descend, or assistants may ascend with the greatest ease and rapidity. If apparatus for this purpose is not simple in its construction, and easily comprehended by the party in danger, as well as by those whom chance may bring to their assistance, it is very likely to increase the danger by increasing the confusion of ideas. The simplicity of this apparatus is its chief characteristic, and it has been pronounced by all who have used it, the best extant. As an external escape the same apparatus affixed to the portable laddertop, surpasses all other inventions in the several points which really constitute "an excellent fire-escape." As escapes of this description (by Merryweather) are rather numerous in Mr. Parry's neighbourhood, I hope the interest he feels in this subject will induce him to take an early opportunity of inspecting them, and then judge for himself between this, and any other inventions for the same excellent purpose.

The fishing-rod elevator, after being tried in 20 or 30 different ways, by as many would-be inventors, seems at length to be entirely abandoned, having given way to more effectual methods of communication not depending upon the efforts of the persons in jeopardy. Mr. Parry is very much out in his estimate of the weight of a rod or pole capable of bearing a person descending; there are two or three of Ford's spar-fire-escapes in the south-western district of St. Pancras, capable of reaching from 30 to 34 feet high, an inspection of which would enlighten Mr. Parry considerably on this branch of the subject.

It is a very frequent, though a very absurd practice, to attempt a sort of comparison between deaths by burning and those by drowning; the fact is, the two cases present no parallel, and do not admit of comparison. Man can, if he pleases, become familiar with water, he may by practice attain the art of floating, swimming, diving, and also habituate himself to remain for a considerable period of time submerged beneath the surface. Again, should animation be suspended by accidental immerson, there is every chance, within certain limits, by prop r treatment, of restoring the vital action. But with the other element, fire, it is impossible to be on similar terms; it is not possible to become familarized to the effects of fire-nor can the suffocat

3

ing influence of its pernicious attendant, smoke, be supported many minutes. The contact of the dreadful element itself rapidly destroys the organization of the human frame, and this effect carried but to a comparatively short extent, death is perhaps lingering, but inevitable, and the torture excessive. No course of treatment, however skilful or judicious, can subsequently restore the vital spark.

A writer in the Morning Herald a few months since, describing the last anniversary dinner of the Royal Humane Society, took occasion to observe that "so far as the preservation of that precious gift of the Creator, 'human life," can be rescued from destruction by water, we have made some progress; but, in the means of escaping from the opposite devouring element, fire, we seem not at all to keep pace with the advancement of the age in general knowledge. We have, it is true, many inachines called 'fire-escapes,' as we suppose par excellence, but we have no list of persons rescued by them to lay before our readers."

Now it happened, singularly enough, that on the very day Grandmamma put forth this cynical lament, a meeting was held at the Freemason's Hall, Great Queen street, Lincolns-inn-fields, Lord Tegnmouth in the chair, at which upwards of 20 medals were given to policemen, firemen and others, who in the most gallant manner, at great personal risk, had saved the lives of several persons during the present year. In several instances their preservation had been accomplished by means of the portable fire-ladders (including one whole family in Goodman's Fields, rescued by Loader of the fire-brigade), "the sway and spring of which,' Grandmamma, are so great, that there can be no safety for human beings attempting to escape by them"! As these proceedings, if reported, would have entirely confuted the old lady's logic of the preceding day, she took especial good care to burke the account of the meeting, so that she might continue to exclaim, we have no list of persons rescued to lay before our readers!"

66

says

The subject itself is fraught with diffi

*Loader received two medals at this meeting, for his successful and heroic conduct upon two occasions, in preserving lives from fire. This young man is a credit to his country, and one of the brightest ornaments in the intrepid corps to which he belongs-may he have many equals!

culties, and sufficiently discouraging without such pitiful taints as the foregoing, being periodically put forward by the public press. Do what you will, make fire-escapes the most perfect things in existence, be the police as numerous and as watchful as possible, still in spite of all provisions, loss of life by fire will occur. It will sometimes happen, as it has more than once of late, that life will be extinct before discovery of the fire is made, what ground is there for reproach in such cases,-what power but that of the Omnipotent could avert the calamity?

The Royal Humane Society have hitherto most pertinaciously resisted all applications for extending their efforts to counteract the baneful effects of fire, and from the numberless instances in which they must necessarily have failed, and thereby, to a certain extent, have incurred the odium of the ignorant, they have wisely, if not humanely, declined interfering.

Notwithstanding these disheartening circumstances no expedient should be left untried that seems likely to abridge the number of these tragedies; the attention of the ingenious should still be directed to improve the mechanism, and the best energies of the humane, to ensure the application of suitable escapes. It is gratifying to know that great improvements in these matters have, within the last few years, obtained throughout the metropolis; and we do not often now read such horrifying tales of assistance implored in vain, as the daily press of seven years since presented too often to our gaze. I remain, Sir, yours respectfully, London, Sept. 27, 1838.

WM. BADDELEY.

FIRE ENGINEERING-RESCUE SERVICE

Sir,-Your indefatigable and valuable correspondent, Mr. Baddeley, in his unceasing efforts to perfect a system for extinguishing fires, is evidently actuated by the ardent desire of conferring a benefit on the public; but however sincere and disinterested his views may be, and however extensive his experience and knowledge, he is not infallible; and, as at the present time several honorary firebrigades are either on the point of being formed, or but yet in their infancy, I take the liberty of soliciting the insertion of a few remarks on the rules laid

down by that gentleman in No. 786 of your Magazine.

The cause of the errors into which Mr. Baddeley has fallen, appears to be either his not knowing the regulations observed in properly organised corps, or the inaccuracy of the description given by Mr. Ober of the continental "bags." It is extremely easy for any one in the constant habit of addressing the public to lay down principles and rules, which may, to the generality of readers, appear extremely plausible, and " dictated by sound sense and past experience;" but those who have made fire engineering either their study or profession, are well aware that these theories do not at all times accord with practical exigencies. Before I make any direct observation on the contents of the letter in question, allow me to offer a short exposé of the principles which corps of this description on the Continent observe, as respects the rescue of persons and property from the flames.

1st. A number of posts are established in the town, according to its size and locality; besides which, small detachments are stationed at proper intervals and positions. The men on guard are always ready; regularly exercised and instructed; well officered, and in perfect discipline.

2nd. The first post, or detachment, that arrives at a fire (which arrival ought to take place in five minutes at farthest after the alarm) will reconnoitre the position of the fire, and ascertain the contents and principal localities of the building. The next step must entirely depend on the circumstances of the case; if there be any life in danger, the rescue of the inmates should supersede every pecuniary consideration; if not, the air should be excluded as much as possible by shutting the doors, windows, &c. if possible, and water directed so as to preserve the partitions and other communications. Upon the arrival of other detachments or posts, the service is divided into three divisions, each under the superintendence of an experienced officer. 1st division, rescue of property, &c.; 2nd division, attack of the fire; 3rd division, supply of water and other necessaries,-the whole under the command of a superior officer.

3rd. The rescue division observes the following orders (varying them according to circumstances as ordered by the

Figs. 1 and 2 represent a ladder, the upper extremities of which are curved and strengthened by iron straps a a, terminating in solid iron points; in the middle of the ladder are joints b, which enable it to be folded up for convenience of transport (when opened two bolts retain it in its proper position). length of the ladder when open is about 8 feet; it is light and portable, and costs in Paris about forty francs, (17.12s). The manner of its application is as follows: One man places his back against the wall of the house under the window of the

The

first floor, and taking the ladder by the lower extremity hooks it on to the sill of the said window, another man ascends and enters into the room, the other follows him and stands on the sill of the window (being held by the belt by the man inside), he then lifts the ladder and hooks it on the sill of the next upper window; this is repeated until the required story is attained; they then throw down the end of a small line to which the persons below fasten the end of the sac de sauvetage, or "bag." Fig. 3 represents this latter apparatus, which con

up and opened inside the window, the cross bars A B and CD, prevent it from falling out, and the upright ones E F and GH, rest on the floor and keep it in a proper position; small bars or bolts a a, retain it square. When thus fixed, the lower end of the long "bag" is held out so as to produce a proper angle of declivity, and any person or thing placed in the mouth proceeds at an easy rate to the bottom, without the least danger or inconvenience. It may also be proper to remark, that the usual length of these sacs de sauvetage is, in Paris, about 50 feet; and that when it is necessary to increase the angle of declivity beyond the limits of the length, a cord is attached to the end, by which it may held out in the proper position. The price of this fire-escape, which, perhaps, has been the means of saving more lives than any other extant, is not five pounds.

Mr. Baddeley, in adverting to the course pursued on the continent, is entirely in error, when he says (in speaking of the rescue of property) that "the consequences of this mode of proceeding have proved most disastrous," and that

many thousand pounds worth of property have been consumed that would most assuredly have been preserved had all the assistance present been concentrated upon extinguishing the flames." I beg to refer him to the fires of the Theatre Italia; to that of the Palace of the Emperor of Russia, and to the one of the Royal Exchange; these are but a few of the many that might be instanced to prove his assertion unfounded.

Mr. Baddeley also assures us, that "wherever a skilful fire police is formed, their attention is now exclusively directed to the suppression of the fire, and all the energies of the men being directed to this one point, their efforts are nine times out of ten crowned with extraordinary success." The fire police of Paris is certainly as skilful in saving people from the flames and extinguishing the latter, as either of those very skilful ones mentioned by Mr. B. If we take into consideration the immense size of the houses; their construction; the difficulty of excluding the air, &c., we shall find the parellel between them and those of London, Manchester or Edinburgh, much in favour of the first. I will not, however, be quite so bold as to declare, that nine times out of ten they succeed, nor can I think, that unless it be the object

of the London brigade to let the houses and people burn, that this very extraordinary success is always the result of their skilful efforts; I am the more disposed to think this from having seen in your valuable Magazine, an account given, I suppose by a namesake of Mr. Baddeley, in which the ratio of the extraordinary success before mentioned was very different.

As to the fire at Southampton, I should rather doubt that the exertions and time wasted in saving property would have extinguished the flames, and the inference drawn by Mr. Baddeley is therefore incorrect on that ground.

In a word, although the remarks of that gentleman may be dictated by sound sense, I very much question their being founded on the same, and think that upon referring to past experience," their correctness would be rather disproved than otherwise by the reference. I remain, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

FELIX M. SIMEON. Unity-street, Bristol, Sept. 8, 1838.

ANCIENT FIRE-ENGINE.

I

Sir, I send you a rough sketch of a fire-engine which was undoubtedly the first machine of this kind ever used. observed it some time ago spoken of in a little pamphlet, containing a "Life of Sir Samuel Morland," some extracts from which were printed in your Magazine.

The drawing is taken out of an old book on surveying, by a person named Cyprian Lucar, entitled "A Treatise named Lucarsolace, devided into fovor bookes which in part are collected out of diverse authors, in diverse languages, and in part devised by Cyprian Lucar, gentleman: imprinted at London, by Richard Field for John Harrison, and are to be sold at his shop in Paule's Churchyard at the signe of the greyhound-A.D. 1590." It is dedicated to William Roe, Esq, Alderman of the City of London, and brother-in-law of the author. In the eighth chapter of the fourth book, after speaking of a method for making fresh water from sea water, Lucar says:

"I may recite an infinite number of other examples which will prove the necessary use of water. and the diverse qualities of