The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1913-10-07
new FIRE AUTOS
ARE IN SERVICE
Cars for WashingtOns and First
Wards are Accepted.

The automobile hose wagons for
The Washington Engine company and
the First Ward Hose company have
arrived in town, been passed upon
favorably by the fire department Of
flclals and have been placed in SER
vice. The Washington's car is not
only a hose wagon but is also de-
signed to draw the company's big
third class steam fire engine. doing
away with horses for traction pur-
poses.
The new apparatus ACCOMPLISHED
The drawing of the steamer. At
test the auto drew the engine along
On the level at a rate of twenty
seven miles per hour. Corners were
turned without difficulty and the
great feat that many thought would
be necessary to get the apparatus
out of the house was ACCOMPLISHED
without the slightest difficulty. The
auto drew the heavy engine up
Water street hill at rate of sew
en- miles per hour, the auto carrying
1850 feet of hose and seven men also
being on the apparatus.
The First Wards car was also
company, jubilant at having at last
an automobile apparatus, flung two
big flags to the breeze Tuesday and
also had the fire house decorated
with flowers.
The apparatus for the washes
cost $4,000. 1t takes the place of
the old horse drawn hose wagon and
pulls the steamer that was formerly
drawn by horses, saving the town
the $50 per month paid out for horse
hire. The auto is equipped with a
coupling device permitting the quick
uncoupling of the fire engine. The
town furnished the steel body of the
hose wagon together with the loco
motive bell, the hose rollers, cage,
box, lantern brackets, nickel hand
rail.
The chassis is White. engine
cylinders Az by 5%, four cylinders;
Mea ignition system, de-mountable
rims, wheel base 1461a inches, tread,
56 inches; front tires, 36 by Az Mich
elm pneumatic; rear tires, SO by 3hs
Goodrich solid; gasoline tank, 1S gal
Ions; Rushmore search light. The
apparatus has guaranteed speed of
twenty miles per hour pulling engine
and carrying hose and two men, at
rate of five miles per hour on the
Water street hill
The First Ward car cost $2,655.
Apparatus is capable of carrying
eight men and 1000 feet of fire hose.
The usual equipment of lockers, bas-
kets, ETC., for the carrying of boots,
helmets and tools is provided This,
too, Is White car, with four-cylin-
der engine. Cylinders 81 by 51&ss
Mea ignition, wheel base, 142 inches:
tread, So inches; front tires, "a by
Az Fisk pneumatic; rear tires, "a by
Az Fisk pneumatic; de-mountable
] rims.
Both cars are finished in vermiI-
lion paint with gold lettering. On
each over the hose is slung can
vas cover upon which are carried
the firemen's rubber coats. Each
car is of the new style left hand
drive, center control and have. four
speeds forward and one reverse.
There promises to be a lively race
when the alarm rings for there are
several drivers for each car. The
designated drivers of the Washing
toms machine are former Assistant
Chief Patrick Geary and Thomas Nc
Dermott. There is also an arrange
ment with the Stevenson garage by
which at every alarm a chauffeur
Will be sent to the fire house from
the garage to drive the car If nee
essary. The first man to arrive will
take the car out. The Washingtons
VIII require also man on the steam
er seat to work the brakes. The
fire department officials plan to take
the Washington steamer out of SER
vice on the arrival of the automobile
pumping engine for Humane Engine
company and have the steamer equip
ped with rubber tires and "band''
brake, the Humane steamer being
used by the Washes in the in
| terim,
Harry Weir and Edward WhaIen
are designated as drivers of the First
Wards machine and there is also an
arrangement with the McGoldrick gar
age for chauffeur to respond to all
alarms so that there will surely be
someone on hand to take out the ma
chine.
No arrangements have yet been
made by the fire committee for alter
ations of the doorway of Humane En-
gine company's fire house. The new
pumping engine, which the latest ad-
vices have it will be shipped from st.
Louis on October 18th, will be too
large to handle with safety through
the present doorway. But a misun-
derstanding has arisen over the ac-
tual dimensions, DR.. r. Ralston Reed,
of the fire committee, having re-
ceiyed several different dimensions,
each alleged to be the proper set
and he has decided to defer the al
terations until the apparatus is de-
livered.
Chief Day has set Tuesday, October
2Sth, as the date for the firemen's
parade and inspection and will hold
meeting of the company foremen
early next week to settle the de-
tails.
MIR. Bliss New Horse.
Walter P. Bliss, of Bernardsville,
is tuning up a four-year-old hackney
harness mare of his own breeding to
compete for the Waldorf-Astoria cup
at the November horse show in Madi-
son Square Garden. She is by Flor
ham Sensation, son of Acrobat v.
and Pepita, by Cadet, and her dam
was by w. D. Sloane's imported stall
ion Berseker.
Mixed Foursome at Golf.
There will be a mixed foursome,
eighteen-hole handicap, medal play,
at the Morris County Golf club on