Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-26

NEW EIRE-PROOF GARMENTS FOR FIREuPS
some curious experiments have Just taken place
at Pans TO ties new contriyan: &C for prote ting
hremen from the action of the flames and en-
aollnS them To resist strong heat II consists
OF gloves made Of amiant thus a kind of tiIauen-
tOus mineral, u helmet of the same material
hitting into another Of wire-gauze and a shield
one metre 1891 in. long and so eentimetr.s
broad, besides other garm ents Of the aboye-men-
toned materials Three fremen, having nut ON
the gloves, were enabled to carry iron bars at a
white heat for three minutes without beinr
ObllSed To let 90 their hold. Straw was after
wards set on ire Ia a large oast-iron caldron.
and continually kept up while u fremen. wear
Ing the double helmet above mentioned, stood
above the flames, which he War,led of with tho
sbield Although they rose at times above his
head, he was enabled to keep his post for a min
ute and a-half, at the end Of which time his
pulse which was at y before the experiments
had risen to lj2. Another fireman followed.
who, having covered his forehead with a piece
of anianthus, was enabled 10 resist the flames
FOR three minutes and forty seconds.
Two longitudinal heaps Of chips. spIlnters
AMI straw had been prepared about five feet
asUnder, and thirty feet in length two lateral
openings being left to enable the fremen 10 get
out IN case OF necessity. -Four men were nor.
equipped in complete suits OF wire-yauze. with
bouts Ot amlsnthus; two Of them wore besides
dress OF amianthus. ever another suit of clothes
rendered iucombustible by means of fborax. alum.
ana phosphate " ammonia the two others wore
double dress OF prepared cloth one man
moreover, was intrusted with a basket Of wire
gauIe on his back, containing a bow ten wears
old, protected by helmet Of amianthus. The
heaps being set ire 10. these men went into the
flames together, and, walking at a very moderate
pace, performed the distance several time, Az
the end of 90 seconds the boy shrieked out. and
the fireman who carried him stepped out of the
flames.
The boy was examined. but was found ner
fectly uninjurei; his skin was cool, and his
pulse, which WAS at 81 before the experiment
bad only risen 10 90 he might therefore. have
resisted longer had he not been frightened at
seeing the flames meet over his head. while, at
at o sime time, one Of the ropes which held
the musket had .lId down the freman's shOlnder
a little, with slight shock A few minutes
after, be WAS as gay as ever, and betrayed no
signs Of indispOsiliOn. The fremans pulse,
which was % before, was Il6 after the expert
ment The other three men remained min
e and ~ seconds in the fumes, and stated,
Cn 'umins out, that they had ex erienced no par
Gcularly painful sensation, except that of ex-
cesstve heat Their pulses, which were 49, 81
and i2 before, were respectively 1872 I55 and
l2i after. A circle Of fire. about 10 metres
about 33 feet in diameter. was now formed
around them, and they withstOod the effect ox-
treInely well, with their freproof covering, al
though, at a distance Of metres the heat was
s,intense lat none Of the numerous bystanders
could resist il.