Tales of the 7th Battalion 11
Taco Wars
If you are not well liked, Firefighters will ignore you. If you are special they give you a nick name. The crew at Engine 27s quarters bestowed Gerald Baxter with the name Bugsy Baxter. Bugsy was a gutsy guy with a lot of interesting hobbies. An avid hunter and fisher who could build cabinets or houses or do mechanical things with the best of them. He was fun to be around and when the bell rang he was there to battle a blaze or respond to any emergency to help those in need.
Legends are made of guys like Gerald Baxter. In the 70s he became involved in a challenge that will live forever in the book of 7th Battalion folklore. The cook at Engine 27/Ladder 8 was a great chef and his specialty was tacos. A discussion had started about who could eat the most tacos. A new transferee from the 5th Battalion claimed he was the best taco eater in the city. His name was Loomis. Loomis had been the bane of firehouse cooks his entire career. His appetite was insatiable. When Loomis made the claim that he was a champion taco eater he impugned on the honor of the 7th Battalion. Bugsy would not stand for it. He responded by accepting the challenge. All the men on duty chipped in and ordered the cook to buy the ingredients to prepare a ton of tacos.
Word spread quickly and, by the time the cook began cooking, many fire companies had arrived at Engine 27s quarters. It was a festive occasion and bets were being made. Both Bugsy and Loomis went to the bathroom to clear their intestines for the battle ahead. The first platter of tacos hit the table and both contestants dove in to start the contest. Bugsy stuffed them in two at a time. Loomis had a different style. He placed them between his lips like a cigar and with a quick inhale the taco disappeared. For 15 minutes it was nip and tuck.
Bugsy would burp and Loomis would fart. The pace began to slow at the thirty minute mark. The cook was sweating but managed to keep the tacos coming. Bugsy’s tee shirt started to bulge and Loomis took off his belt. Persperation started to drip off the contestants. I believe it was tied at 30 apeice when Loomis asked for a truce. Bugsy refused and tossed another taco down. With an enormous belch Loomis inhaled one more.
Suddenly the bell hit. Both companies had a run. The contest was over. The trucks left the station enroute to a working fire. As the rigs turned onto Junction Avenue Loomis looked at the back of Engine 27. There with a smile was Bugsy with one arm hanging on to the fire engine and the other arm held high in the air. He was holding one more taco. He tilted his head back and, with a mighty snap, devoured the tasty morsel.
To this day Bugsy claims the Taco eating championship of the 7th Battalion. If you talked to Loomis he would say it was a tie and there should be an asterisk next to Bugsys name because the last taco was not eaten at the table.
To this day people still talk of the great taco eating contest between Bugs and Loomis. They are both legends in the 7th Battalion.
"Fire Talk" Archives
- Benny the Hook
- Got To Love Texas
- The Fog of Retirement
- Two Tough Kids
- On Leaving the Department
- Cop Talk 3, Ceremony
- Putting it on the Line
- A Bond of Love
- God Will Protect Us
- Stealing Fires
- Poo Poo Pants
- Decoy Carver
- Firefighter's Road Trip
- Day Twenty-seven. Road Trip
- Down Mexico Way
- Zoo in the 7th
- A Gentle Landing
- Always a Firefighter
- Christmas at the Firehouse
- Harem Sacrum
- The Crow Who Spoke Polish
- Once a Firefighter always a Firefighter
- A Brotherhood
- Retiring a Hall of Fame Firefighter
- Anatomy of Forcible Entry
- 911
- Old Horses
- The Milk Wagon
- The Howling
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 26, Destructo
- Memories of the 7th Battalion
- Running Mates
- Engine 32
- Last Alarm
- Tiger Stadium Fire
- To Moosenee and Back
- Memorial Day 2009
- Anatomy of a Fire at a Dangerous Building
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 25, A Typical 7th Battalion Fire
- Boris the Talking Dog
- Wear and Tear
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 24, Legends
- Axemen
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 23, Ankie
- Anatomy of a Dwelling Fire
- A Firefighter's Spring
- Input
- My Running Mate
- The Singing Fireman
- The Right Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 22, A Desperate Rescue
- 300 Spartans
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 21, Men Who Fight Bears
- At the End of His Rope
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 20, Wolf Warriors
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 19, Motorcycle Maniac
- Career Ending Injuries
- Detroit Loses One of Its Finest
- On Duty Injuries
- Unpractical Jokes
- Dedication in the Fire Service
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 18, Spare Parts
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 17, Passage to Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 16, Gallant Warrior
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 15, Big Ones
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 14, Chicago Lil
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 13, Bridge Fires
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 12, Hot Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 11, Taco Wars
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 10, Day in Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 9, Engine House Cat
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 8, Finding a Pen
- The Polish Squad
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 7, Wayne Soap
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 6, Junk Yard Goat
- The 1967 Riot in Detroit 3
- Department Legends
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 5, The Fonz
- The 1967 Riot (an entry from Tom Hart)
- The 1967 Detroit Riot
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 4, Howard
- The Buhl Building Fire
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 3, Engine 27
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 2, Roof Rescue
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 1, Explosion
- The worst 7th Battalion Fire
- Fire Incidents
- Beeler's Fog Monster
- Thoughts of a Retired Firefighter
- Dogs of the Realm
- Going to the Dogs
- Firefighter/Lawyer ?
- Moe Tales
- The Legend of Moe
- A POEM: When Brave Men Cry