Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-06-27

Gt invention, improvement '"e
his countrymen. The comforts OF lite when
have been promoted the economy ana say
ing OF labor the advancement OF SCIENCE
and The guarantee OF safety. attest al once
the importance and value OF these inven'
tons. We have now TO add to the list the
patent Fire Shield invented by MIR. halpn
Buckley, of this city, one ofthe most simple
and, it appears to US, the most edectuaI pro-
lection of property from fire ever invented
This shield is intended to protect hremen
whilst employed in extinguishing hres' but
it is particularly designed to prevent hre
from spreading. 1t is well known that,
when house is on FIRE, if it even can De
saved after the time is lost in bringing up
engines, il must necessarily be very mucn
damaged. The evil to be apprehended is
the spreading of this deyouring element,
which frequently lay whole blocks OF build
Jugs, and sometimes whole cities IN ashes.
This invention is intended TO arrest the evil
on the spot where it originates, by enabling
liremen to approach so near the flames as to
protect surrounding property. As this in
vention is of deep interest to our citizens,
and particularly in the southern cities, SO
much afflicted by fires OF late, we deem it
necessary to be particular in our exPlana-
tons. The fire shield is made of metallic
substance thin, light, and impervious to
heat it is Of length and breadth sufficient
to cover the whole person, and it may be
used in several different positions. For ex-
ample when used in The street, it is firmly
6zed on small platform, with wheels, and
| short elevation from the ground. The
| fireman take his stand on this platform, and
behind the shield !; he is dragged by ropes
near the current of heat and flames, without
being scorched or feeling any inconvenience,
and with the hose pipe, or leader, in his
hand, he directs the water to the part where
| il is most required. In this way line Of
shields may be formed IN close order, in
front Of powerful heat, and behind which
the 6remen may stand with safety aud play
upon the houses with their water pipes.
The utility, therefore. Of this invention may
be seen at glance it enables hremen to
brave the flames with impunity, whereas,
in most instances Of excessive heat, they
are driven of, and the flames are permitted
to spread. The shield is used in another
and equally beneficial way. By varying
the form, it is carried up stairs to the third
story OF houses not on fire. but the roof OF
which requires water, and by simple ma
chnery carried in hand, it is projected from
window like painters platform ; the
leader is then carried through the house, up
stairs, and so out OF the window, and is di-
rected by the fremen behind the shield to
that part Of the adjoining houses which it
may be necessary 10 protect. It's extreme
ly useful in churches. and from steeples. and
may be applied in a variety Of ways. Fire
men have been frequently injured in health
and person, by approaching too near the
flames and giving full scope to that intrepid
ity of character and humanity for which
they are distinguished. By this FIRE shield
they will be efectualIy protected. and it
will be found, in narrow streets. to be pecu-
Iiarly useful.
We learn that Mr.. Bulkley has brough,
the sui ject before the Cory Grafton, and the
probability is that they will be pstronized.
Two or more can be attached to each engine
house, and they are not expensive. This is
subject which particularly interests the Cit
les of Savannah, Augusta, Charleston. Pc
tersburg, Norfolk, and all others which lave
been and are liable TO frequent fires. 1t
may preserve the property and lives Of
many of our citizens, and as such is worthy
of immediate Affection.
I'VE have seen the above described Fire
Shield" and therefore have no hesitation in
concurring in the remarks of the Advocate.
We have also seen several certificates OBJ
tanned by the inventor from men OF known
science, and others highly respectable, all OF
which tend urequivocally in the strongest
terms to the same point, both as it respects
its principle aud great u,ili,y-whieh, how
ever, must be apparent 10 every one who
v;ewsit. We understand the inventor is
obtaining patents at the different govern
ments OF Europe -Mer. .adr.
OBITUARY.
n;oI on SATURDAY. the 10th OF June