The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1884-11-27

THE FIRE.-No further indications
as to the real cause of the fires has
been discovered. The losses aggregate
nearly $4,000. with insurance for
about two-thirds. Adjustment is pro-
ceeding with several of the losers.
1t is probable that several of the
buildings will be rebuilt at once.
Yesterday a HERALD reporter had
an interview with Supt. Bowen, of the
water works, and elected the following
statement from him: THE facts are
Just these: The works are in charge of
Mr.. Cecil Marriage, as engineer, with
st, Clair Lewis as assistant, both entirely
competent men for their places. Thirty
FIRE calls have been sent in during the
last eighteen months that Mr.. Marriage
has had charge, and the works have in
every instance responded promptly
with all pressure necessary, with the
exception that caused this talk. These
engineers divide their time, so as to re-
lieye each other. On the night of the
fire Mr.. Marriage was away a short
distance. Mr. Price, our electric light
man, sent in the alarm and found Mr..
Lewis there. He told him that the
fire was at the old skating rink, and
that the buildings there were all frame;
that probably large quantity of water
would be used. Mr.. Lewis. imme-
diately ran up the water pressure so
that the gauge in our Office showed
from so to 90 pounds in less than FIVE
minutes. Mr. Price then left for
the fire, living in one CT the
Dutton houses. He found that there
was no water, and supposed that
a main had broken. The fact was that
Mr.. Lewis had two pumps running
when the alarm was given; the large
engine is a quadruplex pump,-one
working four pumps when all are
complied. Fearing a larger demand
for water, he attempted TO couple on
the third pump, and checked the engine
down, but did not quite stop it, as he
wanted to hold the pressure on the
main. Just as he went to key the
pump on, hydrant was opened in the
city, this relieving the water suddenly.
and causing the engine TO revOlve very
rapidly for one or two revolutions.
The down stroke in the third pump
caught the steel key, in the wrong place,
so that the piston rod did not have room
70 go down. Something had to give
and the cap on the main journal was
broken, so that the pump was totally
disabled. This is the way the accident
occurred, and is one of the accidents
that could not be foreseen, for this
coupling is always done. If additional
water is needed, on slow motion; for
obvious reasons. When we have 100
pounds pressure at the works we
have but % in the city,-domestic
pressure-losing IS per cent by reason
of the friction and raising the water
1872 feet-the difference in level between
the public square and the engine floor.
The duplex pump was then attached.
In some way. entirely unaccountable,
there was an air leak, so that
about as much air as water was pumped,
this was discovered and corrected
but unfortunately too late. The engi-
neers put the pumps through as fast as
was possible, but did not reach full fire
pressure. They supposed that the
number Of hydrants opened made it
impossible for the small pump to sup
ply the demand,-two streams only be
ing expected from it The castings
broken were brought in, and by three
o'clock the large pump was all right.
The telephone line was burned down,
which caused the unusual delay in COM
municating with the works. / re-
constructed the line at once, and by
four o'clock all was in order. We re-
Qret the accident as much as any one.
Our men are careful AND competent,
but accidents viii happen, and when
they do, IL is generally at the most in-
opportune time" New castings were
made by the Currier Works. and
the big pump is ready for work.
There have been made very many
harsh statements about the Water Com
pany, by reason Of this failure. We
have noticed very carefully that our
works have a much better record than
most Holly works. Under Tom Brown,
when the Sewers Corner was burned,
the works failed. but it was no fault Of
the works, for the reason that the
wires were crossed. In this latter case
an accident happened-once in thirty
calls. Let Us give credit for the good
work done, always promptly done. in
the past, and hope that We may be free
from accidents In the future. We shave
confidence thai the present manage
ment will do all that Is within its pow
or 10 that end, and that their measure
Of competency IL sufficient for the re-
f.w.r~.uft.9lffw N.sst s4Fsor1 fhaYn