Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-01-31
AsUCcEssFuI TEST.
The New Chemical Engine Tried Yester-
day Week in the Presence of n Big
Crowd.

The New Chemical Engine Tried Yester-
day Week in the Presence of n Big
Crowd.
Wednesday marked an epoch in the his
tory of the Wilmington fire department.
1t was the occasion of the test of the hand
some new chemical engine recently pur-
chased by the Washington Fire Co. To
say that the test was success would be
putting it mildly.
All arrangements had been made to have
the trial come of at 8 o'clock, but owing
to the delay in the arrival of the delegation
from Chester, it did not start until about
20 minutes later. Long before o'clock
an immense crowd congregated in the
vicinity of the frame structure erected on
the lot at the corner Of Third and French
streets, to witness the first test of its kind
in this city. The roofs of the houses in
the neighborhood were thronged with
anxious watchers. and people were craning
their necks out of the windows of the
houses on all sides of the lot.
X. Ross Holloway of the firm of Hol-
loway Il Co., the builders of the engine,
had charge of the test. George +. Gala
CHAN, an employe of the Holloway firm,
held the hose. When the people from
Chester arrived the first move in the trial
was made. George W. Sasse, assistant en-.
gineer of the fire department. and men,
Der of the Washington Co., applied a
lighted match to the contents of the build
ing, all of which had been thoroughly
saturated with oil, In few minutes the
flames gained great Roadway. Dense
clouds of smoke were now rolling off
toward the east. A signal was given and
the powerful stream from the chemical
engine bounded forward right into the
heart of the blaze. The flames were extin-
guished almost Immediately and when the
big crowd saw this there was no end of
applause. Seven seconds were con-
sumed in making the first test. A
second trial was made, the flames
being allowed to gain further headN ay
This lasted Ia seconds. Then third one
was started. BY this time the flames had
been allowed to make wonderful head
way, and many persons began to doubt
| the ability OF the new machine to ex-
tinguish them in few seconds. However,
| when the stream was turned on only 20
| seconds passed before every vestige of the
| flames was destroyed Following these
three tests a fourth trial of the effective
ness of the engine was made. No time
| was taken at this trial. The remainder of
the wooden structure was saturated with
oil and match applied to it. As soon AS
the ilames famed by strong westerly
wind, had enveloped the building another
stream from the apparatus was thrown
| upon them. Less than minute was
I
stream measuring ~ feet was then thrown
III the air
Only one tank was required in the first
three lests. In the first test pressure of
26O pounds was generated in So seconds,
and in the second 200 pounds were gener-
ated in IL SECONDS. The contents of the
second tank were used in the fourth and
last trial. When one tank becomes ex-
hatsted, the other can be used, and before
its contents are used up, the supply in the
first tank is replenshed. Jars Of chemi.
Gals are carried Oh the side of the engine,
and the contents of these are put into the
tanks containing soda. A great pressure
is generated in this way. Two lines Of
hose can be attached to each tank.
At the test there were a number
Of the members of City Council and
prominent business men. The delegation
from Chester consisted of the following
Councilman J. Crosby. NJ. Black, William
Ladomus, James Cook, Clerk Campbell,
John Clayton and Edward Dickson, Chief
of Police Bagshaw, Assistant Engineer
Kelley of the Hanley Hose Co., William
Morrison, A. Welten, Paul Greenwood
Isaac Singles, Samuel Carey, Peter Dough.
erty, John Genthner and William Dts.