Page:Fires and Fire-fighters (1913).djvu/32

10. In fact, nocturnal life in Rome had come to be an integral part of the city's existence.

This in its turn necessitated some form of municipal illumination and this was likewise entrusted to the fire department, a special branch being formed under the name of the "Sebaciarii," after their first captain, one Sebaciarius. Special men were drawn monthly from each cohort for this service, their duties including the supervision of the monster torches kept continually burning outside fire stations as a signal to all and sundry whither to repair in the event of wishing to give an alarm of fire. Some few years ago a bronze torch was excavated not far from St. Grisogone, which experts presume to have been a street lamp of this period.

Fortunately Rome was well supplied with water, which was carried in "Hamae" or light vases by squads of firemen to the scene of an outbreak, where it was placed at the disposal of those in charge of the "Siphones" or hand pumps. From specimens, which have been frequently found in excavations, these latter must have been very similar to the old-fashioned syringes used by gardeners, only, of course, constructed of wood.

The "Aquarii," or as their name designates, the water carriers, did not confine their attentions to that duty alone. They were also expected to be conversant with all possible sources of water supply in the two regions of the town for which their cohort was responsible.

On the whole, the firemen were well equipped with apparatus including hammers, saws, mattocks, and other such implements, besides leather hose in suitable lengths. Large pillows, specially designed to break the fall of anyone jumping from a height were in general use, and incidentally were not much improved upon till the beginning of the last century. In addition the Roman ladder, the forerunner of the modern escape, had already been introduced and a detailed description of the same may be found in the chapter dealing with appliances.

Given these data it is not difficult to frame in the mind's