The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-17
new PLAN TO FIGHT FIRE
RAPID FIRE GUNs MAY TAKE THE
LAC OF e ENGINES.
An Inventor who Proposes Shooting
Rolls of Chemicals into Burn
ing Buildings.

NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 16.-Chief O'Con-
nor has become greatly interested in a re-
cent invention by which it is proposed to
extinguish fires by rapid firing machine
guns, instead of by steam fire engines, as
is the present vogue.
Although l have not heard this matter
discussed at any Of our fire conventions
remarked Chief O'Connor, referring to the
new invention. Il would not be surprised
If the scheme proved a success. With wire
less biography. submarine vessels and the
marvellous accomplishments Of the United
States in all branches of mechanical sci
ence in the past few years. I am fully pre-
pared to expect anything in the direction of
labor-saving and marvelously efficient de-
vices in any line of human thought or en-
deavor. / am giving considerable atten-
ton to the new invention, and. as | have
stated, would not be at all surprised if
before the century is much older artillery
had begun to supersede the steam fire en-
CINE in its appurtenances In all the larger
cities of the country. At any rate experts
declare that this new problem Of converting
the engines of warfare to this novel and
more peaceful function of battling with
flames is feasible and practical and that it's
realization is almost at hand"
More than half the problem, it is said.
has already been worked out by a New
York m who is now manufacturing. UNI
der government patent, a chemical extin-
gushing powder by a secret formula. The
principle CT molding the powder he claims
TO have already worked out. The powder
is nodded into balls of any size, and these
balls are being constructed in a way that
will cause them to explode when shot into
contact with a burning building. The rap
id-firing machine guns viii be propelled
and operated by electricity. Upon explo-
sion the balls m over the blaze
zone. dropping like a sheet over the flames
and snuffing them out like a breath di-
rected against O candle light. The powder
which is now being used in a small meas
ure for the same purpose as ii is proposed
to use ii on a greater scale is made of
chemicals with a charcoal basis. The char
coal, as ii is proposed 10 use IL, is for less
harmful TO breathe than the impurities that
now pervade the atmosphere. in fact. il
is mentioned that il has the same effect
upon the air that charcoal does when wa
ter is drained through it.
Should the result Of Chief O'Connor's in
v~estigauons be favorable TO the new
scheme he will give the benefit of such in
formation as he has. been able TO obtain
upon the subject to the Fire Board, which
will make such use of il as il thinks prom
err. Quoting from one OF the statements
made regarding the success Of the new fire
fighting element. the chief said:
Instead OF the roaring and spluttering
fire engines stationed about a big Are.
throwing thousands of gallons of water a
minute In many streams; instead OF the
tangled along the streets like huge snakes.
blocking traffic OF all kinds and longest
ing the th~oroughfares for squares: instead
of a hundred and one familiar scenes Incl
dent 10 the burning of a large building In
a big city. there Is promised with the new
methods scenes much more novel and in
teresting. And who can say that the new
method may not only be made more eff
hcient. but less expensive to the city than
the one now In operation