The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-02-23
New Chemical Engine.

yesterday was Dlg udy dmonS AounU
Holly firemen. A new chemical engine
to be placed in charge of Union Fire Com
panY, was given a public test, and
was housed In the afternoon after
a parade by the four companies and two
bands. The exercises were in charge of
Relief Fire Company No. 1.
The demonstration of the chemical
engines ability to cope with fire was
made at the old carpet mill property on
Washington street shortly after eleven
o'clock. A large pile of store boxes, bar
rels, excelsior, etc., soaked with kerosene
and crude oil, was lighted, and very
active young man began prancing around
the fire with hose attached to the engine.
The chemically prepared water coming
from the nozzle made some impress
sion on the fire, but the flames were
still quite active when both tanks on the
engine had been emptied. Then there
was quite delay until water was obtain
ed and one of the tanks again filled and
charged. The young man with the noz-
we'll spent. was finally extinguished.
The test was in charge of two represen-
tatives of the builders of the chemical
engine, the Tea Tray Company, of New
ark. The test was not bowling success.
The makers furnished the following des-
cription of the engine:
1--WE consider this chemical engine is in
every way up-to-date. 1t has two 49,
gallon copper tanks fitted with the latest
patented acid bottle dumping device;
carries two 3gallon fire department extin-
guishers; one "a foot rapid hoist extension
latter; lanterns, axes, crowbar and patent
ed door opener. making complete fire
fighting apparatus. The engine is fitted
with pole and hitch for two horses, or it
may be drawn by hand, as rope, reel and
hand pole are provided"
After the test of the engine it was clean
ed and taken to the house of Relief Engine
company on Pine street. At two o'clock
the fire engine companies of the town
formed in front of the Relief house and
acted as chief marshal. First in the line
was the police force, then the chief mar
shall, and the chief engineer and his assist
ants. The companies marched in the
following order: Perseverance band,
Union hose company, hose carriage and
members in uniform; Good Intent mem.
bers, hose carriage and engine; America
members, hose carriage and hook and lad
der; Third regiment band, Relief mem
bers, the new chemical engine, Relief hose
carriage and steamer.
The route of parade was changed from
that first published owing to the fear that
it would not be possible to draw the heavy
apparatus through the streets not paved.
After the parade was concluded the
firemen assembled at Union hose house
and j. G. Kingdom, In few remarks,
turned the new acquisition to the fire
department to the company that Is
to have charge of it. The speech
of acceptance was made by Joshua
Matlack, Esq. He related the need
for chemical engine and the advan-
tages that such machine possesses. He
gave history of the efforts of the COM
pany to get the engine and the generous
response of the citizens in voting the
money necessary for its purchase. He
also gave short account of the mechan-
ism of the engine, its working and other
interesting details and closed with a
glowing eulogY to the efficiency of the fire
department of Mount Holly.
The band played 1.-The Star Spangled
Banner" and the new apparatus was run
into the house by the following members
of Relief company: Charles H. Estiil,
Whitall Monroe, William Reeves, Richard
Brown, Bart Shinn, Wilson Matlack. As
the machine entered the door Charles II.
Estill, president of Relief, christened, it by
breaking bottle Of champagne on the
tongue of the carriage. On the drivers
seat was little boy who was introduced
to the people assembled as ''the youngest
fireman in Mount Holly, an honorary
member of Union company, Harold l.
Russell" The boy is three years and
eight months old and was attired in the
uniform of fireman. When he was in
troduced by Mr. Matlack, the latter pinned
on the little fellows coat beautiful
badge prepared expressly for the occasion.
The firemen were then taken to the
Relief house where lunch had been pre-
pared.
After the parade the Third regiment
band, which escorted Relief Fire Company
in the parade, went to the Herald office
and serenaded William B. Wills, president
of the Union company.