A bell that fired up the BYU Wild Cats and the Utah Utes
At ten minutes before midnight, in the fall of 1956 Red dialed up the Provo City Fire Department. He dialed each number, and then carefully rechecked it for accuracy. Finally he pressed the send bar; two rings on the other end of the line were recorded on the tape before the telephone at the other end of the line was answered. A man’s voice declared the number dialed as the Provo City Fire Station. Red spoke slowly in a calm unconstrained voice,
“Hello, I have some information for your fire department that is of importance for the general safety of the Union Building. But before I tell you what it is, could you tell me the total number of men that you have working?”
“Yes, there are eight on this shift and twenty-eight all together."
“Twenty-eight all together?” You have 28 men all together, are you sure, isn't there is a little bit of space between them? The guys will roll on the floor laughing at that joke Red thought.
“What?”
“Nothing. Are twenty eight men enough to take care of everything?”
“Yes, at the moment the night shift men are waxing the floor in the equipment room. Why, what's up?”
“I’m doing a little research for Alpha Mega Braga fraternity. I have just two more questions and then I’ll explain about the Union Building. Are there any fire prevention measures being taken by the mayor, council, or in our department?”
“Yes, we check all the homes in Provo once a year for fire hazards. We also pay a full time inspector. He makes regular rounds inspecting buildings for fire hazards and water systems. He draws up plans for modern delivery of water to the fire source. For example, he inspects the stand pipes on buildings so the hose can he hooked on to them instead of having to run a rubber hose up the side of buildings.”
“Ok, I appreciate your time, just one more important question. Does the city have an Arson Squad?”
“Well, in a town this small the inspector is also the Arson Squad. The inspectors name is Jim Mathews a highly respected fireman from Ogden. He reports on all fires and arson suspects in cooperation with the prosecuting attorney’s office. This year he collected enough evidence on a twenty year old, former BYU student that was expelled for drinking into a conviction of Arson which destroyed a down town warehouse. He wanted to dispose of the mayor. He is presently in the Utah State Pen getting 1 to 10.Red suddenly felt his back starting to bother him. Terrible things were ready to happen, his back hurt badly whenever he got nervous or scared. Get hold of myself, he thought, It will all be over in a minute. He began to concentrate on his job the President, the fraternity leader, the senior’s choice. The short pause gave him enough time to gain a steady voice. It was now twelve midnight; He began reading some scribbling that was inside a book of matches. “I've kept you on the telephone while I’ve been waiting for twelve-o’clock to arrive and the BYU campus Bell Tower Bell to start ringing. Alpha Mega Braga’s back yard bonging. Concerning the BYU's persons that out right stole the Victory Bell siting on a trailer in Alpha Mega Braga fraternity’s back yard. Bell rightly belonging to U o f U, for winning this year’s football game. We students as an act of revenge have lit fire which is now surrounding the BYU Union Building. Good luck to you and your city fire department too." Click.
Sixty years later Red dialed the same number and the same Provo City Fire Department: Two rings on the other end of the line the call was answered. A man’s voice once again declared the Fire department’s number had been correctly dialed. Some things never change. Once more Red now a sports writer for the Desert News had a prepared list. "This is Red Grange speaking, I need some information for an article I'm writing for the Deseret Church News Paper, and could you help me?"
"Sure, what’s information do you need?”
“How was the fire handled that had the dead body in the vacant house yesterday, say compared to sixty years ago? Has the fire department been updated in the last sixty years, compared to the 28 men that were all together in one firehouse? Have you enough men to take care of anything? How's the maintenance division? Equipment, are there 9 men still waxing the floor, switch-board operators, a truck with a two-way radio, any work dispatching apparatus? Fire prevention division? Up flags around town, how often do you have classes on firefighting? Does the Arson squad have more than one man, and have you caught any fire bugs lately? Other assorted activities, for example first aid mouth to mouth? Some tax payers think that the fire dept. costs too much money, what do you think? Where is the Liberty Bell presently located?" Or has it gone by the way side since the NCAA has scuffled the teams.”
The End
KARL WALLACE
To read more Karl Wallace stories go to: Karlwallaceblog.blogspot.com
