THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS. Chief Simpson of Springfield, O., has our thanks for a copy of his annual report. The department has in service four four-wheeled two-horse hose carriages and one two-tanked chemical engine of 100 gallons capacity each, one combined machine, carrying two five-gallon chemicals, one fifty-gallon chemical, 1000 feet two and one-inch hose and four ladders, one first-class two-horse hook and ladder truck and two steam fire engines in good working order. The force of the department is thirty-six officers and men and sixteen horses. During the year there were ninety-one alarms, causing a loss of $24 441. Peter McDonald, chief of the newly organized Ellis Island Fire Department, called out his men for the first time yesterday. Some matches in a trunk belonging to one of the Karamania passenger’s caught fire while on the pier near the new building, and dense smoke came from the burning clothing. McDonald…
