Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-03-13
!TnE new FIRE ENGINE.
COMPLETE SUCCESS OF THE srIssY STEAM
ENGINE or IFS FIRST TRIAL.

ENGINE on ifs FIRST TRIAL.
Last Saturday afternoon large crowd
Of persons assembled In front Of the col
lege in shepherdstown 10 witness the
trial of the new steam flre-engine pur-
chased by the Corporation Of shep-
herdstown from the silsby Company,
Seneca Falls, Ny. When the prelim.
inariss had been arranged, the word
was given to "stsrt her on" the match
was applied to the kinaling, and thin
curl of smoke arose from the smoke
stack Of the first steam fire. engine eyer
seen In Shepherdstown. In less than
three minutes, the engine began to make
steam. In 8 minutes and 10 seconds,
she had a pressure Of ten pounds OF
steam; in 4 minutes and seconds 20
pounds; in i've minutes 30 pounds; In
six minutes she had IS pounds Of steam
and was throwing water. Az the little
beauty got down to her work the crowd
sent up a cheer that seemed to sncour-
age the machine, for she threw water
In style that surprised every one. The
steam-gusge showed steadily increas-
ing pressure, and the water pressure
grew stronger and stronger until dnally
a stream of water was thrown horizon
tally 252 feet from the end of the nozzle,
through 100 feet Of hose, and kept up as
long as it was needed. Then $50 feet Of
hose was put on and carried up the hill,
aud stream of water was sent through
it 20 high as the Episcopal Church
stse pie, going far above the tallest
buildings in that locality. The next
trial was with Siamsse stream, through
~ inch nozzle and 100 feet Of hose.
A stream of water was sent about 40
feet over the top of the College iteepls,
throwing an immense volume of water.
Various other tests were made, all OF
which were satisfactory, and the engine
was given a rest until Tuesday.
On Tuesday the Shepherd Fire De-
partment turned out in uniform to have
another exhibition of the engine. The
fire was lighted at the engine house and
by the time the run was reached and the
hose laid steam was up. This trial WAS
had particularly to measure the dis
tanees Of water thrown and to give the
fire company's engineer an opportunity
to run the engine. In test No. !, water
was thrown through 100 feet Of hose,
1-inch nozzle, 25l feet; test No. 2, two
streams, 100 feet of hose each, E-inch
MOBILES, 228 feet; test No. 8, three streams
100 feet of hose each, A-ineh MOBILES, 1876
feet; test No. 4, 800 feet of hose, T-inch
nozzle, $50 feet; test No. s, 300 feet of
hose, l-inch nozzle, 2l0 feet; test No. 8,
100 feet of hose, Siamese, 1H-inch noz-
gle, 26s feet. The engine was kept rum
ming steadily for over three hours, and
proved itself equal to every test made.
After the trial q meeting Of the City
Council was held, and the Council unan-
imously accepted the engine, and Or
dered the bill paid as per contract.
The unanimous opinion Of the City
Council, the committee which examined
it, and OF our citizens generally, il that
we have an engine that ia entirely salts.
factory in every respect. 1t is perfect
in every detail-oonstruction, finish and
capacity for work-and there is not
single point Sighted. Itpresents q beau
tiful appearance with her artistic paint-
ing and bright nickeling, and our fire
boys will see to 1t that she Is kept
bright. The work she has done shows
that her working powers arc not out
done by her good looks. All the sup
plies necessary to tirst-class equip
ment, including great number of noz-
zles, pipes, reducers, &C., are furnished
with the engine, and are Of the best
quality.
The engine Is what Is known as a
fifth in size, with capacity of dis
charging 400 gallons Of water per min
ute, and weighs with supplies about
1900 pounds. 1t has Archobold's pat.
ent wooden wheels, which are nicely
painted, with hub caps nlckeled. The
frame OF the engine and the fuel pan
are also painted and gold striped. The
jacket Of boiler, dome, stack, aud air
chamber, are all nickeled, as are all ex-
posed parts of engine. The machine is
fitted up with all improvements made
by the Silsby Company, for which let
tiers patent have been granted, such as
pop valve, sprinkler, metallic packing,
&c. 1t is rotary In principle, and judy
Ing from the work performed, we think
the claims Of the manufacturers, "That
hose will last much longer with rotary
than piston" is fully verified, AZ
neither hose or engine moved when the
machine was doing its heaviest work.
~ enOW HOW HIN huu bOllu sue sthHub
a glass OF water placed on one of the
wheels Tuesday while the engine was
working hardest, scarcely quiv cred.
Mr.. Bernard Bosch Is the agent of the
Silsby Company from whom the engine
was bought and he is al efficient, ener-
getic and reliable gentleman. He has
guaranteed nothing nor made any state
ments which we're not fulfilled. and has
made himself popular among our people
by his courtesy and oSliging disposition.
The engine was run by the Compa-
ny's Engineer, Mr.. James P. Teller,
who instructed Mr.. Shepherd Gatrell,
the fire departments engineer, In the
management Of the steamer.
At a meeting Of the Fire Department
on Tuesday evening Mayor Harrison,