Daily Republican., 1878-12-17
SHALL FIREMEN RUN TO FIREs.

The QuessiOn before the Mayors
Court Last Eveniug- g-Deiaware W.
water witeh-RasisG - sirss -
be Stepped. ...g.r.'
The small space within the Police
Station, the corridors outside, and even
the doors were filed with crowd of ex-
ercised and anxious flremen last even
ing. The case was upon 'compiaSRt
made by several members connected in
some way With the Delaware, against
the Water Witch, for racing their hor-
ses through the streets Of the city on
Saturday afternoon last, upon the occa
sion of the McDOwellville fire. The
driver Of ths Water Witch steamer,
David Hennis, was placed to answer the
charge.
The first witness called was party
named John Williams, the complain
ant. lie said: We had a notice from
the Chief Engineer purporting to come
from you, not to let our horses break
from a trot in going toand from fires,
In going up Market street the Water
Witch let loose their horses and they
passed us a. the switch in front OF Bul.
locks shop on Tenth street near
Orange. After they passed as they
ran their horses up rennsylvania
Avenue.
Question.-(By Mr.. Hennis) can you
say you saw my horses running'
Answ.r.-I could.
Q.-How far were you behind'
A.-About a square and.a-half.
Gould you from yotr position
see my horses running at that dis,
tance2
Al could. A Mr.. Patterson said
he's running his horses, put af.er him.
The driver said ''no;I am obeying or
ders."
Thomas Hanlon, driver Of the Della
ware engine, testified that the horses
of the Water Witch passed him on d
run.
Q.-Wasn't one galloping and the
other trotting when We passed your
A.--They were both galloping.
Ferdinand Chairs testified as to seeing
the Water Witch horses running.
William McCrea, Chief Engineer said
he brought the charge upon intorma
ton furnished him, and he knew moth
ing of his own knowledge.
John Taggart, first witness for tn c
defence, saw the Water Witch horses
going up Market street at slow rate OF
speed.
James Hanley corroborated this.
Dominique O'Donnell said he saw
Hennis throw the lines around his
arms trying to pull them down; that
was when they started on fast rate OF
speed.
Spencer Jordan, police officer, said he
saw the defendant going up Market
street, his horses were going on a trot.
Daniel O'Neill, sworn: The Delaware,
upon last Saturday afternoon, was
going slow, going to that fire slower
than ever saw them coming from one.
They were going at what you'd call a
snais gallop. When our engine was
10 or 20yards behind them said Dave,
what's the matter with you, are yon
asleep; why don't you pull out and 90
BY that engine. | watched them until
they turned tie corner of Bullock 8
shop; did See our horses pass the Della
warr; the Witch horses were going at
what you might call a canter
George A. Davis testified as TO seeing
the Water Witch horses going up the
avenue from Washington streets, they
were not running then.
Thomas Russell was called upon: be-
ing asked by the Mayor what he wanted
to prove by that witness Mr.. Hennis re-
piled that he wanted to establish the
fact that the horses We're runaway
horses, and that they often got from
under control while running to fires.
The Mayor thought that the cXcuse
was an insufficient one, and said that
if the horses bore the reputation as be-
ing runaways the company had no right
to drive them through the streets en-
dangering the lives of citizens. The
examination of the witness was then
admitted. Upon a question from Mr..
IIennis, Mr.. Russell stated that one Of
the horses he knew to be unmanagable,
he had driven behind them perhaps
about fifty times. One of them he knew
to be vicious as it had killed his broth
er.
In connection with his testimony
Mr.. Russell here stated that it was the
general feeling among the fire compa
MES to walk their horses to the fire; land
not to place themselves in any hurry
to get to a scene of conhagration, it
matters not how pressing the necessity.
Mayor-It dOesn' t matter to me what
the fire companies intend doing; as far
as am concerned | am determined to
do my duty and to protect the lives Of
the citizens.
Mr.. Hnnis-When man Is trying to
save both life and property don't
think he ought te be censured.
Sewell Hall said he saw the Water
Witch horses going to the fire and only
one of tn EN- had broken from trot.
John Williams was recalled, but as hs
did not answer, the mayor asked Wnat
the defence wanted to prove by Mr..
Williams.
Mr.. O'Neill said that he wis ed TO put
the question fair and square, under
his oath, whether the complaint wasn't
made through spite; because the Water
Witch had passed the Delaware EN-
gne'
The Mayor ignored the question, and
closed the case with few remarks to
the effect that complaint had been made
against the Water Witch company by
olher parties because Of this constant
racing to fires, and he meant to stop it.
1t had been said that Mayor Almond
was afraid to impose the meaning of
the law against the fremen, simply be-
cause they were such an influential
A.,l 4 Il