The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-05-17
CHIEF Of the fire Department.


article in which il emphatically lays the
blame Of the great loss by the recent fire
upon bad apparatus and want Of hooks and
ladders, thus speaks of the Chief of the Fire
Department. Mr.. Cook:
Neither engine could throw water up to
the second story without bursting its hose;
and the Chief Of the FIRE department seemed
60 be entirely lost and TO have no command
Of the firemen or the citizens at ell. The
will Of the men to work could be seen every
where, but the skill of the Chief was visible
no where. Mr.. Cook Is q most excele Mt
man in his line of business, but az chief OF
the ERE department he is out of his element,
and our City Know Nothing Council are rep
.rehensible to the highest degree for remov-
Ing John Hewston, Without any cause, and
putting Mr.. Cook in his place. Mr.. Cook
doubtless did the best he could; but all he did
amounted to nothing. He was there on
Notwithstanding new place for horse
msnship.
., Now We have just this to say of Mr.. Cook
that be did his duty. That citizens did not
answer the call of the Chief, and assist him
in controlling the march Of destruction which
threatened even q greater public calamity
than ensusd-is far more to the disgraceful
shame Of those men, than an argument
against the efficiency OF Mr.. Cook. Here
after We hope . way, and very emphatic
wsy il necessary. will be provided to secure
the proper response when citizens are called
upon to assist in saving their neighbor's prop
srty-or at least to punish such skulking
wretches with severe fines soon after. Many
very many citizens. did their duty, and labor
ed sealously to save property and prevent
the spread of the fre-but others obstinately
refused to assist in any manner, or shame.
fully skulked away. Such men will hereaf.
ter be marked, and the consequences may
not be pleasant to themselves perhaps.
Mr.. Cook labored energetically)at this FIRE,
but willing a. were the iremen they were as
woSkmen without tools. No blame can be
attached to him for net accomplishing more
than was done. Now we are free to say.
that thus far, instead Of Mr.. Cook having
proved himself incspacitsted, for the posi-.
ton, he has shown that disposition to stake
the responsibility" and determination to
place the FIRE department in an excellent
position for future usefulness, which has per.
haps never been exhibited by any single
man in Evansville before. He was elected
to his present position only about month
ago, As to the condition Of the appar.
atus, &C., evidence, enough has been
given at this FIRE. He went to work and
took the responsibility of at once engag-
ing 100 feet Of good hose. and contracting
for the thorough repair Of the engines. He
has set vigorously lat work securing fol
Evansville thorough going and well organ
lied Fire Department, and from what we
know of the man, he will do it unless his
power be in some manner crippled by the ac-
ton of those upon whom he has every right
to look. for assistance.
The remark of the Enquirer that Mr..
Cook was at the ere on horseback, is entirely
unfounded. He labored zealously at the ERE
till breakfast time, and was not on horse
atsll until after that hour, when he rode by
the ruins on his way to q distant foundry
on the very object Of having these engines
repaired.
We have not meant in this to offer de.
fence Of Mr.. Cook.or in any manner to inter.
fere between the respective friends of him.
self and Of his predecessor, but we submit it,
that coming into Office and finding things in
the condition they were-his action at the
first FIRE, and before he had any means Of
practically familiarizing himself with the &C.
tusl workings of the old system. should
not be too severely criticised. He should BE-
allowed . trial before any judgment 10 pass
sdspon bis merits.
STEAMBOATS, &c.-There were not enough
stssmboats at the wharf yesterday to meri
the usual itemical notices. The David White