Dragrope

Starting in 1818, a few women managed to break a the sex barrier that excluded them from active firefighting. [It was] hard work to draw the engine; but among the few who had hold of the dragrope was Molly, pulling away for dear life.

The side of our ship was wasp-coloured as befits a warship, black and yellow and streaming. Certainly the first operation of the dragrope had been successful until it jammed. There was no doubt of that.[…]