Firemen and Their Exploits. F. M. Holmes

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       F. M. Holmes

      Firemen and Their Exploits

      With some account of the rise and development of fire-brigades, of various appliances for saving life at fires and extinguishing the flames

      Published by Good Press, 2021

       [email protected]

      EAN 4064066125455

Table of Contents

       PREFACE.

       CHAPTER I. THE HORSED FIRE-ESCAPE APPEARS. AN EXCITING SCENE.

       CHAPTER II. THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY. HERO'S "SIPHON." HOW THE ANCIENTS STROVE TO EXTINGUISH FIRES.

       CHAPTER III. IN MEDIÆVAL DAYS. AN EPOCH-MAKING FIRE.

       CHAPTER IV. THE PEARL-BUTTON MAKER'S CONTRIVANCE. THE MODERN FIRE-ENGINE.

       CHAPTER V. EXTINGUISHMENT BY COMPANY. THE BEGINNINGS OF FIRE INSURANCE.

       CHAPTER VI. THE STORY OF JAMES BRAIDWOOD.

       CHAPTER VII. THE THAMES ON FIRE. THE DEATH OF BRAIDWOOD.

       CHAPTER VIII. A PERILOUS SITUATION. CAPTAIN SHAW. IMPROVEMENTS OF THE METROPOLITAN BOARD AND OF THE LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL.

       CHAPTER IX. A VISIT TO HEADQUARTERS.

       CHAPTER X. HOW RECRUITS ARE TRAINED.

       CHAPTER XI. SOME STORIES OF THE BRIGADE.

       CHAPTER XII. FIRE-ESCAPES AND FIRE-FLOATS.

       CHAPTER XIII. CHEMICAL FIRE-ENGINES. FIRE-PROOFING, OR MUSLIN THAT WILL NOT FLAME.

       CHAPTER XIV. THE WORK OF THE LONDON SALVAGE CORPS. THE GREAT CRIPPLEGATE FIRE.

       CHAPTER XV. ACROSS THE WATER.

PREFACE.

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      The present volume, though complete in itself, forms one of a series seeking to describe in a popular and non-technical manner the Triumphs of Engineers. The same style has, therefore, been followed which was adopted in the preceding volumes. The profession of Engineering has exercised great influence on the work of Fire Extinguishment, as on some other things; and the subject is, therefore, not inappropriate to the series of books of which the volume forms part.

      The story of the Fire-Engine begins in Egypt about a hundred and fifty years before Christ. Hero of Alexandria describes a contrivance called the "siphon used in conflagrations," and some persons are of opinion that he was not unacquainted with the use of the air-chest. But it was not until nearly two thousand years later—that is, about the close of the seventeenth century—that the air-chamber and the hose seem to have been brought into anything like general use,—if, indeed, the use can be called general even then.

      Much of the story is involved in obscurity, or it may be there was little story to tell; but by the year 1726, Newsham had constructed satisfactory fire-engines in London; and Braithwaite the engineer—who with Ericsson constructed the "Novelty" to compete with Stephenson's "Rocket" at the locomotive contest at Rainhill in 1829—built a steam fire-engine about 1830, though it was not until thirty years, or more, later that the use of the machine became general.

      As to Fire-Brigades, the Insurance Companies, which began to appear after the Great Fire of 1666, were wont to employ separate staffs of men to extinguish fires; but by the year 1833, the more important had united, and the London Fire-Brigade had been formed under the control of Mr. James Braidwood. Many provincial towns followed the metropolitan model in forming their brigades.

      Together with the development of the Fire-Engine and of efficient brigades has been the introduction of various other appliances, such as Fire-Escapes, Chemical Extinctors, Water-Towers, and the great improvement in the water supply. Nothing is more striking in the history of conflagrations than the comparison between the dry state of the New River pipes at the Great Fire of 1666 and the copious flood of five million gallons poured into the city in a few hours by the same company to quench the great Cripplegate fire of November, 1897.

      But, indeed, the whole realm of Fire Extinguishment is a world of constant improvement and strain after perfection. To describe something of these efforts, and trace out the main features of their story, is the object of the present volume.

CHAPTER I. THE HORSED FIRE-ESCAPE APPEARS. AN EXCITING SCENE.

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      "Shall we have a quiet night, Jack?"

      "Can't say," replied Jack philosophically; "I take it as it comes."

      Clang!

      Even as he spoke, the electric fire-alarm rang through the silent station. The men sprang toward the stables, glancing at the bell-tablet as they ran.

      The tablet revealed the name of the street whence the alarm had been sounded; and at the clang the horses tossed their heads and pawed the ground, mad to be off. They knew the sound of the alarm as well as the men themselves.

      "Will it be a life-saving job, d'ye think, mate?"

      "May be," was Jack's sententious reply; "you never know."

      The horses were standing ready harnessed, and were unloosed at once. They were led to the engine, the traces hooked on, the crew, as the staff of firemen is called, took their places, and the doors in front of them were opened smartly by rope and pulley.

      "Ready?"

      "Aye, aye, sir!"

      "Right away!"

      In less than two minutes from the ringing of the alarm, the engine was rushing out of the station, and tearing along London streets with exciting clatter, the firemen shouting their warning cry, and sparks flying from the funnel. Soon the engine fire was roaring below, and