A NOVEL FIRE-ESCAPE.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 68, 17 September 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

A NOVEL FIRE-ESCAPE.

With the object of saving; life by providing a ready and -certain means of escape from burning buildings, many inventions have been brought out, the latest being that of a fireescape. The patentee is Captain St. George Cuft) and he claims his invention is simple, automatic, and can be used by woman. Captain Cuff's fire-escape is in the form of an ordinary window balcony, and is attached to each floor of the building. In case of fire the pressure of a lever-handle, or pull of au ordinary bell-pull in the chamber or chambers, to which the balconies are affixed, or pressure on a lever-handle placed in a convenient position on the balcony itself, causes a ladder to descend from the bottom of the balcony, one end resting on the floor of the balcony beneath, the other end attached to the bottom of the floor of the balcony, from which it is lowered by means of au axle. As the ladder is falling into an inclined position at any required angle, a trapdoor formed of a portion of the * balcony floor flies open, thus giving a means of exit by descending the ladder or steps. On reaching the balcony beneath a similar lever-handle is depressed and a ladder of stairs similarly attached immediately drops. The same operation is repeated on each balcony till the ground is reached. In case of fire discovered at night, when all theinmatesmightbe asleep the invention can be Bet in motion by the policeman ou duty, who would carry a key of a specially constructed lock beside the hall door. At the same time an alarm is given on each floor by means of an electric attachment. Special provision ia made against the apparatus being used for unlawful purposes, and the inventor states that there is no possibility of the stairs becoming disengaged without the action of the lever-handle on the balcony. The cost of the apparatus, including balcony is from ten to twelve guineas. Captain St. George-Cuff gave an exhibitiou of the invention ou Saturday at Willis' Rooms, when it was very favourably received by a large number of gentlemen.