Mr. Gregory constructed a very complete rope-ladder escape, which was supported on the window sill, parapet, &c. of a house, by a hook of ingenious workmanship, composed of two sides or arms, bent into a form very closely resembling the external figure of the human ear, from that circumstance called the ear hook. The two sides of this hook were held together by three horizontal iron rails or bars. This simple, original, and effectual mode of attachment admits of universal ap plication, without any previous provision for that purpose ; it firmly embraces alike the thickest and thinnest walls, and when once fixed, no downward force can separate it from its attachment, but by tearing the hook asunder. To this hook was attached a neat, well made rope ladder, to which a sliding cradle was adapted, the rope by which the cradle was worked passing over the central bar of the ear hook.
The next class of fire escapes, comprising those of a portable description, is a very numerous one, and may be said to commence with a simple rope made fast to something within the room, by means of which a descent might be effected; it has been considered an improvement to knot the rope pretty closely, and descend by alternately changing the grasp, instead of letting the rope slip ,through the hand; it is but a limited number of persons, however, who could escape by these means. It has therefore been suggested to attach a sack to the end of a rope of sufficient length, into which females, children, &c. might be put and lowered in safety, their descent being regulated by drawing the bed close to the window, and passing the rope once or twice round the bed post, which would generate friction enough to make the descent easy, without much exertion on the part of any person. Several improvements have been made upon this rude and simple apparatus, consisting in general of a cradle in lieu of the sack, made of a con venient form and suitable material, and in running the rope through a pulley hooked to a staple provided for that purpose ; a guide rope is also attached to the bottom of the cradle, which enables it to be pulled aside from flames issuing from the lower windows, and from railings, areas, &c. In some cases the pulley is supported by a grappling hook thrown into the window. Escapes of this kind have been constructed by Messrs. Cobbin, Cook, Fox, Hesse, Merryweather, Read, and some others, all similar in principle, but differing slightly in detail. Mr. Gregory employed a stout rope, forty feet long, having a hook at the top, and a pulley within a few inches of it; a cradle slides upon this rope by means of two rings, one.at the top and the other at the bottom of it. Another rope, twice the length of the former, passes over the pulley, and is fastened to the upper part of the cradle ; by this rope the persons below raise or lower it, until the whole of the inmates of the house are extricated. In this escape the oscillations, as well as the rotatory motion, which occur in some of the former contrivances, are both prevented.
Mr. B. Rider a short time since exhibited a simple rope fire escape, con sisting of a stout hempen rope sallied with worsted, having at one end a swivel spring catch, by which it could be instantly attached to a bed post, chest of drawers, bar of a grate, &c. Upon this rope was placed a stirrup or friction seat, with three rings, through which the rope passed ; these rings were not placed perpendicularly above each other, but stood in a curved direction, so as to cause considerable friction, and check the too rapid descent of the parties ; for one individual, with very little exertion, could, by means of the friction seat, descend with another person in his lap. A contrivance was alto appended,
for instautly fixing a secure noose under the arms, to be used when the friction seat was not employed.
Mr. Davies invented a rope fire escape, possessing in an eminent degree the essential qualities of simplicity, efficacy, and portability. It consists of a long rope doubled, the two ends of which are secured to a strong iron hook, for the purpose of attaching it to a ring bolt screwed to the sash frame, or a beam in the ceiling. A number of loops, made of strong girth web, slide upon the double rope, by means of short copper tubes or eyes; these loops are also equipped with cloth slides. This, with a jointed rod for raising it to a window, comprises the whole of the apparatus. The mode of using this escape is as follows : the end of the double ropes at which the sliding loops are all collected, is placed upon the forked extremity of the uppermost joint of the rope, a second is added, and so on, till the necessary elevation is obtained. The persons above having secured the hook to some suitable object, those below hold the ropes asunder, thus forming a triangle, the apex being at the window, and the base in the street. One of the persons above then takes one of the loops, and passing it over his head and shoulders, fixes it under his arms ; he then gets out of the window and commits himself to the rope, down which he slides to terra firma. As the ropes are in contact at the window, the descent is at first rapid, but as the person gets lower, the greater divergence of the ropes gradually arrests his progress. There should be at least six or eight persons holding the ropes, and they should be kept as wide apart as circumstances will permit ; the base should always be upwards of three yards. Females, children, &c. may be lowered by this escape with perfect ease and safety; for, by bringing the cloth slide on the loop close to the body, the person descending cannot quit the loop till released by withdrawing the slide. Mr. Barnard had previously proposed the employment of a wicker cradle sliding on divergent ropes, but this arrange ment is inferior to that of Mr. Davies in practical convenience and efficacy. The principal difficulty attending the use of portable fire escapes, is m establishing a communication with the persons in danger ; the most usual method of effecting this object is by rods about six or eight feet long, connected either by fishing-rod or bayonet joints, or by screws, as in the escapes of Messrs. Davies, Glass, Merryweather, and several others. The accompanying sketch shows a series of connected in this manner, which not only raise but also support a pulley upon which a cradle is worked ; this arrangement, however, requires strong, and, consequently, very heavy rods, and therefore cannot be much recommended. Mr. Gregory effected a com munication by means of a walking stick with three extending joints like a telescope, by which a line was handed to the persons in danger from the window of an adjoining house. Others have suggested the idea of dropping a line from the tops of the houses on each side of that on fire, which, attached to a rope, or escape of any kind, would enable it to be raised to those requiring its aid. Some persons have proposed to throw a ball with a line attached, into the window from the street, and thus form the desired connexion ; this, however, is a difficult and random mode of proceeding, and by no means to be relied on in the time of danger.