New-York tribune., 1904-10-16
A Novel
f Fire9Ex&imgWisher
By ii. E. Stockbridee

ago 10 nave CndTSc OF Il DIVISION OF IJS
development work was provided with a
residence erected for his special accom-
mediation The house, though supposed
To be built after foreign plans. was con
struCted by native wOrkmen after Tapa-
resc ideas as to what was essential to the
comfort of foreign family, and from
Japanese materials
On taking possession, therefore, the
American found that though there was
provision for the usual large household
of servants. deemed essential to the dig
nifty of government officials. there was no
way for summoning them from their
quarters. IN a separate wing, except by
the common Japanese method of clapping
the hands Though this is entirely
sufficient in houses the interior partitions,
which are mostly composed of sliding
paper screens, it furnished a most uncer-
tain means OF communication in a house
with plastcrcd walls The occupant
therefore. soon attempted 10 establish
more trustworthy connection bv means
Of call bells
It was found that electric bells could
bc obtained only from Yokohama. re
quiring considerable delay system OF
lclI-cords and spring bells which could be
made on the spot was decided upon
therefore Workmen were Immediately
put To work 10 install the Improvement
under the personal supervision OF the
american himself
1t was soon found that native workmer
e.. Il tools had never before been obliged
fo perform such a task and were equally
1 r., .I
Guilty Law in the fact that no native augers
or gimlets were long enough 10 pene-
tratc the double walls TO make the
holes necessary for the passage OF the
wires
Surprising that the plaster covered the
laths. the American hit on the expedient
OF heating a sharpened iron rod OF sufti-
cient length. and burning the holes
through the partitions The first hole was
a success but 1t demonstrated the fact
that the walls were not constructed OF
lath. but OF reeds nailed close together
and plastcred over.
The second hole proved the dangerous
character of this construction When the
hot iron was withdrawn from the hole It
was followed by a stream OF smoke In
stead Of diminishing, the volume OF
smoke Increased Closing the hole only
temporarily prevented exit into the room.
In a few moments the smoke began TO
exude from the cracks around the doors
and windows The interior reed wall was
certainly on fire, and needed only access
of air TO burst into flame.
The servants were summoned and or
dercd to bring water in every available
utcnsil The smoke increased and began
to fill the house The carpenter was then
ordered TO cut a hole with his broadaX
through the wall at the point where the
/ fire started. for the delugc OF water
which must be thrown into the space
between the walls At this juncturc the
cook appeared on the scene, and was told
the facts bv the other servants.
Before the carpenter could take
stroke, the cook seized large dipper of
water, leaped upon the ladder next the
wall. filed his mouth, pressed his lips to
the hole. from which a solid jet of smoke
poured, and spurted the water into the
1 burning interior Squirt after squirt of
water was thus quickly injected into the
seat of fire
! tba-a was a T1OtiCpa blt