The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-09-17
CITY INTELLIGENCE.

fed as follows: f'
am watchman in the Custom House; was first ap-
pointed by Gov. Thomas; am both inside and outside
watchman, my duties being guard the basement and
upper portion of the building during the afternoon and
! night On the morning Of the fire. between and o.
clock, whilst it raining found the leaking
when procured lighted candle and the rotun-
da of the Exchange building and discovered where the
leaks were when returned and procured the assistance
| of watchman Emanuel Weneman, when we started up
stairs with buckets to place under the holes in the
catch the water az the head Of the stairs light
blown out, when returned to the Messengers
reght it, leaving Weineman up stairs; having lit the
candle again went up, and placed the buckets
to catch the water coming through the second floor
when proceeded into the third story make an exam
ination there In few minutes we returned to the Gus
tom House hail. when discovered that the Messengers
! room was all in a blaze
BY the Cocctor-Dd you, when you returned the first
| time, light your candle i'll the Messengers room?
Answer.-I did, sir.
QuestionAre there not safety lamps provided for being
| carried through the building?
Answer-Yes, sir, but there oil use in them
Question-FIad You reported to any that there
! no oil for that purpose2
Answer had asked the fireman about it, but he told
ne there none.
QueStion-lIave you been in the habit as general
thing of using these lamps when going through
| ing?
Answer-Yes sir; but did not use one at this time,
owing to there being oil.
! Question.-Is it not your duty to provide oil2
Answer-No, sir it is the duty Of the fireman to do so
| 1t IS mine to procure the candles ed
Questlon.-Whcre was Reynolds, when you came down
stairs and found the Messengers room in flames?
This room is almost opposite to tha in which the fire
broke out, the other side of the hail.
Question.-Was he asleep?
| Answer don't know.
Question-nid you have to call to him, arouse him2
Answer.-Mr. W"fneman called to him when we came
| down, and he answered and came out of the room
Questlon.-iow long were you up stairs?
Answer-About ten minutes
Queston-Dd you hear any alarm of fire while thereP
AhsWer.-No SIR none at all The first we knew of it
was on our coming down.
QuesOn-lave you any doubt sir about vour ba wing
set fire to the paper in the Messengers room?
Answer:-1l have sir and am sure did not, as am
Queston-How else then do you suppose it could have
originated?
Answer cannot say, sir, but am sure it was not
VIM; Watts testified that is Waterman in the post
lce building being employed to watch there by Colonel
name was on duty that night and at the time the fire
broke out he sitting in the Exchange
Duldings. Saw Gawthrop and Weneman go up to stop
the leak, and them return in about ten minutes after
Gawthrop had relghted the candle gone up the sec
ond time, when they went into the Custom House. In
ABOUT TWO or three minutes after they entered the door,
heard one of them call to Reynolds twice he answering
promptly each time. At about the time smelt the
hre and heard some give the alarm Lombard street
Went round to the GAY and Lombard streets
where met policeman Pinde who was also looking for
the fire, and they discovered the flames coming ont
OF the Custom House. Saw Weneman out and
up to the Mechanical engine house when he ran up Cav
street to give the alarm in that direction, and then
turned to his post
Jno Reynolds testified that he had been in the Govern
ment service over five years having first been appointed
by Collector Thomas Was wachman of the vault in the
GShlers Office and watched every night with watchman
Weneman. We came duty at O'Clock in the evening,
QueSton.-"here do you stay while on duty, or how do
you spend your time?
Answer-We generally sit the portico in front until
about o clock, when go in. and lock the doors.
duty?
Answer-Yes sir it is usual for one to watch while the
other sleeps
Question Were you asleep when this fire broke out2
Answer was not I had been asleep portion of the
night, but up at eleven, twelve and one o'clock
after that time did not sleep
Question-Where you remain when the Others went
SlpprV Ip t1nvu rarA
Answer in the Of the Deputy Collector and
saw them 30 out. Gawthrop returned to light the
candle and again went out. and impression is
getting out lantern from the shelf after lighting
die he touched some of the papers which hung like
curtains in front of the shelves where Custom House
papers are stored As he went out he called let
him out the door into the rounda He then had the
die in one had and the lantern in the other They
down again in few minutes and they returned
Gawthrop called out to me, "Uncle John, we all
fire. then went ont of the and down to the wash
room where got bucket of water and threw it upon the
fire, but the others out of the Lombard door.
compelled to 80 to side window get air and then
also made my way out along the passage.
Question-Were you not asleep when Gawthrop called
Gnswer-No, sir; 7 was not
lights do you keep in the Custom House
at night
Answer-Three-one in the Messengers room, one in
the Deputy Collectors room and one in the Cashiers
room
Question.-Is there a safety lamp to carry about
Answer.-There is one.
QuestioD.-Wlcn was its use dispensed WITH
Answer.-lt has not been dispensed with, but is not
used for want of oil
Question-Iave you not been providing the oil?
Answer.-No, sir; Weineman and me get the candles
Question What do you get candles for, when you
these lamps carry about?
Answer.-We get them to in going about the Offices
and to light the gas with.
Allison Gardiner, a Custom House Messenger testified
that he at home when he heard the alarm of fire.
about going to market and that on the way he learned
that the fire at the Custom House Upon going
he found wachman Goodrich at the door and also Cav
thrOp. lie inquired how it occurred, Gawthrop re-
piled that it was set fire by the lighting of candle
He then asked him why he had used the safety lamp
as the custom, and Gawtrop told him he had forgot
to get the oil.
Washington Goodrich, a Custom House wachman tes-
titled that when he arrived there the fire had made
siderable progress: that Gawthrop and Reynolds were
standing a the door and that Reynolds said to t former
that he had done it with candle to which Gawthrop
made no reply.
Mr.. Gawthrop re-examined.
Question How did You light your candle when you
returned for that purpose2
Answer lighted it by the gas
Ques on-Do you ever use paper matches, in light
ing candles?
Arswer-I very rarely use either
Queston.-Did you either on that night?
Answer.-No, sir, am sure tit by the gas.
Queson-Were there any loose papers on the floor of
the room?
Answer-Id do not think there was
Question.-Where was the glass lamp?
Answer-lt was on the shelf.
Queson-Iow did you carry the candle after light
ing it?
and carried the lamp in hand, and the candle the
other thrust up into it,
Col Kane testified to being at the fire. but all that he
knew of its origin from the reports lie had no doubt
hat it had originated in the Messengers room had
regarded the watchmen as all good men Weineman
in the position under Gen Marriott but he had
moved him. and he appointed by Collector Thomas
He also testified that person in the Deputy Collectors
room would he unable to fire in the Messengers
room until it had made considerable progress
Col John F.. Toole Custom House Auditor, who part
occupies this room. testified to the effect.
Geo. Reilly, an Inspector, testified that he was at the
fire short time after the alarm given He Revn-
olds the door, who related to him what he had detailed
in his testimony and also that Wieneman insensib
sufocatng. He then got a ladder and tried to get in
through side window to save him, but unable to
| do so.
Policeman VIM Pndell testified to the discovery Of the
fire in substance the the preceding witnesses and
also that he had first succeeded in getting to Wieneman
who lying in the hall the Lombard street door
he dragged him to that door when he was assisted
ny there in carrying him to the Office Dr.
! Hintze.
The examination was here closed when Collector Mason
observed that he discovered nothing in evidence
going show that Wcneman had fully faithfully
discharged his duty, anything tending to show him
the responsible for the disastrous occurrence he would
reinstate him. So far the others-Reynolds
Gawthrop-were concerned he would express opin
ion continue them suspended and forward result
of examination to the Department Washington and
Secretary then refer the subject him for def
mite action, he should dispose of it in such
in his Judgment the interests of the
! circumstances demanded.
THE POLICE AND FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH-In the First
Branch of the City Council yesterday afternoon, Mr.
Wood from Joint Special Committee upon that subject
submitted report in fave OF the adoption of the propo
sails of Messrs Robinson Phillips Co, of Philadelphia,
for the erection the Police and Fire Alarm Telegraph in
this city Their report accompanied by the annexed
| resolutions
Resolved By the Mayor and City Council Of Baltimore,
That Mayor Register, and City Comptroller be- and
they are hereby authorized directed to contract
Messrs Gamewell and Phillips, behalf of Phillips
GamewelI Robinson and Browning, for the construction
of Police and Fire Alarm Telegraph for the use of the
CITY, in accordance with their proposition dated the Goth
day of August 1885, made the Register Comptroller
of the Cityhe said telegraph to be constructed
supervision the Mayor Comptroller and the joint special
committee of the City Council Police and Fire Alarm
Telegraphs tie contractor shall be
Iot,fl m 10
the Mayor Comptroller and Register conditioned for the
faithful performance of the contract and indemnifyng
the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore from all claims
compensation for damages for using any patent
rights in the construction and completion of said Tee-
graph by said contractors
ResoIrcd That Register be, and he hereby all-
thorZed and directed pay the said contractors or to
| as ma he