Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-10-25
Ths As.su Fire Ext,nsuishsr.

a PUBIC trial cf the Buell. Fire Ia.
nngufsher was given last Saturday
afternoon on the open lot ut Ninth and
Pine streets, which was witnessed by q
largo lumber Of citizens, among them
being Messrs. william ii. Blake and
John M. Newell Of the Fire Com mittee
Of City Council, Chief Engineer of the
File Department Sweeney, Collector OF
tho Port Pickels, Chief Of Police
Doughsrty, Mr.. Job II. jackson and
|ey- y-Oounciimen Bailey and Grubb.
A number Of boards, fully eighteen
feet In height, were fastened togsther
and then stood on end with other boards
at the sides, forming q structure almost
similar to Q fire place, and about ten
feet wide. The interior WAS then Hlled
with light wood and paper, and the
entire mass thoroughly saturated with
two gallons Of coal Oil, which was
thrown on every part by q small force
pump. II was agreed that when the
fire was started Mr., Buell. WAS not to
use The extinguisher until hiefSweeney
gave the order, and as soon ne the match
WAS applied the flames shot fully
twenty five feet high in the air.
The fire roared and cracked, and was
so intensely hot that even Young
America, who was out In full force,
was obliged to fall baok. The Chief
stood looking at 1t until at last even the
boards were ablaze to their very tops,
when he gave the word to apply the
extinguisher, and in exactly forty Soc
onds the blaze was totally quenohed,
and the only fire that could be seen was
few live GOALS In the cracks of the
boards which had not been reached by
the chemical. Two moro gallons of oil
were then pumped on, and In less time
than 1t takes to write it the flames were
again roaring, but 1t was noticeable
that the parts Of the boards which had
been touched by the liquid did rot iq.
mite, and only the oil burned. When
the fire was at Its height the Chief
again gave the word, and in exactly
twenty seconds the fire was extinguish-
ed. just at this time Mr.. jackson ar.
rived, and more oil was procured and a
third trial made, with about the same
result as the second.
This extirRuisher Is vastiy different
from The bottles which have been used
for this purpose and consists of o fount,
which hold from s to 30 gallons. This
is Tiled with water, and the chemical,
which Is sealed In one gallon caIs, 10
placed In IL and disolves at once. The
fount Is fitted with a triple acting force
pump. which throws the liquid from 40
to 100 feet. As soon as 1t touches the
fire q chemical change takes place and
. gas is formed, which extinguishes
the fire instautaneously. The apps-
ratus used on Saturday was No. Q,
holding 30 gallons, mounted on whsels,
and the inventor claims that half q
dozen of this size In q village or town
will be more effective In extinguishinQ
q fire than the largest steam fire engine
that can be obtained.
The liquid can be kept ready mixed
for instant use, as 1t does not deteriorats,
evaporate or freeze. II is also q pre-
ventative of fire, aud If q floor twenty
feet square Is thoroughly saturated with
this liquid, coal oil can be poured over
1t and set fire to week later, and the
only damage that will be done will be
few black spots which water will re-
move. The test on Saturday proves
this extinguisher to be the best article
lof the kind ever exhibited in this city,
and II one of them had been In Salie-
bury when the FIRE was first discovered,
loss of half q million dollars would
have been averted. The manufscto
at No. a North Fourth sweet, Phila-
delphia, has been visited by DIR. Wshl,
of the franklin Institute, who, after
examining the chemical, pronounced 1t
the best article he ever saw for ex tin.
gushing fires.