The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-01

sno each OF the other engines Is better.
Inc water tower throws Is much in one
minute - ore OF our engines does IN ten.
Enough water was put on that building to
iorce q into the river. but still the flames
crowded up and MP, and not only COM
munlcated to the Tribune building, and q
large wholesale liquor store in the rear. but
the big nine-story establishment was
burned to the ground.
Al fire like that was to occur here. and
y y NOS impossible, the building would not
only go. but the town. believe in keep
ing Always little ahead OF the times, but
We are tagging. We have q better and
more efficient department now. however,
tnan San Francisco, and have the only en-
tire paid department on the Coast, but we
should not let il rest here. We need more
nre engines and better and larger ones and
should get them. We have not first
class engine in the department They are
all second-class. am also in favor of hav-
ing water tower. Don't know what it is Z
Wen II is long metal funnel, about six
inches In diameter at the base and three or
four inches. as the case may be, at the top.
The funnel is laid horizontally on trucks
Just like the hook and ladder apparatus,
and in case of fire the tower is rushed to
the scene. The long funnel is lacked M
rapidly by means of cranks into perpen.
dicuiar position in front OF the burning
building. Two or three engines connect
with openings at the base and pump from
cistern into the tower. A large adjustable
nozzle at the top, worked by screws from
the ground. Is in place, and the lake of
water sent out just naturally browns the
IRE or floats the building.
lit is said that in war the weight of A
mans body in bullets is exchanged before
he is killed. The came principle exists in
lighting fires. On authority it Is stated as
conservative estimate that but one gal
lon of water ont of q thousand thrown into
building Is all that ever reaches the fire.
and 1t demonstrates plainly why we should
have more engines-larger and better ones.
shall never forget the fight we had in
the Stetson-Post building, at the last great
fire, " continued the chief. Enough water
was put into that building to float it. The
engines were playing all over it. Firemen
with axes were cutting away the partitions
The IRE could be seen in every portion of
the building. On all sides, beneath us,
ahead and overhead, the flames were eat
ing their way with ominons cracking. and
the dense smoke was suffocating. Water
was ankle-deep in the hallway land on the
upper-story floors; the plaster came down
in saturated yards, and tile water. q foot
deep, poured down the stairways in per-
feet torrent, swift enough to knock the
firemen of their feet Enough water was
put on that building to float it: still the
flames could not be stayed and the struct-
ure burned To the ground
Il often walk along the street. and halt
ing, lock at fine six or seven story build
ing. imagine the place on ere, and
picture how we should attack it. see no
place of access. There are no fire escapes
and see no way of getting directly at the
IRE. What would in all probability be the
result with our present facilities?"