San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-06-03
NEW FIRE SYSTEM.
THE SILENT AND GENERAL
ALARM OFFICIALLY TESTED.
No Hitch In Its Workings-Time
Made BY The Department
Water In Five Minutes
How the Alarm w orks.

Two hacks this mornin G containing
the fire committee, Aldermen Lock-
wood, Weber and Persc h accompanied
by MI. O'Brien of the Gaynor Electric
Fire Alarm company and Mr.. Ryan,
city electrician, made the rounds of
q number of electric fire alarm boxes,
to apply to the system just completed
and turned over to the city by the
company, the official test. The party
turned into the central Office. the first
alarm from box AZ, at the corner of
Lexington avenue and Augusta street.
The second alarm was turned in from
box PIC at the corner Alamo and East
Commerce streets, at Joske's store.
From thence the party proceeded to
Mill street where the Key was put
into the box at the corner of
Mill and Adams street, and the
gong in the central Office,
third floor of the new City Hall, rang
thee strokes, then two, then four,
for this box was 324. This was repeat
ed three more times, when Operator
Harry @. Brusselback of the Gaynor
company, acknowledged the message
by rapping a gong having connection
with this box, three times, for this
was on circuit 8. From box 324 the
party proceeded to box Is, at the cor.
ner of Arsenal and South Flores
streets and the same operation was
repeated. Thence passing over Mill
tary plaza, the testing party proceed
ed to box %, at the corner
of San Saba and West Hous-
ton streets, at the Santa Rosa
hospital. Here the central office was
signalled to give the general alarm. At
precisely 1923 the alarm from box %
was turned into the central office.
Almost simultaneously the alarm
was turned on the engine and hose
company houses, and the great gongs
over the entire city sound the gener-
al alarm. The firemen knew that
that sometime today test alarm
would be sent in, but they knew not
when or from whence IL would
come. Just three minutes after the
alarm WAS turned in from the box,
engine No. /, and It's hose cart APP
hastily attached to the hydrant at
the corner of San Saba and West
Houston street, and in exactly five
minutes after the alarm had been
turned in from box q, this company
had a steady stream of water coming
from the nozzle of its hoze. Mean
while the Mission hose company APP
peared on the scene, it's time being
4 minutes. Then came hose cart No.
2, making the distance in 4 IA min
utes. Engine No. and its hose cart
came sailing down the street and
made the distance from Ave. G. to the
box in l-2 minutes. Then came the
hook and ladder and then in eight
minutes came the Sunset hoze com.
pany. Chief Weber thereupon order
ed the department to return to their
respective quarters, after which the
committee returned to the central
office, where few more alarms were
turned in and the working of the
central Office explained. Each men,
Der of the fire committee expressed
himself as unqualitiedly satisfied with
the workings of the new system, there
having been no hitch whatever. At
ter this inspection one of the aldermen
suggested that fitting finale to their
morning work would be call at the
Elite, which suggestion was naturally
carried out.
The city council will vote on the mat
ter of accepting or rejecting thesystem
at its meeting next Monday. Mr..
OBrien and his assistant Mr.. Brus-
setback will remain in the city cou-
pie of weeks after the system has
been accepted by the city, TO see that
all is in the best order. MIR. Ryan
and his assistants, Messrs. Lockwood
and Erkman, will have charge of the
central office.