Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 88.djvu/36

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NE of the large Eastern railroads has protected its property against fire by equipping all of its yard locomotives with special fire fighting apparatus. Pumps have been installed on the engines, and lengths of hose are carried in the tender.

Each yard is divided into districts, and when a fire is discovered the nearest switch tower is notified and whistles are blown throughout the yard. By a code of signals engineers of fire fighting locomotives are told the location of the fire and are given an open track to the scene. The illustration shows a test of the apparatus on the yard engine.

ITH a speed record of fifty-eight miles an hour, Frank E. Fithen, the armless motorist, holds a record in the automobile world that is unique. Not only for speed, but for long distance driving he has made a name for himself, as he has been touring the country for three years and has travelled eighty-five thousand miles. He is now preparing to visit the Northwest, and when he has passed through Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, he will have entered every state in the union, driving his own car. This is a six cylinder machine, long and heavy, and of sixty horse-power.

Mr. Fithen has a few changes made in order to adapt his car to a driver without arms. The most important is the design of the steering wheel, which has a number of metal circles within the wooden rim, and these are just large enough to receive the stumps of his arms. With wonderful agility he can swing the wheel, and also manipulate the throttle, although only a few inches remain of each arm. In addition to the pedals, Mr. Fithen operates the emergency brake with his foot, shoving forward and pulling back the lever with a vigorous motion.

The accident which deprived him of both arms occurred when he was only nine years old, but instead of leaving him helpless, it developed his determination to succeed in spite of his infirmity. Mr. Fithen can dress himself and undress; he can take a pencil between his teeth and write with little difficulty; he can swim, ride a bicycle and perform feats of fancy riding and balancing on the single wheel.