o doors to each box, an outer and an inner door, lettered
respectively F and G in the engraving. The door G is to be kept closed
unless it becomes necessary to repeat the alarm. The outer door, F, is
opened, and the catch A is drawn down firmly. This winds up a spring, by
means of the lever B, which sets in motion the wheel C, and strikes the
number of the box on the gong D and on the instrument at the Fire
Department headquarters. Should it be necessary to give a second or
third alarm, the door G is opened and the Morse key E is struck ten
times.

In this way all alarms are sent, first to the central office, and thence
to the various engine-houses. The alarm from the central office is
struck on a large gong placed in a conspicuous part of the engine-room of
every engine or hook and ladder company. The locality, and often the
precise site of the fire can be ascertained by means of these signals.
For instance, the bell strikes 157 thus: _one_--a pause--_five_--another
pause--_seven_. The indicator will show that this alarm-box is at the
corner of the Bowery and Grand street. The fire is either at this point
or within its immediate neighborhood. The signals are repeated on all
the bells in the fire-towers of the city, and the citizens, by consulting
their printed indicators, can inform themselves of the location of the
fire. On an alarm of fire about one-sixth of the whole force goes to the
place of danger. If the alarm be repeated the number is increased by
another sixth, and so on until the necessary force is obtained. Each
company is restricted to certain portions of the city, so that there is
no confusion in sending out the proper force.

As soon as the sharp strokes of the gong give the signal of danger, and
point out the locality, every man springs to his post. The horses are
attached in a few seconds, the fire is lighted in the furnace, and the
steamer and hose carriage start for the scene of action. The foreman
runs on foot, ahead of his steamer, to clear the way, and the driver may
keep up with him, but is not allowed to pass him. Only the engineer, his
assistant, and the stoker are allowed to ride on the engine. The rest of
the company go on foot. Fast driving is severely punished, and racing is
absolutely prohibited. The men are required to be quiet and orderly in
their deportment in going to and returning from fires. The engines have
the right of way in all the streets. This is well underst