Figure 6. — Philadelphia-type fire engines of about 1800, 

 displayed in Independence Hall group. The machine in the 

 foreground is signed by Lyon, and the one in the background is 

 of the same period. Detailed similarities suggest either that 

 Lyon built the second one also or that he supplied the black- 

 smith-work for it. National Park Service photograph. 



more minds than one were working at it. About this 

 time there occurred a great fire in the heart of the 

 city that spread with fearful rapidity and mastered 

 all efforts of the firemen. 



I was standing with my father on the curb looking 

 at the fire, when Philip Garrett rushed up in a great 

 state of excitement, seized my father by his arm, and 

 said: "Coleman, if thee can dam the stairways and 

 hatchways of the upper floors of those two ware- 

 houses (pointing), and I can get a foot of water on 

 the floors, we can stop the fire at that fire wall, but 



if we let it work down the walls will fall, and the 

 whole block will go, and there is no knowing how 

 much more." My father turned me over to some 

 one to see me safe home, and left with Mr. Garrett. 

 I learned afterward that my father, with board parti- 

 tions that he tore down, succeeded with them and 

 gunny basis in damming both stair and hatchways, 

 making small crevices tight by having large quanti- 

 ties of bran thrown on the floors. The roofs were on 

 fire and would soon fall in. Lines were formed for 

 carrying up water by the bucketfull. 



