The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-17
FIRE ESCAPES.
Men Jump from FOur.stOrY Win
dOWs and Reach the Ground Un.

dOws and Reach the Ground Un g
harmed.
Necessity, the mother Of invention" )"
has at last come to the rescue of suffer
ing humanity and produced number OF
'fre escapes" OF various designs and
more or less OF practical value. That
such device is sadly needed ia not to
be questioned. One can not view the
recent sad loss OF life in our own CITY.
without taking into account the hOrriOl
experience OF other cities, from inefYeC-
tive means OF escape from upper stories
of high buildings or no means where the
ordinary egress is cut of by the devas-
tating element, without feeling that it is
high time some steps were taken, not to
cure what men have already suffered
ior that eau never be J, but to prevent
The future recurrence of sucn horrors;
and, while it is impossible to provide
against all contingencies, it is possible
to greatly reduce the fatality to human
lite in all casualties by precautionary
measures.
AS per announcement, trial of fire
escapes took place yesterday afternoon
at The GIFTS Engiue-house.
This exhibition justly attracted the
attention OF many leading citizens, who
were present to witness the exercises
of escaping from fire where there was
no fire, and not a few men were
saved from terrible death by means of
Mr.. George Walton's "Fire Escape"
from the fourth-story Ot the Engine
house. This was the only, and conse-
quently the best, stationary arrange
ment exhibited Tor hotels and work
shops, and as practically demonstrated,
is certai0ly very successful contrIv-
ance. The points of excellence are as
follows: III is governed by the oil engine
ball governor, The only reliable governor
known TO give UNIFORM rate Of speed; it
is automatic and requires no attention
from the person making the escape or
others; it will let down heavy or light
weights without change OF speed; there
are no springs, catches or fluids used in
its construction or operation; neither
the length of time it may stand without
use nor the heat or cold Will att CT its
Workings; the manner Of securing the
person to the rope or wire cable iusures
verlect safety While making the escape,
TO operate the machine one end of The
rome is firmly fastened to the machine.
the remainder, which is twice the length
of the distance from the window to The
ground, is wound on the reel. A belt
made of strong leather is securely fast
onGd to one end OF the rope, which is put
around the waist, and the persons max
Ing the escape climbing out OF the WIN
dow lind themselves Ill lew seconds
safely on the ground.
Should other persons get on the rope
while you are descending, the machine
is capable OF holding al, Tor the rope or
wire cable is VI sufficient strength.
a |,
wound up with great rapldIty by any
person remaining In the roUm, and is
again ready for use.
There were hree other contrivances,
only two Of which were practically dem
OnsCrated. These, however, were OF
portable nature designed TOR individual
escapes and tor Travellers Ohe Of these
represented by MIR. FnOmas Ltppeac0tt,
and patented by DR.. ID. b. Enwing, OF
Indianapolis, was rather the best ul
these, and worked admirably. 1t con.
sisted o rather an intricate wooden com
trivance, to which belt was fastened,
ana heavy or light weight attached 10
this belt forced the wood down the rope,
the rapidly being. graduated, OF the ma
chine stopped any wneGe by simply pull |
ing on little projection.
The other, patented by Mr., A. L,
CIalk, ol Du upuqut, IOWA, was eXnlOl ed
by Mr.. George DIckinson, OF Dubuque.
1t consists OF spiral tube eight on ten
inches long, with two rings at each end
IL belt with Two straps attached to lower
end OF tube by means OF snap hooks; d
rope three-2lgNLus OF an inch thick
passes through the tube, and by pulling
On the rope below the lube a brake is
IN the tube. Pulling one pound
on the rope will hold twenty five pounds
in the sling, OF eight TO two hundred
pounds.