The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-11

Colonel Bigger Tells OF How the Old House
Is Protected From Fire.

Is Protected From Fire.
Colonel John Bell Bigger. the courteous and
oblieing clerk of the House Of Delegates. is
highly pleased with his trip to Mount Vernon
on Tuesday last ! saw the gallant Colonel in
his Office yesterday. and III speaking of his eX-
perlence on that occasion he could hardly
find words enough 10 express his highest salts
faction with the charming manner be had
been entertained by the ladies of the Mount
Vernon Association. who were holding their
annual council.
Colonel Bigger. as well as the other men,
bers OF the board OF visitors. went o. Mount
Vernon on the invitation Of the council and
were accompanied by Governor and Mrs. Nc
Kinney. The party left Washington early on
Tuesday morning aud reached Mount Vernon
by boat, where they were met by the vice
regents and Superintendent Harrison ii.
Dodge. They were shown through the build
ing and grounds and fine lunch was served
IN the dning-room and on the large porch.
The Colonel WAS perfectly carried away with
the attentions of the ladies' who insisted upon
waiting upon their guests at the table.
la speaking Of the cordial relations existing
between the ladies of the Association and the
members of the Board OF Visitors of Virginia.
Colonel Bigger laid great stress on the ac-
curacy with which the ladies were anxious TO
carry out any suggestion made by members
of the board.
AGAINST FIRE.
At last years meeting some of tho members
OF the latter body alluded 70 the desrabity
OF taking every possible precauti0n 20 pre-
vent the breaking out OF a fire at BIT. Vernon,
and they called attention o. the possible dan
ger caused by the heating of the building
with wood. An order was soon after issued
by the ladies prohibiting the burning OF wood
within George Washington old home.
But by no means the ladies stopped there
lls.t l.,.
cautions to have any fire extingushed in
its origin, az was announced IN q letter which
Colonel Bigger received "a few weeks ago
from Mrs Susan T. ). Hudson. of Stafford
county. the secretary of the Association.
While at work on last Tuesday Superinten-
dent Dodge remarked that some one had as
serted that the managers Of Mount Vernon
had not taken sufficient precautions % pre-
vent the spreading of fire. lie assured hls
visitors that before their leaving be would
convince his guests of the grouudlessness OF
such fears. Later IN the day the visitors
were conducted 10 the lawn between the
building and the Potomac river. They
noticed deep hole in tho ground
that had been lined with cementaud at the bot
tom of il four brass apparatus could be noticed
which were provided with one nozzle each.
A large enclosure WAS next built OF strong
timber and when completed II was filled with
shaviugs and other cOmbIstibe material.
The whole structure was saturated with the
contents of fifteen barrels OF kerOsenesOil.
This whole mass Of lnfammaDle material was
then set on Ere and after the flames had COM
pletelv taken possession OF the pile one ~ the
nozzles was turned on aud the contents Of
the apparatus connected with IL were directed
on tho mass Of flames. 10 TOOK Just one
minute aud forty seconds TO extlngulsh every
bit OF the ire.
AMAZED COMPLETELY.
The spectators were amazed over this rapid
effect. aud they were still more astOnished
when the stream OF chemicals was directed
towards the building itself. The department
showed sufficiently that any fire originating
in the historic home of Washington could be
easily item under control. An expert who
was present explained that ii all four nozzies
We're turned on any fire III the building could
DO extinguished within thirty seconds
He added that tho chemical which had this
marvellous effect was combination OF
bicarbonate OF soda and certain acids that
the contents OF each apparatus would pour
forth for ten minutes IL necessary and that
any additional supply Of the chemical could
be produced within three minutes.
In close proximity 10 these fire extin-
gushers an immense tank had also been
placed on the ground. which. with the oxcep-
ton Of a small opening protected bv a ll
was covered with turf. This tank is fed by
an engine from m inexhaustibie we'll close
by. In the presence OF the visitors a hose
was brought into requisltion and IN a few
seconds stream or water poured forth
which went far above the roof Of the build
Ing.
Furthermore. the services Of two response
bic guards have been secured. whose duty il
Is 10 constantly watch tho building at night
time, and when the visitors left their hospi-
table hosts they were fully convinced that as
far as human skill can provide the old Wash
ington homestead is perfectly safe against
the dangers of tire.