Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-04-13
THE FIRE A TEST.
steam and Throwing water OF the
9llsDy Rotary and Latta steam
Fire Engines,

The Respective Merits as 90 Raising
steam and Throwing water OF the
eilsby Rotary and Latta steam
Fire Engines.
Owing to the rainy weather yesterday
the proposed test as to the merits and
power Of the Washington No. 4. Ahrens-
Latta, Main street FIRE engine, and the
DeSoto No. 3, of the Silsby rotary pat
ent, had to be postponed until 10 o'clock
this morning, At that hour everything
was put in readiness and the rival en-
gines, looking as bright as a May morn
ing, we're placed owe the cistern at the
intersection Of Washington and Second
streets. Five hundred feet Of hose we're
rolled out for each engine, up Second
street, to a point beyond Poplar. Right
here we may as we'll state that the Silsby
rotary Washington No. A. has been in
use about four years, and the Ahrens-
Latta engine (DeSoto No. 81 about ff.
teen months.
The. committee Of the General Council,
consisting Of Aldermen Dent and Coch-
ran, and Couneilmen Donovan, Merri-
son and Weller, concluded to appoint a
subcommittee Of practical engineers and
~machinists, to make the test, so that it
would be done in a scientific manner
The subcommittee appointed consisted
Of John Randle, chairman; Messrs. W.
A. Robinson. Geo. Mccormack, VIM.
Albert, jos. Clarke and John Il. Diets
These practical mechanics took charge
Of the test. Owing to the fact that the
SilSby rotary Washington No. a, keeps
a heater on all night as a %precsution in
case of fire, a test was made of the wa.
ter in the boilers and it was discovered,
by means Of Tom 0'Sullivan's govern.
ment thermometer, that the water in the
boiler Of the Silsby rotary was s. warmer
than the water in the Ahrens.Latta
engine. At a given signal FIRE was ap.
piled under both engines and the test
commenced. The Ahrens Latta Ode.
Soto engine), had the windward side OF
the ciStern and had the advantage Of the
draft. In a short time smoke was seer
issuing from both smoke-stacks. Those
in charge of the Silsby rotary Wash.
ington No. A., were Captain Johr
McMahan, engineer James Dolan, ant
fireman Mike Hart. The Ahreus-Latta
(DeSoto No. 81, was in charge of Cap
tain James Cleary, engineer Pat Phelsn.
and fireman S. Smith.
FROM SMOKE TO WATER
The time from the appearance o
smoke issuing from the stacks to the ap
pearance of water at the n%ozzles, at tn,
end Of the 500 feet of hose, was as fol
lows: Ahren's Latta, DeSoto No. 3
seven minutes and six seconds; Silsb,
Rotary, Washington No. 4, nine minute
and thirteen seconds. The water ties
was to throw a stream for fifty minute.
through 800 feet of hose, one and one
half inch nozzle.
By this time a very large crowd hal
congregated to witness the interestin
test. The Mayor, Aldermen and Coun
cilmen, Police Commissioners, Board Q
Underwriters and other officials wer
present, and no little interest and ez
element prevailed.
Both engines broRe down during thu
two tests which we're made, and the sub
committee at the hour of our going t
press was in consultation as to thei
report. We understand that owing to tn
break-downs and for other reasons n
measurement could be made of tn
streams thrown,
The engines worked we'll up to thr
time of breaking down, each being il
perfect order, the boys having fixed W
their respective engines in q condition
well calculated to make the best possible
test. The pride and rivalry that exist
in the Fire Department speaks well fol
its efficiency and ability, which has beer
brought to almost perfection under tn,
able management of the Chief, Mike Nc
Fadden.