Lapiing
306
CHINA MAIL.
HONGKONG, FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 1868.
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THE FIRE AND THE POLICE, THE fire which last evening occurred in the immediate neighbourhood of this office has justly given rise to indignaut remarks on the part of almost every resi- dent in the colony. It seldom happens that we feel called upon to expose in more emphatic terms the utter and total state of disorganization and confusion which prevailed,-a disorganization dis- graceful to the government which profes- ses to have organized a brigade, and doubly disgraceful to the Police and (very nominal) Superintendent lately appoint- ed to act as leader at such occurrences, It was one of those rare occasions upon which the expression of public opinion was unanimous. Men of all grades, offi- cial or non-official, Naval and Military alike, expressed in loud and contemptu- ous tones their conviction of the utter uselessness of the means adopted to ex- tinguish the fire and of the still more utter uselessness of the person to whose care had been confided the "organization" of the embryo brigade. There was not a single redeeming feature about the case so far as the police and "brigade concerned, The very plucky but toc often misdirected efforts of the soldiers and sailors leave no room for carping at the manner in which they did their work. There was plenty of zeal, plenty of pluck and power on their part, as on the part of many civilians present; but the efforts of all were rendered useless by the absence of any head, and the want of definite orders from any recognized source on the part of this precious bri- gade of which Mr May is the Superin- tendent. The conduct of the police was siroply utterly disgraceful from beginning to end, partially excused by the fact, as stated to the writer 45 minutes after the fire broke out by three of the force whom he at different times addressed, "that they had no one to give them orders," a statement which, whether true or false, reflects equal discredit on the force. We would draw particular atten- tion to the details given in another column respecting the " 'take-it-easy" manner in which the alarm was received at the station, and the conduct of the police on the spot. Surely, these things call for some notice!
In the utter collapse of the present Brigade and its Superintendent, who by the way was it is reported, as ignorant of the positions of the various hydrauts as of the details of a fireman's outfit when appointed (), we see grave cause for immediate action towards a more satisfactory state of matters. The duties of Fire Brigades are donbtless like the payment of Insurance policies--irksome when the danger is not present. But in
a town which has witnessed so many extensive conflagrations and where the
Chinese were formerly permitted to build inflammable shells which embodied mock- ! ing invitations to be bank, we cannot Jet society go on without a real, working, brigade and efficient Superintendent. As somebody well remarked last night on! hearing certain persous, directed by a certain person, to "go," the only word used by leaders should be "come." In the confusion of last night it is possible that any such invitation would have not been heard or understood-another re- sult of police organization. Instead of clearing á circle within which none but workers were admitted, the police stood ¦ idly by, while Chinese loafers and zeal- ons, but perforce unemployed, civilians pressed around the hose carriers and rather retarded than assisted them.
If we look around for satisfactory means of organizing au eficient fire bri- gade the means and material are obvions enough. By "an efficient fire brigade' we can something supported, solely by volunteer action. This could be easily raised and would be well supported but there must be two conditions observed in its organization, The leader must be both a "gentleman " and "a practical
man."
If it be suggested that such an union is difficult to find in one man, let there be two leaders, the man of high social standing being the chief, while his locum tenens in cases of urgency and ge neral adviser in other cases would be the mau with practical experience. We could very easily name two men who would exactly fulfil these various con- ditions, and under their auspices the F. B. might be a real living association in- stead of an association of which "
great cry and little wool" is the motto. That the fire of yesterday spread no further than it did is a singular instance of good fortune earned by no meritorious decd on the part of those parties most specially intrusted with the duties of combatting it. Had but one house beyond the line reached caught fire it is difficult to say where it would have stopped. The parallelogram formed by Wyndham, Wellington and d'Aguilar Streets and the road leading past the west face of St. Saviour's Church is a perfect amphithea tre of tinder. That it remained uncon- sumed is one of those inscrutable pro- blems which no one is likely to solve. In conclusion we would say--May, we ren- ture to hope something will be done?— that something to consist of the discharge of the present highly inefficient imitation now palmed off on us as a superinten- dent and the reorganization of a fire bri gade. By the way they might begin practice with an ordinary stove, gradually increasing the size of the fire until it was as big as a lay-rick. The now quasi- deserted Government gardens would af ford a cheerful spot for the study of such amusements, or rather duties. The volunteers are welcome to the hint, and we are sure that the Curator would cheerfully lend his garden squirt for the practice.