The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-11-07
LIGHTNING VS.. FIRE.
Practical Test of the Electric Hitchins
salvage Corps Apparatus.

practical Test OF the EleCtr1c Httching
salvage Corps Apparatus.
In response to the courteous invitation ex-
tended by Capt. A. Kalinski, a representative Of
the DEMOCRAT repaired to the building newly
fitted up for the Underwriters Salvage Corps,
No. 1862 Julia street, at Ii O'Clock yesterday, for
the purpose Of seeing the modern improvements
Of the corps and witnessing the agility and dis
cipline of the fre-fghters.
The building is three stories high, with look
out tower Of lis feet elevation, in which at
night is stationed man whose business it is to
watch for fires and give the alarm.
On the lower floor the salvage wagon stands,
cleanly set off by an Immaculate floor. In the
| rear of the wagon, on each side to the right and
left, are the two stalls where the horses all har-
messed, and perfectly free, are stationed.
On the second floor are the beds Of the salvage
corps, seven in number, counting the drivers. ia
| one room, and In the room adjadaeent Capt. Ka-
linsk and his assistant sleep, or supposed to,
for they are suspected of getting up before the
alarm bell rings.
| trap door with staircase, which, when open,
leads him straight to his seat in the wagon
At the tap Of the fire alarm bell, when sleep
| has overcome the drowsy eyelids Of the firemen,
| the same electricity that taps the gong cpmmu-
nicates with wire extending along the head. of
| the beds to which are attached cords Of hemp
| fastened to the covering under which the men
sleep. By the simultaneous action of the cleo
| trioity the alarm bell is rung, the ponderous
| doors of the engine-house are flung wide open,
the covering is torn from the beds Of the Sleep
| ing men and the trap door staircase falls. The
men, who lie on their beds ready dressed Jump
up and rush down stairs, the driver slides down
the trap door stairs to his seat in the wagon,
| which is Immediately under, the horses admira-
bly, trained briskly trot up Of their own accord to
their places along the wagon pole, they are i'm
mediately hitched up, and in less time than it
takes to say it the wagon s out on the street and
off in the direction OF the fire, with it's gallant
horses at full gallop.
Capt. Kainski, to give rs an idea of the rapidity
with which the wagon could be started, ordered
| all bis men down stairs and in their proper
positions around the wagon. He then tapped the
| bell 1t was pretty sight to see the intelligent
horses rush up to their positions. to see the trap
door fall and the driver tumble down to his seat,
| to see the horses hitched up as il by magic and
start off at q galop down the street, every man
| in the wagon-the whole thing done in not more
than five seconds. We timed them. This won-
drous feat was yesterday witnessed by all the
| presidents of the insurance companies, Chief
| O'Connor, of the fire department., and q number
| of invited guests.
Much credit is due to Capt Kalinski for his
energetic endeavors and ultimate success in the
efficient organization of this now splendid SAL
wage corps. He organized it three years ago
and has been working to improve it. sustained by
| the Board Of Underwriters and the insurance
companies, and now to ell appearances he has
| made it perfect success.
The wagon carries six portable Babcock extin-
guishers, thirty tarpaulins. and is worked by
eight men. The tarpaulins are used to cover
| furniture and goods so as to prevent damage by
water. The electric apparatus was managed by
MI. John Alfred.
After the captain had showed the perfect drill
Of HE corps he invited his guests to the third
story OF the building, where he had spread
sumptuons repast,
Sc. Adams .x4ak t, the heath q Cpl. IA