The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-10-06
Mr.. webb said II was difficnlt ~ mo,

nke 10 ask some questions and therefore, he
ia ti cali G some witnesses among whom would
10 Ile Ohlei Engineer himself
a, WI i1oSers was sworn He stated that when
Lns. ds .uth "Iihouth arrived at the fire he ordered
So e. " Pi''y upon the lumber She can play
Ioul no separate streams, and as there were rep-
nronart,, =, p sllae tnere was large amount of
properly IN Browns SAFE and the hose of the
raimouth could not be extended / ordered
.nem 10 play upon the safe. This thew did and
II did not occupy more than than one minute.
soon after the fire commenced saw it was TO
he disastrous one, and ordered out eyervtbinc
there was in the Department and sent T. Sas
60 ior an engine. The rapidity of the fire
1oiged me to frequently alter pisns tbot hi
strnnton ,or 81 ss'opping IT. In relation to the OBJ
s1ruSuoh OF the Commercial street CROSSING 40
tsstined to by Mr.. Leayitt, Mr.. Rogers stats5
@ @that the hogsheads We're removed from Manle
street, and that he was not aware the crossyns
was was oDstructed. do not remember giyinS
sir. Leavitt an order to go to Danforth and
Maple streets by way of High streets. II T.
SO singular for captain of an engine to ask by
What route he should go to a reservoir that I
do not believe gave it it,
IN regard to the affair of the strainer not be-
ing on ms engine when he was captain in 1857
and 1853, Mr.. Rogers said he first placed his
sucuoh nose III the reservoir without the
strainer, because he could not get the box
open. But knowing that Mr. Leavitt would
sa asa mn nm Il ms straner was on, he pryed open
the box, hauled up the pipe and placed the
strainsr on it aud then reported 10 Mr.. Leavitt
That his hose was fouled. Mr.. Leayitt came
to the engine and enquircd if the strainer was
ON, and was told that it was. He ordered the
nose 70 pe taken up and it was done in his
presence, ana he saw the strainer was on, and
acknowledged it. r4sI -
j. s. York called by Mr. Webb and sworn
He testified in relation to the strainer the same
as Mr.. Rogers.
John ID. Snowman confirmed MIR. Rogers
statement in regard to the strainer.
Charles w. Gushing also confirmed Mr.. Rog-
ers statement Is member of the Depart
ment, and thinks MIR. Rogers good Engiener.
George W. Beul.-Haye been in the Depart-
ment about twelve years Was member of
Capt. Rogers company when the affair of the
strainer occurred. 1t was treated more as a
joke than anything else. Mr.. Leavitt never
made any charge OF falsehosd on the part of
Mr.. Rogers Mr.. Beal testified fully in regard
to the capacity of Mr. Rogers as Chief Engin-
fice.g gi
Charles FL Rich.-Have been in the Depart
ment twelve years. Have been Assistant En-
gineer two years. Have been private, clerk
and foreman of an engine. Mr.. Rogers has al
ways been active and faithful at fires, never
hesitating to expose himself, and has always
exercised good care over the property of the
Department. Think him well qualified for the
position he holds. When Mr.. Russell was
Chief he usually asked advice from Assistant
Rogers, and always adopted the advice that he
gave.
John G. Takes5my.-Has been in the De-
partment twenty-five years, and was Assistant
under Davidson, Leavitt, Smith and Barnes
Left the Department about eighteen months
since. While in the Department considered
Capt Rogers as one of the best foremen in it.
Consider him fully competent for the position
lie now holds. His management of the 4th of
July fire has not changed my opinion in that
respect Consider the fire on the 4th as COM
mencIng under more unfavorable Circumstance
es than any other that has occurred here
Agred Wiggin.-Is one of the steam engin-
GERS OF the Department. Commenced under
Mr. Davidson and have served ever since Mr.
rogers IS as attentive to the machines of the
Department as any Chief ever was. Think he
is competent for the position he holds.
Mayor Ste0eRs.--Saw Mr.. Rogers frequently
on the night of the fire. and was often in con-
ference with him. He was cool and collected;
do not remember that had a conference with
him about blowing up buildings. Upon some
thing being related that Mr.. Rogers had said
about Information he had receivsd from the
Chief Engineer OF Boston against blowing up
buildings, the Mayor said he did recollect that
MIR. Rogers said something about it. Did not
see anything derelictin Mr. Rogers on the night
Of the 4th of July, and think he attended faith
fully to his duty. .-... 49,.
= Alles.s.-... Morgan cnaIrman, and Council
man Staples, member of the Committee OH
Fire Department, testified as to the capacity of
Mr.. Rogers and his attention to the wants of
the Department. The latter stated that it was
not Mr.: Rogers fault that there was lack of
ment. Mr.. Rogers, as was his duty, recon-
mended the purchase of additional material
when making up his yearly estimate. The
Chief Engineer has no authority TO provide for
anything for the Department, except it be
very slight, without the consent of
The Committee. 1t an engine needs extensive
repairs he must submit it to the Committee
Alderman Jack testified that Mr. Rogers
urged upon the Committee the purchase Of
an additional quantity of hose. This was
prior to the 4th of July, and introduced an
order for that purpose, which was passed, and
The hose was in process Of manufacture when
the great fire occurred. Thinks Mr. Rogers
fully competent for the Office of Chief Engi-
neer.
Mr. Rogers recalled Has been member of
the Fire Department in various capacities for
u years. Health is good SO that he does not
ear to turn out at any time. Never drank
gill Of intoxicating liquor during his life
Mr.. Webb said that though he could offer
nan for man, with the 200 signers to the
petition for the removal of Mr.. Rogers, who
would testify in favor of the capacity Of Mr..
r. as Chief Engineer, yet he would not further
Jake up the time of the City Council by offer
ng any additional testimony. He then pro-
ceeded with his argument which occupied
over an hour. At the conclusion of it, which
was near IL o'clock, Alderman Morgan moved
an adjournment of the Convention to Z 1-2
o'clock Saturday evening, which was carried.
We have copious notes of the a BILE argument
of Mr.. Webb, but the late hour and our limited
space prevents their publication.