass andcopper, highly polished, and made a fine appearance.
"Them things don't look as if they could put out a fire," said an oldresident, who was used to seeing the bucket brigade or a hand engineat work. "Why, there ain't no pump, nor yet any pails."
"They say the pump's inside that there big copper cylinder," explaineda man standing near him.
"Humph! Looks like an old wash boiler stuck on four wheels. That ain'tany good. You need water to put out a fire."
"You do, eh?" thought Cole, who ove
rheard this remark. "Well, we'llshow you, some day."
The engines were soon in their quarters, and were charged with thesoda and acid, according to the directions sent by the manufacturers.
"Now, we're all ready for a fire!" exclaimed Bert, as he and his chumslooked at the machine in Cole's barn, while an equally admiring thronghad gathered at the town hall, where Vincent was to be in command.
"I wish we'd get a big fire now," said one small lad, as he patted thebig copper cylinder.
"Hold on, little man!" exclaimed Mr. Bergman. "We didn't get theengines for that. I haven't gotten over the scare about my lumber yardyet. Wait a bit, before you wish for a fire."
"I--I meant a bon-fire." replied the little fellow.
"Oh--that! Well, maybe we'll have one at the picnic."
The Young Firemen of Lakeville; Or, Herbert Dare's Pluck Page 17