Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-01-03

The Worcester Transcript and the Fire
Department.

-AeSSFS- AsNttOsS - w IA YOU kSAAllAh AAO3
through the medium of your paper, to briefly
answer some statements which appeared in
the Worcester Transcript, of the S0th Decem-
Der last, in an editorial article headed "Wor-
cester Fire Department"
do not profess to be able to review that ar
tiele, because, in my opinion, it is mass of
confusion twice confused" 1t is a mixed
up, iumbled chowder of mis- statements, ma
licious insinuations, and untruths. 1t is an
article without foundation in fact, besides be-
ing very poor affair as literary composition.
1t would scarcely be necessary to notice that
article, if it was not possible that the public
might be deceived by it, in relation to very
important branch of the public service. JUS
tlce To the public as well as to the Fire De-
partment require, therefore, thatits mis- state
ments should be met and exposed.
The Transcript, upon the authority of an
t'informant," constitutes itself the judge of
the Fire Department and deals out its
censures of that Department and It's officers
in a manner that might be Unstable, if sup
ported by truth; but which, being false, is not
Unstable; but, on the contrary, is impudent
and completely unwarrantable.
The Transcript makes the general statement
that there has been, for some time past, great
dissatisfaction among the hremen, with the
present board of Engineers, and that unfair,
underhand means have been employed to force
unfit, Objectionable persons upon the board
and the public.
To this statement 1 offer an unqualified de-
NAL. The members of the present board of
Engineers are all fit men, and they are unob-
jectionable to the large majority of the depart
ment. Ii their re election, now, depended
upon the votes of the fire brigade, have no
doubt but they would receive the votes of
IL # RI ,l,or
1t is truq that small clique of indictments
have endeavored, for some time, to destroy,
by underhanded means, the harmony and
good feeling existing in the fire department,
and also to induce the City Government not
to re elect one member Of the board of En-
gineers. But, although they have been urged
and challenged to prove that the member of
the board alluded to is either "unft or obiec-
tionable, they have not dared to attempt to
do so. l speak of what l do know, and not
on the authority Of any "diSappJiated' infor-
mant.
Previous to the reelection of the present
board, last year, meeting was held in the
house of Company No. l, when it was unan-
imously voted to petition the city government
to re-elect the present board, and committee
OF one was appointed to make known our
wishes.
Shortly after the passage of this vote, was
waited upon bya fireman, and person not a
fireman, and was solicited to sign a petition
to the City Council, that Benjamin E.. Hutch
inson be not re elected on the board of En-
gineers. l refused to do so in the face of the
vote of the department unless for some good
and sufficient reason; and, upon their solemn
assurance that they could and would prove
certain charges against him, l was induced to
sign the petition. They have never proved
those charges, but have refused to undertake
to do so, and believe they cannot do so.-
They have, however, done all that petty spite
and unmanly malice could incte them to do,
in order to make trouble in the department
These facts show how much interest those
men have in the good feeling and efficiency of
the Worcester Fire Department
The meeting which took place at the house
Of Company No. l, on the 10th ult., was to
get up department ball AMI nothing else
The insinuation of the Transcript, that it was
only ostensibly so, is therefore false. At the adj
journed meeting on the 23d, after our business
in relation to the ball was finished, propos-
ed to petition the city government fol the re.
election Of the Board of Engineers, and the
proposition was agreed to. There was not
any member OF the Board then present. as
stated by the Transcript. In the petition
distant intlmation of threat to resign unless
our wishes were complied with, SO that the
statement Of the Transcript on this point is al.
so false The resolution said to be sent in by
one OF the companies and " cavalerly laid on
the table" was not presented, consequently
could hot be laid on the table, resolution
was read by member Of the department and
then was placed in his pocket. There was no
chance given to the meeting to take any ac-
ton on it,therefore, the statement Of the Tran
script on this point is also false.
think l have sufficiently indicated the
character of the leader in the transcript. to
show the public that it was written either in
Ignorance or with a malicious intention. If
1t was written in ignorance the Traa8criDt has
no excuse to offer for lite publication, for it
ought to have taken pains to inform itself be-
tore it undertook to NEEDLE with a subject
that it had no special business to interfere
with. lift was written with a malicious pur.
pose the Transcript has still no vndication to
offer to the Fire Department and to the pub
lie. For many months past the harmony in
the department has been OF the most CRAFTY
ing kind, and we thought that our ball would
increase it; but the Traascri0. is not willing
to see good feeling prevail among Us. and %
bales our proceedings and casts mean refec-
tions on our motives. 1t IS welcome 70 the
honor and profit it can gain By such proceed.
ings. am, &c. IN.
4 member Of the W. z. D.