Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-02-23
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Annual Inspection by the City
Council Committee.
Condition of the Various Companiss.-Atl
in Fair Shnpc--A Bold FirFman's Haz-
nrdous Feat,


Condition Of the Various C1mpaniss.-Atl
in Fair Shnpe--A Bold Firrman's Haz-
nrdous Feat.
Tho annual inspection OF the fire de-
partmcnt City Councils committee on
fire coihpanies, was made Tuesday. The
inspecting party and those who accom-
panied il numbered 10. There were In the
party Councilman McNny, Murray. Nickel
yey, Griffin, Dannenberg aud Ross. Conn
ell Balif Kelley, Chief Engineer Shields
of fire department, Assistant Engineers
Dlekerson and Cloud. Building Inspector
llohl, County Commissioner Mealey, i. j.
llonnelly and representatives, of the press.
The inspection began at $ o'clock and con-
tinucd until ll,30 The party was driven
from the city hall to Reliance engine house
and thence to the Liberty, tho Fame Hose.
the Wcccacoe, the Water Witch, the
Friendship, the Phoenix, the Delaware
and the Washington.
All the apparatus in the department, ex-
cept the Liberty's engine, IL in service. Its
dome is broken and 1t has been out of ser.
vice 10 days. The damage will be repaired
this week. All the horses are in service.
Improvements have been made at several
engine houses since the semi-annual in
specliOn. which took place last fall. Boilers
for heating the water in the engines have
been put in the Fame Hose. WecGacoe and
Friendship houses and apparatus for heat
ing the building by steam has been put in
he WGccacnc, house. The Fame Hose
keeps 30 pounds OF steam on its engine all
the time and the Friendship always has 20
pounds. The Phoenix, which had boiler
nut in previous to the last inspection,
always has five pounds Of steam. The
Washington has handsomely furnished
the meeting room and the committee room
N the third story Of It's building On the
floors there are elegant Brussels carpets
and on the walls there are many fine pic.
lures. The furniture is handsome and
three large tables are filled with silver fire
horns and other trophies and gifts.
Exhibitions Of preparing to respond to
an alarm OF fire were the most interesting
feature Of the Inspection. The time given
includes the time which elapsed from the
striking of the gong until the driver was
seated and ready to drive out. No tests
were made at the Liberty, the Fame Hose
or the Water Witch houses. The Liberty
and tine Water Witch could not be tested
conveniently and tho Fame Hose has Il
new horse, which was gotten last Saturday:
Following is the result of the tests:
Reliance-Forty feet from the stable to
the pole Of the engine, one horse har-
messed by two men. IA seconds.
WecCacoe-Ihirty feet from the stable
tn the pole of the engine, two horses har.
messed by two men, ~ seconds ON the first
test and 10 on tile second. During the first
test the driver slipped while ascending 10
| the engine seat and on the second trial the
collar on one Of the horses was not properly
adjusted or hooked.
dship--rwcnty-I feet from the
stable to the pole Of the engine, two horses
| harnessed by the driver alone l6l seconds:
two horses harnessed by two men, l2l
seconds.
Phcnix-'rhirtv feet from the stable to
| the pole of the engine, two horses har-
messed hy two men, 49, and ia seconds.
| TN the second trial the harness ON one Of
| horses was not snapped.
Dclnware-FOrty feet from the stable TO
! the pole OF the truck, three horses har-
| nes'cd by three men 24f seconds. The
| horses were tested twice iii running from
| thr stable 10 the pole of the truck; time,
| Band ~ seconds.
! On--Twcnty-iiyc feet from the
| stable to the pole Of the engine, two horses
harncssed By two men, three tests, 10y
| seconds ON the first trial and II seconds on
/ each uf the last two trials.
The following information respecting
! the property and membership Of the sew
! Cra companies was obtained
| RciAnCe-tcet OF hose, 800; engines
| and hose carts. one each; horses, three,
value OF property, 81, 800; members ~.
| Libcrty-Fccl of hose. LOO; engines and
/ ItbH' NHIlSt UilF ttpIli HORSES IIltett value
\ Of property, $1,000, members, 40.
Fame lLosc--Icet Of hose, !, 900; engines
/ and hose carts, one each; horses, three;
valuo of property, S2i 900; members. go.
| WecCacue--FGct of hose, 200: engines
| and hose carts, one each; horses, four;
| value Of property so, 800; members, 100,
Water Witch--Feet of hose, 800; engines
| aud hose carts, one each; horses, three;
! members 200.
Friendship Of hose, 1900. engines
| and hose carts. one each; horses, three;
value Of property $4,000; mentors 20
PhltniN-t'cct OF hose, 30, engines
and hose carts, one each; horses. three;
value OF property. $li.s25; members, III.
DrlHwArc~-lruck. one; horses. three;
valuc Of property, $4,000; members, 70.
NnshngtOn--Fce Of hose goo, en-
gints, hose carts and trucks, one each:
horses. three; yalne Of property, So go;
members, ll1.
The visit 10 the iiremen was pleasant
and the inspecting party was impressed
with the excellent condition OF the depart
! Inent.
During the evening, while the storm was
sevcrest Frank starr climbed to the top of
the i!ugpUle On the l'huniX engine house,
distance of % feet above the building,
and reefed the halyards. His hazardous
feat was watched With much interest by q
large gathering. Previous to Starr ascend.
ing to the top of the pole ali effort was
made to reach IL with the Delaware truck
but the longest ladder of the latter was II
feet too short.