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Story
May 15, 1850
Washington Telegraph
Washington, Hempstead County, Arkansas
What is this article about?
Mr. Phillips demonstrates his 'Fire Annihilator' invention at London gas works in Vauxhall, extinguishing a fierce fire in a wooden structure in half a minute using a hand-held device, proving its effectiveness and safety.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
The Fire Annihilator.—Mr. Phillips, the inventor of this new apparatus, recently gave an exhibition of its powers to a large company assembled at the London gas works, Vauxhall.
After some preliminary remarks on the vast losses from fire, amounting, annually, in the three kingdoms, to 2,000,000, and the inefficacy of water in quenching a furious conflagration, he set fire to a compartment of a large open building, filled with partitions and temporary joisting of light wood, daubed with pitch and turpentine, and hung with rags soaked with the same combustibles.
The flames ascended, roaring with such vehemence as to repel the spectators to a distance of forty feet, reaching, apparently, beyond all remedy by water; when Mr. P. with one of his hand machines, somewhat larger than a good sized coffee pot, from which a volume of gas and vapor was discharged, extinguished the flames "in half a minute;" and then, to prove that there was no noxious quality in the resulting air, immediately walked through the building with a lighted candle in his hand. A company has been formed to manufacture these new-styled fire engines; which if they answer as well in practice as they seem to do in experiment, will soon make their way to this country, and find their field of operation in subduing firebugs, and perhaps, the fire riots.
After some preliminary remarks on the vast losses from fire, amounting, annually, in the three kingdoms, to 2,000,000, and the inefficacy of water in quenching a furious conflagration, he set fire to a compartment of a large open building, filled with partitions and temporary joisting of light wood, daubed with pitch and turpentine, and hung with rags soaked with the same combustibles.
The flames ascended, roaring with such vehemence as to repel the spectators to a distance of forty feet, reaching, apparently, beyond all remedy by water; when Mr. P. with one of his hand machines, somewhat larger than a good sized coffee pot, from which a volume of gas and vapor was discharged, extinguished the flames "in half a minute;" and then, to prove that there was no noxious quality in the resulting air, immediately walked through the building with a lighted candle in his hand. A company has been formed to manufacture these new-styled fire engines; which if they answer as well in practice as they seem to do in experiment, will soon make their way to this country, and find their field of operation in subduing firebugs, and perhaps, the fire riots.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Extraordinary Event
What themes does it cover?
Triumph
What keywords are associated?
Fire Annihilator
Invention Demonstration
Fire Extinguishing
London Exhibition
Mr. Phillips
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Phillips
Where did it happen?
London Gas Works, Vauxhall
Story Details
Key Persons
Mr. Phillips
Location
London Gas Works, Vauxhall
Event Date
Recently
Story Details
Mr. Phillips demonstrates his Fire Annihilator by igniting a highly flammable structure and extinguishing the intense flames in half a minute with a hand-held device emitting gas and vapor, then safely walking through with a lit candle; a company forms to manufacture it for practical use against fires and riots.