The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1893-11-10
WE la FRANCE.
The New Engine Does Magnificent
Work in a Thorough Test.

a large number o. people
g-.Acr,d Oh me square yesterday
afternoon to see the new la France
steam fire engine tested
The fire department was out y
frll force
Little Chief" from the Central
Station, shlrei around an coupled
onto the plug the corner Of
Banker Ally and he ~ lAre.
Manic, from We-l E4I, took
the plug at the corner Of Austin
street lad tue s4aare
The La France machine let its
suction pipe DOM into the big
reservoir just in front Of the city
hall
"Li.tle Chief put ny the first
stream. and when it flooded the
coping OF the city hall tower, just
below where the electric lights
hang the people yelled With de-
light.
They had seen the gallant little
Silsby perform in the hour of need,
and they knew this was no mere
holiday display of power.
Then the big La France began to
work. Up mounted the stream,
going slowly higher and higher,
until it appeared that it would
gradually work to the top Of the
tower. Bat it suddenly stopped be-
fore reaching the altitude marked
by the "Little Chief" and grew
weaker instead of stronger.
The people wondered what was
the matter.
Suddenly whirr, which gradu.
ally increased into a roar, came
from the direction Of the Marx
corner, and another bright, clear
stream shot high in air.
The big West End steamer, re-
liable al ays, and beloved of the
people, had been called upon to
show what it could do.
This stream set a mark on the
tower a little above that of the
"Chief," which made desperate but
unavailing efforts to reach it.
The people app'auded family.
They bad expected something
better from "Mamie.'
Finally, after playing with the
other boys for awhile, Engineer
John Miller called on Mamie" for
the best she could do.
The 'scaping grew faster, the roar
increased, and the crystal stream
shot high in air, and fell upon the
dust that dimmed the gildtd rod at
the very top of the tower.
How the crowd did yell.
Two men who were in the high
opening OF the tower to fix the
electric lights, had been looking
down on the other streams; now
they had to LOOK up.
Then the boys at the nozzle saw
these two men and they turned the
stream into the opening. The men
mad to retreat from the deluge of
water, but were not fast enough to
keep dry
And the crowd yelled again.
How proud old John Miller was
81 never called on her yet that
she didn't do all wanted" he said
lovingly, and as he rubbed and
polished the noble machine his
touch seemed 10 nave caress in it.
"They'd better take that machine
back, hadn't they, john" some
body asked of "Mamie's' engineer.
Ono" he replied, "the machine
is all right. You haven't seen it
work yet. 1t has been pumping
river water, and it foams in the
boiler. Besides that, an engine has
to be used awhile to get it to work.
ing smooth, before its full power is
developed, The La France is all
right"
Pretty soon the big engine came
over and connected with the plug
where "Msmie" had been, and then
it pat an inch aud half stream
away over the tower, and per.
formed to the satisfaction of every.
body.
Afterwards 1t lifted two streams
high into the air, and when the
crowd dispersed 1t was with the
unanimous opinion that the La
France engine was good enough for
any body