The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-25 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONI)O

The Suppression and Extinction of Fires,

A meeting of the members of the Inventors' In-
stitute was held on Thursday evening at 9, Con-
duit-street—Mr. Ashton in the chair.

Mr. KING, C.E., read a paper on the means and
appliances adopted for the suppression and extinc-
tion of fires, with a review of the steam fire-engines
at present in use. Mr. King, after referring to the
causes of fire, said bzildings eould not be made en-
tirely fire-proof, but they could be constructed with
a view of rendering them impervious to fire, so as
to resist and not assist fire. Many plans had been
proposed for increasing the extinguishing power of
water, but the result had been so small as to be
wholly unworthy of consideration, and all such
schemes were practically useless. Phillips's Fire
Annihilator was useful in contending with the ear-
liest stages of fires ; beyond that, when tried, it had
been found practically to fail. Having detailed the

improvements which had been made in fire-engines,
he contended that llodges' fire observatory, con-
structed by himself, had been proved to be very
useful in deciding the exact neighbourhcod of fires,
and so enabling Mr. Hodges' Brigade to arrive first
at the scene of the disaster: The advantage of the
high-pressure system of water in the pipes was ob-
vious, but to enable it to be universally adopted in
London the whole water system would require to be
re-modelled. In extinguishing fires the steam fire-
engines must hold a foremost place, not only in
consequence of the development of power, but on
the ground of economy. He then treated the rise
and progress of steam fire-engines, giving some in-
teresting details as to the construction of steam

fire-engines at present in use. With reference to
the late trial of steam fire-engines at the Crystal
Palace, he observed that the programme for the
trial was all that the most scrupulous could desire,
had it been carried out. The committee did not
comply with the terms on which they asked the
exhibitors to work the engines, causing a very urge

amount of confusion and dissatisfaction, and render-
ing the award of little or no importance as a test of
intrinsic value; Several of the committee showed

a marked partiality for certain descriptions of en

gines, and owing to the want of unanimity among
the members the result of the trial was unfortunately

of little comparative value. He concluded by ex-
pressing a hope that in future volunteer fire brigades
would receive more encouragement.
A discussion ensued, in the course of which Mr.
Frederick Hodges observed that everything ought
to be done to increase the pressure of water. In
the day it should be laid oa at about 60, and at
night at 80 degrees.
Mr. HANK EY, M.P., said a town like London
should not depend upon private fire brigades. He
ehould hail with great satisfaction the time when
the legislature, public, private, and volunteer enter-
prise went hand in hand in establishing an effective
fire brigade.
Mr. BADDELEY, C.E., thought it very desirable
that information should be obtained as to the causes
of fires, a number of which were put down to un-
known causes.

After some further discussion the proleedings
terminated with a Tote of thanks to Mr. King for
his paper.

The Execution of Colonel &chi.

Florence-2s we learn from a letter from that city
—is mourning the lois of Colonel &chi, a Tusca❑
officer, who hes died in the cause of Poland. He
had fought under Cherles Albert and Victor Em-
manuel, and appears to have been greatly beloved
by his countrymen. When taken by the Russians
in a skirmish in Poland, it seems that efforts were

made to obtain lis reprieve, but General Berg
peremptorily ordered his execution. He wes ac-

corclingly shct on the 17th December. The night
before his execution, a number of Polish ladies were

allowed to remain with him in his cell. These ladies,

n a letter to Bechi's widow, say :—" On the last day

and night previous to his execution we were per-
mitted to remain in your husband's company. We
had o:casion to admire the noblest of human beings,
whose fate we this day have to deplore as though
we mourned the lc :s of a brother and friend. Pure
29 an angel was he; notable for his misfortunes; of
an impir:erbolile gentleness, 'Which moved to pity
even his fierce gaolers ; indulgent towards others and
valorous ; sublime in his enthusiasm for the holy cause
of out liberty; a tender husband and loving father—
he appeared before us in the aspect of a being elevated
altogether above the common level of man. Your
photograph and that of your children, which had been
mislaid on the road, came this day to hand. He
therefore had just time to take his leave of those be-

loved images once more. It was a terrible leave.
taking. We heard him say,' Poor Juliet, I am about
to leave you for ever. You will scan have to don
tho raiment of the Polish women_ How well the
dark clothing will suit the fair tressc 3 of my bright
haired girl. I leave to my boy and girl a stainless
and unblemished name—an heritage of honour un-
sullied, but nothing more. Poland will protect you,
_ _

and adopt you as her own.' Atter this he said tha'
he implored your forgiveness for having brough

such a terrible sorrow on your life. He subsequently
conversed at great length of yourself and his chil-
dren, and his courage never failed him save when
looking on your image and thinking of your
widowed desolation, and of his helpless fatherless
children. The story of that terrible night may only
be written in tear 3. During two hours he slept;
after the refreshment of rest he prayed. At eight
o'clock in the morning we received his blessing and
last farewell. Ho took his departure with a tran-

quil and courageous demeanour. On his way he
received continual ovations of triumph. At the
moment of his exention his voice was heard to cry
aloud, thre 3 times, Long life to Poland,' before he
fell prostrate pierced with bullets to the ground.
And now, what words can we make use of to
comfort you? What words, drawn from the
depths of the heart, would have the power to
soothe ? We can only blend our tears with
yours ; re would invite you to join us in
prayer at the fcot of the crcsq, to pray, es your
husband died, before he departed from us, like a
Christian, a ti as gentleman, and a brave Italian
such es he was. Bear up, therefore, as he did,
against this sad reverse; and may God in His
mercy help and protect you. We have this day
been to pray on his tomb, which we often intend to
visit; from the fresh laid gravel which cover 3 it we
have gathered a handful of earth, which we send
you. The earth." as he said before he left us,
' would rest lightly' on his head. We shall endea-
vour to send you his military decorations, which are
at present in the hands of our Prince. Farewell.
A thousand times farewell, madam, May God pre-
tect you and your children for ever." On the night
preceding his death the brave Tuscan wrote as
follows to Madame Bechi :—" My pcor Juliet,—
When you receive this letter your poor Lao will

be no more. He will have been shot by the
Russians. I bless you, together with my beloved
children. Death has no terrors for me. It is
hard, however, to die in a foreign country,
far away from all those whom I love, and un-
able to embrace them once more. You will
now soon be a widow. Bat I advise you not
to marry again, unless, indeed, you are led to
do so through consideration for the impe •
rious interests of our children. Soon will those
children be orphans, and this through my fault.
May God have mercy upon ray soul! I forgive all
my enemies with my whole heart. My Juliet, my
Guido, my dear Elisa, I shall sec you no more.
Farewell, farewell! Embrace Fanny, our mother,
Arthur, Mc.ssitno, Fanny's children, and your father,
and bid all kind friends a farewell for me. I die
because I have stood firmly at my post, when
nearly all the other chiefs had dispersed abroad. I
have given my blood for Poland. May Poland not
abandon my family to destitution: I send you a
lock of my heir, which is damp already with the
dew of death. I hope you will receivo my watch,
my ring, and the locket I wear with your hair in it,
which I leave as an heirloom to my dear Guido, to-
gether with my military decoration's. I have now
but three hours to live. Take courage, my Juliet ;
we shall doubtless meet in heaven. Meantime pray
for my soul. My last thoughts are with God, and
with yourself. May the blessing of an innocent
man bring you happiness. Farewell, farewell ; a
thousand and a thousand tender kisses to you, my
, dear Juliet, to my (I,,r;ing chikiree, Pnil to 01 my
•:els_tiott.s."