Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-02-05
J, FRIDAY EVENING. FEBRUARY S, lses.
EARLY FIRE ENGINES.
AWAY BACK ~ 1913 THEY WE'RE
~ USE.


FIrst Mechanical Msthods Employed
for EHtIREuishing Flames -InIsrest-
ing Information Tor Firsmsn OF ihs
Present Day.
The earliest mention OF fire extinguish-
ing apparatus OF any kind IL found in the
building accounts Of the city % Augs-
burg, Germany. for the year 1918. la
q c they are denoniinated instruments
for fires and water syringes useful at
fires. Anthony Blatner, goldsmith al
Friedburg, is credited with being the in.
ventor and manufactures. he having at
ulat time become citizen of Augsburg.
These syringes must have been of coG
siderable size, as they are described as be.
ing mounted on wheels aud worked by
levers. Casper Schott, a noted Jesuit.
gives an account of one built at Nur.
emberg in 1857, the largest squirting en-
gins Of which there is any record II
was mounted on sledge 10 feet long,
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. Twenty-eight men were
required to work il, and it was capable
of throwing a jet Of water one inch in
diameter 20 a height Of 50 feet
AS late as the end of the 10th cen.
tury these contrivances were unknown
In London, where the sole method OF
extinguishing fires at that time was 10y
means of contrivances known as "hand
squirts. These were usually made Of
brass, with a carrying capacity ranging
from two to four quarts of water. The
two quart "squirts" were two and half
feet ia length, one inch and half in di-
Rmeter at their largest part and but half
an inch at the nozzle. On each side
were handles, and three men were re-
quired to manipulate a 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, drawing it out while the noz-
zle was immersed in supply of water,
which filled the cylinder. The bearers
then elevated the nozzle when the other
pushed in the plunger, the skill Of tlIe
former being employed in directing the
stream OF water upon the fire. Such
primitive contrivances are said to have
been used during the great fire of 1865.
In the early part of the 18th century
some progressive Londoner conceived the
idea that by fixing the "squirts in
portable cis;ern and applying lever
much more effective engine would be
the result. This was done, and the i'm
proved form was comparatively success
full. Mr.. Glare, the author OF Motion of
Fluids, published in 1885, thus describes
this squirting engine"
at consisted Of large circular cistern,
like a great tub, mounted upon four
small, solid wheels. running upon axle
trees, which supported the vessel A
cover, or false bottom, perforated with
small holes, was fixed inside the cistern.
about foot below the upper edge and
three feet from the bottom. In the CEN
ter Of the perforated covers was fixed
lifting pump, to the piston rod OF which
was attached a cross tree carrying two
vertical connecting rods, which were ST.
multaueously worked up and down by
manual labor by means OF two curved
levers, resembling pump handles, in op-
posite sides of the machine. During the
downward motion Of the piston q'oN.
tity of water passed through the val, ~
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 a
flexible leather joint. Between the
strokes the stream was discontinued.
This engine was supplied with water
poured into the cistern. the perforated
cover before mentioned keeping back all
such matters as could be likely TO choke
or injure the pump work. +"
Toward the close of the 18th century
NJ. Duperrier, in France, Herr Loupold in
Germany, and Mr.. Newsham in England,
introduced almost simultaneously fire en-.
gines having an air chamber, which rem
dered the stream of water continuous aud
uniform. In addition to this these engines
were equipped with flexible leather hose,
invented by Jan Van der Heide and his
brother, and which was first put into
practical use in Amsterdam in the year
1912.