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PRISONERS ARE DUCKED

County Jail Is Wet Down

by Streams Form the 

Water Tower

    Prisoners on the top floor of the county jail had an unexpected ducking this morning.  So did one of the occupants of a building adjoining.  Perhaps it was accidental and perhaps not.  To the several hundred spectators attracted by an experience drill of the fire company attached to water tower No. 1, it looked like a practical joke, though the individuals at the receiving end of the steam probably had considerable difficulty in appreciating the jest.

    At 11 o'clock this morning the water tower, accompanied by three fire engine, took up its stand on New High street, opposite the elevator entrance to the court house.  Connections were made and soon a heavy stream of water was playing on the court house roof, and over it.  A crowd quickly gathered and then things began to happen.

    The chief, who is something of a joker, put a substitute in charge of the battery.  Now this battery, when the tower is not working has an effective range of something like 275 feet, and throws a stream strong enough to knock down a horse.  Maybe the sub knew this.  Maybe he didn't.  At any rate he handled his levers with somewhat deadly effect.  First a little coterie of perhaps twenty persons, several of them court house employees, were sent scurrying around a corner of the big building to get out of range.  They succeeded finally, but presented a woefully bedraggled appearance when they stopped to turn around and make unkind remarks about the fire department in general and one young sub in particular.

    The windows of the jail, far away across Temple street, were crowded with prisoners watching the fun.  A second later they got theirs and they got it good.  The battery was directed high into the air.  Then slowly the stream descended, water pouring in torrents off the jail roof.  Still the prisoners remained and when it came time to dodge they dodged too late.  Straight into an open window flew the stream, its course impeded slightly by the mass of imprisoned humanity inside.  The crowd outside laughed.  What was said within would not bear repetition.

    At an open window in the adjoining building sat a very much blond young woman, in an elaborate pink slumber gown.  She couldn't see what was going on at the jail and leaned out to get a better view.  then she began to cough and sputter, while a street gamin from the corner advised her to "swim out, O'Grady."  The battery had gone into action again and with the usual effect.

    The drill lasted for half an hour.  When it was through the crowd encored enthusiastically, but there was nothing more doing.  The show was over.