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on as quickly as possible after the 

 breaking out of the Fire, it- must not 

 be forgotten that the next most im- 

 portant point, which should never be 

 lost sight of by the Officer in charge, 

 is to stop the water in time, or at 

 least to stop the large streams from 

 the Engines or Hydrants, and finish 

 up with hand-pumps. Of these latter 

 simple and useful little implements 

 every individual officially connected 

 with the Museum should understand 

 the working, as, with proper manage- 

 ment, and in the hands of a person 

 who has presence of mind and ordinary 

 courage, they may often supersede the 

 use of the large hose from the Engines 

 or Hydrants, and consequently save 

 the otherwise inevitable damage which 

 must occur when heavy streams are 

 poured on. The foregoing rules, which 

 are applicable for all buildings what- 

 ever, are more especially so for such 

 places as the British Museum, in most 

 of the Departments of which the 

 property might be as effectually 

 ruined and rendered worthless by 

 water, as it would be by Fire. It is 

 therefore once more repeated, that 

 in case of Fiie, the person who gives 

 orders, and is therefore responsible, 

 should remember the following im- 

 portant points, viz. : — 



1st. Not to enter the room or other 

 place on Fire until he has first 

 seen that the hose and other 

 necessary apparatus are com- 

 pletely ready for immediate work. 

 2nd. To be careful not to mistake 

 smoke for fire. 



