Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-06-04

4
~ which run run tR ough territory
x y infested by trs'n robbers have
adopted a new and effective
method of fighting these desperadoes.
But it is new only in its application.
There is more than suspicion that
Mrs. Socrates not only knew of this
method, but successfully used it in
her enoeavors to give her philosophic
spouse a reputation for all times as
the pioneer of henpecked husbands.
For the scheme is nothing more nor
less than a judicious distribution of
hot water where it will do the most
good.
The idea as applied to locomotives
is to so arrange series of perforated
pipes that the entire engine and ten
der may be instantly surrounded by a
wall of superheated steam and water
thrown out with such force that
nothing human could stand before it
or live in it for a second. When the
rabbers invite the engineer and fire.
man to hold up their hands they will
promptly comply, but the foot of the
engineer will touch valve and every
thing living within q radius of fifty
feet will be done to turn, scalded to
death, quicker than one might make
the historic remark "Jack Robinson.
Water-either hot or cold-as a
weapon is no new thing, but the won
der is that it has not been more gen.
orally employed. Seldom have men,
no matter what their temper or num-
bers, been able to withstand stream
OF water thrown with vigor from the
nozzle of hose. When the firemen
at fire wish to drive the spectators
back from point OF danger, or to Sc
cure more working room, they turn
the hose on them and there is panic
created in their effort to get out of the
range of that powerful, dispiriting,
soaking stream. Let hose burst, no
matter if one of the most thrilling of
rescues is absorbing the attention of
thousands, and everything else is for
gotten save the fact that deluge
must be escaped.
Recently this matter was under dis
cussion in desslltory way at Police
Headquarters. The question was
asked whether the Chicago police had
ever made specific use of the hose in
combating a mob or quelling riot.
Sergeant De Long was referred to as
being more saturated with statistics
of the department than any other man
present, and after wrinkling his brow
few minutes he said:
II can't recall any instance where
we have tried the effect of water on a
rebellious or bad-tempered crowd. but
I have no doubt it would prove a most
effective weapon, and besides it would
be in no sense cruel. do not believe
any mob could stand long before we'll
directed streams from a powerful fire
engine. l have noticed the effect of
water on the crowds which attend fires.
A falling wall will not make them
break for cover quicker than a dose Of
water from one of the lines of hose. I
have never given the matter thought
before, but now that you mention it
believe it would be a good thing to
have a fire engine with o. trained crew
as part of the police equipment of the
CITY,"
MOB EASILY DISPERSED.
Then some one mentioned q case in
point. "Some years ago." said he,
"I was in Montreal. There had been
considerable trouble with the dock Ia
borers, and it was suspected that the
wharf rats, men of the very lowest
character, were at the bottom of it.
One day mob of about 1000 of these
turbulent fellows took possession of
one of the large docks and prepared to
Withstand a siege. The police could
not or would not di&lodge them, work
was at standstill, and ships waiting
to unload were losing valuable time
$50 the captain of big ocean
freighter took the matter into his own
hands. He ordered the powerful fire
pumps of the vessel to be put in readi-
ness, aud then attached to them all
the available hose on the boat. At the
word of command three streams of
water, each au inch and quarter in
size, struck the gang of riotous men
snd the trick was done. In less time
than it takes 10 tell 1t there was not q
Tdb Or rlcleF Oh luuU COCK. OOme OF
them had jumped into the river to es-
| cape such an unusual weapon. There
after until the troubles were over
every vessel kept nozzles trained on
the docks ready for an emergency, and
the work of unloading went on with
out interruption.
''They did the same thing out in
Denver few years ago" said news
paper man. "a number of Chinese
had gone on the warpath and were Civ
ing the police no end of trouble.
Clubs seemed to have little effect, and
the police We're loath to resort to more
deadly weapons. Then some one
thought of the fire department. En-
gines were called out, nozzlcs were
pointed at the Celestials, but they
laughed them to scorn. Then the
water was turned on and the laughter
ceased. In five minutes there was no
sign OF mob, and after that the bare
sight of fire hose was enough to put
a Chinaman all a-tremble. I also re-