The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-16
TESTING FIRE APPARATUS.
Engine No. Gives a Proof of 1t,
Efficiency.

On August "a engine No. 2, of the Seattle fire
department, was tested in order to ascertain the
best time that could be made in making steam
from cold water and throwing a stream through
fifty feet OF hose. The best time on record
heretofore was minutes, 10 seconds, which
was made by an Aherns engine in Cincinnati,
o. On the day mentioned a stream was thrown
in Just three minutes after lighting the fire, the
engine drafting the water from barrel, but
there had been no committee appointed TO
supervise the test and il was deemed best to try
it again, in order that careful record might be
made.
Yesterday committee was appointed to
watch all the details and make a reliable report.
The members were b. w. Baker, of the Board of
Underwriters; c. b. Smith, OF the Roofing and
Cornice Works; Ii. L. Reynolds, mechanical en-
gineer; Charles W. Saunders, of Saunders &
Houghton, architect, and l.. +. Lamping, secre-
tary Seattle Board of Underwriters At l:50
p. m, in the presence of the committee. Chief
Kellogg, Assistant Chief NARROW, Commissioner
Kahaley and number OF citizens and firemen,
the engine was drawn from the house (where it
had stood disconnected from the heater, the
old fuel was taken out and new fuel put in, and
the committee made sure that no unusual COM
bustibles went into the firebox. Nothing was
used but shavings, kindling and Washington
coal Then a connection was made with city
hydrant and cold waterrun through the boiler
for a quarter of hour. A bucket of water
was Drawn from the DO1ler ana It's temperature
found to be 20 deg. The suction was then
thrown into a barrel of water, the top of which
stood twenty inches below the suction valves
of the machine, fifty feet of regulation hose
with pipe and II inch nozzle, were attached to
one of the outlets, and the glass water-guage on
the boiler was inspected and found to show six
and seven-eighths inches of water
At $50 the fire was lighted, and Just 8 min
utes, 81 seconds afterward the water burst from
the nozzle and formed solid stream reaching
over 80 feet. Without any idea of fancy throw
ing, but in order 10 show that this was no squirt
the distances aiterward were measured, and
found to be as follows: In minutes from
lighting fire, 81 feet 9 inches: 5 minutes l25
feet; minutes, 1877 feet inches; minutes l47
feet o inches; minutes, 153 feet: and so on up
to IL minutes when 225 feet was reached and
orders were given 10 shut down. This beats the
best record time 80 seconds and makes Seattle
No. the champion of the United States. The
machine was built by the Ahrens Manufsc-
turing Company, of Cincinnati, and sold IN
Seattle in 1889 by II. w. Bringhurst, of this city.
being what is known rs a second size engine
weighing 1900 poundsas she runs To a fire. The
name OF the successful engineer is H. L. Amigb
formerly OF engine 81 in the Chicago danart
meet; the stoker is James j. Lynch and the can
tain of No. ., W. III. Clark, and Lieutenant ! T
Nelson. superintendent the hose. All the men
working on the engine and hose during the trial
were regular members of the Seattle fire densrt-
ment. The committee were unanimous as IN
the time and distances. and their signatures
were acknowledged before Roswell Scott. notary
public.