A Novel Fire Escape.

“T. H. Jennings, a resident of Duluth, living at 226 E. Ninth avenue, has.” says The Duluth (Minn.) Herald, “perfected and patented a fire escape which promises to be an actual protection if the apparatus will work in practice as well as the model indicates. The apparatus is a form of elevator, attached to the back of a building, with fire proof doors leading into it from the end of each hallway on every floor. The doors close automatically and the person entering it is at once shut off from the fire. He steps on a platform in the elevator and his own weight will take him to the bottom and land him out of doors.

“ The elevator part also works automatically and cannot be put out of order in excitement. The weight of a child is sufficient to send the platform to the bottom, the speed being regulated automatically by a common governor attached at the top. Any number of people could be going down at the same time without increasing the speed. The platforms are attached to an endless chain, folding as they pass up and falling into place as they comedown. The apparatus is very ingenious and very simple. Mr. Jennings has named it the Jennings Automatic Fire Escape, and is now trying to arrange to put one into operation. Thus far fire escapes have been limited to ropes and ladders, which are often rendered useless either by the fire or by the rush of people and the difficulty women and children have in making use of them. If Mr. Jennings’ fire escape proves practicable, as the working of the model seems to indicate, it will be of inestimable value and benefit.”