Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 April 1894 — Russian Firemen. [ARTICLE]

Russian Firemen.

In a Russian village there is not even such an organization as we possess in this country in the small volunteer flTe companies. In their stead is a _ log stable with thatched roof containing an old-fashioned hand pump and three casks mounted on wheels. These are kept filled with water and each is drawn by a single horse, The horses are the property of the commune and they are kept tethered outside the cabin, ready for duty at a moment’s notice. A place is also set apart in the hut for the mughik who serves as watchman, an office that is held, turn by turn, by the inhabitants of the township. The location selected for this cabin is as near as possible to the residence of the pristav, or the district Captain of Police, and upon an alarm of fire he drives to the scene in his telega at the head of the procession of carts and peasants.—[San Francisco Examiner.