Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-10-30
THE STEAM FIRR.ENeIyys

The editor Of the Boston Transcript nm .
visit to Cincinnati, on the 10th instant. TIM,
writes Of the steam fre-engine:
Since my arrival here three fires have oc.
CURED, one Of which was very large and de-
structiye. These confsgrations have enabled
me TO witness the operations Of the steam fre-
engines under favorable circumstances. The
frst fire witnessed was in the third story of
large wooden building. The flames were
shooting up quite fercely through the roof
soon after the alarm was sounded Being in
the neighborhood Of the burning building L
had good opportunity 20 notice al the move
ments of the various engines. The frst stream
played on to the FIRE was by q hand engine.
But IN about ten minutes after the first alarm,
one OF the steam fre-engines had been drawn
third OF mile, steam had been raised, hose
placed In the reservoir, and two streams of
water commenced playing on the FIRE with
power which very soon reduced the flames,
and In short time entirely quenched them.
AT the second fire the steam FIRE engines
had a foe worthy their powers, as the most ex-
tensive and destructive confagration that has
occurred in the city for several years took
place on Sunday morning. An immense steam
saw and planning mill, six stories high, and 26O
feet long by so feet wide, and filed with doors,
window sashes, cottage house and other COM
bustible materials, was on fire. This struc-
ture was surrounded with lumber yard, and
stables, and houses Of wood. Everything in
the building was Of character TO make an
intense and rapid heat, and before either the
hand or steam engines could reach the spot
from the upper end Of the city, portions Of the
walls Of the large mill fell across the street,
and the vast amount of burning lumber on the
premises made o heat nearly equal 10 that
which was observed in Boston at the destruc-
tiOn Of the freight depot Of the Marine rail
road, some years ago. The huge volumes of
water from the steam engines which were
poured on this burning mass, were in very
naked contrast with the puny streams Of the
hand engines. The buildings contiguous to
the mill were saved without great damage
For six hours the steam fire engines kept up
continuous streams on the burning property,
and nobly did they sustain their reputation.
The hremen evinced great daring and eff
cheney during the confagration, and would
that our aldermen, engineers, and fire compa-
MES could have been present 10 witness the
complete success of the new machines when
subjected TO such a test. The third alarm was
occasioned by the burning Of a ropewaIk, and
here again was witnessed the value Of steam
as an agent to arrest the progress of a Gre
The people here, as far as L can Judge. are
quite enthusiastic in their approval of the
steam fire engines. They have three now in
operation, and have contracted for four more
They would as soon think Of housing the loco
motive engines on their railroads aud return
TO the use OF stage coaches for the conveyance
of passengers, or Of ignoring the existence of
the magnetic telegraph, as they would to give
up their steam fire engines. Boston would as
soon vote to abolish the use of suction hose
and return to the old system Of passing water
IN bu:kets at a fire, as Cincinnati would 10
dispense with the steam fire engine.