ANNA CONNELLY; ANNA CONNELLY PATENTED THE EXTERIOR FIRE ESCAPE IN 1887 IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT THE DEATHS OF MANY LIVING IN MULTI-STORY BUILDINGS. THE INVENTION WAS ACTUALLY A FIRE ESCAPE BRIDGE THAT WAS SURROUNDED BY RAILINGS AND WITH OPENINGS AT THE ENDS AND ALLOWED FOR THE SAFE ESCAPE FROM ONE BUILDING TO THE NEXT IN THE EVENT THERE WAS A FIRE.