The herald., 1895-03-31

immense loss of property occur nearly
every day. and the most absolutely fire.
proof structures still have interior finish
ings and furnishings, enough OF the COM
bustible to render the danger of fire ex
ceedingly great, and it is notorious fact
that the fires in the fire-proof structures
are harder to fight and result in greater
loss OF lie than IN those more perishable
buildings, where the hook and ladder can
be blou sht into use. and the pulling
down OF the walls cause mere rapid
consumption Of the doomed building and
tne breaking of windows and chopping of
apertureS let out the sitting smoke. Yet
the prime consideration in conflagra-
ton is the saving of property and lives
OF employees and this cannot always be
/ successfully accomplished, even with
the most heroic efforts of the firemen, on
Saccount of the deadly nature Of the ele-
ment with which they have to contend,
sand the imminent danger of being over
come with smoke.
+ The development of scientific methods
in the care OF salvage, the reclamation of
materials of all kinds damaged by fire,
has rendered the |, IS of the insurance
companies, even in great conhagrations.
much less than it would appear from a
casual glance at the wreckage in its sod
den and scorched stage. and in spite of
their occasional losses, the history of fire
insurance in the Un I'd States, has been
one OF ever increasing prosperity. 1t is
upon the perfect drill of the fire laddies.
their fearlessness of danger. their brave
self-s ,crt flee, that the Insurance COM
panes, the owners Of property, the entire
community of cities and towns depend
lor their safety, and yet science in the
p. st has Gone SO little for these couraa eous
men, that it is upon their own strength
and endurance almost entirely that they
must rely in a battle with fire, 81 r
Often fire of Insignificant, proportions
causes such dense volume OF smoke that
it is quite impossible for its location to
be discovered, and it shoulders thus until
it has gained such headway that it is In
possible to extinguish it. Often too, in
hotel and factory fires the fremon are
overcome with smoke in their atte mpts
to rescue imperiled lives. and fall victims
20 their humane instincts and issanse Hof
duty. 1t was during great fire of this
sort that gentleman who had been
horrltied witness of the Intellectual at
tempts of the gallant firemen to reach
number of people in the fourth story of
burning building, made determination
to devote his time and skill to the cause
of the prot ction Of firemen from suffo-
cation by smoke, and as the result OF his
efforts there has been recently patented
the Baders' smoke protector, one OF the
most unique inventions of the day of in
NcIUlOHc. LII WAC PCAAVSoiA6 VI Al6 WOTh
Mr.. William Baders was assisted by Mr..
Willis G. Vajen, who not only furnished
the capital for the enterprise. but whose
suggestions and experiments were largely
instrumental in making the invention
success. Both gentlemen are residents
o: Indianapolis, Ind.
The protector is in the form OF a he'll
met, fitting snugly and lightly over the
head and face. and being constructed Of
asbestos tanned leather, 1t is entirely fire
and heatproof. 1t is absolutely imper-
vious to steam and boiling water, and a
continuation of the head-piece covers the
shoulders and is fastened securely by
straps passing under the arms. The
wearer is furnished with fresh air by
means of supply tubes connected with q
scientifically constructed reservoir at the
back of the helmet This reservoir has
a capacity of sixty pounds pressure of
compressed air, rendered always pure by