Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1886-07-25
WONDERFUL INVENTION.


The Besserer Fire Exttnguisher
Successful Tests.
Los Angeles was yesterday treated TO
very interesting spectacle and one
which is encouraging when one reflects
upon the enormous losses annually
caused in this country by fires. The
spectacle referred to was public tsst on
Los Angeles street of the Bssserer Fire
Extinguisher, the invention Of resident
Of Los Angeles, Mr.. A.. w. Besserer.
During the past year or two this city has
had numerous exhibitions of grenades
as a means Of putting out fires, but with
scarcely an exception, they have proved
unsatisfactory. When the glass bottles
or ''erensdes," happen to break in the
right place, they occasionally
they do not break, aud a most
serious objection to them is the delay
they frequently occasion.
1t is not exaggsration In the least to
say that the tests given yesterday were
in every respect highly satisfactory to
the large crowds which assembled on
Los Angeles street. A frame building
constructed of light pine lumber, l2xl5,
stood in the center Of the street fully
exposed to the sharp afternoon trade
wind. At $3.50 P. N. this structure, to-
getber with its contents Of shavings,
was soaked with coal oil. At 3:45 P. M.
the match was applied, and in two
minutes the whole structure was COM
pletely enyeloped in flames. Apparently
nothing in the world could save it from
M Iofo a
the extinguishing fluid, thrown
from a considerable distance, was
turned on and in twenty seconds
not vestige of the fire remained ex-
cept few .puffs Of smoke. So complete
was the success that the audience heart
lily applauded. The great value Of this
wonderful invention was apparent to the
most skeptical.
In the evening at $3.50 o'clock another
public exhibition was given. which was,
II anything, more successful than the
first. Ths building was again thoroughly
saturated with coal oil and ignited.
When all in blaze the fluid again en-
tinguished the fire entirely in few soc.
onds. The experiment was tried once
more, the IRE burning well into the
wood, with the same result, and with
cheers for the new invention the crowd
departed perfectly satisfied. Only O
gallon and half Of auid was used on
the three fires.
The chief points in favor Of the Bes.
serer Fire Extinguisher are the fact thai
the fuid used takes up 5000 times the
flames; also that it il in q shape to be
used in all portions Of Q building-in
joists, ceilings, ETC.. whore il would be
impossible to use bottles. 1t can be-
thrown from distance OF from fifty ia
sixty feet and all the fluid is available
| just where it is needed. 1t il thrown
by force pump made expressly for the
purpose. The latter will never corrode
and the fluid will keep for any length OIL
time. 1t will not injure person or cloth
ing, being fres from all poisonous gaees,
1t is evident that the Bssserer Ex'
tinguisher meets ''lone felt want.
1t is cheap, wonderfully effective, and
should be in every hotel, factory, store,
public building, residence, steamer, ship,
and railroad train. II Is 80 readily
operated that even child can use L
with perfect ease. Los Angeles has not
yet suffered the disaster OF great fire,
but the experience Of other cities, and
the fact that we have many poorly con.
structed buildings, which may properly
be called Gre traps. Is enough to put u.
on our guard and lead US to take every
precaution to ward off the evil day. II
should be remembered that water often
causes as great damage Is fire and for
this reason alone the Besserer extin-
--I< ell - -
fectly harmless to everything except the
destructive element It contends with, II
Is the only practical and sensible means
Of fighting fires. II seems as if there
was here chance for live and active
agents to make money and doubtless the
proprietor, Mr.. A. w. Besserer, 81
North Spring street, will be glad 10
meet or correspond with such parties,
The extinguisher will sell rapidly as it,
merits are apparent to everyone.