New-York tribune., 1876-02-12
PRONPT MYSTERY OF fIRES.

AN EFFECTIvE APPARATUS PIT ~ TIE TRIBUNE
BrupING-wHAT 1HIs sEIF-ACiING CHEMICAL
FIRE-ENGINE CAN DO.
During the early part OF last summer l.. l..
Raht supervising architect OF IHE 1EIDCNL bnidnS'
made a thorough investigation Of tro-iToecn'c ai'-
paratu. with the sign OF procuring for TIE IEIbNE
building the most effective arrangement OF the kind
which has been invented After testing the machines o'
several companies he gave contract 20 the Champion Fire
Txingulsher Company Of Louisville ky, for one OF us
"selfactng. stationary. chemical ire 'hSincs, whicn
has just been set up In The Tribune building under me
direction OF Mr.. Mitchell Of the Company ana Ch'IIes
Miller. agcnt for Ncw-York City. The work wa com
peted Thursday and this Is the first engine oI the
kind used in tho city, number OF gentlemen
assembled in THE TRIBUNE compos'Ls rooms yes
tcrdsy afternoon TO witness the hfHt INA! OF w.
The engine placed in the subcclaT OF the buildins'
and consists Of cylindrical tank, holding apcut $50
gallons OF wafer and hung piyots in such way az to
be inverted on The lifting Of latch rod About 90 pounds
OF sub-carbouato OF sofa Txcd with the water ana
in the top o TIE tank Is Jar containing "a pounds OF
sulphuro acid when the tank is inverted the chemicals
mingled together and produce caFp'nlc aci' gas
by the expansive force Of which tho water
Is driven out with pressure OF iJO pounds 10 the
square inch Prom the Ia TO the top Of the building
runs a standppe to which 10 attached stolrcocl and
bose in each story. wire rope, connecting with the
"trip" also through the bulldog In casc of fire,
ST is only necessary to pull the rope on any floor,
open the CjpcCck ond direct the stream the re the
whole occupying about 90 seconds.
In the arst trial made yesterday afternoon the uip
yas nulled from the composing ROOM eleven stories above
the engine and 20 seconds afterwai stream Of water
charged with carbonc acid gas wds pouring from the
nozzle Of the 5Ofoot hose. with an elevation OF l10
feet and a length OF pipe ard hose amounting TO 21i
feet stream water thrown h"lI)hituy - i"tt
from the nozzle against stif wind. 10 was cslllatru
kept up about half hour. several interruption.
were made. the stream was dHcct"c HOm alHcIchi
windows After the force OF the cngEc WAS cNha ttu
the spectators went to the bascu n ana WltheSt the
"trpping" of tic tank. Tie tank then lthcl ana
made ready for use the work occupng about ten nlh
ufes All the gentlemen present expressed satisfaction
with the wOrk,u Of The apparatus.
The main rOint which this apparatus is believed 10
ne suporior 10 all others IL te qiCkncs5 with which The
single person ia any story on dscovcrmg the flnc$,
can immediately do tho work which with othrr engines
ronnres tho aid OF additional persons aud usually
ionrncy To another room n'O pick again. III
an ordinary buding several stores IN hlghf, before
could from tho top 10 TIE basement or
au the engineer OF the danger, the fire n2ht gam snch
sbeadway that no power could extinguisI It, Inc ap-
parafus Is moreover simple In c0nstrucoh ana so uaue
fbat IL will not fail 10 act at mOinentS hOtc thOuR
Allowed TO stand Tor ten years without ch1hse oi
cbemcas Another important adyat1gels II Ihat ic &c
ZION OF the chemicals. which come up lbgeu WIN INC
water is such as TO aid materially In stopping he IRE
They do not seem TO extngsh much a. ms ant 70
smother It, and render the cbarred wood ncomDusu
bic The fire does not return-tVoh II u continues 10
Saxe a foot or awayto the spot ON Tich inc spray
kss once touched IL.