1807.] 
two thicknesses, each three quarters of an 
inch thick, cut te a round form, about 
eighteen inches diameter, crossing each 
other, and screwed together, to prevent 
being split (if it should be struck hard on 
the pavement), to which I had a strong 
staple, with ten yards of strong small 
cord; I then had an iron rod, about half 
an inch thick (round) formed into a ring, 
or hoop, of eighteen inches clear diame- 
ter. Lthen got strong canvas, like thin 
sail-cloth, full a yard and a half square, 
formed into a bag, which was nailed 
round the deal bottem, and well bound 
at top, round the iron hoop, which com- 
pleted it. I then had a well-made, pli- 
able rope, about fifty feet long, well se- 
cured, with a triple hold to the hoop, or 
ring, ani thus, by coiling the rope pro- 
perly round a bed-post, then to have the 
person to be let down in the bag, which 
so soon as they step on the bottom, the 
bag to be drawn up, which would reach 
to the neck of a grown person, who 
would have to hold (to steady them) by 
two loops of small cord fastened to the 
hoop, hanging inward; then the person 
who is to manage the business, hoists the 
bag just clear out of the window, the 
smail cord at the bottom falling directly 
to the street, and be there held by some 
one, or more, to steady and guide the bag 
in its descent, so as to prevent its being 
impeded by any cornice, projection, bal- 
cony, or even the palisades of an area. 
The person managing the rope is to let 
out, or ease gently and regularly, but yet 
with expedition ; when the bag has reach- 
ed the street, any strong person can lift 
all together, and take it to an opposite 
house, the door of which we will sav- 
pose already open, and some female rea- 
dy, with proper wrappings, to enfold the 
rescued persons, and convey them to a 
room, 
The instant the bag is empty, the spec- 
tator in the street calls, pul/ up, the bag 
ascends with celerity and safety, even to 
the windows in its way, by the guide cord 
being held below. All this could have 
been done in three minutes, or less, and 
repeated in as few, if necessary, the last 
person then leaving the bag out of the 
window, close to the cill, into which he 
gets, having first coiled the rope, holding 
itin his hand, with a good noose, and 
then, by letting out the cord (with him in 
the bag), he goes down as easy as he let 
the others down. 
To “ the knotted rope” I readily sub- 
Scribe my approbation, except that it is 
Afeans of escaping from Houses on Fire. 
531 
only fit for persons of good courage, and 
who are not afraid of their hands. The 
““ feather-beds, or mattresses” would 
alfu be very useful. 
The last remark, on ‘ the secure mode 
of going into a room full of smoke” (to 
appearance), is not only very useful and 
sate, but has lately (highly to the honour 
of a person, no fireman) been so very 
usefully adopted, that common justice de- 
mands it should be known. The hay-loft 
over the stable of Mr, Lee, a builder in 
Chiswell-street, was on fire; Mr. John 
King, who lives at Ne. 198 in Shoreditch, 
was passing, and perceived the smoke; he 
hastened to the place, where he found 
Mr. Lee, in great distress,-with very little 
assistance. He immediately got up inte 
the loft, the smoie issuing very thick; he 
crawled on his hands and knees, found 
where the fire was, moved the trusses of 
hay and straw, on each side, from it, re- 
turned to the loft door, got water as it 
was put for him, in pails, and actually 
damped the fire presently, so that, the 
the smoke abating, he was enabled to 
raise himself to an erect posture, and put 
the fire completely out. This is a cou 
rageous and truly patriotic conduct of a 
Stranger, at what might be deemed the 
hazard of his life, though with no other 
injury than some little scorching of his 
hands and some small damage to his 
clothes. Mr. Lee was so sensible of the 
goodness of the act, that he immediately 
made him a gratuity (which, with reluc- 
tance, he accepted), assured him of his fu« 
ture friendship, and explaining the mat- 
ter where he was insured, the directors 
presented Mr. King with ten pounds asa 
reward for his active zealous conduct, 
66 Go thou, and do likewise.”’ 
Thus we we find it not even necessary 
to wait the arrival of a salamander, but 
aay man of courage, which must be pro- 
duced by that knowledge and the convic- 
ticn of the safety, may do the like. 
I would advise a man to go in with his 
hat and coat on, first wetting the hat and 
arms as it would prevent a light burst of 
flame from catching the hair, or shirt, 
which is very liable, if dry*. 
Your’s, &c. 
Bensamin Cooper, 
Surveyor to the Royal Exchange 
Assurance. 
* The salamander having been deemed 
fire-proof arises simply from his being enabled 
to throw a constant moisture on hisskin. 
For 
3.2 
