Page:New Brunswick Magazine Issue 1.djvu/182

of water. On the occasions of great fires in those times the military took an active part. Over from the barracks on this day came a detachment of the 36th regiment, headed by Major Cairnes, marching on the double-quick, with a detachment of the Royal Artillery under Lieut. Smith. With the military came the ordnance engine, which was considered an efficient piece of fire apparatus then but which would be a veritable antique if placed beside even a hand engine of more modern construction. It was in the form of an oblong box, much like a large chest, with diminutive wheels which made rapid progress difficult except on very level ground. When those who were hauling it went too fast, the machine would begin to "wobble" around, and in such cases it was not unusual for a number of the soldiers to pick up the engine and carry it bodily until better ground was reached. The whole affair weighed only a few hundred pounds. It was painted a lead color, with the royal arms emblazoned upon it—possibly through fear that some light fingered civilian might steal it some dark night. In its principle of action it was a veritable "tub," and the brakes at each end permitted only a small number of men to do the pumping. A large number of workers would not have added to the efficiency of the machine, however, for there was no suction hose or means of water supply other than that furnished by buckets. These were passed from hand to hand up a line of men, the water of each bucket emptied into the engine and the empty buckets passed down another line of men and boys to the source of supply.

In addition to the soldiers with the engine, a portion of the regiment came in marching order with muskets and bayonets. These were stationed at various points to guard property and keep back the crowds. On this occasion some unpleasantness was