The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-01-30
The BabcOck Flro EItlngulsAer.
Its simplicity and. Effectiveness.

Mmle cr0sslpE lle 1iQnQnRatlelA AuB
pension bridge about four O'clock las
evening, our reporter discovered q build
ing In flames on the south bank of thI
river near the Sligo mills. He repaired
at once to the scene OF tho contiagration
and arrived there lust III time 10 witness
q trial Of the new BabcoCk Selcactinl
Engine, purchased by Park Bros. & Co.
Tor tho Black Diamond steel works, Thu
building In which the fire was kindled
was constructed Of dry pine boards, abou
fourteen feet In length, saturated will
oil; II was about twelve feet square, insidt
oiithe structuFe.were placed a number o
old oil barrels and over two wagon load
Of pine shaVings we'll saturated with cfudt
oil, oyer, half barrel OF that materia
having been used for this purpose, IN I'D
ditiOn 10 about ten gallons Of kerOsine
A match was applied TO the shavings, and
as there was q high wind blowing, IN al
instant the entire structure was O sheet o.
fire, the flames bursting through thu
creviccs between the boards on ali side
and on top Of the building. Tho fire wa.
permitted to burn until Il could burn nj
lierCer, and the building was in danger O
dropping TO pieces when a stream from
the selE.acting Bacock was turned upon Il
and IN less than . minute the fire was nm
der complete control, and in Just foul
minutes every spark Of fire was extin
guished. The trial was witnessed by 9
large number Of business men, rnanuiac
turers, flremen and city. officials, all o.
whom expressed themselves as fully salts
fled with the test and many Of them wert
surprised at the wonderful effectiveness Of
the machine n. : j. ..tF'
AS The principle OF the engine has beer
fully explained through these columns, Il
is unnecessary TO repeat II, but few
words In regard TO It's simplicity in con,
struction and action may be Of interest
The Babcock self-acting engine consists
oftwo air.tight copper cylinders having O
capacity Of about forty gallons, which arc
filled with water and soda in solution
Inside is a cup for holding the acid, which
Is discharged into the cylinder by merely
turning hand screw. Attached to each
OFFENDER is gauge TO indicate the pres.
sure, and on the opposite are the attach.
ment for hose, which are so arranged that
either or both cylinders can be used
through either attachment, or II required,
two lines Of hose may be attached and
two streams thrown at one time. These
cylinders are placed on light one horse
carriage, upon which Is also hose reel
carrying about two hundred feet Of hose,
and with a drivers seat in front and sup.
ply box In rear, you have the self:acting
engine complete. Each engine, however
is accompanied by two of the extinguish.
ers or hand machines, which are carried
on either side Of the drivers seat and are
intended to be used when the necessities
Of the case do not require the large en-.
CINE. The machine Is so simple In ar.
rangement that q boy can operate It as
elEectually as the most experienced fire.
man. To put it in action It is only neces-
sary to let in the acid and in a few seconds
you have q pressure OF one hundred or
two hundred pounds If necessary, and
as the hose are already attached you have
machine ready for service that will be
far more effective than the best steam fire
engine ever invented. Another commend.
uUlC lChLuIC VI luC DhDCUuh bGll AGLluR
engine is that 1t is always ready for use; L
never freezes, and having no complicated
machinery about 1t, it never gets out Of
order. 1t is just the thing for country
towns where water is scarce, as it will
render rs much service with forty gallons
of water rs steamer would with forty
barrels; and in addition to this, It can be
operated by two men and one horse, and
its first cost is but from 81 500 TO $1,000,
while an ordinary steamer costs over six
thousand, and requires at least three
horses and eight men TO operateit. Again,
the BabCock self.acting .engine can be
used any place without the destruction OF
property by water, as is always the case
where fire is extinguished by one OF the
ordinary steam engines, as it does not de-
pend upon the amount of water thrown
Tor its effectiveness, the water being used
only US an auxiliary for the purpose Of
conducting gas 10 the flames. For extin.
gushing oil fires there is certainly moth
ing yet discovered equal to the Babcock
sell.acting engine, and rs q large proper.
ton Of the fires in this city originate al oil
works and reilnerics, our city fathers
would display their wisdom by purchasing
few of these machines Tor use in the Fire
Department. .. gums