The New York herald., 1850-10-27
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Reply of Alfred Carson, Chief Engineer of
tho Fire Department, 80 tho ConmOn
Council Co N tttoe.


Chapman, began an Investigation, or inqusition,
respe echng the truth or fallacy Of my late annual
repert. The committee having invited, according
TO The terms OF The resolution by which they were
appointed, committee from the representatives of
the Fire Department TO join them ia the investiga-
uon which the representatives accepted, appont-
ing Messrs. Mills Hope, and Lacour TO operate
with the Common Council committee in the inves-
ugatien.
AT preliminary meeting, it was agreed, by both
etmmittees, that the Chief Engineer should have
full latitude to prove all his charges, both specific
and general. After the Common Council commit
tee had very reluctantly consented 10 admit the
sci, and had closed the doors against the people
eJecuns even my own witnesses, save one at
time; alter they had carefully locked, and
barred, and boiled all the doors, and placed
.sentnels, like The inqusitors of Spain, to
guard them against the people, the investlga-
ton or tnal, the ridiculous farce or inquision, be-
gan with those who are arraigned in my annual re-
port, actually situOg in judgment, nof only upon
themselves and the members of the body that ap-
epointed Them, but also upon the integrity Of the
Fire Department, through lts Chief Engineer. Such
IN bref outline (uf the dsinteTested and personal
eharac,er.) oithe Common Council committee, who
we're to act as my Judges with closed doors and
~iihsbeolue power; adjudsing, too, repeat, their
own acts, and the drelection of the whole body
which they represented
When the trial negan, I called three witnesses,
consecuuvely, ouI OF some twenty who were
at the doors outside and these three honest mea
opened such an Irersis,ble broadside upon the per-
nicious evils connected with the present bell ring
ing eyslsm with which Mayor Woodruff and other
hightoficials seriously involved, as, think,
viii be remembered by those present during their
natural lives.
The fret witness was
John nappiien, Who svore that he was a bell ringer
on Union MARKET for from four to six days tAe
month OF July lsl9; that when he went tie tower
bell ringer OF the tns the re- gular number Of bell
ringers each tower being three he found could
do the duty with one six hours and hours or
and applied leave; that In the nstanos he was
setailed for two weeks that he had been bell
ringer before 1t was said that too hari for two
men TO attend to that tower, &c.
James Gerau swors that he bell ringer for two
days. when be was taken back TO ward duty; tba. he
received the order leave ri. p,sn
and did not consult the Chief Engineer; that during
tower; that there was only one on the when he
went there ard that aIriug lis there but
ths pute four oelrngers are necessary on that tow
or, that two are inadequate, and one grossly made
1uate that ne haa slrpt the whole tower" that H.
the whole ak hours and that owing to the insult
nciency OF men, &c shat frequent changes and re-
movas Of bell ringers disturbed the etcisn,y of the
tower that would be oser fo- the Interests Of this
Fire Department II the bell ringers permanent,
and also IL tbey under the charge ct ths Chief
Engineer; while be was on he tower, there
cord kspt Of the absence or attendance of the bell
ringers and there no way for the Chief ognser
90 know whether ths duty vas performed or net,
iess the Chief Engineer there hcise or had
one TO watch it; that after he was detailed, he
under the charge OF his captain IL his captain told
him to report hiassl for duty, he would have 70 40
ro the Chiai EDSioser went to the to o~er and gave
him directions, he would not consider himself bound
10 follow them; doss about twelve hours duty po
Iieemani consider IL easter than bell ringng it ia al
i'm possible Keep awake has been on the t.wsr
two veeks, when there only besides him.
self that is when ne slept his whole Elk hours in al
don to perfsrmiog duty ss bell rinsar he was called
70 do pcee duty elecian day, spo half hour
late st the tower en toat night in consequence.
Mr.. Jsmes Parish s~ora, and examined is po-
lsensn eftbe rhirtscuth ward is engaged bell
ringer In the Union da ket tower went thsro In Sep
sneer, 1889 TIE to"er was vacant when hs vent
there sent there By the Mayor, having been de-
tailed by him ne inquired who had charge OF the
Eover, ana lesrnsd that 1t was Mr. Messon he was
mt ma h. Ausrf 1ataaI 10
s one OF his asfcsiates remained at that tower from
that tre 20 the present when he was hrst employed
has been there james Gersu has been sppOin,ed; he
left, aud his place illed by Mr. Ds Rouehs wo
week or 50 after lsft; BarsnEs rsmaiu=d uatil
week oso last night when he szid no superseded;
We have been doisg With TIVE uss since up 20 yester
dsy three different have been that since
he has nected WITH IT. there shonld uo bs less
thsn three men in the tower did not know who bis
boss hes been bell rDSsr az jefferson Market;
tuperstosd gentleman nse-d Ward there have
beeo - msuy Ell nsss there during the tne be was
bell rcger that he cannot rseoiess them there
some tbisty ch.=gss; some OF them did not remain
than one week; he knows 1t because be had to
psrfcro the dutigs Of those who vscsted these have
been prrat may vaeAnoies too and at one tima, he
rss the only man on dutY las boon there AL day and
all night without heus relieved and been obliged 20
.-sll peuon 70 wreh white no took bis meals;
Other ocsaon hs igr.si the tower 20 get something
10 cat after doing 40 vent 30 the station house TO
ascersain hr oi bis not being relieved ths csp
.sn ssid tta. % the bs ringers had sent word TO
him thst he va fich wtusGs then tried 20 ascertain
the fate cf the o-heg ringer but could not hnd out;
went heck 60 TIE O'Clock aud stsd tili
ported ,ioh thsrs MS no record ktpt Of absences
or vaosnoies At this thie the bolt ringers have
port ths sslves a. IRE captains Of police; called or
once fTuD toNer duty 90 perfofm police sefvisei
that he lsft JeGsruon dars't tower because hs -ss
orcetrd 90 % patrol cuty declines 20 Whistler
ne neglected his duty; thsre was no policeman ~ho
Goes Dot neglect his igiy' Duranssr csms In LILLE
over week sfsrr ths vaeSucy; knows q mistake at
the jefferson Nsrsst IN consequence o. the inooIe-
potency Of TIE bell ring "a; thinks msfaSs occutrrd
n r. In gaFfgE the bill rfIurf when
u sught "a havs strucx ooe' has kaorn tneomgstsnt
Tsn Ts 70 's mn 49, ~
tksir dule- proprfiY, nlsn men Who we're iek uieed
he csed the tostr@au h1spitsl lasterly ioc we'll nsn
TAKEN away ana sex onrs plscei In ther stead;
has alec kbown sdiiosd 10 liquor to b. appoint
ID as bel. rinssr; hs. kus~n Of ?sleeasn tskius
appointment ana sosat Ia fsv dsys aflsr; dOcs not
tnov whether they we're afsnsn or not.
Here was, indeed. precious dose Tor the Mayor,
The ChicfOf Police. the Aldermen. and al involved
IN this dnpTacsiul busiatss OF recommending aht
detailing such a cllss u men, uAd even limtsd
number at thsi, 10 hIl tie most rsspoasible trusts
in the CIV that ~ uaiiy grOuaiaR Ouf hrcmen and
citizens To rush scenes of dssstr0us cOnia gfa-
.tion. Mayer Woodruff was especially ternh-d,
together with the Common Council commuee,
wbo tAci,ly exclaimed. "fur Gods sake, do mnal.
ele the truthful torCues - thsse he'll ringers, and
confne the iryca-Nadon, hereaHcr. 90 sq-ciac
charges, A., indeed, the iavesizuioa must se con-
tnued at all" fearing The sixteen f9le 9 wl'nesss
nj The door outside, eager % give siii mere eaTa-
ordinary evidence against them, which had been
reserved for the last AZ THE iuncnrc, witnes,
was about 20 tske the stand, who would have
reached the MAYOR personally. Bui, smid the
terror, a moyemt nj ives MADE for adjournment,
and actually earned, the coas.ernstion va ch three
honest bell rneiag witnesses had spread over theif
mipds beng instantly superseded ~ sncete ans
heartfelt JOY, as deptcied In even face of the ac-
eused.
A Os the next eresins. ss expected, their tactics
were suddenly changed, pererpioriiy refusing 10
receive fsrther evidence fespectiRg the rtrnicioas
bell ringing ~ stem, which had thorpaghyer-
posed 10 my annual report, oharRlng the Mayor,
Alderme u, aud oi her officials, with being The d.
lect cause Of evils that eyposed 10 constant de.
iructiou by fire twothirds of the commerce IL