Cold, cold was the night as they drifted away, SHIP ON FIRE AT SEA. To Ctesibus, the renowned, are we indebted for the information of the first fire engine that ever made its appearance. This celebrated mechanic flourished in the reigns of Ptolemy Philadelphus, and Ptolemy Energetes, B. c. 250. He was the first man who discovered the elastic force of air; and the first who adapted this knowledge to any practical purpose. He is said to have invented a hydraulic organ water clock, and condensed air fountain; the latter, no doubt, suggested the invention of a fire engine. The Ptolemies, who were the founders of the Greek Kings in Egypt, were derived from Soter, the ablest of all the generals of Alexander the Great; and were all, more or less, great patrons of the mechanical arts. The Chinese later than this, among their musty records, manifest indications of a similar invention; but it may be asked, what modern invention is there which they do not claim, according to some travellers? The Greeks themselves it would seem had not much demand for the display of this manly institution; their magnificent stone edifices standing in no danger of the Fire-King; but it was otherwise in Rome, for all the Emperors had their fire brigades; and Nero must have begun his tyranny by nullifying their power, or otherwise they would have disappointed him in his demoniac enjoyment of the conflagration of Rome. The pupil of Ctesibus, before mentioned, was one Heron. The common pneumatic experiment called Hero's fountain, throwing a continued jet of water, by means of condensed air, is attributed to him. He has left many works on mathematical sciences and mechanical arts; among which, may easily be traced the first principles of the steam engine; as well as the double forcing pump in fire engines. Suetonius, who flourished in the reign of the emperor Trajan, has left on record a good account of the Roman trained firemen; but their cumbersome machines would excite now the ridicule of the merest tyro in hydraulic art, not to mention any matter involving mechanical construction. The first fire engine which has been thoroughly described, was made by one Theodore Hautsch, of Nurenberg, in 1657. It was worked by four or six men, and was applied more to irrigations than to conflagrations. In 1699, a Mons. Duperrier brought out his invention, and received his patent, expressly for the purpose of extinguishing fires in the buildings of Paris; but none of these inventions had an air chamber, nor had they the flexible hose of the modern inventions, but a series of copper tubes of different curves, and lengths, to adapt themselves to the location. It is easy to conceive how much time was lost, and how much labor was spent, before they could be put in order to become at all effective. In 1672 Jan Vanderheide produced his flexible pipes, as we now have them in action; and to complete the present machine, forty-eight years after, one Leupold, introduced the air chamber with many other important mechanical im- | is scarcely a modern building to be found provements and enlargements. From this in London without them. Besides these, period they became universal all over Eng- fire proof floors are often adopted, both in land and France, and in most other Eu- public and large private edifices. A Mr. ropean capitals. In 1830 Mr. Braithwaite Farrow has lately patented an invention brought out his celebrated steam fire en- consisting of joists of wrought iron, with gine, and afterwards his floating fire engine a flange on each side stretching from joist which can be adapted to propelling vessels to joist inserting a series of flat stones, or working ship's pumps. Before the year whose upper surfaces lie flush with the 1825 each Fire Insurance Company in upper edges of the joists. These may be London had its separate establishment; but covered with plank or painted so as to from this period they began to associate imitate it. A Mr. Frost has also invented for the advantage of public property, under a method of constructing roofs and floors one sole superintendence. The whole of of hollow square earthenware tubes, cementthe city of London was then divided into ed together, so as to form one solid flat districts, in each of which was established indestructible surface. The great use of one, two, or three engines, according to its timber in building, has given rise to many size. The firemen are formed into one suggestions of rendering it indestructible by body, called The Fire Brigade; over which fire. Payne adopts a method by placing Mr. Braidwood presides. The men have timber in a solution of muriate of ammonia, an uniform, select from any other company; or muriate of soda with borax or alum, and and are drafted off every night into watches, has partly succeeded. Besides these there to be ready upon the instant they are re- are many other solutions, which are well quired. So expert are the men forming known to chemists, and which are only this brigade, in harnessing, and equipping rendered impracticable by the great extheir horses, that only one minute is allowed pense attending them. Owing to these for this purpose, and this is often accom- and other methods of prevention, fires are plished, incredible as it may appear, even of much less frequency in London or Paris in less than this time. This splendid estab- than in any other cities: another cause and lishment is paid by the various Fire Insur- a no less important one of their infrequency, ance Companies; each contributing its is the extraordinary vigilance of the police; quota towards the general expences. who in both metropolises are permitted to These engines are by no means so im- enter any house whatever, which they may posing in appearance as those of the find open at night; or to break open any United States. They are usually painted door of any private dwelling, when they red, and have the appearance of our more may suspect fire. In France the Fire Enordinary Furniture Vans. A fire rarely, gine Pompe a Incendie is no object of pride if ever, extends to two houses, there; this is or exultation, but one of severe utility and owing to the provision that the legislature practical form, like those of London; there is has made of requiring party or perfect side an utter absence of all fancy paintings, silver walls to every individual house. These appointments, multi-colored ribbons, &c. walls are always of incombustible materials, They are less attractive even than those of such as stone, brick, or iron. The use of London, and exhibit when called out not cast iron in buildings has increased so the least excitement; even the petits gamins much of late, that many engineers and (street boys) find no fun in the largest house builders have projected plans of buildings bonfire. Their engines are under the conto be composed entirely of that material. trol of especial and responsible police ofCast iron pillars, supports, and breast-ficers. There is one in every arrondissement summers are so frequent now, that there usually kept in some part of the Mairie or City Hotel. The Corps des Pompiers | speed of the heavy engines to the place of (Body of Pumpers) is organized, first, by order of the City Council, and every fireman receives his regular pay from the city funds. The Fire Engine officers of each company, are elected by the corporation, and hold their office for a term of years. The men are chosen from mechanics, accustomed to ascend buildings, and are ever daring, intrepid, noble fellows, and the words self-danger or fear, are not to be found in their vocabulary. The same may be said with as much emphasis of those of London. They move with military discipline, and greater pains is taken with their training than with others; they have to acquire several of les artes de la gymnastique" admirably adapted to holding on expertly in critical and dangerous situations. The advantage of the indispensable condition of strict discipline, upon any important public occasion, is nowhere seen to better effect than in France. The men themselves appreciate it, and would be useless without it. In London the sound of alarm is the human voice,-Fire! Fire!! Fire!!! echoed by all he neighbors; and the rattling in furious action. On such occasions, for any hurt or damage they may do to any passenger or conveyance, they are not amenable; all give way for them, and stop, or draw aside to let them whirl themselves by. In France, the tocsin is sounded from the nearest church steeple, at the expense of the party suffering by the fire. This is followed by the tolling of all the bells from other steeples within hearing of the latter. Then the drummers go through the streets furiously beating la generale and in less time than can be mentioned, the respective fire companies are ejecting streams as from a deluge upon the theatre of the conflagration. Soon after this, rush the soldiers of the nearest garrison, filled with the same ardor, enthusiasm, and devouement as at the assault of a Malakoff or a Redan. Then close at their heels come the seminaristesstudents in theology-with their long black soutons or gowns; burning with zeal to take their part in the enviable strife. In London, the enthusiasm is confined to those pressed voluntarily into the service at the moment, and who receive adequate pay for their services if needy, or honorable men tion if otherwise. Those of other European | and the other-he hardly cares how,-he cities are formed upon the same plan as that of Paris or London, and exhibit the same amount of promptitude and excitement. But it is reserved for the United States and the Canadas to exhibit to the world a system unrivalled in every respect; whether as relates to the splendor and magnificence of its machinery, or the efficiency of its appointments and organization. There are few objects that more excite the admiration of a foreigner than the first appearance of our establishment in action. The energy and promptitude of the men and the beautiful order of the engines are beyond all adequate praise. No sooner is the alarm sounded, than the solemn tones of The City Hall Bell are "borne forth on the dull cold air of night" and the clappers of every engine house take up the "wondrous frightful tale." Then out pour the noble band in neat costume of red shirt or white shirt, coat or no coat, from church, hall, concert, theatre, or bed room, to their respective Engine Palaces. The "Open Sesame" proclaimed, the ponderous gates fly open, the elegant creation moves, apparently with unseen hands, and flies down the street with the impetus of an arrow shot from the bow; is on the scene of action in a few moments, and pouring forth the counteracting element, in incessant contest. Now the flames rage higher and higher, lighting up the universal heaven with demoniacal lure. Now the antagonistic element, heavier and heavier, pours upon them its aqueous wrath, as from a mighty conqueror, bent upon a conquest. Column after column of fire, meet column after column of water, until the flaming forks hide their humbled heads in the dust, and vanish altogether in burning, blackening smoke. Meanwhile sleeping babies are snatched from a horrible death, or maniac mothers clutched from self destruction, by the cool but nicely calculating daring of the noble and intrepid fireman. With one foot planted upon-he hardly knows what, sees before him the accomplishment of a paramount duty, a life to be saved-and should his own valuable life be the forfeit, he knows that he leaves behind him a fame which is engraven on the affectionate hearts of his brethren. In the last Exhibition Universelle of Paris in 1855 there was an opportunity given to test the various excellencies of fire engines from every part of the civilized world. Among the foremost that especially demanded attention was one from a manufacturer in Canada. Its size was less than half, of the smallest of U. S. or European make. This little unpretending machine threw up a column of as capacious a bulk as the largest, and much higher than any others, and maintained its power until the last drop was exhausted from its reservoir. Upon what principle this desideratum was achieved, we are yet to learn; but it is to be feared that its machinery is too delicate to bear the wear and tear of the constant demand of whole years. That in use amongst us is too well known to need description, but in case any of our readers may not be well posted in the matter we subjoin a description of the common one. This consists of an oblong cistern, in the lower part of this cistern is a metallic pipe into which the water flows from a feed pipe connected with the other end and with the cistern. When the water gains access to the interior pipe it is elevated and forced into an upright air vessel by two pumps, worked by manual power, at connecting handles or levers out-side. From this air vessel the water is forced into a pipe connected with the leather hose, and from this on to the burning building. The use of this air vessel is obvious; for without it, the jet would gush forth at intervals like that of the common syringe, but by the help of this air vessel the stream is made a continuous one by the elastic pressure of the air. The application of steam power to ab breviate the labor of working fire engines is one of the most successful and happiest of results. Wherever expedition and power are required, there steam is most adabtable. The celebrated trial of the steam fire engines of Cincinnati on the occasion at the opening at the Ohio and Mississippi Rail road described in Leslie's Illustrated News paper will be read with interest by our readers. We were fortunate while in Cincinnati in witnessing the "turning out" of one of these "steamers," as they are familiarly called by the citizens. We happened to be on the same block on which an engine was situated; the moment we heard the tap of the alarm bell, and before we could run the distance of half a square, the engine completely in trim was in the street and on its way to the conflagration. Determined to witness the working of these to us novel contrivances, we continued on, and discovered that the building, the Waverley House, on fire, was of wood, very large, containing eighty rooms, being for the moment unoccupied, yet full of furniture; it was set on fire in eight different places, by putting shavings under the beds in different floors of the house. We had hardly time to quickly walk the five or six blocks necessary to reach the scene, before we disbuilding, in spite of its light materials, so covered the steamers "shutting off," the far as fire was concerned, being but little injured, for a stream of water was almost instantly pouring over each floor, even before the beds under which the fires had been made were consumed. The most marked feature in this imposing procession was the turn out of the fire department, which consisted of seven "steamers," fourteen hose carts and one hook and ladder company, the whole escorted by a fine body of military. After parading the streets up to an appointed hour, at the tap of a bell the "steamers " started off at full speed, getting up steam at the same instant precisely as if going to a fire. Proceeding at a rapid pace to the large open square in front of the market on Sixth street, three of the "steamers" took their places at the different cisterns around the square, while the other four took their positions near the cisterns in the adjoining streets. The hose from the different engines was then brought into the middle of the square where the trial took place. At a given signal, the water suddenly started into the air from seven different pipes, and turned upward, the united glory |