The state of the art fire fighting equipment that was used to battle the Great Fire.
No 1 Long John Steamer
House on Hubbard Street, between State and Wabash Streets.
This is a second class "Rotary" engine, built at the Island Works of H. C. Silsby, at Seneca Falls, N.Y. Weight when ready for use 7,500 pounds. Is drawn by four horses. Attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No 2 Wabansia Steamer
House on Sanger, between McGregor and Twenty-fifth street station. This is a second class "Rotary" engine, built at the Island Works of H. C. Silsby, at Seneca Falls, N.Y. Weight when ready for use 5,200 pounds. Is drawn by two horses: attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No 3 Steamer Wm. James
House, Mo. 235, West Chicago Avenue, near Milwaukee Avenue.
This is a second class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H. Weight when ready for use 7,000 lbs. Is drawn by four horses Attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse. The engine was partly destroyed by fire, on October 9th, 1871, and rebuilt by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co.
No. 4 Jacob Rehm Steamer
House on Larrabee street, near corner of North Avenue.This is a second class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H. Weight when ready for use 6,300 lbs. Is drawn by two horses. Attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No. 5 Steamer Chicago
House at No. 81 West Jackson St. This is a first class "Rotary" engine, built at the Island Works of H. C. Silsby, at Seneca Falls, N.Y. Weight when ready for use5,200 pounds. Is drawn by two horses. Attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No. 6 Steamer Little Giant
House on Larrabee street, near corner of North Avenue.This is a second class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H. Weight when ready for use 6,300 lbs. Is drawn by two horses. Attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
Chicago Tribune, February 15, 1860
The New Steam Fire Engine “Little Giant.”
The beautiful new Steam Fire Engine “Little Giant,” of Amoskeag Manufacturing Co.’s Works at Manchester, N.H., referred to in our last issue, as having just arrived here, was brought out to be tested. The day as unfavorable in respect to the high wind prevailing, and success gained in the face of the same should be duly credited.
Water in the first instance was taken from the plug on the corner of South Wells and Washington streets. Steam was made and four streams opened in five and a half minutes from lighting the fire. Later the machine was stationed to take suction at the foot of Washington street on the South Branch, and gave a stream through one hundred feet of hose and a one-inch and a quarter nozzle, a distance of two hundred and twenty-eight feet. Good work.
The steamer is of the vertical pump pattern, with a round, upright boiler; weighs 55 hundred pounds, and cost $3,500. Two other similar machines are to be ordered, we learn, by the city— one being nearly ready to ship at the Works, as above.
No.7 Steamer Liberty
House on No. 611 West Lake Street.This is a second class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H. Weight when ready for use 6,300 lbs. Is drawn by two horses: attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No. 8 Economy Steamer
House on No. 284 Twenty-srcond Street.This is a second class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H.:Weight when ready for use 6,300 lbs. Is drawn by two horses: attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No. 9 Steamer Frank Sherman
House, No. 173 Cottage Grove Avenue.
This is a first class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H. Weight when ready for use 8,500 lbs. Is drawn by four horses: attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No. 10 J.B. Rice Steamer
House on No. 338 State Street.This is a first class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H.:Weight when ready for use 8,600 lbs. Is drawn by four horses: attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No. 11 A. C. Coventry Steamer
House on Michigan Street, between Stae and Cass.This is a first class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H. Weight when ready for use 8,500 lbs. Is drawn by four horses: attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No. 12 Steamer T. R. Brown
House No. 80 West Lake street.This is a first class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H. Weight when ready for use 8,500 lbs. Is drawn by four horses: attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No. 13 Steamer A. D. Titsworth
House No. 97 Dearborn street.This is a second class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H. Weight when ready for use 6,700 lbs. Is drawn by two horses: attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No. 14 Steamer Fred Gund
House No. 180 N. Dearborn street.This is a second class "Piston" engine, built by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. at Manchester, N.H. Weight when ready for use 6,700 lbs. Is drawn by two horses: attended by one two-wheel hose cart, drawn by one horse.
No. 1 Pioneer Hook and Ladder Truck
House on LaSalle street between Washington and Madison. This is a first class carriage with modern improvements, including a patent steering aparatus, built by George W. Hannis, of this city. Weight of truck when fully equipped is 4,500 pounds. Is drawn by two horses.
Hose Elevator and Truck
House near the corner of Harrison Street and Pacific Avenue. This apparatus (Skinner’s patent), built by George W. Skinner, of this city, has been in service one year; can be raised to the height of 84 feet; is used for the purpose of elevating hose to the upper stories of high buildings, and also for saving human lifeand valuable property.
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