The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-02-24
OF INTEREST TO FIREMEN.

Hartfords big propeller Jumbo was
NEARLY knocked out Tuesday, and when
on exhibition, too, before fire officials
from Worcester, Mass. The Hartford
Courant says of the affair: "The acct
ldent was an unfortunate one, as 1t was
out to give an exhibition for the benefit
Iof city officials of Worcester, and the
propeller was supposed to be on Its best
behavior. The Worcester officials were
here to see the fire apparatus and the
new engine houses, and after visit to
No. rs house, where they were taken by
the fire commissioners of this CITY, ar
engagements were made for an exhibit
ton by the big propeller, as the chief of
the Worcester department was the only
one in the party that had seen Jumbo.
About four O'clock in the afternoon
the Worcester visitors, the Hartford
commissioners and other city officials
gathered In front of the City Hall. The
propeller came up State street and
turned into Main street at good speed.
A quick turn was made, probably to
show how easily the machine could be
controlled. The engine went down Main
street like an iceboat with her mainsail
up and the visitors marveled at the ex-
| hibition Several hack lengths from
Central Row John r. Davis, the engi-
neer, shut off the power, but the turn
was made at a very fast clip. The for
ward wheels slowed on the ice and the
propeller crashed into the large chestnut
pole on the corner.
The force of the collision was so great
that the pole was splintered near the
ground and some pieces four inches in
diameter We're sent flying. The part Of
the pole where the engine struck looked
as If it had been hacked with an axe for
half hour. James Magonigal, the til
lerman, kept his seat. The pole was
shaken and the drum at the top used for
hoisting the lamp came down and dam
gled In the air. When the drum became
unfastened the lamp came down and
swung in circle in close proximity to
the tillerman's head. He was warned
to look out, as there was some danger Of
the wire breaking.
The propeller was stuck and when the
power was turned on it did not bulge.
pole was put on and the engine was
drawn away by horses. The worm in
the steering gear was damaged and sew
eral teeth In the gear were knocked out
1t was said that the worm became dis
lodged before the crash and the propel-
Ter could not be steered. A machinist
who saw the accident said that the
crash was what caused the steering
gear to gel out of order and it would re-
quire one hundred and fifty dollars to
make the repairs. Chief Eaton was the
first one to reach the propeller after the
accident. He was able to control his
feelings.
The Worcester officials, accompanied
by the Hartford commissioners, went to
No. SIS house after the accident. At the
engine house the horses We're given a
quick hitch and the visitors were shown
over the premises. They said they were
much pleased with the two new engine
houses, and that they surpassed any
they had ever seen Worcester has re-
Gently built fire headquarters at an ex-
pense of two hundred thousand dollars.
1T has sixteen fire-houses now and 1t in
tends to put up three more in the resi-
Dental section. Ihe worcester mem
spent the morning in looking over the
engine houses at Springfield and arrived
here on the noon train. They left at $3.50
last night.
In the party were Alderman Sanford |
c. Kendall and Councilmen Fred D. |
Johnson and John E. Lancaster, the fire |
committee of the city council. This |
committee does the work of the fire
commissioners here. The others In the !
party We're Chief Edwin l.. Vaughn, |
Stephen E. Earle and L. w. Fisher, |
arshtects and W. Henry Towne, the as
sistant city clerk"
Boston Firemen's Salaries.
The Boston Herald says: 1--WE are
glad to see that the salaries of the fire.
men are not to suffer the seven and one
half per cent. cut that has been recon-
mended for other employees Of the city.
Mayor Quincy has recognized that the
plan would be very unpopular, not only
with the members of the department
but with the citizens at large. Our fire.