The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-26
THE FIRE. DEPARTMENT.

Trial OF zine Companies Nos. o and
Al Before Che Comm ssi0ncrs ON Charges
Co-Anected with the Late Riot ON Ridge
Observation-Disclosures or Withesscs-
Regular Meeting OF the Board-Resig
nation OF Commissioners Booth, Sc.
At nine o'clock yesterday morning Engine Companies
Nos Al and called before the Board Of Fire Com
mssoners Commissioner Engs presding for the purpose
Of having an official investigation Of the riot last
day. in Ridge street. in which affair these companies
have been implicated charged by the Chief Engineer
In the following document which laid before the
Board last Tuesday,
OFFICE CHIEF ENGINEER FIRE DEPARTMENT., !
II ELIZABETH STREET, NEw YORK, August21 1885.
BOARD METROPOLITAN FIRE COMMISSIONERS
GENrLEnEN-I hereby prefer complaint against the
officers and members Of Engine Companies Nos and
Al for rotous and dsodery conduct while at an alarm
Of FIRE IN the Sixth district on the morning Of the goth
inst
Pistols clubs pipes wrenches and other weapons
freely used by tho officers members and Of both
companies fearful riot was the result dsgraceful
in the extreme Immediately after the disturbance
directed the officers OF both ct mpancs not TO allow their
apparatus TO be used until further orders
have this day directed that the apparatus hose, &c
be brought this house, and the houses placed under
lock and key would suggest that the Board give this
ELISHA KINGsLAND, Chief Engineer
The attendance quite meaare
The trial opened by reading the following state
mont Of No. g.
To METROPOLITAN FIRE CONMiSSIONEHe-
CONTAMINATION the past week rumors (which sup
posed werc groundess have reached my OF an in
tended assault by the members Of Engine Co. No O.
the effect that they wre going to beat US, overthrow
our engine, &c. On Sunday morning the Essex Tower
rang an alarm for the Sixth district II appears that
parties placed straw mattress the roof OF building
in Ride street. in order to draw US there We arrived
on the ground and noticed that the street lamps
quenched. We remained there about a moment when
Engine No Al came in without fire cap on the rope
The moment they arrived the foreman ordered his
to assault us, and led the assault himself There
our members were badly injured l. therefore, prefer
charge against Engine Co. No. A. and also the ringer
on the tower at the above mentioned time, hoping the
same will be investigated immediately
ANTHONY BURKE Foreman OF Engine Co. No. g.
The foreman Of Company No. called upon to
answer the charges Of the Chief Engineer He pro-
duced the following Witnesses the substance Of whose
testimony is as follows-
John Sigerson said Il went with my engine NO o. to
the fire in Ridge street; while we paused for moment
after finding the fire was out, Engine Company No Al
came down Ridge street and stopped little way ahead
Of US; the first thing knew Their foreman Hennessy)
was by my side he struck the head with his
trumpet and cred out TO his men Come on and give it
to the damned of b-s three attempts were made
tols took twelve ont who were bunking in the
house, all had fire caps on the members Of No Al had
fire caps on; identify Mr. Hennessy as the person
who struck me-
Henry Close said:-I had the tongue Of No. @; when
No. Al came down our engine was standing still; their
rope he'd about quarter passed our engine when their
foreman ordered them TO attack us; heard their
assistant foreman also give order TO that effect; he
fire cap on no member Of No had firearms; stood
the man who was shot; we were standing on tho
other corner the shots came from the where No
Al standing
Charles Oran IL was at the riot; when No al
up to us they were armed with wrcnches, pistols
sungshots &C.. they Immediately commenced an attack
upon us; heard Mr. Hennessy make tho remark 'Now
give it to the of b-s" then retired behind the
engine shots were fred, and was struck; saw no
pistols in the hands Of any member of my company;
mover saw any member OF No have firearms in the en-
CINE house
say before he reached No g. snow, boys give to the
Irish Of Be-" they made attack on our engine
nd tried to take her down to the foot Of Rvngon street.
dump her overheard; rallied and drove them of;
member Of our engine had or used revovers.
Thomas Clayton sad that he heard the remark Give IL
to the Irish sons Of b-s" from No Al saw no men,
Der have pistols; never saw any In the engine
house.
one hundred and fifty men on the rope; saw Mr. Hen
messy knock down assistant foreman and cry out
'Now give TO the Irish sons sons of bs; we've got
them now ~ the shots then came too thick, and left
Captain Steers Of the fifteenth precinct said that he
took charge of the engine houses after the riot; he
thought from all the inquiries that he had made that
No Al were to blame than No. 8; he found about
twelve fourteen hickory clubs, surmounted with an
iron errule on the ground after the riot he found the
nozzle Of each company on the ground.
Ofcers Geary and Wallace Of the precinct then
gave the Same testimony they gave at the coroners in
quest.
Engineer Ord said On the alarm proceeded to the
place where the Gro supposed TO be- corner of Broeme
and Ridge streets saw Nos and n they were having
must get his men together and stop the muss did not
rel sa,,,.,," answer from him. be seemed to wish
the difficulty 10 etEnia, rs, ,n.- saw the Chief En-:
gincer; he ordered No II to 60 home ma- x-'"uu
Sweeney caught me by the throat and threw me GAVIN;
I know Great many members OF No 9; could not
recognize any in the hgh did all we could To stop
nc nsht think the man who struck me oeiongeo 70
Assistant Engineer Periey next took the stand. His
testimony substantially the same as that OF the last
The Chief Engineer said he did not get up there til
after the shooting gave orders TO No. to go on with
did obey took hold Of the rope; they dragged
me fifteen feet No. got some distance away before
let them go; great many clubs saw one man going
to strike Engineer Ord with pipe; policeman and
myself made FOR him; between the two we got him.
William Clayton, who was charged with having been
found with revolver in his poss sson, said In ex-
PLANTATION that he Lad been Knocked down several times
and was on his way out OF the crowd when he saw II
lying the ground and he picked 1t up. 1t was not
Mr. Burke, foreman Of No. 6. stated that he did not
know whether the pipe was used by his members; II 1t
was, IL was used 10 defend the engine.
Engine Company No IL was then called upon to pre-
sent heir side c the but OF their witnesses were
hand The inquiry was then adjourned TO Monday
morning nine O'Clock, when all the evidence on both
sides will be taken and decision rendered
At three O'Clock in the afternoon the Board me, In
regular trweeky session, Commissioners Engs, Booth
and Brown being present The business transacted was
happily not oppressive IN manner or matter to
nict any very serious mental physical Injuries upon
The Chief Engineer reported various designations and
explosions from sundry companies, and was ordered
that the report be fled and parties notified.
Permission granted TO ENGINE Companies Nos. %
and Al TO take their apparatus mot pistols 10 the Pha
dclphia parade In October
A communication received from John Brown,
foreman Of Hose Company No &c. requesting PERMISSION
TO visit Philadelphia with the carriage in October next
Referred 70 Chief Engineer TO know apparatus can DO
spared.
From c. E. Hartshorn in relation TO his claim against
Hook and Ladder No. /. Laid on the table,
member of Hook and Ladder Company No 20 lost
his badge and asked 70 be refunshed with the insignia
The matter referred 10 the confederation Of the
Rotary.
communication was received from W. r. W. Cham.
bers inviting the Board 10 be present at the trial Of the
"patent adjusted steam spreading nozze on Saturday
next at ten o'clock The Board accepted the invitation
10 see the nozzle.
The President presented . report that he had con.
tracted with Messrs j. b. h W. w. Cornell for placing
iron shutters on the hall.
The Board received this report, and decided upon an
adjournment.
member Of the Board (Mr james W. BOOTH has this
day resigned his position, and his successor will be
-.t.x. Atnn