The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-07

The Story Of the Erie Fire
Concluded.
Why Kehoe Was Ordered Out and Mccarthy Or
dered In-"There is His Blood Running
Outv'-Decision Of the Fire Commits
sioners - Chief Engineer
Farrier Exonerated.

The investigation into the conduct Of Chief
Engineer Farrier, Of the Jersey City Fire Depart
ment was resumed yesterday.
John Coleman testified was not at the fire;
know Kehoe, engineer of No. Engine; know moth
ing Of his action at the fire but what heard from
Peter Doyne told the reporter of the NEW YORK
HERALD that Kehoe retreated from that fire in
violation of the rules; said that heard SO, but
did not tell him whom heard say so; told the re-
porter that Peter DOyne was my authority, and l
fetched him round to Doyne's; Doyne acknowledged
In my presence that he was my authority for
the statement; he said that what l had
told the reporter was true; stated
that there was some animosity between Kehoe and
the Chief Engineer and that the Chief would prefer
charges against him for leaving his post at the fire;
did not say 1t right out at the time, but under
stood that the animosity arose from the fact that
KEHOE WAS AN FRESHMAN;
told the reporter that Kehoe said ~ would not
risk my life for the whole damned road, >" meaning
the Erie Railroad; I had that too from Doyne.
Robert @. Blackwell, foreman of No. Engine,
next took the stand and testiaed-I was in COM
| mand OF Three Engine at the fire; we went out on
the second alarm and took our post at the corner
of Eleventh and Provost streets; saw Six Engine
standing at hydrant in Provost street; asked
hs that s maj main was ma IN a
street: saw SIX Engine leave the Provost street
as well 20 home as to remain where we were;
said that we might replace No. Q;
% ON nas 0%
got there looked up and saw the wall coming; l
heard shouts and cried out,
"JUMP QUICK LOOK QUIT"
saw Nagle and Mccarthy there, and shouted to
them, but before they could get out Of the way the
ton the Chief sent me there did not object When
he told me to take that hydrant 1t did not to-
! me that there was danger there; heard no person
object L
as close to the wall as Mccarthy, and so were other
Genfy e. Faf sa%'R 6ef Engineer was then
ows:I saw the dre from Newark avenue
tentcn was called to it By the wSIst"s of thy loco
motives; got on No. Truck and rode up Prospect
ran down to the hydrant where six Engine was
stationed; saw that engine was not getting suni-
Client supply Of water told the engineer to
PUT ON MORE STEAM;
went into the building and when came ont
ordered an officer to ring the second alarm; told
to cut OF the fire from the main building; Mr..
Laverty came to me and asked If we could not save
before the men could get in q volume of smoke
burst out and drove them back; Engineer Kehoe
came to me and said he
on Provost street. 1t was getting so hot: the FORE
man Of No. Engine came to me and complained
half an hour or forty minutes after ordered No
Engine away from the bydrant in Provost street;
i u
six;toot connection; noticed couple Of men
making connections with the engine, but did not
Know who they don't remember a whether
was some excitement; after the wall had fallen
Hogan came to me and said, ION, Chief.
MCCARTHY UNDER TIE wALLr'
replied that did not think so, for that was
McCarthy's day Cd, and he went to picnic that
the wall; Hogan said "oh, yes am positive he is
there;' the cry went round that Mccarthy was
mi NOT fa1
men TO turn stream of water on them; after
half minute the men set to work to pull Off the |
bricks; Hogan said, "Oh yes Mccarthy Is under
THERE IS HIS BLOOD RUNNING OUT
blood and was so taken of my feet that hardly |
knew for several moments what was doing; the |
next words heard card were There is hls bodyl'' |
had In ordering No. Engine there was to obtain |
supply Of water, as we were
on that side OF the building; the scarcity of water
was due TO the fact that all the hydrants within the
building on the north side were running; went
through the rains In company with Hogan about |
two o'clock In the morning and found four
hydrants running inside the building; 1t appears
were driven out, and they left the hydrants rum
ming; ordered No. Engine away because the
never had any hard feelings against Kehoe al.
ways looked upon him as one OF the best engineers
NEVER HELD OUT ANY THREATS
that would prefer charges against him; no one
pointed out to me that the position to which No.
Engine was assigned was dangerous; II any repre-
sensations had been made to me about 1t I would
have looked at IL more closely; before ordered No3
Engine there looked carefully at the wall and it
appeared to me TO be perfectly safe; as a general
rule do not listen to the suggestions Of persons
outside the department; held consultations with
the Commissioners during the fire; with regard to
my constant companionship with Commissioner
Dean, alluded to In the HERALD, would say that !
am Obliged to call upon him frequently, as no re-
pairs can be made till he is consulted.
This closed the case, and the Commissioners re.
tired for deberati0n. After the lapse OF ten min
utes they again took their seats and the President,
Mr.. Gregory, announced
THE DECISION.
He said that the charges against Chief Engineer
Farrier were not sustained; that no cupability at
tached TO him In connection with his conduct at the
IRE In the Erie buildings, and that he was held en-
tirely blameless for the death OF james Mccarthy.
This decision cannot be regarded otherwise than
Q Just one In view OF the testimony adduced. Mr..
Farrier Is relieved from load Of public censure
under which he rested since the terrible night on
which Mccarthy yielded up his life. The Chief was
warmly congratulated at the close Of the proceed
lug6.
The Coroner's inquest In the case will be resumed
fara NJ ha ~ nal to--