The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-10

The new fire engine purchased by the
city from the American Fire Engine
company OF Seneca Falls, y. Y, was
tested yesterday, and judging by the
height and length of the streams
thrown. and the very apparent satis-
faction Of Director of Public Safety T..
l.. Worrnser and superintendent of the
Bureau of Fires II. T.. Ferbcr. the new
piece of apparatus will decidedly do.
1t WILL however. he given another
and final test this afternoon at 3 O'Clock
on Wyoming avenue, between Null
berry and Vine streets. Several tests
were made yesterday afternoon and in
the concluding one two streams were
thrown over the Mears building, clear
ing the big structure by generous
margin.
The engine was stationed at the
hydrant, at Spruce street and Wash
inCton avenue, aud was In charge of
g. y. VESSEL, the engineer of the
American Fire Engine company. ID. j.
Slowc assisted him during the tests.
superintendent Ferber intends attach
ing the engine to Engine company No.
l. formerly known as the Nay Augs,
which will also retain their present en-
ginc. as n reserve. The supcrintend-
ont yesterday appointed Slowe as per-
manont engineer of the new machine,
and John Kelly, another Nay Aug man,
as stOkcr.
THE FIRST TEST.
Six hundred feet of hose were used
during tho afternoon. The first test
consisted of ascertaining the time it
L..
Forty pounds Of steam was raised in
six minutes and a half. and then came
the second of the list of trials ar
ranged This consisted of throwing a
stream from a one and ore-fourth inch
nozzle, horizontally and perpeudiCu-
larly. The length of this stream was
not measured, nor was it in any in-
stance. but today a careful measure
ment will take place.
Two streams We're then thrown from
one and onc-eighth inch nozzies
through $50 feet of hose, and rough
estimates made placed the length of
the stream at about $50 feet. Two per-
pcndiCular streams were then thrown,
and as the powerful jets of water shot
high into the air. they looked like a
pair of Geysers working overtime.
The sudden vancouver in changing
the direction of the hose was uneX-
pcCted by the crowd, and more than
one person was drenched by the flying
spray. A very pretty sight came next,
when four streams were directed up
Spruce street, from one-inCh nozzles,
through $50 feet of hose. The streams
were long, powerful ones, and consti-
tuted very formidable water battery
to play on any connagration.
HAD TERRIFIC VELOCITY.
The stream through two lines of hose
| 100 feet in length We're Siamcsed into
| one stream through a three-inch hose
| one and thrcc-quarters inch nozzle
| being used, and a stream of terrific
| velocity and force resulted. The fna
tests had the Mears building for theil
objective point. Two streams from one
! and One-oighth inch noZzles were first
trained upon the tall building anC
then. as Superintendent Ferber gave
| the signal, there was a rush of water
| a stream burst forth from the nozzle
and rose high, high in the air, until i
| had cleared the structure and cleared
it by so many feet that spectators, one
and all. marveled. Architect Lacey
| who stood on the roof during the test
| declared that the stream was fun!
seventy-five feet higher than the build
ing, which would give it height o
considerably more than two hundred
| feet.
Following this test, two streams from
one and one-quarter inch nozzles wer
thrown over the building. During tn
| days tests, the pressure maintaine,
was from 220 to 300 pounds. A larg
crowd watched the trial of the engine
and included in it's number were man.
prominent fire-fighters of this city
among whom We're ex-Chiefs of III
Fire Department +. W. XiZelmann an,
y. j. Hickey, lsadore Goodman, ex
president Of the Nay AuGs, and Others