The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-10-13
THE NEW STEAMFIRE ENGINE.
Parade of the Department.
PARTICULARS or THE TRIAL.
How a sIlsby Rotary works.

ment, md most wonderful immunity ro"'
fire. Of unusual proportions. 1t Is strange
that popular opinion has not heretofore de-
manded the purchase Of just such steam
engine az the WM. EGGLEsroS. We ate
quite sure that money could not be more
udiciously invested, When they consider
the constant hazard of conhagratlon to which
our city is always exposed, We think that oil
will agree that our authorities have done
well in the present purchase.
Yesterday ll2thJ was fac day for the
parade, but tor testing the merits Of the en-
gine, it was not all that could be desired, as
the wind was high, and rather impcded |
operations.
The Mississippi Engine, aud Liberty Hose
| Companies of Moline, and the Fire Kings
of Davenport, arrived at about half past
one, the latter with their engine, second
class Amoskeag, and accompanied by the
Davenport Brass Band. The Rescue boys
ofthis city also turned out with their engine,
attended by the Rock Island Band, while
the Western boys took charge Of the EG'
GLrsroS. The parade WAS fine aiairand
througed Illinois street with interested spec
ta,ors The bright uniforms, the bands,
the banners, and the polished engines, com
bined to form quite pageant.
After the parade, the EGGLEsToN and the
FINE KEG, were stationed on the new
lcyee at the foot Of East Eagle street, ard
prepared for the trial. The Mayor, City
Council, Assistant Engineer Ross, and Nh
Horace Slsby the junior member OF manu-
featuring firm superiutended matters.
Five hundred feet OF hose from each en-
zine we're then extended, reaching up to IL
= Euoi. street. The fires were lighted in both
= steamers at exactly the same time. The
Fire King was rather more adyantageousIy
placed to profit by the wind. Each engine
he'd about thirty gallons Of water IN us
HITLER. II wno generally predicted that the
I rire King would raise steam the quickest,
This did not prove the case, however, The
r. Egyleston raised steam IN eight minutes,
= and the Fire KING in uine the former hav
ing IL pressure Of thirty pounds, and the lat
ter twenty-five pounds. The E9gleston eX.
tended this up to ninety pounds, and the
Fire King to one hundred and twenty. The
. Eggleston played through nozzle an inch
and a quarter in diameter, throwing upon
Market Square, and the Fire King through
a nozzle an inch and an eighth in diameter
In this manner the EgEIcs,on threw about
laO feet, and the Fire King about I6j.
For some reason which We have not yet
It asccrtained, at this juucturc the Fire King
\ withdrew from the trial
The EggIes.on then turned its stream mp
on Buiords Block, one Of the highest build
~ lugs in the city. The root was soon flooded
the water pouring down the sidesin torrents
BY way of final test Oh perpendicular
i distances n stream Was thrown over thu
@ Thirty foot flag staff Of the ARGUS office
j, standing on the most elevated portion OF tn,
roof This extreme altitude, fully one hun
dred feet. was cleared with ease, the volumt
thrown combining sufficient force and guam
tity to have quenched u fire even at tina
' great distance,
Two lines Of hose, Of five hundred fee
., each, were then attached to the EggIeston
10 with an inch, and u seven eight OF an incl
"a nozzle thereon The streams were turned