The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-11
THAT Is TnE QUESTION,
Were the Firemen Driven to the wan. mr.
Were They Not?

/ III
/ Were They Metz
It win be remembered that on Sunday MORN
ing, about o'clock, the fire department was
called, By the usual alarm. to the scene OF the
late fire at No. Al Peters street. whore no fire AK
listed. and the impression grew among the
members OF the fire brigade that the only OBJ.
teet.of bringing them to the spot was simply TO
make them pull down some Of the walls that
were in danger Of falling. to the detriment Of
passers-by. The matter having given rise n
no little discussion among the fire boys we
have made some inquiry into 1t, with the fol.
| lowing result. tIf we have been mfsIed our
columns are open for explanationsi The fire
had occurred about week previous. when on
Saturday the chief engineer OF the fire depart
ment requested one Of our hook and ladder
companies to proceed to the burned building
and tear down such portions Of the walls as
were apt to fall. The request was objected 10
on the ground that no fire was occurring at the
| ume ana that the company had been dia-
charged from further service at that fire, and
| there the matter rested On the same evenino
the Mayor informs us, Chief Engineer o Conner
| applied to him for
AN ORDER
to pull down the walls, showing him at tba
same time, city ordinance redIilrinp the fra
department to perform that duty, That he tbe
Mayor. having In view the protection Of the
lives OF citizens. was then about ordering the
the expense Of the city; but when he found that |
the chief Of the fire. department himself. ad-
mted 1t TO be a part of the duties of the frernen
me- the Mayor. issued the necessary order. The
ordnance in question as far as we have be- n |
able 10 discover Is that which authorizes the |
CONTRACT between the city and the Ffremen,s |
charitable Association. and the responsibility Of
me IRE brigade Is based on the section which
defines the duties and powers of the chief an
GINGER, and In which it Is said that he may order
walls pulled down when necessary
NOW, amongst the boys, 1t Is contended that
whist 1t is their unmistakable duty to obey The
Oroers Oh tne cnlei engineer and do all that is
yenun9 the spreading of the flames, there Is |.
notnlng IN their contract with the city recurring
mem or their chief engineer to pull down walls
IA entlre week after the fire has been Quelched
tor, say they there Won d be scarcely Any limit
20 their duties II It were otherwis q wall that
would pc considered not dangerous after a Are
might Do lett standing for months and even
years las may even now be the case In some
parts OF the city). and what with the effect of
time and weather or other causes flnallv he
q eoLne diIapfdated and apt to crumble; would It,
tney ASK, pc proper to call on the fire depart.
Inelt 20 pun gown such q WALTZ 1t Is even con-
tenaed mat It II not the duty of the city to pull
caLion 70 the owner of the property the latter
tails TO nave them pulled down. and then
AT THE EXPENSE
OF the property holder.
another subject OF discussion In connection
WIN THIS matter, is the proprety of calling ont
4 I. large sectlon OF the fire department at no
little cost In wear and tear to the engines and I
apparatus, for the purpose of pulling down !
YAH IL seems that good many of the BOYS on /
MS occasion ttt was the morning after Satnr- /
ny nlgnt you know were mucted to the tune
y ntty cents each, the fine for falling to answer
he alarm. No. Is. one of our most active CON- M
)anfes, alone missed eighteen of its nnsnohars
It the roll call that morning. r