The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-14
Trial OF the Fire Engine In Philadelphia.
From the Philadelphia Ledger. Feb. 131

tAVh ~ Ihh8ucipuid louEtf,F eU. lo.I
Long before the time fxed for the trial Of the steam
fire engine, Yesterday afternoon, a crowd commenced
ment. The multitude soon swelled to thousands. occu.
pying every available spot in the streets adjacent, on
the wharf, AMI the windows. house tops, wood piles, and
tsterr, lns Ser engine was ,f siseea v WITHIN IN ID. Ss,s sai nlsa !. sp sss
end OF the wharf, for the convenience Of drawing the
supply Of water from the river. In a very short time
its power. The volume OF water thrown in Q single
stream was very large. The stream was forced through
q sd nozzle s Of y IN, inches, Of 2 q Triangular .h.ps, and from ?
assistance Of perhaps eco feet from the four story stores on
the north corner. The stream was played to q height of
buildings, we should judge, Is about fifty feet. Two
streams were also played by the great 'sskwirt," from
S Ssts spi That No could sas poured, under eomp.tsns ' Sirscsioo 3.
upon q FIRE. The height, however, was less than before.
Four streams were subsequently thrown from e inch noz.
zles, reaching to the roof Of the store before mentioned.
The amount of water thrown In the experiment yester.
day was immenee. The streams we're continuous, never
aaRging in height nor eliminating in volume during
tie whole performance OF the engine. The advantage 1t
possesses in this respect Is very great, as there 10 no
ebstement Of the food which it may pour upon the fire.
No stoprsge 70 get 2 fresh supply o. water. no hating
poured out until the FIRE succumbs.
What Is claimed for the engine IL, that II win throw
inches in diameter, 24o feet horizontally, and from 1870
to lo feet Perpendicularly. What we saw yesterday,
with the disadvantage the engine laborea under Of
having to use half its power to draw from the Delaware,
the supply Of water neeaed TO pump upon the building,
satisfied US that this is no idle claim, and that the
steam FIRE engine will be indeed powerful and most
effective addition to the Gre apparatus Of Philadelphia.
In Cincinnati il has proved q very valuable auxiliary,
and Hrenen Of intelhrence In Philadelphia are certainly
ment as those Of Cincinnati. Opposition to improvements,
however valuable, Is always to be expected from the
small . portion of the real common sense discerning
mass Of the public that whatever Ia really good in me-
onns !, ,sal srin syssy Or y ai,asS Is in sIrs 20 pIsva nb, Sser b a.,
ADDED TO mans resources and dim nished the necessity
for slavish labor, has met with opposition and been re-
ceived with incredulty. Fulton was thought crazy when
he first undertook TO propel his imperfectly constructed
steamboat up the Hudson, and the first locomotive
would. no doubt, cause hundreds to explode with laugh.
ter, IL placed by the side Of one OF the splendid engines
which are now used upon railroads. Yet the steamship
which crosses the Atlantic Ia ten lays, aud the iocomo.
tive which drsgs behind IL a train Of loaded cars nearly
half a mile long, are TIE magnificent results Of begin
nirgs SO imperfect in their inception ss to excite ridi-
eule, and create doubts OF the sanity OF those who Intro
duced them to pubic notice.
Tie steam engine is pc yer more condensed aud econom.
zeal than any other form, mechsnicabor manual. Adapted
20 extinguishinR fires, the same results may be ex pected
from lis use as have been experienced in every kind Of
duty, whether for transportation over land AMI water,
,or,es. This single engine, which was sshieitsd ses.sr.
day, has . capacity OF six Of the first class band Gre en-.
sines. Each Of our frst class engines requires At least
twenty. four men to work Il, aud then only for ten mi.
mites at a time. Either the fremen must take q rest,
or . frtsb supply Of hands must work the engine, which
The msshins. SIX times forty.eight would be 2ss pet.
cons. TO do "A much erectual work az this one engine,
with aboutthree attendants, 10 able to perform.
Two DEArHs By FREKzISG.-we learn from the
Rock Islapi an } Reputldcdn. that during the tremsn-
6ous storm OF Sunday, the 2ls, ult., the wife and child
OF Mr.. Thomas Butler, who resides near the railroad
bridge AZ Rock River, were frozen TO death, Mrs. Butler
and her child were alone, and during the terrible storm
md wind on sunday sisffs ed. 70 60 u across ,ns pfs s,.,.s 70
from her house, and both mothsr sod child perishei on
the way. when found, the httls child had Its hands
ci,pcbsa full Of snow, and frozen fast. 10 10 said the
wosasn rot fsiahtened or lonesome, and started for the