New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-09
The BnhcOck Fire Exiinguisher Prevents
CONFEDERATION at HOmer, Louisiana.

lous and thriving towns OF the northern |
part OF our State, that at an early hour on the |
morning of the twenty-tifth ultimo, store
places. As this store was situated IN the
heart of the business part of the town-was
of wood and surrounded by others built of
equally intiammable material, and the hour
being very early. general confagration,
like that which lately swept away the bust
ness portion of the town Of Monroe, ap-
peared imminent.
The flames burned with terrible rapidity,
and the few persons who heard the alarm.
unprovided as they were with the means of
procuring water and having no fire de-
partment to summon to their aid could
only helplessly look on and see the most
valuable part of their town dwindle to
heap of ashes. But relief was at hand,
although it came from an unexpected source.
| Mr.. James Otis, gentleman of culture
and enlarged public spirit, some time since,
while on visit to the city, had been in
| duced to purchase one of BabcOck's fire
extinguishers, and although many smiled
| at the apparent absurdity of such a small
| affair proving of much value in case Of a
| fire. he still kept it in convenient place,
| determined to put it to the test when an
opportunity offered. Therefore, he no sooner
was awakened by the alarm, than Selling
| his extinguisher, he rushed to the scene of
| action. The town appeared lost. The
flames were roaring and cracking as they
| devoured the intammable material of the
| structure. The few persons who had
already arrived at the spot were doing their
| best to save goods and other valuables-the
thought of preventing the destruction of
the whole block appearing to be prepos-
| ferrous But undeterred, Mr.. Otis began
| PLAYING upon the flames with the stream of
carbonic acid gas from the extinguisher,
and in few moments they were smOthered
| down and entirely put out. And" says
the Adcocate, 1.-The town is indebted to him
tor its preservation from fire at the present
! moment
| This should be most pleasant thought
| tor Mr.. Otis, and there could not be
stronger testimonial produced for Babcock's
wonderfully effective apparatus. Over one
million dollars worth of property saved by
a machine which only cost sixty dollars, by
a person who perhaps never saw one used
before in his life
| As many of our readers may be unac-
| duanted with the nature of this great in
vention, we will state that it is portable
! cylinder, which contains the materials for
| the manufacture. at a moments notice, OF
carbonic acid gas in so condensed form
that powerful pressure is obtained, and
the operator is enabled, by hose attached,
| to throw a stream of the gas of considerable
force upon any desired object. As no fire
can exist where this gas is, even the most
| fierce and ungoyernable fames-those kin
died by coal oils. tar and other equally in
fammable materials-are quickly and eff
fectually suppressed by it.
To operate the extinguisher requires no
experience with it, and only the ordinary
intelligence requisite to turn faucet or
draw the cork of bottle with a corkscrew.
1t is so arranged that it is carried on the
back like knapsack, leaving the arms of
the bearer free.
This machine is the portable extinguisher,
about sixty dollars. But the most import
ant of the Babcock extinguishers is the
elfacting fre-engine." manufactured for
the use of towns and villages. These have
two large cylinders and full supply of
| hose Ito reach the second and third stories
! of housesl, mounted on wheels, so that two
or three men can transport them with ra-
| nj 70 n ofor
than the old engine for water. The price of
these varies from $1,000 to $4,000, according
to size. As only one of the cylinders is used
| at time (unless there be urgent necessity,
a steady stream of gas can be kept upon
| the fire, as they can be reflled as fast as
empty. the materials being cheap and easy
| to procure.
| The advantages these sehacting engines
possessed over the ordinary waIer-throw
ing engines, either hand or steam, are that
they are more certain in their effect, as it is
impossible for them to fail to put out fire,
| if within reach: that in localities where
water is scarce, or not to be procured, they
are equally Efficient that they require no
| labor or power TO operate them, a man to
direct the hose being all that is required;
that, as the gas extinguishes the fire, the
only loss sustained is by that element, and
there are no destructive floodings of goods
and spelling of furniture By water; and,
lastly, they cost lar less-hardly one-ffth
of the price Of a handpump engine.
| We cannot too strongly advise our coun-
try and suburban readers to procure these
very valuable machines. The result of Mr..
| OTIS exertions with the portable extin-
gusher should convince them of their value
in case OF an emergency, if they should be
doubtful. The important town of Homer
would to-day be in ashes but tor its wonder
full effectiveness, and had there been one at
Monroe on the day last month, when the
fairest portion Of that town, together with
hundreds of thousands of dollars worth OF
| merchandise was reduced to ashes, the I'M
fortunate inhabitants and insurance COM
panies would not low have to bewaI their
| loss.
Idaho City has so much bogus gold dust
in circulation that its business meE have
J gone to an exclusive greenback currency.