Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-07

I Just a word 1T this time about the
FIRE alarm system in use may not be
amiss This system was installed IN
! 1851 and is the Gamewell system, "a
| boxes being in use at the present time.
| For the alarm q large whistle is used,
blown by compre ssed air, that is power
| tul enough to lie easily heard over the
| ity Three bells are also used, one on
| the Congre gational church, one on the
Atlantic hose house and one on Hose
| ) hose house. An ingenious electrical
| levice onerates the bells and whistle.
! \ steamer is owned by the city but at
| the present time it is of little use and
| the purchase of a second or third rate
steamer is recommended by the chief
engineer. The hose trucks are very
good. Hose wagon l carries 1900 feet OF
hose and four eXtingushers, together
with pipes, bars and axes. The total
| weight of the outfit is 1890 pounds.
Hose wagon carries 1900 feet Of hose.
two chemicals and the big deluge set.
| The deluge set is an arrangement
Whereby three streams Of water can be
| cOnverged into one by means of Il
Siamese joint or connection. The hook
and ladder truck carries, besides the
| ladders for roof and wall, axes and a
| cellar pipe that enables the fireman to
| enter Il cellar and play u stream ri
water on any fire that may be present.
All the. wagons are equipped with Ian
| terms, which are lighted as soon as it
COMMENCES to get dark in the afIer
noon and are kept lighted all night.
Firen 4 have found by experience that
1t is very necessary to have lanterns at
a fire. tut the greatest trouble has been
| to get lanterns that would not go cut
from fast driving, or by wind or smoke.
Smoke that is not very dense viii eX-
tirguish the light in all ordinary Ian
tern, but those that are placed on most
Of the fire wagons are specially made
for this purpose and will not go out In a
lplace that IS safe. FOR man.
| There are a goodly number of hydrants
scattered all over the city, among them
one at the wharf that has an available
jpressure Of 40 pounds. The hydra mt
service is practically relied on TO e..tin-
guish or hold in subsection fires that the
chemicals cannot control.
The manifest interest that the horses
land the dogs-display in a fire is some
/ thing of wonder to most people. Let
the fire alarm sound and the horses are
tlIc q-l NINe itdOS " 50 ~ eiO i'' q
as fast as their legs can carry them. AS
has oeen stated, their stalls are fastened
| with doors operated by electric locks
Now some of the most intelligent OF tho
| horses learned that a quick kick would
orcn the stall door, releasing them SO
that they could roam about the place at
will Thus il became necessary TO devise
4 way to .lsfcat this scheme and the re-
| suit was that an extra lock had TO be
installed on 4 different plan. When the
ttlrrhone rings in the stable the horses
eve tic phone with interest TO find If 1t
| is going tn he :; run. If ii is still alarm
the fireman answering the phone presses
n button by the side OF the inStruln ent
and tho horses make Il rush for their
places beneath the hanging, harness. Tho
| horses Of Hose faSe been harleSsed in
| II seconds from. the tin,c Of the first
| blast ready 10 start. h'it the average
| tire is from L. TO Is seconds. BY the
! tirne that the number Of the box shows
up on the indicator tho team is usually
| ready to start for the scene of the con-
! Migration.
| Some interest may BE- displayed in re-
| gard 10 historical facts about the ancient
way of fighting fire in augusta 1t Is a
| matter of note that the neWspapers of
the early DAYS printed very little abour
fires. 50 this source is not prolific for Sc
| curing records. However it is known
that in the year 1890 the first fire COM