The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-05-29

An INTERESTING EXHIBITION OF THE FIRE
DEPARrMEhT.-An opportunity was afforded
a norton OF the Fire Department yesterday
afternoon to show their efficiency, or rather
Their best time, in reaching given point. The
Test. we believe was q fair one. and not only
interesting to the spectators who were posted
as 10 the alarm, but reflected very great
credit upon the men. The circumstances
were these: The Chief Eogineer OF the
Richmond Fire Department has as his guest
at present Mr.. John S. Damrc'l, late chief OF
the Boston Fire Department. and ne desireo
to show the Boston chief what Richmond
could do 10 case OF hre. go,
There was another reason for The eXhiol-
fion. Messrs. + tengcr q Edmond are now
building q steam tre.eDRine for Church hui,
and as there has been some discussion as 10
the best method OF constructing certain por-
tiors of the engine it was determined TO test
the Broad.street engine and the Eighteenth.
street engine. the former having been built
on a different pattern in the North, and the
latter made some years ago by Messrs. Etten.
ger & Edmond. of this city. For these rea-
sons and desire to see what time the men
could make il was decided to bring out the
apparatus by an alarm turned in at Station
90 which is near the corner Of Twenty
second and Main streets.
A few mpu cs after 4 O'Clock, Mr. Aims
lie, accompanied by bis friend MIR. Damrell,
reached the station and determined that the
steamers should be taken 10 the dock and
there tested. An alarm from Box 81 brings
out two steamers, the truck. aud one hose.
comppv-yiz: Steamers A. Bro3d street be.
tween Ninth and Tenth; G., Eighteenth
street near Franklin; Z, Hook and Ladder
Truck, Broad street nesr Ninth; and the
TcntE.street hoSe-conpany (G). Ashort time
before the alarm was turned IN the p0llcr-
stations, the Third-street engine, and the
Church Hill company were notified not TO
ring their bells, and consequently there was
little or 40 excitement on the street.
The alarm was turned in at ais. Compa-
nv C's steamer reached the corner Of Twenty
second and Main streets at 4:222, making
the time two minutes and forty five seconds.
Distance from house, four md q half squares.
Turning the corner, the engine was driven
to Dock street near Tw enty-third, the horses
detached, and the engine made ready for
work.
Company AS hose.carriage came along
next, reaching the corner at 4:249, the time
being six minutes ard thirty seconds. Dis
lance from enginc-house, fifteen and bali
squares.
The truck reached the corner In seven
minutes time, and the steamer in seven and
half minutes. The hose. carriage, truck,
and steamer were also driven to the dock,
and the men of Company A, seeing the other
steamer in position: followed suit in short
order.
1t was now to be seen which of the two
engines would have steam enough 10 com
mcnce work first. Butthe crowd which had
by this time gathered had not long to wait.
Company C'S engine commenced squirting
in nine and bali minutes from the time the
alarm was given, and Company AS engine
in eleven minutes.
During the trial Company A bursted two
sections of hose. In each instance the men I'M.
coupled the engine and put on Il new section
in one minute.
The trial of the two engines was quite in
terestng, but 1t was conceded that the Rich.
mond steamer threw its stream further than
that of The engine built in the North. MIR.
Damrel expressed himself as greatly pleased
with the result