Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-13
TEST OF FIREFIGHTER
PUMPS WATER FOR HOURS TO
PROVE EFFICIENCY.

An exhaustive test of the big fire pumps
of the new District hreboat Firefghter was
made yesterday while the tug was lying at
her dock adjoining the har6or o:Ece wharf
These pumps, 1t Is stated have been pu:
In the condition required by the contract
and yesterdays tests were for the purpose
OF seeing If they measured mp 10 the stand
ard required by TIE District fire department
cfhcials- Upon them depend whether the
pumps will be accepted or whether further
york will have to be done on them.
For three or four hours yesterday after
noon they were kept at work al full powcr
drawing in water from the river and dis
charging it again through the big water
gun on the bow of the tug. Chief Machinist
Robinson of the local FIRE department; Mr.
Shaw, representing the Harlan Il Holdings
worth Company. builders and contractors
for the boat and Mr.. Sheridan, for the
! Blake Manufacturing Company the build
ers of the pumps, were aboard the boat. and
conducted the tests. Capt. Brown. the fire
department officer in charge of the Fire
hghter. looked after the big water gun
while the tons of water were being shot
from lis capaCious mouth out into the river
The stream was steady one and az it
shot out from the nozzel of one gun ii
looked as big around as Il water bucket
and powerful enough to knock down
brick wall The power behind the big
stream of water sent II a couple of hundred
feet out into the river where il broke into
spray and covered a big area, so that had
II been playing on any ordinary fire the
names would soon have been drowned out
The F1rehghter. 1t Is stated, can throw
at one time from the nineteen opening she
has as much water as fourteen ordinary
fire engines, and 1t is so equipped that
should the water In the city mains give
out in big fire anywhere in the southern
section of the city lines of hose can be
hoy 70 hA
be pumped water enough into the mains to
keep the engines a work
The necessity for change In the style
OF monitor pipes, water guns. aboard the
firehghter was plainly shown yesterday
evening. When the pumps were working
with heavy pressure the men had to prop
up the big nozzel with heavy plank in
der to hold 1t In position. Several times
during the tests the prop fell, the gun
changed position and those standing about
receiving ducking.
Machinist Robinson looked like he had
been overheard by the time the water was
shut off for the last time.
Pumps to Be Inspected.
Mr. Robinson stated to The Star reporter
yesterday evening that he could not say
how successful the tests had been until the
pumps were taken apart and the valves
and other interior work examined. This
will not be done until tomorrow. AS far as
the throwing power of the pumps was con-
cerned they appeared to work all right.
Mr. Sheridan of the Blake Company was
pleased with the tests, saying there was no
freboat in the country equipped with bet
te- or finer working pumps. 1t is under
stood that the report made by Mr.. Robin
son to the local authorities now depends
upor the examination of the interior of the
pumps, and if they found to be in good
order. as they should be, they will be
ceDted
The big monitor nozzIes in the bow and
stern and on the top of the eng ne room of
the boat remain TO be changed to those re-
CURED by the local fire officials before the
boat is finally accepted by the District