We may glance for a moment at the mechanism which sends an unmistakable message for help. At the brigade station there is a number of small tablets, each protected by a flap, on the outside of which is the word SAFE, on the inside FIRE. Normally the flap is closed. As soon as the circuit is completed, a magnet releases the flap, and a bell begins to ring. Now, it is possible that the circuit might be closed accidentally by contact somewhere between the premises it serves and the fire-station. So that the official on guard, seeing "J. Brown and Company" on the uncovered tablet, might despatch the engines to the place indicated on a wild-goose chase.
To prevent such false alarms the transmitter not only rings the station up, but automatically sends an unmistakable message. When a fire occurs an automatic printing machine is set in motion to despatch a cipher in the Morse code _four times_ to the station. An accidental circuit could not do this; therefore, when the officer sees on the receiving tape the well-known cipher, he turns out his men with all speed.
On arriving at their destination the firemen receive valuable help from the "position indicator," which guides them to their work. On a special board is seen a row, or rows, of shutters similar to those already mentioned. Each row belongs to a floor; each unit of the row to a room. A glance suffices to tell that the trouble is, say, in the most southerly room of the second floor. No notice is therefore taken of smoke rolling out of other parts of the building, until the danger spot has been attacked.
That the firemen appreciate such an ally goes without saying. Every fire extinguished is a point to their credit. Also, the risks they run are greatly diminished, while the wear and tear of tackle is proportionately reduced. The fireman is noted for his courage and unflinching performance of duty. The discomforts of his profession are sometimes severe, and its dangers as certain as they are at times appalling. Therefore we welcome any mechanical method which at once shortens his work, lessens his peril, and protects property from damage.
Mr. Oatway draws special attention to the need for simultaneous warning on the premises and at the fire-station. "I remember," he says, "many cases, but perhaps no better illustration need be looked for than the case of a cotton mill in Lancashire about two years ago (1901). The fire was seen to start at a few minutes past seven; a fuse blew out, and sparked some cotton; but it looked such a simple job that the operatives elected to deal with it. At twenty minutes to eight it dawned upon somebody that the brigade had better be sent for, because the fire was getting away; and in due course they arrived; but the mill, already doomed, became a total loss. In every centre similar instances can be quoted. There is nothing in any automatic system to discourage individual effort. Inmates can put the fire out, if able; but in any case the brigade gets timely and definite notice, and if on their arrival they find the fire extinguished, as Chief Superintendent Thomas put it when we opened the Dingle Station after the fatal train-burning, 'So much the better, we shall get to our beds all the quicker.' This is the common-sense view of it. Helpers work none the less intelligently because they know the brigade is coming; and it is necessary to provide some automatic method of calling them, because you can never rely upon anybody who is unfamiliar with fire doing the right thing at the proper time."