The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-04
NEW WRINKLES AT FIRES.
NOISELESS Alarms ~ BICYCLEs IN
Use IN EASHIyGTON.


ting Out Fires st tho start and In Saving
Lhe-1IeEnphos 80 on Trial, Too-Tele-
phones md Eiost-:c Lights for FlVemen.
WASHINGTON. Map 3.-Distrirt Commits
sionor Wight has charge III the Police and Fire
departments OF waahir ston. Thcy are his
special hobbies. and since bc has been In con-
tfol he has introduced . number Of innova-
ttons. The mos. spectacular Of these Ia the
mounting OF lrcmen rn bicycles.
COMMISSIONS Wtgh: found that several
companies were frequently called out to at
tend TO Insignificant fires. and In every case
whore an alarm was sounded oil the iremen
on duty In the engine houses were disturbed
BY tho changing Of the gong. 1t was formerly
the rule that when an alarm was sounded the
horses wpre hooked up to the engines and
trucks and the fremcn routed out. 50 that
every engine IN the city was ready to respond
TO tho alarm. At the conclusion OF the striking
Of the alarm those engines which werc not re-
duired were unlocked and the nrcincn re-
turned to thsir beds. Mr.. Wight saw the use-
~,essness Of having NIL tho nremen In the
city turnod out Of their beds when
only n small number OF them were re-
quircd to attend n fire. so he introduced the
system OF the noisclcss alarm. At each engine
house a Waterman Is on duty all day and all
night Mt a desk where the fire alarms are an
nounccd Oh nn. indicator. II he sees an alarm
to which his COMPANY must respond he turns
q switch and tho next call comes on n large
gong. While there is thus a delay OF a few mo-
nents. so far it has caused no damage. and the
fremcn have secured undisturhed rerose.
Noting the success OF the bicycle police.
Commissioner Wight decided to mount some
fremen on bicycles. A fireman was selected
ut each engine house and mounted on a bicy-
Gle. Whenever his company Is called out he
nranaJaa n IN tho Aro nun noptpfai IN N
bicycle can make much better time over the
asphalted streets than n pair OF horses draw
Ing a heavy engine loaded with two
or three men. In many cases. such
as that OF the Windsor Hotel fre in
New York. when lamps arc overturned or
draperies catch fire. the nresence OF en- expe-
rienced man with the necessary appliances
would prevent disastrous fires by ~extinguish-
ing the flames ut an early stage. 1t Is esti-
mated that the fremen on bicycles should be
able TO reach a fire on an average three min
utes before their company. In cases where
four or Ave companies respond to an alarm this
system will bring that number OF men to the
scene before the companies can reach it. and
by a little quick work they may often be able
to plish a great deal before the engines
arrive and get to work. Each bicycle fireman
will carry q small tank o! chemicalnre extin-
guisher on his back. and he may also carry n
light pick.
The latest innovation went into service last
Wednesday. 1t is the use OF n meRaphone.
which will be welded by Assistant Fire Chief
Belt. Mr.. Wight noticed that on many occa-
sions whore tall buildings were burning or
where the confusion was great 1t was almost
impossible for the fremen to understand the
orders Of the Chiefs. and each was therefore
compelled to act almost entirely on his own re-
sponsibility. On one occasion. owing TO this
very cause, several fremen were killed by
the falling OF a floor when the Chief was
attempting TO warn them OF their danger and
failed because they did not hear him. The
m~egaphone Is fifteen inches in length. and with
II there should be no difficulty In making Or
ders heard. II Is expected that each Of the fore
men will be equipped with a megarhone and
probably each OF the bicycle flremen. 1t is in
tended, sooner or later. to introduce one or
more automobile fire engines. which. it is said.
can make much better time than those drawn
by horses.
Since COMMISSIONER Wight inaugurated this
more, or less sensible suggestions. 1t r. pro
. large chemical fire extingIisher. propelled
bytwo men: II would be in effect a miniature
s sash 81 the ssf sIescle Il ilr Is s1sG in a saalt|ee to 'h Els
minisfurs- scaling ladder. BY this means.
small IRE DEPARTMENT. armed with picks. lad
ders and fire extinguishers. and answer
ileasSi az ensi ans r rsGis and p' tf sRG'nes, AS s 3
shall carry a folding ladder q light but very
hotel fires and others where the burning build
ings contain q number Ct people. The bicycle
bis steel fielding chain ladder 70 proieetioni
thus rescue women and children who other
Tn view Of the danger OF the frepen losing
their way IN the dense smoke and thus imper-
ingenious citizen that each ,fremanshould be
equipped with a small signal service telephone:
III TIhiS6 Inventor shs suggests s that on the backs acHi 81 q
wire which can be attached to a receiver at the
ground apd as the fireman, dashes into the
fireman could have a receiver and t~ransipitter
sSI.Saf IL S SsIss!' q s0 .s s05 sseuG SSm% TH%; {
Chief. and he could also report to the CHIEF his
prSsg.ss %i, Is to tea Iesv% lGISsti the 81 1a ihH IRE , Sn9 ah 1ss
purpose. II he found himself In danger OF be-
ing overcome by smoke. or should be injured.
effected more easily. When the fireman left
the building the wire could be. wound again on
i bsil s 8 P sh me Wlth q sI 4 RHGiw cepper s WIre Eli. "a sb Is
nliauce would not weigh more than six, or
seven pounds. and could easily be handled by
,Agreat difnculty has always been the socur-
ing OF a light, for use In rooms filled with
man should carry in the pocket OF, his rubber
coat. q small storage battery ana a lantern. con-
tatninG 2 sixteen candle insapdeseent bulb.
efficient than the ordinary freman's lantern.
BORSEWHIPPED HER F4THER-IN-LAV