The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-10-12
orr FIRE ALARM


Finally Completed and In Good WORK.
ing Order-A Brief Description OF the
Apparatus.
The Committee on Fire Department
met yesterday morning at the City Build.
log, for the purpose Of examining and
testing the Gamewell FIRE apparatus just
put in position in this city. Nh J. N.
Gamewell and his son were present, and
demonstrated to the entire satisfaction OF
the committee the superiority OF their
alarm and the incalculable benefit 1t
would be to this city. After the commit
tee had been in session for little while
an alarm was sent in and the department
called out, the alarm being from the City
Building. The Vigilant arrived first,
coming in in about three and a half min
utes, the Atlantic followed a second or
two later, the United arrived in elk min.
utes, and the Eighth ward hose company
made the extraordinary time OF eight
minutes, the whole OF their trip being q
dead pull up hill. The appearance, time
and general efficiency OF the department
were severally complimented.
The committee, after seeing the WORK
ings and approving the test, ordered the
payment OF the contract price, $3.50, TO
Mr.. Gamewell.
In order that our citizens may under.
stand the character and operation OF the
ore alarm wa have procured the following
explanation: The signal boxes are located
at suitable intervals along the streets and
each one has It's own distinctive number.
There are Eve keys furnished with each
box, three OF which are left in places near
by and always accessible in case OF FIRE.
The other two keys for each box are
placed In the hands OF policemen and
other city officials. Each key Is number
ed and before they are given out the name
OF each key.holder, with his number, il
registered at headquarters. This Is done
to prevent tampering with the boxes, oil
giving OF false alarms, for the key once In
Serted in the lock cannot be removed unit
the chief marshal arrives with his master
KEY. He Ia able to see at once by the
number Of the key who TUNED the alarm
In.
The manner OF giving an alarm is verl
simple. Upon opening the box door
small brass hook or lever is all that !
seen. The direction in large plain let
tiers, "Puli the hook down once and let
90" Is all that is necessary to do. The &C
OF pulling down this hook winds up tn
clock work, which then commences to rui
and BY ratchet wheel breaks and close
The circuit sufficient number OF times t
indicate the number which designate
that particular box. The fremen know
| ing the location OF the numbers go direct
/, | ~ 10 the box from which the alarm wa
4 turned in. Upon arriving at the fire, tn
chief mayshal can step to the box and b.
a signal key inside, call outsuch additions
force az the emergency may require o
notify the department in case ola falls
j alarm. In short, he is able 10 announc
any signal by the key referred to from an
4 and all boxes. The boxes are all provide
with lightning arlesters TO protect tn
mechanism from damage by lightning an
by the "automatic cut of" referred to j
the proposition. The boxes are never i
circuit except when giving an alarm.
By this improvement, which Is Of recen
, Introduction, the electro-motive force rt
onired ia reduced 10 a minimum, and
Therefore great saving In battery expense
The clock works are made Of the bes
cast oreide metal and finished as CAREFUL
az chronometer watch.
. The gong striking apparatus, located i
the engine houses, is OF marvellous sin
!. plicity, considering the work done and tn
It delicate controlling force.
The gong bells are l5l inches in diane
ter, and the motive power for strikin
them Is a heavy steel spring. The al
, rangement is such that each time any DO:
breaks the circuit, when pulled for fire
4 the spring is released and permits leve
= to make one revolution. causing heav,
/. blow to be delivered against the gong bell
The number Of blows determines the mum
: Der OF the box from which the signal wa
turned in.
a stAt headquarters, where the main bal
tery ia located, there is placed an instru
s ment which is known technically by cleo
/. tricians as a galvenome;er. This instru
u ment has diSl and aneedle which Away
Indicates thereon the true condition OF th
battery and line. 80,
This enables an unskilled person L
! know as certainly the condition OF hi
battery as the most accomplished electri
clan. The striking apparatus, which give
he general alarm upon the Capitol bell
Q ia operated by an immense weight OF owe
r two thousand pounds. The hammer Il
t made to move back abcut 40 inches ant
then hurled against the bell under thu
full impetus OF the weight, each time thu
distant signal box breaks the citcuit ant
simultaneously with the signal in tn
: various houses. Anyone within hearini
OF that bell will know as promptly as thu
I, 6remen in the engine houses where tn
4 fire is.
. The Gamewell Company have nearly
: three thousand OF these large tower bel
: strikers now in actual service, every one
{ OF which Is guaranteed 10 be giving The
best satisfaction.
The entire system Of this company hal
been introduced over quarter Of a cen
. tury, and time with all its progressive de
yelopments has failed to produce an alarm
system that can be compared with it.
The character OF the company, its score
OF patrons, and the reputation OF the sys
TEN alone, Is an ample guarantee that w
; now have the very best system OF fir'
alarm in the world, and one that belongs
TO US.
SPECIAL SESSION OF CIRcUrT CouRT.-A
special session OF Circuit Court was held
yesterday, and the following persons re