_One Standcock_, with stem to insert direct in the fire-plug, and used principally with hose to throw a jet for cooling ruins. _One Canvas Sheet._--This, when stretched out and held securely by several men, may be jumped into from the window of a house on fire with comparative safety. _One Hand-pump_, as described at page 130, and used with the canvas buckets. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote G: The engines and their crews are distinguished by these colours.] [Footnote H: The hose are made up in flat coils, with the male coupling-screw in the centre, and the female on the outside. When a length is to be laid out in any direction, it is set on its edge, and then run out in the required direction,--in this way no turns or twists can ever occur. When the hose is to be taken up, it is uncoupled, and then wound up, beginning at the end farthest from the engine or from the fire-cock (as the case may be): by this method all the water is pressed out.] [Footnote I: In practising this exercise the men are in the habit of descending by the chains from the parapet of the North Bridge, Edinburgh, to the ground below: a height of 75 feet.] [Footnote J: Mr. Braidwood used canvas jumping sheets on this principle with hand holes for a dozen men, in the ordinary service of the London Fire Brigade.] [Footnote K: Now Shand, Mason, and Co.] [Footnote L: This description applies to the most recently constructed fire-engines belonging to the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.] [Footnote M: "Stuffing," a technical term need by leather-dressers or curriers.] [Footnote N: The proportions are, 1 gallon neats-foot oil, 2 lbs. tallow, 1/4 lb. bees-wax, melted together, and laid while warm on the leather.] [Footnote O: This description of the Edinburgh coupling-joints was written in 1830, and is inserted here to show how the present form of the well-known London Brigade hose-coupling was arrived at. The internal diameter was originally 2-3/8 inches, but Mr. Braidwood, when in London, found that he could increase it to 2-1/2 inches.] [Footnote P: See engraving of portable cistern, page 156.] FIRE ANNIHILATOR With regard to the Fire Annihilator, I have seen several experiments with this machine, and heard of more which were not successful; and if an invention fails when experiments are tried, it is open to the impression that it might fail when brought into active operation. There have also been many cases where these machines have met with accidents, one at Drury Lane Theatre amongst the number. Water, properly applied, will do whatever the Annihilator can accomplish, and also many things which the latter cannot do. As it is, there are some forty or fifty different articles to carry with each fire-engine, and to add to them such unwieldy things as Fire Annihilators, would be to encumber the men more than they are at present, with a very doubtful prospect of advantage. WATER SUPPLY.