FIRE-ESCAPE
WE have seen a model of a Fire-escape, so simple and complete, so portable and so readily usable, and moreover comparatively inexpensive, that we cannot fancy any objection to its universal adoption by parishes, instead of the useless fire-ladders that are now locked up along dead walls. Even if every person were prudent enough to keep at hand that cheap and simple means of escape from fire, a long knotted rope with a hook or noose at one end to fasten to a bedpost, or window-sill, there might still be many cases where assistance from without would be necessary ; and the means ought to be provided by the parish au- thorities, and be put in charge of the police. The invention we allude to consists of a two-story ladder, with a top-joint for reaching to the third floor, having down the whole-length of its under side a tube of sacking with a knotted rope inside it, down which decrepit persons and infants might be safely slid to the bottom without fear of injury, whether any person were on the ladder or not. The upper part of the ladder is screened from the flames by two wire gauze sides, and the top is provided with castors to run up or along the house front ; while to a similar contrivance at the foot is added a base for elevating and fixing the ladder. It is moved from place to place on a detached axle and pair of wheels ; and may be brought to the scene of danger, and placed against the house by two or three men, in less time than a long ladder, such as is ordinarily used by bricklayers, could be raised.
The inventor is Mr. WIVEI.L, the artist ; who is also the ingenious contriver of other apparatus for the preservation of life from fire : but this his last contrivance is by far the most efficient and perfect. His fire-escape rope, with belts for letting down aged persons or children from windows, is an improvement upon the knotted rope, inasmuch as that is available only by the able-bodied, and not perhaps by all those. The escape-rope and belts are very little dearer than the same length of cord would be, besides being more safe and complete.
People are anxious to prevent fire, and pay largely to insure their property; but, with a strange perversity, they will not lay out a few shillings to secure the means of saving their lives.
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