not correct to
say
It was taken
that the hose burst.
was taken up the stairs in the usual
way,
and whatever de
daurage
occurred
was recasioned by the leaking that
always goes
on when canvas hon is
used. Although the hose was taken up into
house "three doors from
where the fire. coursed" . Mr. theking omits to mention that the intervening house was on fire also and inaccessible, and that it was with the object of saving both the intervening houses and the one in question that this step was taken, and that but for the action of the bri- gade the third house and others also must have been destroyed.
that there was
I have the honour to report
nothing exceptional about this fird. In all fires that recur claims.
aro
always made and paid on account. of damage done to adjoining property by water. It is part of the risk issued against, and is an inevitable adjunct
179
so
every fire
that occurs. Moreover
even if the hose had burst it would
not
that the hose was defective. arque Such accidents are somchines unavoid.
able. An abrupt turn up a staircase
at a fine when a
water is
ora
high pressure of
might burst the best hose', and I decline to accept any responsi - bility of an occasional
an occasional mishap of the
kind resurs.
As a matter of practice
I take great
care of the hose, and have returns sent in regularly, showing
the dates at which it has been aired best tomi
and hoved. I also do
unize
the
www
my
of water at fires. I
um well aware of the fact that is somchines overlooked that almost as
much mischief mary be done by water. in eshriquishing
fire
as would be
done were the fire left to itself, and I am
The ma
very careful to impress upon men the necessity of intelligently
using