The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-07
FIRE ESCAPES.

ARGUS representative yesterday AFTERNOON
| found Mr.. Joseph Spangler. Having made
known the object of his visit, to inspect
the quite original fire escape on which il
was understood Mr.. Spangler was at work.
the burly mechanic good naturally led the
way to the kitchen where. upon a table in one
corner. he saw the evidences of Mr.. Spang-
| ler's ingenuity These were in the form of
| four ladders in miniature so constructed as
to fairly shoot forth, one from the other,
very much in the manner of a telescope.
1t woald be impossible, within the narrow
limits of a newspaper article, to undertake
/ to present Mr.. Spanglers invention in de-
tail: Briefly outlined his escape consists
of four ladders. all closed together on the
| telescope principle-the largest one enclos-
| ing the one next in size, and this in turn
the next, and so on. Near the bottom of
the largest Fastened to the right hand side
thereof is a windlass, and near the top of
this same ladder is pulley. an endless
chain connecting windlass and pulley. In
the case of fire this closed up ladder is
placed against building. the windlass is
turned, and by the most ingenious arrange
ment conceivable of rollers, pulleys, ratch-
cts, etc, the ladders shoot upward-each
retaining firm connection with the other
and the four being substantially one ladder.
capable of sustaining q heavy and long
continued strain. Mr.. Spangler is prom
ised all the assistance he may require by
rhr 4
admired his very practical invention
which win probably be in as great demand
by painters, carpenters, etc, as by fire de-
partments, hotel proprietors and others.
Arrangements are being made for model
or drawing to be forwarded to Washington
for patent. and we have no doubt that
the inventor will coin fortune out of the |
product of his ingenuity
Mr.. Spangler is native of New York |
city. During the war he served most cred |
itably as a member of the 18th Heavy |
Artillery from that state. He is black |
smith by occupation, and finds remunera- |
tive employment in the blacksmith shop OF |
the Buford Plow Works.
THE BLOOM INVENTION.
At Charlie Fiebig's shop on Third ave
nue, just west of Seventeenth street, may |
be seen the fire escape for which Mr.
Charles Bloom has applied for letters
patent Briefly described it is thus con-
'tituted: An iron track is laid along the
oof of building. not far from the edge, |
which at first sight might be mistaken for
new tangled cave trough. Upon this
rack is sort of two wheeled car the
gheels'to be made of gun metal. Suspended
rom the center of this car is folding lad
Ter; (the sides of which are of iron with
'as pipe rungs,) extending from the top of
he building to the ground. From each of
he two arms of the car runs wire cable
o The two corners of the building thence
ver pulleys to the ground. No matter
where the fire may be. pulling upon one or
be other of these cables. as the case re-
uires. the car moves easily along to any
artcular section of the building front |
lking the ladder with it and thus afford ,
lg sure and easy means of escape to | ,
,dgers. 1t is also Mr. Blooms intention ,
. attach pulley to the car and run a
.ble over it and TO the lever part of the =
oder where ii may be secured. In the
rent of fire the lower part Of one end Of
e cable being furnished with suitable
asp the hose can be attached, drawn up !,
any desired height and with pipeman
the ladder both fireman and hose, side =
side. can be moved wherever desired.
Dir. Bloom is confident that he has "a ~
'od thing" in his fire escape and the I,
Reus most sincerely hopes that he has. n
certainly looks like practical and val
bile invention