Firemen and Their Exploits

Book excerpt: Published in 1899, this work tells the history of the fire extinction from its origin to its situation during the late 1800s. The writer explained the various methods that people used during different periods. Contents include: The Horsed Fire Escape Appears. An Exciting Scene The Beginning of the Story. Hero's "Siphon." How the Ancients Strove to Extinguish Fires In Mediæval Days. An Epoch-making Fire The Pearl-button Maker's Contrivance. The Modern Fire-engine Extinguishment by Company. The Beginnings of Fire Insurance The Story of James Braidwood The Thames on Fire. The Death of Braidwood A Perilous Situation. Captain Shaw. Improvements of the Metropolitan Board and of the London County Council A Visit to Headquarters How Recruits Are Trained Some Stories of the Brigade Fire-escapes and Fire-floats Chemical Fire-engines. Fire-proofing, or Muslin That Will Not Flame The Work of the London Salvage Corps. The Great Cripplegate Fire Across the Water