Nikola Tesla - Pictures and Experiences from Childhood and Education Page 40

However, with a fire hose, a fire can be quickly and easily extinguished, thus preventing accidents.

This newly acquired, non-imposing, yet powerful fire hose had to be tested, and representatives of the town, educated individuals, and numerous citizens gathered for this occasion. Several speeches were given about the disasters that a fire could cause and the significance of the newly acquired fire hose. Everyone looked at the fire hose as a protector.

Finally, they proceeded to the tests. A thick rubber hose was immersed in the river, from where the hose was supposed to draw water and eject it to a great height. The firefighters started pumping, and everyone present fixed their gaze on the hose. But, to the great surprise and disappointment of those present, the hose did not work. Engineers and all other educated people tried in vain to find the malfunction. They couldn’t find anything. On the contrary, they determined that everything on the fire hose was in order. But there was no water, so there was nothing. The experts became alarmed,