Reminiscences of the old fire laddies and volunteer fire departments of New York and Brooklyn. . the foremans place,as he knew the route. Hedid, and so the party started,with fifteen of the LondonFire Brigade. Arriving atthe hill-top, some eight orten of the brigade left, whenthe engine commenced de-scending what was apparentlya small hill. It was abruptand tortuous, and almost with-in a few feet from the decline there was an angle of about thirtydegrees. The machine becoming unmanageable, and not havingsufficient men at the hold-back ropes to keep her in check, therebeing only five of the Lon
Reminiscences of the old fire laddies and volunteer fire departments of New York and Brooklyn. . the foremans place,as he knew the route. Hedid, and so the party started,with fifteen of the LondonFire Brigade. Arriving atthe hill-top, some eight orten of the brigade left, whenthe engine commenced de-scending what was apparentlya small hill. It was abruptand tortuous, and almost with-in a few feet from the decline there was an angle of about thirtydegrees. The machine becoming unmanageable, and not havingsufficient men at the hold-back ropes to keep her in check, therebeing only five of the London Brigade, her weight was too much,and when the New Yorkers came to the turn they lost all power ofdirection. The result was that she struck a tree, smashed Robbinsagainst it, and fell almost bottom upward, knocking off her fore-carriage, besides breaking her fly-wheel, and of course materiallyinjuring her boiler. With full American pluck, the laddies deter-mined to put her in order, if possible, for the trial of the next was a heavy load to lift. Imagine fifty-one hundredweight of. Peter Masterson. American machinery, after such a violent collision, to be lifted andput in order within twelve hours. But with energy, men, and rope the American boys did it, andgot their engine to the ground, so that they might not forfeit the$50 for entry fee. On the ground, Engineer Collins at once com-menced examining the machinery of the Manhattan. Externally sheappeared, except the fly-wheel, all right; but he was fearful of someinternal injury, which could not be discovered. The committee onprizes and others were afraid of the Manhattan bursting her boiler,and would not allow her to be tried until her boiler was Shaw, of the London Fire Brigade, thought it unsafe andnot best for the Manhattan to enter; but having crossed the Atlanticfor that purpose, Foreman Nichols and Engineer Collins said, Wewill try her, if it kills us. So they re-tested her, and found herboile
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