, 1873-08-06
TIE FIRE MAnSHALS1IIP,

now. nlrl Dix0n.-.Thctr Record nnd
Qualifications.
Tho important position Of Fire Marshal has
got to bo prominently Aod; and, In Wow OF tho
public inloreBts to bo entrusted to tho caro- OF
khe "ooming man." hll clashes Of oitizons fool
anxious about him. Tho Mayor seems TO untlor-
stand and thoroughly appreciate tho fact TINT
tho oiI1co at lis diapoHat Is no ordinary ono anl
&hnt its many functions cannot DO discharged by
evory man who itnaginoB lltnsoh peculiarly
fitted for tho p!nco. He Inns prudontly doforrod
making nomination until ho can find person
who ia intellectually md plyslcally capable Of
governing suoh All important part Of tho munich
pal machinery aa tho Fire Department. aud ono
who Ina tho confidence and respect Of tho entro
community. Several namos havo already boon
mentioned, but tforo soeus to be m obstacle in
tho way uf oaoh TINT ia almost ins,lrmountablo.
It Is understood TINT the Mayor would DO grat-
fled ii Col. Low ?. Wright, Policc Commission
or, would accept tho nomination. That gontlo-
mai, however, has positively deolined tho honor,
being, as ho himself Expresses 1t, "too
old and too fat to ruBh around nfter
fires now." II tho law could be changed
80 that tho Chief N1arnlal would not DO compol-
led to attend 1ros outside OF limited district,-
tho business portion OF tho city, for instance
unless summoned by n second alarm, tho probn-
bility Is tho Colonel would tako tho placo.
Ex-Ald. ". B. 1atoham fs also understood to
bo another Of tho Mayors favorltos for Marshal,
Ae having boen flromau OF somo distinction in
hR younger days, aud at all timoH q man Of Btrict
habits aud unimpoaohablo integrity. But ho
doesn't 1,ankor after tho position. Like Col.
Wright, he aayB ho is tod and rather stiff, md
1t wouldn't do for him to goolsmbing ladders OK
cept i'll MI emergency. II tho lload OF the Do
L.
alarm, he might take the place. and devote his
timo principally to tho financial portion Of tho
duties.
Tho objections raipol by those two gont1omen
arH sagssss0 s H.. e. rosa Witch - may sG Of
go is nbout tho only city in tic country which
co1npolB tho Chief Marshal Of tho Fire Depart
mont to rush OFF every time tho tiro-bol rings,
Assistant hiarsl,ala aro supposed to 10 capablo
of handling nh illorient fro or q smoky ohim-
ney, and the principal olicor, unloBs In tho oYont
OF a second alarm, mover attonas fire outside
always present to takc charge Of his men and
apparatus wlerc hentl i8 moHe needed. Under
tho rn1o which obtains in thiB city, the Chief
Marshal and tho First Assistant may DO working
Oh o tiro Mt tho South sldo limits whilo another
and moro dangerous ono Is in progresa in the
heAyt OF tho bilsineBs Boction.
Tho third man who IL prominently namod In
connection with tho Chief Marshalship is
Matthias Bonner, tho Firat Assistant Marshal,
who Ia now temporarily filling tho vacancy
caused By the removal Of Williams. His chances
are rather slim, however, aa the Mayor sooma
determined not to appoint mombor OF Tho Do
partuont. Dennor, though. comparatively
ence, and during tho groator portion OF that
time has hell positions Of trust md responsible
ity. Ho Inns boon nh Assistant Marshal for
years, aud carriod tho Department On his
Shoulders when it's lato head wnH not in
tho best possible condition to manage it.
His friends, and their name is legion, in
clude prominent citizons md tho ontiro
Fro Department. They arc working diligently
to aoouro his appointment baaing hlR claims on
bis record for oiiicioncy, his strictly tompor~
ato habits, and on the manner in which he ex-
tingniehed the fire IN tho Singer Block tho othor
evening.
nuoe Patrol, 10 also an aBpirant to the position,
and is strongly backed by tho Board OF Undor-
writer's. The insurance men claim that he is by
ill odds the best aud most reliable droinan ia
tho city, and are leaving no atone nnturnel to
CATIONS Of them have waitod OH tho Mayor day
Rfter day since the vacancy WAS created, md
be has listened patiently to thom whio they
SSd S as on ls Sss s IS # e He I'll ondr 9oa
Bend Bullwinkle's namo to tho Council, but ho
refrainod when lo learned TINT q number OF Al
delmen would opposo him on the ground OF in
rs th
Fire Department dates back Blk Or Rovcn years.
He drove I. p. HarriR' wagon, and whom Williams
Was made Marshal, ho drove his. He was 9
driver when the Board Of Underwriters conceived
the idea of organizing IN Insurance Patrol Blmi-
lar to those in Eastern citioB, and through tho
influence Of Williams mud others he was made
Captain OF tho Company. Ho gathered around
hiu, At tho start aomo Of tho hest mon connected
sneo @ 'p paeea ass tho patro i on M aa ' efficient
footing. It han grown In usefulness ovor
since, and is to-day ono OF tue best organizations
Of tho kind in tho country. It III almost unnocos'
of tho Patrol ia to rescne goods from burning
building, to cover with tai paulina auch goods nj
ts.oy cannot rescue and to takc charge OF and
sweep out tho building when the Firo Depart
ton witt, fire. Tho Underwriters fool proud
OF Dnllwinko for tho services ho has rendered
them, aud will make the city reward him II pos.
eiblo
with tho position. Ho WIS Chief Marshal Of
tho old Volunteer Department, nnd managed
the Paid Department for short tinao utter its
organization. Ho las devoted noarly his whole
life to the business, aud understands it thor
oughly.
entered tho field, and is supported by strong
recommendations. Ho is one Of tho old-timt
Gromon, aud is. tho President of the voluntool
FiromonB Association. It: il hard to toll what
show ho stands, if my, but as lno is M exceed.
ingly practical mnn, aud 4 builder Of good repu
tation, his claims arc likely 10 moot with re-
spoctful hoariug.
Laat, but by no means least, comes Dotoctiyt
Joe Dixon. Ills object in desiring to drop tht
hautl-cuffh md pick up the trumpet is impet
fectly understood at this writing, bu
that dooa not alter tho fact that ha
III candidate for Marshal. HiH nam'
has bcon brought to tho Intention Of tho Mayo
by mon of high standing in the community, wh,
aeem to think Tint tho practical qualities whicl
hu Possesses will carry him through Hi
Honor'A otflco and through the Council will
flying colors.
Tho eusponBo cannot Inst long now. An up
pontmont will hnvo to bc made next h1onGa,
evening. as the Mayor promised it IN his com
munication to to Council on tho removal Q
Williams There il no means Of aacortainin,
the nnmo likely to bo thrown on tho cold chart
ties Of tho Aldermen, for the month Of him VIII
Rits in tho executive CHAIR Is closed, even lils
NIL oyster, Oh tho subject, and tho statements o
others ero nothing but moro conjectnroa, dictate.
IN nearly. osery instance BY personal feeling. al
TINT can hh dnno in tn Unft