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Story
May 28, 1892
Lake Charles Commercial
Lake Charles, Calcasieu County, Louisiana
What is this article about?
A correspondent describes the successful public trial of a novel pocket fire-escape from Chicago's Masonic Temple. The inventor descends from the 20th story using a metallic tape on a reel with brakes, stops at the 10th story, and later carries three workmen to the ground. (214 characters)
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Full Text
Pocket Fire-Escape.
A correspondent of the American Architect describes the successful working of a novel fire-escape. If the invention is what it appears to be it is very ingenious, and likely to prove of great benefit to mankind. A public trial of it was made from the top of the new Masonic Temple at Chicago.
The pocket fire-escape consists of a metallic tape one-quarter of an inch wide and thirty-second of an inch thick, running on a steel reel which is fastened to a web belt passing about the waist.
The reel is provided with a brake by means of which the person can control the speed of his descent. There is also an automatic brake to keep a required tension on the tape, and thus prevent a sudden drop. The end of the tape is provided with a thumb-screw, which can be fastened to the window-sill or any object in the room. In appearance the machine is like a fisherman's reel, and is about twice the size of a spool of thread.
The beginning of the experiment seemed perilous in the extreme. The inventor fixed the thumb-screw, fastened the web belt about his waist and stepped off apparently into space from the twentieth story.
At first he descended slowly, then faster and faster, till it seemed as if he must have lost control over the little machine, the slender tape of which could scarcely be seen, and at any time looked no larger than an ordinary cord.
At the tenth story he stopped suddenly, and then descended again, rapidly and slowly by turns, until he came to the scaffolding where were several workmen.
There he took three men on the "escape" with him and thus dropped to the ground.
A correspondent of the American Architect describes the successful working of a novel fire-escape. If the invention is what it appears to be it is very ingenious, and likely to prove of great benefit to mankind. A public trial of it was made from the top of the new Masonic Temple at Chicago.
The pocket fire-escape consists of a metallic tape one-quarter of an inch wide and thirty-second of an inch thick, running on a steel reel which is fastened to a web belt passing about the waist.
The reel is provided with a brake by means of which the person can control the speed of his descent. There is also an automatic brake to keep a required tension on the tape, and thus prevent a sudden drop. The end of the tape is provided with a thumb-screw, which can be fastened to the window-sill or any object in the room. In appearance the machine is like a fisherman's reel, and is about twice the size of a spool of thread.
The beginning of the experiment seemed perilous in the extreme. The inventor fixed the thumb-screw, fastened the web belt about his waist and stepped off apparently into space from the twentieth story.
At first he descended slowly, then faster and faster, till it seemed as if he must have lost control over the little machine, the slender tape of which could scarcely be seen, and at any time looked no larger than an ordinary cord.
At the tenth story he stopped suddenly, and then descended again, rapidly and slowly by turns, until he came to the scaffolding where were several workmen.
There he took three men on the "escape" with him and thus dropped to the ground.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Extraordinary Event
What themes does it cover?
Bravery Heroism
Triumph
What keywords are associated?
Pocket Fire Escape
Invention Demonstration
Daring Descent
Chicago Masonic Temple
Where did it happen?
Masonic Temple At Chicago
Story Details
Location
Masonic Temple At Chicago
Story Details
An inventor demonstrates a pocket fire-escape by descending from the 20th story of the Masonic Temple, controlling speed with brakes, stopping midway, and then carrying three workmen to the ground safely.