The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-11-14
Review Of the Fire Department
a Fine Display.
Everything in Splendid Order

On Saturday afternoon at o'clock
accor ling to previous announcement. the
Wheeling Fire Department, as now Or
ganized, had its first review. 1t was a
grand success in the appearance Of the
men and their apparatus, in the rapid
ity of action and in the attention it at
tracted and the high praise received.
At the hour named the United and
Vigilant Engines, and the Hook and
Ladder and Hose Companies met in
front OF the Atlantic Engine House,
on John street, near Main, where
line was formed and the apparatus sub
mitted to the closest scrutiny and In
spection from the committee Of the City
Council on Fire Department, consisting
of T. J. Blaif, Chairman A. Quarter
William Weitzell, J. G. Smith, George
Tingle, W. B. Simpson and John Scott,
They pronounced the apparatus in per-
feet order, and conceded the highest
praise to Chief Marshal Winder and
Assistant Marshals A. J. Sweeney and
William Harrison.
The line then moved up John street
to Fourth, and up Fourth to the corner
Of Monroe, where it was proposed to
test the rapidity with which the engines
could get up steam apd get into service.
The department presented very hand
some appearance as it moved through
the streets, every piece Of bright work
shining, and the men arrayed in their
serviceable uniforms
United Engine No. was placed at
the Court House plug, and in seven
minutes and ten seconds from the time
the match was applied she was throw
ing water.
The Vigilant, No. 8, was stationed at
the plug at Colonel Oglebay's corner.
She threw water in six minutes from
the time the fire was lighted in the fur
mace.
The Atlantic, No. 2, took the plug
the Vigilant had used. She was not
started until she had made forty pounds
of steam. This she had in eleven min
utes after her fires were started.
The engines were then tested as
to their throwing qualities. In this
contest the Atlantic came of conquerer,
beating both the others badly.
The new hose just received from Phil
adelphia was submitted to test OF one
hundred pounds pressure to the square
inch. 1t is the hest made hose, we
think, we ever saw
After the contest between the engines
was ended the Vigilant was sent tosthe
Island to test the new fire plug in front
of Captain McLure's residence 1t
stood pressure of SIXTY pounds to the
square inch
The vast concourse OF people who
witnessed the performance Of the De
partment, the city authorities, the COM
mittee on Fire Department, all ex-
pressed themselves delighted with the
display. The Department won for
itself many friends by its promptness
and evident efficiency and discipline and
it will now compare favorably with any
Department Of its size in the United
States.
Those who have caviled and com
planned because the engines were not
always set to work at fires were taught
needed lesson by Chief Winder on
Saturday. He showed them that the
engines could be attached to the plug,
so as to be ready when needed, and the
water be thrown through them just
the same if the hose had been attached
directly to the fire plug. We shall
hear less grumbling on this account
hereafter.