The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-14
BOARD or FuaE COMMISSIONERS.

This board met last night 10 consider The
matter Of the killing OF Mr.. T, 1toubiot, who
was accidentally knocked down and inter
nally Injured by the truck Of Pelican Hook
and Ladder No. t. Our readers will retnetn=
Der that this sad accident originated from n
false alarm, Of fire given al box No 242, corner.
Of IT. Ann and Miro streets, ON january 2s.
nltin,o
The board. by resolution. directed that the
letter of Chief O'Conuor to the Mayor on The
subject be handed to the press for pnbliea=
ton, We subjoin 1t. o
uHrteH CatHr IgnathhBH Firm DEPARTMENT.
New Orleans, Jan. st, 1H1s
10 The Hon. Edward pilsbnfy, Mayor Of The
City Of New 0rleahs
Dear sir@The futilty Of my efforts hereto
fore TO make any head against mischief
which has become too formidable to justify
any further neglect Of extreme measures fur
It's redress makes 1t Incumbent on me- "a
think. In the discharge Of my official duty. to
address TO your honor directly an important
suggestion. which. II 1t be approved, admits
OF no delay in its adoption. The mischief !
mean is false alarms Of fire,
In my official report for the year 1877 re-
feried TO this grievance III the following
words.
I'm respect, however. to the evil OF false
alarms, of which have before made repeated
mention the malicious practice still prevails.
Notwithstanding my unrenitting ehdenvolF
by every conceivable means 10 prevent 1t. 1t
Is not only all evil on account Of the great nj /.
noyance incident to 1t. but 1t often causes
serious accidents to our men, ne well as horses
and apparatus. During the past year the de-
partment has been called out by eighteen false
alarms, resulting in almost a1l equal number
OF accidents. more or less Important.
'fhe adoption of the trap-loek upon etr. fire
alarm boxes seemed Vt first en eifeetual hin
dranee to the nefaroua practice. but recourse
has recently been had to the desperate devic.
Of breaking open the boxes with stones OF
other implements. thus causing damage MS
the police department have been sxerted for
the detection of the offenders and It's suppress
sion, but tho inadequaey Of the force has retl-
daroH such efforts unsuccessful. would,
Of u reasonable rewttid by the Mayor for the
unrest and conviction OF any party guilty OF
such offenHe would have u satutary effect
The occasion for my present appeal TO your
honor for some action IN the premises. Ia the
occurrence Of q serious incident, which brings
home to the city with grent force, us gee 1t.
tho necessity Of some efectlial measure for
the suppression Of this crying wrong. The
circumstances OF such incident wore thus:
On the twenty eighth instant, ut Il 13 p. m, q
ner of st. Ann and Miro streets. The truck Of
Pelican Hook and Ladder Company No 4, on
it's way to the supposed scene OF the fire,
knocked down and run over Mr.. 2. =. Rou-
bon, who had alighted from street car and
was In the act Of crossing to the sidewalk at
the time. The accident caused external ln-
juries, from which he has since died.
With view to nm immediate and effective
remedy for the evil. | would respectfully sub
NIT to your honorable consideration the pro-
prety OF Offering Il reward Of $500. or such
Other; sum as you should deem iudieious, for
the arrest aud conviction Of the offender or
offenders in this case. Proofof the commission
Of the act Of alarm would, as am advised,
involve guilt Of manslaughter, prosecution
and conviction for which would effectually de-
ter others from mourning the hazard of It's
commission In future and which even prosecn-
ton without conviction would go far towards
doing. would also further respectfully sug-
gest that arrangements be made whereby n
special detective be detailed to work up this
case, with view of bringing theg,dlty parties
to Justice
Very respectfully,
THos. OCoNNoR,
Chief Engineer