New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-25
FIRES IN TIE METROPOLIS.
MR.. BONNER UP TO DATE IN ptAL'-'e
WITH THEM
,r.w APPARATUS ASp METHODS GETT1N"
,r,r,p ,,p To THE Tor or TIE SKY
scRArERS- GUNS AND iLFEfiHES

FOR RESCUE riHTOSES.
,1rob i,onner chief Of the Ncv-YorS Fire De
ror,mont denice that the city Of Naples has
oskcd him TO 90 to Italy and cXtinsuSh NcS"-
Wins What with supplying the outlying s"Hu'-
han districts with light chemical engine MIRO
ducine metropolitan rules and regulations II"
,,rooL,yn conducting other progressive work ~
the Older part Of tic city and carrying on MS
rou,inc duties he has no time to spare Tor me
relief Of the Neapoltans.
One or the craycst questions that has con
fronted the hes, Fire Department in the world Is
how 10 get watcr to tho upper rooIF "I the h'Sh
buildings which have come into vogue since the
steel skeleton system was adopted. Mr.. Bonner
said 20 a Tribune man last week that he was m
PRODUCING much more powerful engines ia me
districts where these s<! -sCrdPcrs are situated
The best engines heretofore in use coulu i"'ce
water UP about one hundred OF one hundred ana
twenty five feet. and had "a capacity OF I'VE nun
dred gallons a minute. Tho new engines that
have been contracted COR will discharge fifteen
hundred gallons in the same period o! time ana
vii; be able Ia send water 10 an elevation OF TWO
hundrcd ard fftv three hundred feet.
II is already the practice Of architects and
builders to provide tall buildings with stand
pipe reaching from tho Top to the bottom of '"-
structure. and incosed in the same passage
accommodates the soripcs AT the top there IL
IL tank which ordinarily should be kept full by
pumps in the building Itself. on each moor TINS
pipe has taps to which hose may be attached. to
be used by the employees of the owner OF the edi-
flee. And before the fremen arrive these facili-
ties would naturally be utilized But provision
Is made for connecting the fre-cngincs with this
standpipc. and the new ones will enable the De-
partmcnt to send water ny TO any desired level
IGasmuch as the standppe Is OF iron. II is less
likely 20 burst than tho hremen's hose. but the
latter IL now made Ia carry heavier press
urcs than ever before. and II circumstances re-
uulre the hose Will be employed.
HOW ELEVATORS ARE MADE USEFUL.
Ordinarily the nrcrncn want to 60 VI inside "A
building rs quickly as possible and take the hose
with them In order to save time step have
been taken t. induce the owners OF high build
ines 10 keep an elevator running all night. or
else to have arrangements ior starting one ny at
q moments notice. Thc lrcmen step into the
elevator take the hose C5till unattached TO M en-
ginc) up as high as they wish. and then drop
one end out Of a window. The connection Is
made after the scene OF battle t. found
Probably no innovation In the usaTcs Of the
Fire Department Is more worthy OF notice than
the practice OF supplying each company with
wagon In place Of the old tender or hose car
riago The wagon enables the men To- take with
them three sizes Of hose, whereas II was FOR
merly possible to carry only one size. Moreover.
the wagon also Is provided with a full set OF
lifc-savng apparatus ladders. belts. jumping
nets and
Speaking Of these nets. which are about ten
feet In diameter and are held by handles AT the
ends OF cords which radiate from the centre OF
the net Mr. Bonner said that very few people
understood Just how TO jump when their rescue
was attempted. Most persons. II left 10 them
selves would leap feet first The best results
are obtained. however the person doubles
himself up so to fall IN a sitting posture. The
nets have saved many people from serious in
Jury. and are among tho most useful and hu-
name inventions Of the day.
\ FiRGMAN's SMOKE slit.
REGARDING the precautions taken 10y the FIRE
men themselves for their o"n protection Mr..
Bonner said that the smoke mask and helmet
were useful in their way. and that the Depart
mcnt occasionally equipped man with light
cylinder containing compressed air f'r breath
Ing inside Il building filled with sn"ko But
more effort was made 10 rescue ihc occupants Of
n burning building than 10 protect the fireman
himself Indeed 1t is remarkable to what eN-
tent some men in the Department can endure
smoke By getting down on tho hands and
knees ard crawling at "a loW "A level ~ possibl"
wonders could be- achieved. Certain men after
long practice. found themselves able t. hold
their breath like Divers Tor several minutes at IA
time
One interesting device in tho equipment Of the