Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-11

The Fire Chtefss Convention.
As stated In TIE STAR OF last evening, the
fre chief engineers In convention yesterday
visited Mt. Vernon, spending q most delightful
time. The regular session was resumed at
Masonic Temple In the evening and several
announcements were made. The reports on
topics were called and several we're made. On
toIdc the report Favored inspectors OF buildings
cooperating with the f1re departments of all
the cities. Tue committee on the subject OF
firemen entering buildings filled with smoke
declined to recommend any particular appara.
tuS. The committee on the subject recommend.
| ed that post hydrants were preferable to flush
as they could more easily be disringuishable
especially In dark and stormy nights. That
legislative action be taken In the cases of fire
companies doing work outside of their town
limits 1t was recommended also that all fire
departments have Siamese connections for
| their hose, as by this method more force and
water could be obtained. That the fire alarm
telegraph n, Is invaluable and should be under
That fire authorities or competent agents
should have entire control of building 1nspec.
lions. combust1ble materials, inspection OF
steam boilers on land or water, and other mat
tiers affecting fire hazards Several other topics
were reported and discussed, and the conven-
ton adjourned until 7:3O this evening.
WHAT WAS DONE TO-DAY.
At O'Clock this morning the delegates assem-
bled at the corner of 18th and streets to wit
ness the exhibition of devices for escape from
-, NJ
was a large cOncOurSe OF spectators. First,
there was an exhibition OF device for descend
ing from a building. The exhibitor made his
appearance at the top of Wizards Hotel, and
adjUs ing his rope he slowly descended to the
pavement below. Next, the improved ladder
nhe invention Of Chief Cronin> was exhibited,
being hOisted IN the street and run up TO the top
Of Wizards. The ladder was then taken to the
street, the hose from the new No. 4 (Silsbyl
engine ATTACHED. run up again in the center Of
14th street, and stream thrown considerably
higher than Willard's-at that point six stories
in height. The working OF this ladder was yery
rapid and very satisfactory
AT the CorcOran building, corner 18th street
and the avenue. the Hayes hook and ladder
truck was exhibited. An extension ladder.
which reached the fifth story, was raised in
about two minutes. While the lower ladder Is
being raised, the extension is shot out After
being raised On the truck, the ladder Is turned
Dy apparatus on the truck to any desired point
Next, the BaDcock Extinguisher company
made an interesting exhibition the same point
OF their large apparatus, first throwing stream
from the ground and then from hose carried
TO the top OF the Riggs building.
Next there was very satisfactory test OF the
new S1lsby engine. to take the place OF the old
No: 4. This piece OF apparatus, bright with
nlekle plating, ana with new patent wheels of
appearances go, the handsomest piece OF ap-
paratus we have had here. There was no com
petitiye test, but the engine seemed to work
stream through an inch and an eighth nozzle at
the end OF two hundred feet OF hose. Thirty
pounds OF steam was raised in four minutes
from cold water. The fire plug registered q
pressure tive pounds; the engine Increased it to
$50 pounds.
Next there was test on the avenue, between
18TH and 14th Streets OF the SiaInese coupling
WHICH un1teS the streams Of two, three or four
engines into one larger stream; a most valuable
arrangement for large fires. First the new
engine CNo. ~ and No. joined by the Siamese
Threw stream through an inch and half noz-
Zle. Next NO. was Siamesed and the three
engines stationed at separate fire plugs) threw
an immense stream OF water through atwo-inch
nozzle. For large and stubborn fire such a
concentrated stream would be equal to half
dozen scattered small ones. The chiefs next
went to the Polkinhorn building, where the
Burroughs fire escape the invention OF George.
toWD, ID. c., man, was exhibited; a very fnge-
NOUS arrangement by which q life-saving bas-
ket can be quickly placed in front of any win
dow In house by ropes manipulated by per-
sons on the pavement. Other Inventions were
examined and the delegates then went to vari-
Gus points OF interest In the city, and will meet
again In convention this evening. The expert
ments this morning were witnessed By large
crowd OF our citizens, In addition to the men,
Ders OF the convention, and BY numerous off,
Gals, including District Commissioner Phelps,
Fire commissioners Collins, Bacon and Hume,
Chief OF Police Morgan, and Others
I4e delegates and their friends who visited
MT. vernon yesterday were delighted with the
pressure AFFORDED them by the District au-
tnOr1ties and spoke In the highest terms of
praise Of Col. j. McHenry HollingsWorth. SUPER
lntendent OF the Mount Vernon estate. and
capt. Blake, OF the steamer COrcoran who won
tne gOod opinion OF all by his courtesy to the
vlsitors. Col Holltngsworth as superintendent
oi Mount vernon, Is the right man In the right
place.
Tomorrow there viii be q parade and re-
view OF the District fire department at the
Capitol.