antedating of hydrant (1803)

Stephen Goranson goranson at DUKE.EDU
Thu Aug 30 15:51:54 UTC 2007


OED cites 1828 in Webster

(Gale 19th century US newspapers)
The Scioto Gazette, (Chillicothe, OH) Saturday, September 10, 1803
[date not on
the page, but the news looks plausible for then]; Issue 172; col D
     Philadelphia, August 26 Melancholly
"Yesterday morning the city was alarmed by...fire....Notwithstanding the
difficulty of access by any number of engines, the hydrant and hose were made
subservient to the most effectual purposes. The flames were completely
overpowered by five o'clock...."

Stephen

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