The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-02-20
ENGINE NO. Z.
The Test of the Fire Boat An Tn
qualified Success.
Portland is to be Congratulated on Her
Water Front Protection-An Immense
Crowd Witnessed the Trial

Portland Is to be Congratulated Oh her
Water Front Protection-An Immense
Crowd Witnessed the Trial.
The fireboat. Engine No. Z. had test
yesterday morning, and it was an immense
one. Eyes," said Alderman Dam. II was
opposed to it, but am satisfied l was
wrong. That boat does splendid work.
Tie time set for the test was 1880 a. m.
yesterday, and by 1915 the wharyes were
blocked with people, the boats in the har-
Dor were filed and Commercial street IN the
vicinity of Browns wharf was crowded.
There were delegations of hremen present
from Bath, Bangor. Lewiston, Biddeford,
Westbrook and Deering. At 1880 Chief
jackson pulled box Ala on Browns wharf.
Engine No. was lying at Portland i'ler.
As the fire gong on the pier sounded. the
siren whistle on the fire boat gave three I'M
earthly sbrieks and the boat started for
Browns wharf. At the same tine pell NELL
from Machingone's house came Black Tom
and the hose wagon. Marshal Trickey.
Deputy Sterling and a squad of officers kept
the crowd back.
1t took just three minutes for the boat to
reach the pier at Browns wharf, where the
flremen on the wharf ran out the lines. In
exactly four minutes and thirty-two seconds
the first line showed water; the second in
four minutes and forty-fve second; the
third in five mintes and thirty seconds; and
the fourth in six minutes and thirty sec
onds. BY this time four huge streams were
being thrown far out into the dock. The
combined streams formed perfect deluge.
and it seemed as il no fire could long with
i cal, - OItIr1a Of
salt water. The four streams We're then
siamesed into two and quarter inch noz-
zle and the stream nearly reached to Widg-
ery's wharf. The crowd applauded ana some
cheered. The pumps on the boat worked
splendidly and the fremen were highly
slated. The huge stream. almost equal to
an open butt. was directed straight INTO the
air and many experts estimated that it
| reached height of at least one hundred
feet and an immense food descended. Then
the four streams were merged into one
and one-eighth inch nozzle. and grand ex-
hi5ition was given. Conservative firemen
and insurance men estimated that it reach
ed over two hume red feet in the air. Then
the fireboat was turned and the great bow
| chaser, the Morse nozzle in the bow, was
| tried. The stream was a tremendous one
sent with terrible force. The exhibition be-
ing over the boat returned to her berth and
| the hose wagon went home.
During the trial Captain Howe, Mayor
Baxter, Alderman Little and three little
girls occupied the pilot house of the Che.
| beauge. The members of the city govern
| ment. fremen and especially the CONNER
cial street business men and the insurance
underwriters warmly congratulated Chief
| jackson and Alderman Little and his asso.
ciates on the committee. Mr.. Endicott OF
| Manchester. N. H., who planned the m a.
chinery, was present. and was warmly con.
graduated upon the unqualified success OF
| the interesting trial.
Assistant Engineer Sullivan, Foreman W.
| I. Gordan of the Richard Vine company.
Daniel Kerwyn. Robert Bryant. Charles
| earle and other fremen from Biddeford
were present.