Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1857-06-17
Walking in Fire-New dress for Fire
men.

Some very interesting experiments have re-
Gently been made in Paris upon the preser-
walton of fremen from the effects of the
flames, the Importance of which will be APP
parent to all Three fremen having their
hands protected by amianthus gloves, carried
| bar Of iron, heated to whiteness, some dis
lance, without being compelled to pause for
over three minutes
A fire of straw and small wood was kin
died around a casting boiler, and when it
was very hot a fireman, having his head pro-
tected by an amianthus hood and metallic
tissue, and bearing side shield upon his
right arm, was placed in it, the fire being
kept intensely hot while he remained For
moment his head was surrounded by
flames, but the shield served to keep them
off. He remained in this position ninety see
onds, when the heat became uncomfortable.
His pulse rose from seventy-two to one hun
drod and fifty-two, Another fireman repeat
ed the experiment. protected by amianthus
cotton, and remained exposed to the direct
action of the flames upon his head for three
minutes and fortyseven seconds. ss
In another experiment, two long and high
piles Of wood and straw were erected, with
side openings through which the fremen
could escape if compelled to do so. The four
men who were to enter this burning enclo-
sure were covered with a new metallic tex
ture two wore an amianthIs garment over
dress of cloth, made incombustible by bo-
rax alum and phosphate of ammonia; the
other two had double garment prepared
cloth, and each of them had amanthns boots
with double sole of the same substance.
Finally one of them carried basket upon
bis shoulders, covered with metallic tissue,
in which was placed child ten years old,
dres sed likewise in amianthus.
This metallic tissue dress consists OLA hood
the edges of which cover the shoulders and
left sleeye-the right arm being protected by
shield, and ofpantaloons fastened by hooks.
Clothed with this armor and the habit of
which we have spoken, the fireman can run
aud stoop easily, and can turn readily by
placing one knee upon the ground.
The four tiremen thus attired penetrated
to the centre of the flaming hedges, and
walking leisurely, went over it several times.
In one minute, however, the child in the bas-
ket raised a cry which caused the firemen to
retreat prccipita,ely. But it was found that
he had suffered no harm: his skin was fresh
and his pulse, eighty four when he entered,
had reached only ninety-siS. He could, un
doubtedly, have remained much longer had
he not been frightened, from the fact that
one of the straps holding the basket to the
mans shoulders, having slipped little, he
saw the flames and was afraid Of falling. In
a few minutes after he was as playful as ev
err, and experienced no inconvenience what
ever. The pulse of the fireman who carried
the child rose from 90 to ll6
The other two men were in the fire two
minutesand forty-four seconds, and came out
without having experienced any further in
convenience than great warmth. Theirpuls-
es rose from IS, 81, and u, to l52 l39, and
IA respectively. The fire was very hot du-
ring the entire time. Other Of these highly
interesting experiments are to iollow--N Y
Post