ORCHESTRA:

ANNOUNCER:

"Uncle Sam's Forest Rangers" --

ORCHESTRA:

QUARTET.

ANNOUNCER:

Uncle Sam's Forest Rangers have just passed through another summer fire season, with a splendid record of fire control on the National Forests. With thousands of young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps on hand to strengthen their fire-fighting organization, the Rangers have been hitting the fires hard and fast. There have been some bad fires, to be sure, but in spite of many serious outbreaks and dangerous conditions in many areas, the forest officers this year have held losses on the National Forests to one of the lowest records ever chalked up. General rains have brought the season of greatest fire danger to an end on many of the National Forests, but on others the danger of fall fires still exists, and the situation calls for constant care on the part of those who go into the woods.

Fire fighting, whether it be in the forest or in the crowded city, is hard, gruelling work, and often dangerous. Those of us who have seen fire fighters in action on a big forest fire will not soon forget the bleary-eyed men, digging, sweating, under a blood-red sun. Exhausted men, with smoke-filled lungs, parched throats, and weary muscles, who stagger when they walk, gulp their coffee, bacon and beans, and instantly fall asleep when they sprawl out on the hard ground. Fight, fight - from dawn to dusk, and from dusk to dawn - all because someone was careless with his match, with his cigarette or campfire.

As we tune in at the Pine Cone Ranger Station today, we find Jerry just returning with the truck crew from a small late season fire. -- Here we are -

(SOUND OF SIREN, GENTLY BLOWN, OFF)

 

BESS:

Oh, that must be Jerry and the boys - back from the fire.

JIM:

Yep. Back already. - Let's go see how they came out.

BESS:

I'm sure everything must be all right - they're back so soon.

JIM:

I reckon --

(SOUND OF DOOR)

 

(SOUND OF MOTOR TRUCK COMING UP)

 

JERRY:

(OFF) Hi, Jim - We got ' er --

JIM:

That's good.

JERRY:

(COMING UP) Gosh - lemme get a drink of water!

BESS:

Yes indeed! Here's the dipper, right here.

JERRY:

Thanks. (RAISING VOICE) Hey, fellas - how about a drink of water!

(SHOUTS OF "YOU BET"; "LEAD ME TO IT," ETC., OFF)

 

BESS:

(DURING HUBBUB) Here - they can use these tin cups, Jerry. This water's colder than the water out in the shed.

(SHOUTS OF "OH BOY"; "HEY, QUIT YER SHOVIN'," "THANKS, MRS. ROBBINS," "ME NEXT!," ETC., SLIGHTLY OFF)

 

BESS:

(DURING HUBBUB) My, you all must be thirsty.

JERRY:

(BETWEEN GULPS) Boy - was I thirsty! Umm - (RAISING VOICE) All right, fellows - you better straighten up the tools and run the truck in.

JIM:

(CHUCKLING) Well, if you've got your whistle wet down enough, how about telling us about the fire, Jerry.

JERRY:

We held 'er to a Class A, Jim - about a quarter of an acre.

JIM:

Good.

BESS:

Oh, I'm so glad, Jerry.

JERRY:

I left a couple of the boys on 'er to mop up, and patrol 'er but she's safe enough. Trenched all around and cooled down clear to the middle. We did some fast work on 'er, Jim.

JIM:

I guess you did. Could you find out what caused it?

JERRY:

Yeah. Somebody went away and left a campfire without putting it out. Ernie Knight's on the trail of the fellow right now. He'll call in if he needs any help.

JIM:

All right. -- Well, maybe this'll be our last fire this season, Jerry. Here's hoping.

JERRY:

Yeah. A good soaking rain now would make things pretty safe.

JIM:

Yep.

JERRY:

Well - I'd better go help the boys with the truck, I guess. - Gosh - even a little fire like that wears a fellow down --

MARY:

(OFF, AS IN HOUSE) Yoohoo - yoohoo - anybody home?

BESS:

Oh, there's Mary Halloway - (CALLS) We're out here in back, Mary --

MARY:

(COMING UP) The front door was open, so I walked right in. Hello, Jerry - and Mr. Robbins.

JERRY:

Hello, Mary.

JIM:

(WITH HIM) Howdy, Miss.

MARY:

I heard the fire truck this morning, so I thought I'd stop by a minute and find out what had happened. I was so worried.

JIM:

Well, it's all over now, Miss. Jerry and the boys got it under control before it got bad.

JERRY:

Yeah, we got 'er corralled in no time, Mary.

MARY:

Oh, I'm so glad. Every time there's a fire up in the forest it just worries me sick.

JIM:

We've done pretty well this season, Miss. Kept 'em all down to a small acreage, compared to last year.

JERRY:

Yeah. Not a single blow-up all season.

MARY:

That's splendid - thanks to our wonderful rangers and their men.

JERRY:

(LAUGHING) Say, never mind the soft-soap.

MARY:

Oh, but it's true. I know how hard you've all worked.

JERRY:

Well, we sure did work hard on that fire this morning all right - believe me. I'm darn near all in.

JIM:

(CHUCKLING) Yep. Right now we're busy getting Jerry tanked up with water. Seems like he got a little dry.

JERRY:

Dry! I bet I could drink a gallon. Where's that dipper again?

MARY:

Oh, you poor boy.

BESS:

You mustn't drink too much when you're all hot like this, Jerry.

JERRY:

I know. -- (GULPING WATER) - Just a swallow - Mrs. Robbins -

BESS:

A swallow? Is that what you call a swallow?

MARY:

(LAUGHING) He's just like a bad little boy, isn't he, Mrs. Robbins?

BESS:

(LAUGHING) I should say so.

MARY:

I'm afraid I'll have to run along now. I just wanted to know about the fire. I'm so glad it wasn't serious.

JERRY:

Do you have to leave right away, Mary?

MARY:

Yes, Jerry, I must get back to the school, you know. The children will all be there, and no teacher, if I don't.

JERRY:

Yeah, I guess that's right.

MARY:

(GOING OFF) Goodbye, everybody. I hope you don't have to fight another fire for a long time, Jerry.

JERRY:

Gosh, thanks. So do I.

JIM:

So long, Mary.

BESS:

(CALLING AFTER HER) Good bye. Stop in again soon, Mary --

(MUSICAL INTERLUDE)

 

(BABEL OF CHILDREN'S VOICES)

 

MARY:

(RAPPING FOR ATTENTION) All right, children - let's be quiet now, so we can go on with the lesson. -- Do you all have your spelling books ready? I'll read the words slowly -

BOY'S VOICE:

Miss Halloway, it's awful hot in here.

MARY:

Yes, Tommy, it does seem warm. Perhaps you'd better open that window.

BOY'S VOICE:

All right, Miss Halloway.

MARY:

Now, if you're all ready - the first word is "constitution" (SLOWLY) con-sti-tu-tion. -- Does everyone have it? -- All right. The next is "reforestation" - and remember, you must not spell it as if it were pronounced " reforest_r_ation" -- All right? Next --

LITTLE GIRL:

Miss Halloway --

MARY:

Please, Elizabeth, you must not interrupt the older students during the spelling lesson. -- The next word is --

LITTLE GIRL:

(INSISTENTLY) Miss Halloway!

MARY:

(PATIENTLY) Elizabeth, it's very impolite to interrupt our lesson. --

LITTLE GIRL:

But, Miss Halloway, there's --

MARY:

(STERNLY) Elizabeth, you must be quiet.

LITTLE GIRL:

(STARTING TO CRY) But, Miss Halloway - there's smoke - coming up out of the floor --

MARY:

I'll come and see about it, Elizabeth. Where is it?

LITTLE GIRL:

(CRYING) By my seat - See, Miss Halloway - see, there it is!

MARY:

Oh! (CALMLY) Children, will you all please stand? Now, we'll march quietly outdoors as we always do in our fire drill.

(BABEL OF CHILDREN'S VOICES)

 

LITTLE GIRL:

(CRYING) O-oh, Miss Halloway - it's a fire! -- there's fire coming up!

MARY:

All ready, Children? Pass out quietly.

(SOUND OF SHUFFLING FEET; BABEL OF CHILDREN'S VOICES)

 

MARY:

(CALMLY) Now, children, we'll march over there by the fence and please don't any of you go away - (RAPIDLY) Tommy - quick, Tommy - go to the ranger station and tell them the schoolhouse is on fire!

BOY:

Yes, Miss Halloway.

MARY:

Run, Tommy - run just as fast as you can!

BOY:

(GOING OFF) Gee, Miss Halloway - I sure will!

MARY:

Oh, if I could only do something! (RAISING VOICE) Children, please don't go so near - you must stay by the fence! - (LOWER) Oh, if Jerry were only here --?

(MUSICAL INTERLUDE)

 

JIM:

(COMING UP) Well, Jerry - (CHUCKLING) do you feel like you could fight another fire this afternoon, after all that pie?

JERRY:

(LAUGHING) Not on your life. That one this morning was enough for one day.

JIM:

(CHUCKLING) Yep, I reckon. -- The boys filled up the water tank on the truck again, didn't they?

JERRY:

Yes. She's all ready for the next call, Jim - but I'm sure hoping we've had our last fire for this season.

JIM:

Yep, I hope we have. -- We've got to be ready to go, though, as long as the fire danger lasts.

BESS:

(OFF, CALLING FRANTICALLY) Jim - Jim - the schoolhouse --!

JIM:

(CALLS) Huh, what's the matter, Bess?

BESS:

(OFF) The schoolhouse is on fire, Jim!

JIM:

Schoolhouse, eh?!

JERRY:

Gosh - Mary, and all those children --!

JIM:

Round up your truck crew, Jerry - Quick!

JERRY:

(SHOUTS) Hey, you guys! Everybody on the tank-truck! Quick!

(SEVERAL MEN'S VOICES, OFF - SHOUTING "COME ON," "EVERYBODY ON THE TRUCK," ETC.)

 

JERRY:

(SHOUTS) Hurry - for the love of mike!

JIM:

(CALLS) Everybody on - quick - the schoolhouse is on fire!

JERRY:

Let 'er go, Billy! Everybody on - let's go!

(ROAR OF MOTOR - SIREN - FADING OUT AND INTO CRACKLE OF FIRE)

(SHOUTING OF MEN AND CHILDREN, THROUGH FOLLOWING)

 

JERRY:

(COMING UP) Gosh, it sure is burning - ! (CALLS) Mary - are you all right!

MARY:

(OFF) Yes, Jerry -

JIM:

(SLIGHTLY OFF, SHOUTS) Run out both lines of hose! That's the way. - Hit the fire in the back and front where she's hottest! Make it snappy, boys!

(ROAR OF MOTOR UP - HISS OF WATER FROM HOSE)

 

JERRY:

Are all the children out, Mary?

MARY:

Yes - I counted them twice to make sure.

JERRY:

Gosh, Mary, this is terrible - I sure was scared about you and the kids.

MARY:

Can you save the schoolhouse, Jerry?

JERRY:

We'll do our best, Mary -

JIM:

(CALLS) You with the back pump - wet down that roof! -- It's lucky we've got five hundred gallons of water in that tank truck, Jerry.

JERRY:

You bet - we're going to need every bit of it. -- Say -- there's plenty more in the well over there at the corner of the yard, if we run short.

JIM:

Good - you'd better have Billy stretch a line of hose to it and keep the tank full.

JERRY:

(SHOUTS) Hey, Billy - run a suction line from the truck into that well there - so there won't be (GOING OFF) any chance of the water tank going dry.

VOICE:

(OFF) Okay!

MARY:

(CALLS, OFF) Children - please stay back! - (COMING UP) Oh dear, it looks like the fire is gaining, Mr. Robbins. Isn't it a shame? All the children's books and things in there, too.

JIM:

Don't you worry about the books, Miss. Be thankful you got all the children out safe.

JERRY:

(COMING UP) We've got the suction line working, Jim.

JIM:

Good - maybe that'll save the day.

MARY:

(CALLS) Children - you must stand back - Elizabeth! Come back here!

LITTLE GIRL:

(OFF) My doll - Miss Halloway - I forgot my dolly!

MARY:

(CALLS FRANTICALLY) Elizabeth! Elizabeth! Don't go in there! Come back! (GOING OFF) Oh my heavens, she ran into that burning building!

JERRY:

Hey, Mary - for gosh sakes, are you crazy?! You can't go in there!

MARY:

Elizabeth! The little girl - she ran back into the building! (SHOUTS) Elizabeth! Elizabeth!

JERRY:

You get back, Mary! (GOING OFF) I'll get 'er!

MARY:

Jerry, Jerry! (TO JIM) Oh, Mr. Robbins - he's gone into the fire.

JIM:

(SHOUTS, COMING UP) Hey, you boys with the hose - this way - quick! Shoot all the water round that hallway! - (LOUDER) Watch out for the roof, Jerry!

MARY:

O-oh - Merciful heavens - the roof - it's caving in - Oh, Jerry, Jerry - (FAINTS)

(CRASH OF FALLING TIMBER - CRACKLE OF FIRE)

 

JIM:

Here - somebody take the schoolma'am - she's fainted. (SHOUTS) Jerry - Jerry, where are you?

(CRASH OF OF BREAKING GLASS)

 

VOICE:

There he is at the window!

JERRY:

(OFF) Hey - somebody take this little girl! Quick!

JIM:

I've got 'er - I've got 'er, son! Climb out now - quick. -- That's the way! -- (CALLS) Water - more water here -- (TO CHILD) Well now, young Miss. What were you trying to do -- running into that building?

LITTLE GIRL:

(SOBBING) I wanted my dolly --

JIM:

(CHUCKLES) Yes? -- Well, here comes Mrs. Robbins - you run along and stay right with her.

BESS:

(COMING UP) Oh, Jim - isn't that terrible? I hurried over here just as fast as I could. -- Why - what's happened to Mary?

JIM:

You'd better look after her, Bess. Seems like she kinda passed out on us without waiting to see our young hero here save the child from the flames.

BESS:

Oh, the poor girl!

JERRY:

Is Mary all right, Mrs. Robbins?

MARY:

(WEAKLY) Is - that - you - Jerry?

JERRY:

Yes, Mary - now don't worry - everything's all right - just lie quiet.

MARY:

Is the little girl all right?

LITTLE GIRL:

I'm all right, Miss Halloway -- See - I got my dolly.

MARY:

Oh - I guess - I - fainted - when the - roof - caved in, Jerry. -- But I'm better now. -- Help me up, won't you please? --

JERRY:

Sure, Mary.

MARY:

Oh, Jerry - you dear - I'm so proud of you. -- Did you get burned badly?

JERRY:

No - not much, I guess.

JIM:

Not much? (CHUCKLING) You haven't seen the back of your shirt and pants, have you?

JERRY:

(LAUGHING) No, I haven't.

JERRY:

(CHUCKLING) Looks like you'd been shot with shrapnel.

BESS:

Oh - just look - it certainly does!

JIM:

The boys've got the fire stopped now, Mary.

MARY:

Oh, that's splendid!

JERRY:

'cept where part of the roof caved in it doesn't look so bad.

JIM:

Nope -- that was a close call for you, Jerry, when that roof fell in.

BESS:

Oh, we're all so proud of you, Jerry!

JERRY:

Thanks, Mrs, Robbins, but it wasn't much. Any of the boys there would've done the same thing.

JIM:

It isn't what a man might do that counts, Jerry, - it's what he really does.

MARY:

Yes indeed. -- Jerry - you were splendid!

(FADEOUT)

 

ANNOUNCER:

Well, folks, Jerry came through in great shape that time. -- The fire fighting organization of the United States Forest Service is often called upon in rural communities for assistance in times of emergency. This cooperation is gladly given, and many a farmer's house and even small towns have been saved from destruction, by the quick and effective work of Uncle Sam's Forest Rangers.

This program, is brought to you each Thursday at this hour as a presentation of the National Broadcasting Company, with the cooperation of the United States Forest Service.

fb/11:15 A.M.
Oct. 17, 1933