790 Transactions of the American Institute. 



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into rope, and then the outside wear would not affect it. This is a 



novel and simple invention ; and its cheapness will be an important 

 point. We have had many successful fire escapes, but they have cost 

 too much. If this can be furnished cheaply enough to put in a closet 

 in every house where it is needed, or in every room where it is 

 needed, it will be of great utility. The least pressure beneath the 

 brass stops the descent at any point. 



Dr. J. V. C. Smith — There is a fire escape much used in England, 

 consisting of a sort of ladder on wheels, which is run up to a window, 

 and women and children are taken down ; and I have been struck 

 with the marvelous ease with which they manage that instrument. 

 This apparatus strikes me very favorably. The principle is admir- 

 able ; but to introduce it rapidly, it must be cheap. 



Mr. Sharp — When we go up into an upper story to sleep, we want 

 something that we can depend on ourselves, in order to be relieved 

 from the fear of the danger from a fire. We cannot avoid that fear, 

 if we must wait for that apparatus to be brought to us before we can 

 escape. Another use for this apparatus is for painters. We not 

 unfrequently hear of accidents to painters in consequence of their 

 falling from scaffolds, or the scaffolds giving way, and such accidents 

 are sometimes fatal. Let the painter attach one end of the rope and 

 place himself within these belts, and he may then feel himself safe. 

 In painting ships, the painter may descend by this apparatus and stop 

 at any point, and when he wishes to come up again he can climb up 

 the rope. The apparatus may be adapted to going down into mines 

 or into wells. In fact, there are very many uses to which it can be 

 applied. 



A Member — Suppose the person descending loses his presence of 

 mind and forgets to apply the check, would the descent be so rapid as 

 to be dangerous ? 



Mr. Sharp — Descending two stories it would not ; but if it was 

 from the sixth story the descent might be too rapid. Any person on the 

 ground, pulling slightly on the rope, can check the descent just as 

 effectually as the person descending. Usually, in a case of fire, a 

 man wants to come down pretty fast. 



A Member — I have seen the apparatus used in London, and which 

 has been spoken of. It is clumsy, awkward and cumbrous. When 

 attached to a building it is exceedingly safe; but I have known of 

 persons being burned to death in East London while the apparatus 

 was finding its way to the fire. One great advantage of this new 

 apparatus is that the individual needs no assistance. 



