Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-08-25


purpose Of taking up the Aldermen's bill, i'm
posi- taxes Tor the year 1859, which was not
agreed 10.
AT 10 O'Clock the Board ad iourned.
MEETING OF THE FIRE COMMITS.
SIONERS.
1nvesiigatien into the Fire Alarm,
Yesterday afternoon, meeting Of the COM
miftee Of Fire Commissioners, to investigate
Mr.. Larcombe's administration Of the Fire
Alarm Telegraph Department, was called a,
two O'Clock, but did not meet till about three
O'Clock, as stated in yesterdays STAR. or the
committee, Messrs. Thompson and johnson
We're present, Mr.. Goodall being absent from
the city Mr.. Larcombe was on hand, as also
Jastice Z. L. Corbin TO take the dispositions of
Witnesses. Mr. VIM. II. 4orbutt was present
10 represent Mr.. Goodall, the absent member of
the committee. The President, Mr. Thomp-
son, called the meeting to order, and invited
Mayor Bowen to be present, who returned a
message that his other duties prevented his
attendance
Mr.. Corbin then swore Messrs Thompson,
johnson and Gorbutt to the effect that they
would render an impartial verdict upoA the
Superintendent Larcombe asked that his re.
quest to investigate the matter Of the fire on
the 5th inst, and also Raub's ONCE, be thor.
ough. He objected TO Mr.. 4orbutt acSiny on
the committee, as he was not appointed on AID
committee He wanted, however, thorough
Investigation.
M. InOmpson argued tnat the commission.
ers would act in the absence of Mr.. Goodall
Mr.. Gorbutt said he would not vote in the
matter If 1t was the desire Of the Superintend-
emit. He did not come as politician, but
simply as fire commissioner.
Mr.. Thompson said the Superintendent
should have a TAR and impartial trial and
he wanted Mr.. Larcombe's objection to the in.
yesngatlon proceedings TO be put in writing
Mr.. johnson said that If the superintendent
desired ii, the investigation wonld be postponed
until the return Of Mr.. Goodall.
MI. Larcombe said the whole charges against
him had gone on preJudged, withouthis having
an opportunity to defend himself.
MI Thompson the Board could not be re-
sponsible for what reporters said.
Mr.. LarcOmbe asked that the report of Lien.
tenant johnson heretofore published) be put
in evidence.
The witness replied that that report was cor.
rect, and paper containing it was sent for, but
was reported to be locked up in Major Ricn.
ards desk, and could not be procured as Mai
r. was not then in his ONCE. The investiga.
ton was then proceeded with, as follows;
The Fire at the Park Hotel, July Is.
Lieut. Johnson, Of the Metropolitan Police,
sworn.-Was at the station ON the morning of
the fire; gave the alarm about 3k d. m; in
about three or five min utes received a reply
from eadquarters sail right" heard no alarm
IN the meanwhile, and looked for the engines,
but saw none; about half an hour an inqui.
~ came from headquarters, TELL me again
where that Fire is" witness then standing by
while officer MeChesney was working the in
strument.
Mr.. johnson here interposed, stating that
Mr.. Goojall, being absent from the city, had
appointed Mr.. Gorbutt TO I'LL his place, but as
Mr.. Larcombe had objected TO that Arrangement
there renamed only two on that Committee at
present, whose opinions would be Influenced
by the testimony now being given, and the alb
sent member would not have the same oppor.
tunity; and the question could be raised here
after whether or not the absent member might
be satisfied with the report.
Mr.. Thompson said that Mr.. Goodall, on his
n NV o. hQ fas, tx,,op
ern himself accordingly, and with all due re-
spect 10 his fellow Commissioners he would
remind them that Interruptions of this kind
Were very annoying.
Lieut.. johnson. in reply to Mr. Larcombe,
then said that the dispatch sent by him was
sent on the police telegraph, not on the fire.
from the superintendent Of police not to RELY
on the boxes but In case of fire to use the police
telegraph; and had understood that the order
was caused by some false alarms having been
turned in: the nearest box 70 the police station
was box q, corner eth and NJ; the steamer
Rucker arrived at the fire a few minutes be-
ore four O'Clock, and if she had been there in
ime the loss would not have been over 5000
had be not received previous orders to the con.
rrary, he should have turned in the alarm from
the nearest box (27)
alarm telegraph had been as efficient as il for
merry was, would the fire at the Park hotel
been so extensive7
Mr.. Larcombe said be most decidedly object
ed 10 that question, and IL was dropped.
Onicer McChesney sworn.-Witness saw the
hight of the Park Hotel fire and went lmme.
dia'ely 70 the station; upon arriving there he
found Lieut.. johnson at the instrument: after
that was at the instrument himself when an
inquiry came from headquarters, "Tell me
again where that fire is!'' to which he an.
quiry, ADO you think it is necessary to send
the engines r. to which he replied, 1.-THE build
ing Is in flames" Witness heard no alarm on
the large bells, and about twenty minutes after
w G r m rnf Tod fhop
arrived. Witness understands bell signals
only.
Fire Mt Riley's Pottery, August 5.
Sergeant Ashton, sworn.-Witness lives about
half square from the fire; as soon as he saw
the light he went to box IL, gave the alarm, but
heard no response: could not say what time it
was then, nor what time elapsed before the
very long time. After attempting to turn in
the alarm from box IL witness returned home
Witness had often before turned in alarms and
mad prompt responses, as for instance at the
Arsenal nre; understands that the ticking in
the box denotes that the alarm has bean Siyen
Witness thought he was the first person to give
the alarm, and the IRE was burning yery
brightly when he first saw it, which mas af,syy
three o'clock, but certainly before tour. Roy
II is half square from the scene of the fire.
Omcer Fainter, sworn.-Was on duty on the
morning OF the fire which he discovered about
twenty five minutes before 4 o'clock. ran to.
wards the station house, tur mining in box n
without any reply; on arriving at the station.
house was informed tia. no alarm could he
sent from there. Witness had turned I'M alarms
before. Witness was then asked what his or
ders were in case q box was out of order! Mr..
Larcombe interposed saying he would state for
the information Of the officers present. that the
boxes could not get out of order except yerv
rarely; they might get out OF adjustment so that
the ticking could not be heard, but that was no
indication that the alarm had not gore in
Offcer Fainter resumed After turning IN
box Il twice without success, was ;oId That
Sergeant Ashton had prevlopsiy tried 10 turn
in an alarm there and failed. Witness then ran
TO box So, at the Arsenal gate and turned in the
alarm there twice without hearing any alarm
on the large bells. TIE sentinel at the Arsenal
gate remarked al the time that Il fbust he nearly
four O'Clock; did not attempt to turn i'm any
other boxes: the Rucker which was the frat
engine ON the ground, Gid not get there till
about ten minutes after he had returned from
the Arsenal gate, '-
Mr. I.arco0fe here asked that no unfi nj shed
stateMept De allowed to appear In the public
pfints. and that no evidence be published in
me newspapers till after the close Of the inyes.
tigation.
Mr.. Thompson said that il was usual for all
evidence in cases OF this kind TO appear in the
papers, but he hoped that no comments would
be made thereon for the present.
Omcer Yeafman, acknowledgements the fire
about IS minutes TO O'Clock; was then abou.
three squares north Of the Station House, i'm
company with oficer Painter; they both ran
towards the fire; on the way ofncer Fainter
Z