The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-10
THE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
MEMPHIS NOW HAS ONE EQUAL TO
THAT IN ANY OTHER CITY.
The Latest improvements, Extending
Through Period of Three Months,
Completed Yesterday, and the Came
well Agent Returns to Headquarters.

durability. II is known as the Gamewell,
and is the result OF thirty years OF faithful,
hard study and experience. New York,
Boston, Chicago Cincinnati, st. Louis,
Toronto Montreal, in fact every city OF
size and importance in the United States
and Canada, has ii now in service. 1t was
begun in Memphis some ten years ago, but
in such way that its many excellent
points were not brought out in all their
completeness. The fiery ordeal through
which the city passed during the past
winter aroused the board OF underwriters
and Fire Chief james L. Cleary, both OF
which strong influences were at once ex-
erted in the direction Of the present admir-
able system OF alarms.
About four months ago the activity in
this line began in earnest. Agents OF dill
fercnt systems appeared in the city at re-
quest, and tests and explanations were
witnessed, heard and studied. Finally,
upon the recommendation Of Chief Cleary,
the Gamewell was adopted and plans at
once perfected for carrying it through as
rapidly MS possible. There was little posi-
bility OF deriving any material assistance
from the city, hence the underwriters de-
pended largely upon the chief and enter
prising private citizens and corporations.
The manufacturers, each with commenda-
BILE liberality, fell into the line created by
the emergency, and made arrangementsb by
which the system could be thoroughly III.
troduced without any enormous outlay OF
money. The alarm boxes, known as non
interference, cost Sl25. Twenty-eight OF
these were already in position, but placed
some years ago, and hence did not include
all the improvements which now charac-
terize them. For these the company al
lowed 500. TO further relieve the dilemma
OF the underwriters, a number OF corpora
| tions accepted their inducement OF reduced
insurance rates and had alarm boxes placed
at their own expense. The Merchants
Compress and Storage company probably
have half dozen in their various concerns,
the Peabody, Luehrmann's and CASTOR
hotels have one each and Messrs. Ii.
Iowenstein & Bros. have one OF the
highest grade known at an auxiliary box.
This cost originally $780, but wire connec-
| tions and other features increased that sum
to fully 500. In addition 10 the regular
automatic fire alarm. here is electric connec-
tons with system of water-works In the
mammoth building. When the tempera-
ture reaches certain point II sets the
electric current in motion, the sprinklers
begin TO play and the alarm is turned in
TO headquarters instantly. This is the
only box Of the kind in the city, though
others may be added at pleasure. With
such scientific precautionsit would be next
TO impossible for fire to destroy the Lowen-
stein wholesale building.
Three months ago Mr.. John I. Stack,
OF the Gamewell Manufacturing company,
came ON TO suporintend the introduction
OF the system, and school the local fire de-
partment into familiarity with It's simple
details. In this he has succeeded admira.
bly,, finding little difficulty with Chief
RYAN and Department Electrician Robert
Moran. These two gentlemen seem born
to occupy their respective fields, and
grasped the system lessons presented by
Mr.. Stack with remarkable alacriiy. Their
instructor left last night, carrying Will
him the consciousness that the hands and
minds TO whom its management was in
trusted were in the highest degree compe'
tent. Before his departure, Mr.. Stack was
seen by an APPEAL reporter, and readily
consented 20 explain in detail the features
which combine 10 render his system supe
ror TO anything invented, and gives 10 the
city almost absolute immunity from disas
trous fire losses This was done entirely
in cngine-house No. ], where box q is 10
Gated, M well rs the remaining appliances
incident TO headquarters.
There is much OF importance and inter
est attached TO the name ''non-interfer
cnce" applied 10 all the Gamewcll alarm
boxes. II does away entirely with con
fusion, and reduces 10 the minimum III,
evils growing out OF undue excitement
and Observation-Disclosures attendant upor
turning in fire alarms by outsiders. Fol
example were fire discovered and two
parties ran TO different boxes 10 turn in m
alarm, the one first succeeding would hay,
right OF way over the entire four circuits
no matter II his advantage were only ON,
second. Tho alarm continues for thirtcer
seconds, or until the number OF the DO,
from which Il Is sent has been sounded
four times. Then, too, a repetition from
the other party would be almost inexcus
able, ~ the flrst alarm would sound M
electric bell In every other box In the citl
were the doors opened 10 release plunge
provided for that purpose. Any attemp
at confusion would thus he ohviated. Jus
above the large gong In each engine-hous'
Is an indicator, registering from one 4
900, which displays the box number fron
which the alarm Came Immediately afte
II II sounded.
There are also galvanometers for testing
the strength OF currents. one for informing
/ OF aud Locating wire disturbances beside
A repeater for alarms which might, In an,
, emergency, have become lost or confused
The former are stationary, and manipulate,
by electric keys, and the second designe'
10 save time and energy on the part OF th
repair party. Being small, Il can be car
ricd In the hands 81 man, and attachc,
, TO any box. II makes known the circui
on which the disturbance Is located befou
! leaving the engine house, whether right o
! left, and test or two on the ground, b,
= application 20 alarm boxes, will locate TN
} trouble almost exactly. No matter hoy
! dark the night, the matter OF finding tn
obstruction Is the smallest part OF rcmoy
, ing Il.
Instead Of the two circuits. as before, ther
are now four, each OF copper wire, and be
, ginning and ending at engine-houso No.
} la the construction OF these commendabl
! ingenuity has been displayed. The hear
, or business portion OF the city Is not a
! the mercy OF one circuit, which, II out Q
order, would leave the property withou
J any precaution against fire. All the fou
, circuits penetrate the principal part OF III
city, and II by any circumstance alarm
; wcn only for few minutes interfere
4 with, the others are near ut hand aud cas-
) Of access. hut It's beauties do not sto
, here. by system Of ground wires, read