The suburban citizen., 1900-05-12
HOT WATER ASAWEAPON
INSTANCES WHERE HOSE HAD MORE
EFFECT THAN CLUBS.

~ which run through territory
y infested by train robbers have
- adoptod q 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 en6eavors to give her philosophic
spouse q reputation for all times as
the pioneer Of henpeeked husbands
! For the scheme is nothing more nor
less thsu a iudicious 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 supeFheated steam and water
thrown out with such a force that
nothing human could stand before it
or live in it fol second. When the
robbers invite the engineer and fire
man to hold up their hands they will
promptly comply, but the foot of the
engineer will touch a valve and every
thing living within radius OF fifty
feet will be done TO a turn, scalded to
death, quicker than one might m AXE
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 gem
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 q hose. When the 1iremen
at fire wish to drive the spectators
back from u 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 q 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 deuge
must be escaped.
Recently this matter was under dis
cussion in a desultory way at Police
Headquarters. The question was
asked whether the Chicago police had
ever made specific use of the hose in
combating mob or quelling a riot.
Sergeant De Long was referred to as
being more saturated with statistics
of the department than any other man
present, aud 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 OF 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
auy mob could stand long before we'll
directed streams from a powerful fire
engine. 1 have noticed the effect Of
water on the crowds which attend fires.
A falling wall will not make them
break for cover quicker than dose OF
water from one ofithe lines OF hose. j
have never given the matter thought
before, bat now that you mention it
believe it would be a good thing to
have fire engine with trained crew
as part OF the police equipment OF the
city"
MOB EASILY DISPERSED.
Then some one mentioned case in
point. "Some years ago" said he,
''L was in Montreal. There had been
considerable trouble with the dock la
borers, aud 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 diLlodge them, work
was at standstill, and ships waiting
ao 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, and then attached TO them all
the available hose on the boat. At the
word of command three streams of
water, each an inch aud quarter in
size, struck the gang of riotous men
and the trick was done. In less time
than it takes to tell it there was not a
rat or rioter ON chat dock. Some 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 were loath to resortto more
deadly weapons. Then some one
thought of the fire department. En-
gines were called out, nozzles were
pointed at the Celestiols. but they
laughed them to scorn. Then the
water was turned on aud the laughter
ceased. In five minutes there was no
sign of a mob, and after that the bare
sight of fire hose was enough to put
~. III