The Washington Republican Washington County Friday December 18, 1896 Another Fire. Last Monday night promptly at 7 o'clock a fire started up in the street between C. F. LITTLE's store and the First National Bank. A wall of boards had been placed there in the afternoon and covered with tar. The was composed of 308 square feet of lumber and when it got to burning it represented the same number of feet in fire. C.A. KURTLEY of Kansas City, was there with a screw piston chemical engine and commenced a battle with the fierce flames. In 42 seconds he had the fire almost extinguished and then he re-filled the engine with carbonic acid gas. It took him 52 seconds to re-load and get ready to fight fire again. This time Ed. BARLEY operated the machine and soon killed the fire entirely. About 100 of the citizens were present to witness the experiment and the concurrent opinion was that the chemical engines were all right. The capacity of the engine is 3 (8?) gallons, so one man can handle one with ease. Mr. KURTLEY met with the city council that evening and sold 12 engines, so let it be said Washington has fire protection now.