Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-26
EARLY FIRE ENGINES.


Extinguishing Flames.
From the Detroit Free Press.
The earliest mention Of hre-extinguishing
apparatus Of any kind is found in the building
| accounts Of the city Of Augsburg, Germany,
for the year 1918. In these they are denomi-
mated instruments for fires and water
syringes useful at fires." Anthony Blatner. q
goldsmith at Friedburg, is credited with being
the inventor and manufacturer, he having at
that time become q citizen Of Augsburg.
These syringes must have been Of consider
able size, as they are described as being
mounted on wheels and worked by levers.
Caspar Schott, q noted Jesuit, gives an ac-
count Of one built at Nuremberg in 1857 the
largest squirting engine Of which there is any
record 1t was mounted on a sledge ten feet
long, four feet in width and drawn by two
horses. 1t had two working cylinders placed
horizontally in the cistern, which was eight
feet long, four feet high and two feet wide.
Iwenty-eight men were required to work it.
and it was capable Of throwing jet Of water
one inch in diameter to a height Of eighty feet
As late as the end Of the sixteenth GEN.
fury these oontrivances were unknown in Lon
don, where the sole method of extinguishing
fires at that time was by means of contrivances
known as hand squirts" These were usually
made of brass, with a carrying capacity rang
ing from two to four quarts of water. The two
quart ''squirts" were two and a half feet in
length, one inch and a half in diameter at their
largest part aud but half an inch at the
nozzle. On each side were handles, and three
men were required to manipulate squirt"
One man on each side grasped the handle in
one hand and the nozzle in the other, while the
third man worked the piston or plunger, draw
ing 1t out whilo the nozzle was immersed in
supply of water. which filed the cylinder The
bearers then elevated the nozzle when the
other pushed in the plunger, the skill of the
former being employed in directing the stream
OF water upon the fire. Such primitive con-
trIvances are said to have been used during the
great fire OF 1866.
In the early part of the seventeenth century
some progressive Londoner conceived the idea
that by fixing the "squirts'' in portable cis-
tern and applying a lever much more effective
engine would be the result. This was done,
anu the improved form was comparatively
successful. Mr., Clare, the author Of Motion
OF Fluids" published i'll 1875. thus describes
this squirting engine:"
1T consisted OF large circular cistern, like a
great tub, mounted upon four small solid wheels
running upon axletrees, which supported the
vessel. \ cover, or false bottom, perforated
with numerous small holes, was fixed inside the
clstern, about a foot below the upper edge and
three feet from the bottom. In the center of
the perforated covers was fixed lifting pump,
to the piston rod Of which was attached
cross tree carrying two vertical connecting
rods, which were simultaneously worked
up and down by manual labor
by means of two curved levers, resembling
pump handles, in opposite sides Of the machine.
During the downward motion of the piston
quantity Of water passed through the valve in
Its upper surface and got above the piston and
during the ascending stroke this water was
driven with great velocity through branch
pipe provided with flexible leather Joint.
between the strokes the stream was discon-
tinued. This engine supplied with water
poured into the cistern By buckets, the per-
forated cover before mentioned keeping back
all such matters as could be likely to choke or
iHJure the pump work.
Toward the close OF the seventeenth century
NJ. Duperrier in France, Herr Loupod in Ger
many and Mr.. Newsham In England introduced
almost simultaneously fire engines having an
air chamber. which rendered the stream Of
water continuous and uniform. In addition to
this these engines We're equipped with flexible
leather hose, invented by Jan Van der Heide
and his brother, and which was first put into
practical use in Amsterdam i'll the year 1872.