Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1907 — QUICK WORK IN ANSWERING TO FIRE ALARMS. [ARTICLE]

QUICK WORK IN ANSWERING TO FIRE ALARMS.

Fire Chief Montgomery has been giving some public exhibitions this week of the expertness of the fire department’s driver, Chester Zea, in answering an alarm! Tuesday evening Chet, jumped from nis bed, pulled the rope which turns on the electric lights and at the same time opens the trap doors leading to the lower floor, slipped into pantaloons and boots, ran 12 feet from his bed to the “pole” leading below, slid down the pole, got out the horses and had them hitched to the fire wagon and was on the seat ready for a “run,” all in precisely 25 seoonds. This seems almost incredible, yet' it had been done before in 31 seoonds, and the later reoord is said to be right up with many of the best records in the oountry. A blaze in Renssel; aer if discovered in a reasonable time stands about as much show of doing any great amount of damage as the proverbial snowball in sheol, with our excellent Water supply and efficient fire company. Yet the insurance trust makes no reductions in the excessive rates charged the business men for insurance.