The Lake County star., 1877-04-05
A Veritable Salamander.

lNew York world.l
Captain Wraa, formerly of the German
Navy, who few months ago gave
somewhat unfortunate exhibition of /,
so-called life-saving apparatus, gave ,
very successful exhibition of the Oest
berg Fire-defying Dress at Gilmore
Garden the other evening in the pres
ence of q large number of spectators
In the center of the building was erected
an iron framework, in which were ar
ranged number of gas pipes go placed
as to send forth the greatest possible
amount of heat when lighted. The
lights being turned down, the band
struck up some very mournful music
and the gas Jets within the iron inclosure
suddenly emitted bright and ardent
flame. Into the place walked Captain
Wraa, amid the plaudits of the assem-.
blage, and proceeded to execute pa'
seuI to the time of the music. He stood
in the midst of the flames and leaned his
arm on burning gas,jet; he placed an
iron chair over another jet and then sal
down on it; he roasted oysters in the
flames, melted solid lead, discharged fire.
works, and all within full view of the
assemblage. Remaining in the fire for
eighteen minutes, he became tired and
sought rest in little tent erected near
by for toilet purposes, and, returning
continued his display, letting off more
fireworks, drinking or disposing of ice
water while standing in the flames, and
otherwise amusing and astonishing the
bystanders. Again he went out, and
returned once more dressed in woman's 8
attire, his fre-proof dress underneath,
and, his female clothing having been
burned to cinders on hig back, he retired
again safe and unframed.
The dress consists of cap or helmet,
the frame of which is made of thin steel
spring, and is covered by several layers,
viz: Side leather, padding, India.rubber,
and an outward covering Of plush velvet
or moleskin. The frame of the metal
has in front round, hollow metal disk,
which fits air tight, and has four.holes
used bg means Of knobs or handles, and
ten other holes, of which three are set
with glass, three others are closed by
shoppers of fire-proofand non. conducting
material, and the other four left open.
The lower part of the helmet consists of
metal ring, from which ring sprin gs
project down and over the back. The
lower part of the dress is a complete
suit-arms, legs, feet and body all in
one; it is made of India-rubber, covered
outside with moleskin. The foot soles
are strengthened by thick felt and wire
gauze. Placed between the other suit
thus described and an inner suit of
India-rubber is an India-rubber bag
which is filled with air by an air.pump,
and supplies the lungs. The front ofth
helmet is arranged to protect the eyes
from heat and smoke
Before entering, the fire hose is at
tached in the outer dress to keep it
with water. and to the air-bag
is attached an air-hose connecting with
an air-pump, thus furnishing contin-
uous supply of air and water, without
which it would be impossible for the
wearer of the dress to remain in the fire
for any length of time. These two hoses
dangle down behind the suit and are. of
course, an indispensable part of it. Cap
tain Wraa claims that, with his suit on,
he van take child or a dog into the
flames without injury. He would have
taken dog in the other night, but Mr..
Bergh, of s. p. @. A., got wind Of the
matter, and had several officers in the
place.