, 1863-07-21

From the London Times, July
The trials with the fire engines were
brought to close yesterday, after each ma
chine tad peen put through every conceivable
form Of ordeal some Of which were SO Sc
we're lI4t one-an American engine-as nc an
ticipa1cd it would, brok* dozen Completely.
HIS Royal Highncss the Prince Of Wales,
accompanied by Lord Caitluess, aad attended
BY Capt. Grey, came on the grounds soon
On the previous evening" the American Gu
ginc, which worked SO Violently, was tried BY
the severe test Of drawing its water fflm
depth Of eighteen feet, aud delivering it up
Aii] through four hundred feet length of
hcse into the water temple. This was the
most difficult test which any Of the machines
ard Mason and Ar. Me7yWeathsr went
through 1t admirably. The Amcrir N engine
Alexandra broke lis cylinder cover In lis ef-
toTts to Go the sa1ne, and Of course was In
sta, fly rendered Useless. Yesterday tbs Man
1tatt,n, Which was seriously Injured by turn
Ing over wher being brought upon the gronad
on Tuesday, was tired IN the presence Of his
Royal nignness. 1t WAS searcely 4air to try
this engine at Al; hut the American gentle
men themselves Eishsd It, and steam was got
up accordingly. Def'ra it had pu apei long,
however, j, WAS found to be too lnucl injured
to work With safety, and a c7slck which its n.y.
wletl had received when it fell 3Ter, began 10
spread 50 fast that the machine had to be
stopped at once.
1he Priacc appeared to take great interest
In the workfng Of the machines.
The most important experiments Afterwards
n,adc ~itl the engines took place just under
the north water lower, to test them as to their
power in throwing a Ttrsica. jet nj sh into
the air. For tlis pur Jose the uozzles Of the
hose Of the four competing ,uachines were
tixtd upright side BY side tn fesme about
ten fee nigh. The d}ametcr Of the hose pipe
used by III. Mersywcathes vas &c 16.hs ot IN
iIch, or more tlAu an inch and haH. Messrs.
Slsnd and Mason used nozzle .a2-16rhs of IN
inch, the American engine one Of 2l-16ths
Of an inch, aud Mr.. Roberts engine one of
14-1aths Of all inch Tab latter, Tor such 4
snnll crgine (ou1y 80 cwt- threw 4 steady and
dred and forty feet INTO the air. All, howeV-
er, vi re eclipsed In htiglt by the Jets thrown
hy Mr.. bf411yweatller's and 3feasrs. Shand
and Mason's, chat from the engines nt the lat
Ter frl. being the highest Of al!, reaching ct
times c1ose upon one hundred and ninety teet,
u, Indeed, It did not oyertop even this great
alt'tnde- Mr. Me1rywea'her's engine also
tIfc" most magnificent column Of the
great olumeter We lave mentioned, and ntatn-
tAlLeo lne column steadily ut a height varying
oet@ten ~ Aad 17o feet. This was the most
massive Jet thrown, though Mcssrs, atand and
Mason, With their slightly t1iuuer cnlntnu
could always oEetreach It by twenty feet or
more. -
The American engine was 1iter-1lY uowhara.
and, EXCEPT du,irg m occasiofrl sonrt. tittT
feet was about its maximum. As the icts wers
kept close up, parallel with the 1ower, il was
quite easy, by Il comparison with the stories
Of the tower Itself, each of which is twenty
fit high, to estimate almost to foot the
height zach jet was thrown. The united efforts
Of IL the nuzzles Of course cane down 10
p4lfect cataract Of water. This last effort,
xljcl was exceedingly bcautiful to witness,
brought. he trials to close.
Tie decision Of the committee awarding
tLe prizes havicg. Of course. TO be based on
tic careful consideration OF NJ infutty Of
minute but important details, cannot be made
known before Wednesday or Thursday next.
II vas, however, very general opinion on
tie groutd, that Mr.. Merry weather bad gain
cd tic first prize for Iarge engines geo cwt),
and Messrs ehand and Mason the first prize
however, which are the great des1derata just
now,