7 



a large quantity of water carelessly 

 scattered or driven in an intermittent 

 or irregular stream. In every case of 

 extinguishing Fire by water, there 

 must be a certain amount of damage 

 done by the latter, and it is one of 

 the most important duties of a good 

 Fireman not alone to extinguish the 

 Fire in the shortest possible time, but 

 also to reduce damage by water to the 

 minimum. While therefore it is of 

 the utmost moment to get the water 

 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 



