FIRE ESCAPE. ' 3^ 



the left side for the purpose of carrying up a box I ; two of 

 "which travel with the fire-escape, so that in the event of 

 one being filled with small valuables, it may be unhooked^ 

 and the other K put on, which will save time. The whole 

 apparatus may be drawn by one horse, or six men, and when 

 arrived at the scene of danger may be adjusted in two 

 minutes. If every parish would provide one of these 

 escapes, and keep it where it might be brought out on the 

 first alarm, I feel persuaded it would lessen the m^ny accj. 

 dents, which occur by fire in the metropolis. 



I have the honour to be, Sir, 



Your obedient humble servant, 



JOHN DAVJS, 



No. 7, John Street, Spitalfields^ 

 May 14, 1«10. 



: Farther Observations fro^m Mr. Dai>is on his Fire^Bscape, 



SIR, 



I BEG leave to return you, and the gentlemen of the 

 committee, my sincere thanks, for the kind attention I have 

 experienced; and should you think the following hints 

 likely to give any additional information on the subject of 

 jny fire-escape, you will have the goodness to submit them 

 to the consideration of the committee. 



Certain it is, that, however good any principle may be, Hints with re- 



ihe practice must also be so to be effectual ; therefore it isf^""^ to escape 



^ J from fires. 



my opinion, that every parish should be provided with a 



machine on my principle, to be kept in some convenient 

 place, easy of access. The key should be kept at the watch- 

 house by night, and by day at the nearest public-house ; if 

 this, which ought to be, were the uniform custom, it would 

 soon become familiar, and be attended with no expense. 

 On the alarm of fire, I would have the machine brought 

 out directly, as I consider it an improvident method, when 

 • a house has been on fire some time, and some unfortunate 

 sufferer should appear in need of prompt assistance, to have 

 to search about for the keys of a churchyard, or some other 

 obscure place to bring the fire-ladders ; which, when brought, 



y^ , if 



