davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Portland daily press., 1891-12-30
STEAM FIRE ENGINES.
The First Practical Machine Built In
lS4l at Cincinnati.
now Fires were Fougnr IN une GOOD Ola
Days-A Sixteenth Century Hand Pump
The Modern Water Tower and
How IL Works.
Especial Cincinnati Letter1


This is the semi-centennial year Of
the steam fire engine, the first one that
was brought into use with any degree
of success having been used in New
York in 1S41. The application of steam
to the agencies of civilization soon sug-
gested its use for directing engines for
extinguishing fires. The first engine
for this purpose was built by man
named Braithwaite in London in 1880,
who two years later built a larger one
on the same plan for the king of Prus-
STA. They were of monstrous size and
tremendous weight, without the neces-
sary power, and were without practi-
cable value. After the great fire in
New York in 1885 a premium was Of
fered for plans of steam fire engine,
and in 1S41 one was built by man
named Hodges. This was am improve
ment over the London invention. II
had the necessary power, but also the
cumbersome size and weight. and the
long time required in raising steam,
which allowed the fire time to exhaust
itself, rendered it of no practical value.
But it was steam fire engine, and was
used once at fire, being then sold and
converted to other uses.
To Cincinnati belongs the credit Of
giving the first practical demonstration
of the feasibility of this application of
steam and of making steam fire en-
gines the basis of fire department of
unequaled efficiency. The first sue
cessful engine was built in Cincinnati
by A. B. Latta in 1852. 1t combined
power strength, lightness and quick
steaming qualities, and some of it's
principles are retained in the perfection
engines of the present day. 1t was con-
structed of a stationary engine set on
wheels, a hand engine pump and a
boiler of coiled gas pipe encased in
sheet iron. At the trial steam was
raised in four and one-half seconds and
water was thrown distance of 176
feet. A larger one was Immediately
built on the same plan, capable of
throwing six streams at once, and was
sef-propelling horses being used only
to guide it. The day of the competitive
test OF this wonder with it's hand pump
rivals was great event in the history
of the Queen City, and it's triumph was
the overthrow of the abominable vol
unteer system that too often permitted
buildings to fall in ashes while the rival
companies fought for the settlement Of
some petty difference.
Ever since man began coming to-
gether into communities and building
The Portland daily press., 1891-12-30
MW&FnrTn1
FMW&wnrm

You would not suspect it
from the taste; there IS cod
liver oil in SCOTS Emulsion.
1t looks like cream it is
like cream. Cream is bits of
butter covered with some
thing else-you do not taste
the butter. SCOTS Emulsion
is drops of cod-liver oil COW
cred with glycerine.
Cream is an easier food
than butter, because it is in
bits. SCOTS Emulsion is cod
liver oil made easy; the
drops are invisibly fine they
do not resist digestion.
VIII you read a book on
it? Free.
Scorr & BOVINE, Chemists r,s South sth Avenue,
New York.
Your druggist keeps SCOTS Emulsion of eod.liver
oh-ali druggists everywhere do. 81. .
The Portland daily press., 1891-12-30

cities he has been in peril from fire, and
his best skill has been required to
guard against it. In the very early his
tory of England and France preventa-
tive measures were resorted to, and
laws were passed for the management
of fires during the day, and the curfew
bell was rung at eight o'clock in the
evening for their extinguishment. The
great care used in the enforcement of
these regulations made those countries
most free from fires, but in Germany,
in spite of similar laws, heavy losses
were suffered, until necessity became
the mother of invention.
The discovery of some mechanical
'contrivance for the better extinguishing
of fires than by the bucket brigade had
been one of the quests of mankind from
the time of ancient Rome, when Appel
lodorus applied the OK gut through
which water was forced by compress
ing and expanding a large bag attached
to the rude chose" This was followed
by syringes of various devices. Some
one in Germany conceived the idea Of
making the syringe stationary in a tub
and converting it into force pump.
Then the whole continuance was made
portable by being set on sled. The
tub was kept filed by the bucket bril-
gade. These improvements on the Ro-
man syringe, that converted 1t into a
portable engine, was product of the.
ingenuity of the sixteenth century. At
first it was drawn from place to place
by men, then the rope for that purpose
was detached and horse power was sub
stituted for man.
In tracing the evolution of the fire
engine we must now cross the channel.
At the close of the sixteenth century
the farthest England had advanced,
notwithstanding the activity on the
continent, was to the use of the 'shand
squirt" or syringe, and this clumsy and
slow apparatus had been so enlarged in
the hope of increasing It's effectiveness
as to require three men to handle it,
and then it only threw three or four
quarts Of water at each discharge. But
England took up with Germany's sled
engine and put wheels to it and attached
the Leather hose and suction pipe, both
of which were invented in Amsterdam
toward the close of the seventeenth
century.
From this developed the modern hand
engine, but 1t took two centuries TO bring
it to the excellence of many of those
used in those towns throughout the
country that recognize the necessity
of such provision against fire but can
not afford the steam engine with or
without horses.
1t is difficult to see how much irn-
provement can be made upon the steam
tire-engines now in use in the large
cities that can afford paid fire depart
9sents. The SYSTEM Of extipgpishias
The Portland daily press., 1891-12-30
Antslopss and "rumbie Weeds.

Twas sitting in q passenger car look
ing out over stretch of prairie land in
the great Arkansas valley. The day
was windy; indeed, ship captain who
sat next to me said it was ''half gale"
though, judging from the way the wind
shrieked past us, / should not have
thought of using fraction in describ-
ing it.
Suddenly q number Of elegantly
shaped, slightly built animals appeared
tn the distance and rushed toward the
moving train. The wind, the antelopes-
for such they proved To be-and the
train engaged in race, in which the
antelopes for short time held their own;
but what most astonished me was that
the antelopes were pursued by great
gray balls, some Of which were from four
to five feet in diameter.
Not one of our party could imagine
what these were, never having heard of
anything of the kind We watched the
curious sight until the locomotive and
the wind left the antelopes and the pur-
suing balls far behind us. To increase
our interest, however. many more such
balls could be seen on the windward
side of the track, piled up against the
wire fences and in ravines and gulleys
along our onward route.
/ afterward learned that what our
party saw were known to the plainsmen
as tumble weeds" and to botanists as
the Cycloloma plalyphylium. 1t belongs
to genus of plants that grow in thick,
globe shaped mass of twigs and small
branches, attached to their roots each by
a small stem, which in the fall becomes
dry and brittle, and, as the autumn winds
sweep over the prairie, these stems break
off and the tumble weeds go bounding
away, scattering their seeds as they go.
Antelopes and jack rabbits, grouse and
prairie dogs are put to flight, cattle are
stampeded and the roadbeds clogged by
these flying masses of brushwood.-St.
Nicholas
The Portland daily press., 1891-12-30
Not So Nfonotonous.

"Your life must bevery monotonous,r
said Gus De Smith, looking in the win
dow of the Austin postofice at the clerk
stamping letters. ri
"What makes yon think so?'
"1t would drive me crazy to be ever
lastingly pounding letters with hand
stamp. It's the same thing over and
over every day."
''Oh, no, it's not" replied the clerk.
Yesterday I was stamping 81 on the
letters, today it's 2S and tomorrow I'll
be stamping the Goth of the month, so
you see it's not SO monotonous after all. /"
Texas Siftings.
The Portland daily press., 1891-12-30
Cariyie's Sheer About Americans.

1t is interesting, now that we are get
ting toward 63,0OO,O0O in number, to re-
call Carlyle's sheer, and revise it up to
date. "What have the Americans DONE"
he growled, "but beget, with unexam-
pied rapidity, 100000 Of the greatest
bores on the face of the earth?" What,
indeed, but increase the number forty
odd millions morel-Boston Common
wealth.
The Portland daily press., 1891-12-30


theirs wealth. She married Lord Henry
Somerset, second son of the Duke of
Beaufort, and has devoted her life to
temperance and kindred social reforms.
Having seen the dark side of London
and other English cities she was anxious
to ''do the sluns" of New York, and
seems to have done them thoroughly. In
recent lecture she said that while ex-
IRENE poverty is much the same every
where, yet for debauchery and degrade
ton London's slums are far worse than
those of New York.
81 went down among the dives of the
Bowery," she said, "and what struck
me most was the fact that there were so
few women there. But you will soon
have as many dissolute women as we
unless some measure of reform is inau-
gurated which shall give woman q
chance even if she has made false
STEP"
The Portland daily press., 1891-12-30

bIAIEENTH CENTUKY HAND PUMP.
through the city streets behind gallop-
ing horses. M
There is perhaps in this chemical COM
bination greater possibilities than in
any other existing fire extinguishing
contrivance; and there Is reason to be-
heve that in a few years the forces Of
chemistry will have displaced those of
mechanics in the extinguishing of fires.
GEORGE S. MCDOWELL.
The Portland daily press., 1891-12-30
A Good Reason.

White mules are in great demand in the South
on account Of their docility.
The Portland daily press., 1891-12-30

The UNION MUTUAL LIFE IN
SURANCE COMPANY is now In the
forty third year OF its existence. 1t
has already paid more than Twenty
five Millions of Dollars TO its policy-
holders and their beneficiaries and
possesses assets of more than Six
Million Dollars ana a large surplus
wherewith to meetmaturing liabilities.
The Portland daily press., 1891-12-30

Heref or d shire.
Lady Somerset is
"a most accom-
plished and at
tractive speaker.
She is the Oldest
daughter of the
great Earl Som
ers, and, having
no brother, in
heritad her "a
The Portland daily press., 1891-12-30
The sluB, 81 New York.

A few weeks since the Women's Chris
tan Temperance Union Of the United
States was delighted by the arrival of
Lady Henry Somerset, Of Eastnor castle,
The Portland daily press., 1891-12-30
Rivers of Red Water.

Among the noteworthy things DR..
Oscar LEM saw when he travelled
through Morocco awhile ago were two
little rivers that once year, at the
time of the greatest heat, are filled with
red water. 1t is supposed the color
comes either from a strata of red clay
through which the streams may pass, or
from myriads of little red organisms.
Another curious stream was large
creek with waters almost as salt as
those of the ocean. This creek comes
from great beds of salt, of which it
carries off very considerable quantity
IN solution. In the dry season the creek
bed is exposed and is found to be COW
cred with thick incrustation of salt.
A Good Reason.
Jones-Why did yeu give up house.
keeping?
Mr.. Younghusband-I got hungry
LMe.
White mules are in great demand in the South
On account OF their docility.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-09-09
TO Whom 1t May Concern.

In view OF certain recent publications,
it is deemed proper ID state that so far
as it has been possible to poll the men,
bers of the WATCHMAN association,
they were, with one exception, in favor
of the appointment of Redfeld Proctor
to the vacancy caused by the resignation
of Senator Edmunds; that the editorial
article in the issue of August u, for
mally declaring for Mr. Proctor, was
written and published in accordance
with the wishes, known or understood,
of many members of the association,
and in accordance with what was con-
fidently believed TO be the sentiment of
the great majority of the people of
Washington county. For these rea-
sons, and for no other reasons or in
ducements, the WATCHMAN supported
Mr.. Proctor for the senatorship. If
any soul has been disquieted by in .
situations to the contrary, let peace aud
confidence reclaim it. In view of GER
tain other erroneous and misle aiding
statements, it is deemed proper to add
that Colonel Fred E. Smith of Mont
pelier is president of the WATCHMAN
association, that the in .erest of the
person intrus.ed with the editorship of
the paper is some six times that of any
other stakeholder, and that the other
owners of stock are some twenty indi-
viduals, business and profes sional men,
residing in Washington county and
Central Vermont, among whom there
is substantial accord and between whom
and the editor the pleasantest relations
exist.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-09-09
Sunday.SchOOl Convention.

The Washington County Sunday-school
Association held its second annual meeting
at Trinity church on Wednesday and Thurs.
day of last week. Delegates were present
from twelve towns, representing twenty
three churches and Sunday-schools The
sessions were opened at half-past ten
o'clock Wednesday morning. with devo-
tional services led by Rev. +. l.. Walbrdge
of Plainteld. After hearty address of well
come from Rev. G. w. Gallagher of Bethany
church, and an appropriate response by w.
A. Boyce, Esq, president, the association
following topics: "How early shall we
look for the conversion of the young?" Rev.
l.. Tenny, Waterbury; 1.-THE teachers
discouragements and encouragements, ="
Miss Alice NJ. Morse, Barre; From house
to house," Rev. e. w. Cummings, Barre
What are proper amusements for Sunday
school teachers?" discussed by Rev. Messrs.
Babbitt and Hitchcock and G. w. Kennedy
The international lessons" George w.
Kennedy, Esq, Waterbury; "The needs of
the Sunday-school," Miss Alice NJ. Poland,
Waitsheld; How to reach the majority
who do not attend church," Rev. j. II.
Babbitt, Brattleboro; How ought Off
GERS and teachers of the Sunday-school to
be chosen?'' Rev. j. o. Sherburne, Cabot;
" How should temperance be taught in the
Sunday SCHOOL," Miss Roxana NJ. Orcutt,
Mortified; How / prepare myself to teach
III Suuuay-SchOOl, several teachers; the
question box, Rev. j. IL. Babbitt. The
papers and addresses We're all of a very
practical character, and of high order of
excellence. The lecture Wednesday even
ing, by Rev. Charles Parkhurst, DID, of
Boston, on " Historic Evidences of Chris
tianity in Place, Monument and Art" was
very fine and full of instruction, tending to
arouse and direct interest in this important
subject.
Rev. j. II. Babbtt, secretary of the state
association, was an efficient helper on all
the topics that came before the association.
1t is to be regretted that more of the Sun
day-schools of the county were not repre-
scented. On the whole, however, this meet
ing of the association was gratifying sue
cess,
The following officers were elected for
the ensuing year; President, George II.
Frary, Waterbury; vice-presdent, Miss
Lydia Gilman, Waterbury; secretary and
treasurer, Rev. f. W. Cummings, Barre
executive committee, Rev Joseph Hamil-
ton, Northheld, Rev. c. w. Longren, Barre,
j. n. Perrin, Berlin, IL. @. Perry, Plain
field; statistical committee, w. A. Boyce,
Esq, Barre, George w. Kennedy, Esq,
Waterbury, N. X. Abbott, Cabot
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-09-09
Press Notes.

THE members of the Board of Agri.
culture are working hard to promote
the best interests of the state, and hope
by sending out large number of these
pamphlets that good results will follow
from their labors. All the articles are
well written by practical men and bear
the impress of business and patriotic
devotion to the highest welfare of the
state Wilmington Times.
IT is doubtful if any Vermonter ever
made friends so rapidly as has Carroll
S. Page since his Inauguration as gov
ernor. He is a worker, bright, able,
clean-cut business man, and 10 every
respect the best executive head-pos-
sibly barring Proctor-that the state
has had since the war. He is a live
man, and something is done and done
well every time he moves. This is not
taffy. 1t is the proper and just recog-
milton of lots of hard work excellently
well done. AS regards executive bust
ness ability, Governor Page has no
superiors, and mighty few equals in
Vermont. -HardtOick Gazette.
Vermont passed through this city yes
terday en- route from Washington, bear
ing the governments check for more
than $4,000, for direct tax refunded
to the state of Vermont. Governor
Page is making an admirable chief
executive of the Green Mountain state.
He is greatly pleased with the wonder
full success of the recent celebration at
Bennington, which was under his di-
rection. The governor says the state
committee fully realizes the importance
OF the election next year in Vermont,
that commonwealth being still Sep
TENDER state, and the verdict of Yer
mont having a great Influence in the
country at large.-NeW York Tribune.
OUR State Board of Agriculture has
finally touched the keynote. AS an
extra to the Opinion the board has
issued a supplement, setting forth the
resources and attractions of Vermont
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-09-09

with list of desirable homes for sale.
This paper is full to the brim of inter-
esting reading matter compiled so as to
briefly place before the world the agri-
cultural, manufacturing, mineral, So
cial, educational and religious advan-
tages of Vermont, together with its
general attractions as state to live in.
This venture of the Board of Agricul-
ture is long stride in the right drec-
ton, and we sincerely hope that this
work will be so kindly received that the
board will be encouraged from time TO
time to continue the publication of
Vermont's attractions. The Orange
county member of the board is Victor
l. Spear of Braintree, man of ability,
successful farmer, who has the inter-
ests of Vermont at heart. bradford
Opinion.
GA Son of the Revolution COM
plains in the New York Sun that ex-
Minister Phelps neglected to discuss in
his Bennington Grafton the famous in
trigue with the British carried on by
the Vermont leaders during the latter
part OF the struggle for independence.
A son of the Revolution - makes us
tired. He seems to think that that
chapter of Vermont history cannot be
discussed without impuguing the
patriotism of the Green Mountain BOYS.
There was an intrigue with the red
coats and il was handled by the Yer
mont lea lers with an ability and skill
that have ever since distinguished the
Craftsmanship of Vermont's sons. But
tn ere is no warrant for thinking tn 1t the
Aliens and the rest had any other OBJ.
ject than that of representation for
III cir people. They would have been
great fools had they not prepared for
the possible defeat of league of COM
monwealths that refused to admit Yer
mont TO their sisterhood even after she
had proved her devotion at Ticonder-
oga, Quebec and Bennington. That
Vermont would ever have accepted an
allegiance to the crown while vet a
rebel army could gather on American
soil, we do not believe; but her leaders
were not unwise all the same in playing
the game they did with the emissarics
of King George. Vermont has nothing
10 be ashamed of on that score. Spring.
field Republican,.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-09-09
To Judge, Jury and Stale's Attorney.

Washington county court assembled
yesterday. An earnest attempt, under
taken in good faith by the citizens and
officials of the county, has been made
to enforce the prohibitory law in places
where that law had been for a long
time openly and VIGOROUSLY disre-
garded. Sheriff Howe, his deputies,
the citizens and all connected with the
movement deserve praise and common
dation for their faithful, fearless and
efficient performance Of a disagreeable
public duty. The work has been we'll
begun. Good results are already APP
parent But the work has only COM
menced. Only the initiatory proceed
ings have been had. The citizens have
made their complaints. The officers
have made their seizures, and persons
found guilty of violating the law regu-
lating the sale of Intoxicating liquors
have generally appealed to the county
court. In that tribunal the laws de-
lays, the devices of attorneys, the
leniency of judges in respect of prose
cutions under the prohibitory statutes,
have resulted in practical notification
of those statutes. Section 1886 of the
Revised Laws provides that
Every saloon, restaurant, grocery, Gel
lar, shop, billiard-room, bar-room, and
every drinking-place or room used as a
place of resort where Intoxicating liquor is
unlawfully sold, furnished or given away,
or kept for selling, furnishing or giving
away unlawfully, and every place or room
used or resorted to for gambling, shall be
held to be common nuisance, kept in yio-
lation of law"
Section 1887 provides that upon proof
the court shall adjudge the place de-
scribed in section 1886 a common
nuisance, "and the person keeping the
same shall be adjudged guilty of keep
ing and maintaining common nui-
sance, and shall be fined not less than
$50 nor more than 5000, or shall be
liable to a fine not exceeding $40 and
Imprisonment not less than one mont,
nor more than three months, in the dis
erection of the court"
Offenses against the prohibitory code
are hedged about with every precau-
! ton experience or ingenuity can sug-
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-09-09
The Deer Law.

TO the Editor Of the Watchman:-The
WATcHMAN supplment Of August 10 con-
tanned articles from two members of the
Fish and Game League. From the tone of
those articles 1 have drawn an inference
concerning the instigators of our present
deer law. That law will be enforced this
coming winter, if l have my present oppor-
tunity. | believe the lumbermen and
borderers have destroyed for many years the
natural increase of many hundred deer that
now inhabit the forest extending from IN
home to East Brighton. Many have in
herited love of the chase We have like
wise state constitution, and if the present
law is in harmony with Articles fifteen and
forty of first and second chapters, public
sentiment must be educated in this region
to respect law. But think a more compre-
heDsive study of human nature, and an
open season, would save the lives of more
deer than the present law for who will
furnish evidence here? NED NORTON.