The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-09-20
Firing Six.Pouud Firc.ExtingulsLiug Shots by
Steam.

Firing Six.Pouud Firc.ExtingulsLiug Shots by
Steam.
A random outing astride the wheel about town
often results In the discovery Of unexpected food
Tor thought. Thus 1t was that the novel sight OF
steam fre-engine under full steam down on the
river side OF the Monument grounds, surrounded by
machine and rider to full stop. Among the on.
lockers were many OF our wel.-knOwn Washington
business men. The thing Of interest WAS not the
nfe-epgine, but akyward-pointtng brass tube OF
three-inch cabre, to which the engine was attached
by means OF a steam hose pipe. The tube was
too short and small for one of the patent Are wafer
towers which are engrosslng the interest OF New
Workers at the present time. A full case of what
appeared to be overgrown bottles of Apollinaris OF
connected to the rear end OF the tube, and valve
interposed between them was manipulated by a
81 ceremonies. The device was, in FACT, "a steam
gun for firing frangihle projectiles containing re
extingushing compound into the windows OF burn
nation to be in at the wind up and Join in the con-
EXAMINATIONS which we thought. were to be washed
before mentloned-was sadly frustrated, for we
learned that they were the projectiles themselves
The genial round face OF Fire Chief Cronin was
this experiment was for the purpose OF ascertanng
the range, velocity, and rapidly with which these
glass pro5ecles can be planted In the various parts
The gun Is a breech loader. 10 the tests the max
mum pressure OF steam used was sixty five pounds
the height OF the monument against q very strong
"dead to wlndward breeze and fell way out on The
reclaimed mats This was an excessive pressure,
and was given merely to show the capabilities OF the
gun. The pressure was then brought down to about
forty pounds when night OF prOjectes rose 10 quick
succession to the height OF our highest buildings
under the deit handling OF the breech-block and
steam controlling val We by the gentleman IN charge.
CHIEF Cronln was heard to remark TO ex Commits
sloner West In effect that the time was fast ap-
preaching when water would not play the principal
part In the putting out OF fires II would seem as II
In the shape OF compounds Enclosed by grenades
tossed by The hand, or shot with far-reachng aud
accurate aim from the muzzle OF deaf-mute guns
u the random utterances heard voice with accuracy
future developments in the science OF pntting Out
hrea. We shall ut a not far distant time have to
cart our present superb IRE equipment down to the
museum as an illustration OF an obsolete but once
efficient method OF dealing with the problem of con-
nagratlons. Cronin's remarks were not those of an
extremist, however. lie says that with u proper
gun OF this design he could put out any IRE In u
large building the interior OF which was accessible
by windows, but that the present equipment will
The Bartlett Fire distinguishing Company intend
10 build tw0story shanty next week FOR The pur-
pose OF giving further tests
The pr0jeclile Itself IL peculiar. Each bottle
grenade IL bedecked with taiered Shirt rs It were,
and II the fat knight Falstan had happened around
he might have easily recruited his ragged regiment
from their ranks. As the grenade issues from the
gun this garment streams from the rear ana forms
tue leather" which keeps the shot from "tumb-
ing" on The same principle as an arrows night.
suggestions as 10 the guns availability for throw
ing gnger-ale TO the persprlng workmen painting
The dome OF the Capitol did not meet with any en-.