The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-09-27

AT The intersection or Ohio avenue and
Fourteenth street. on what was formerly a
triangular reservation, there is now erected a
model truck-house, and one which is said by
those who should be qualified to Judge to
have no superior in the United States or in
foreign countries. Every appliance and de-
vice known to facilitate the apparatus in
reaching fire in the shortest possible time is
in use in the new truck-house. It is large,
we'll lighted, and ventilated, and it's appear
ance is an improvement to the neighborhood
The building fronts SO feet on Fourteenth
street, and occupies, with the yard In the
rear, the entire reservation. The front is
constructed of pressed brick of artistic design,
and though there are but two stories, is as
high as an ordinary building with twice as
many floors.
The northwest corner of the first floor is
occupied by neat sitting room in which there
is a telephone. The remainder of the space
on this floor is given up to the apparatus and
stalls for the six handsome horses. There is
ample room for two trucks, the chemical en-
g1ne, and supply wagon. But one truck is
now stationed at the house. This one is of the
best model constructed. 1t is the Hayes
patent aerial turntable truck manufactured by
the La France Engine Company, Of Elmira,
N. Y. Its distinctive feature is the mechani-
cal method by which the ladders are raised
and the appliances for fighting fire and saw
ing life. The main ladder with the extension
reaches height of eighty-five feet. Its raised
by means OF large crank and when in position
by the use OF turntaple can be made to as
sumo any position. Attached to it are side
rails and rope that can be utilized either for
hoisting hose or as fire escape. Upon the
truck are number of other ladders, the total
length of all being 1926 feet. The latest ap-
pliances are carried upon it. There are be-
sides axes and lanterns, battering ram for
making holes In walls, two hand-extinguish-
ing batteries, patent door opener that no
locks can defy, tll-roof cutter, and jump
Ing net used in life saving. Hanging from
the side OF the truck are four large belts
These are known as the Pompierre belt The
principal feature Of these belts is large
nickle-plated snap. This is used by the fire
men to hook themselves to the ladders so
that they are held securely and at the same
time can have the use OF both their hands
Thus the Pompierre ladders that nave proved
80 successful in Paris for scaling the front of
building can be brought into use. set OF
these ladders are also carried.
Besides the truck itself feature which
makes 1t novel in this city is that 1t is drawn
by three horses driven abreast. When the
alarm is struck, the doors of the stalls of these
three horses fly open automatically and the
horses run out, two on one side and one on
the other. The shaft is drawn down on the
centre horse, the hanging harness dropped and
they are off In flash. 1t has been found
that this method OF driving the horses is much
better than the tandem system. The three
horses which draw the truck are magnificent
looking, iron-gray Percherons and already
they are thoroughly broken to take their
places when the gong strikes. They have been
named Tom, Jack, and Sam by p. Mahoney,
who takes care OF his pets and drives them to
the fire.
Both the truck and chemical engine are in
charge OF Foreman A. j.. Sullivan, whose
splendid record for his thirteen years. service
In the District Fire Department deserved the
recognition 1t has received Mr.. Sullivan
was born and raised in the District The
men he has under him, though comparatively
new In the service, are very efficient. They
are A. j. INLAND, assistant foreman and tiller-
man; +. Mahoney, hostler; B. Buscher, j. A.
=. u. Dixon, j. j. Sullivan, u. Williams w
b, Handy, and Messrs. w. II. Doleman, j.
III. Barry, and p. d. Breen, who are in charge
OF the chemical engine
This engine is another innovation for the
District, and its utility is very apparent. It's
object is to overcome an incipient fire with
out damage where the use of stream of
water might cause great loss by drenching
alone. In private dwellings, dry goods stores,
by the fire itself. The chemical engine pre-
vents this. 1t carries 200 feet of one inch and
aqqarter hose, axes, hooks, twenty-four feet
OF ladder, and one six gallon hand extin-
gmsher. When 1t reaches fire it has two
eighty gallon tanks charged with bcarbonate
OF soda and Vtrol, and is supplied with the
chemicals for four extra charges. The en-
CINE, with the three men on 1t weighs 6,770
pounds, and is drawn by two splendid speci-
mems OF horse flesh which their driver, w. HI.
Doleman, has named Frank and Sandy.
They are about 1879 hands high, and In color
one is an iron and the other dapple gray.