The daily gazette., 1878-01-25
THIRD EDITION.
THE sUsPENDED FIRE COM
PANIES.

Their Cases Brought Bcfore
COumcil-COmHn u1tc ntiOns Re.
eefved-Thny yhOle Subject to
be settled MA Special Meet
ing. ..se
The meeting of City Council, last
evening, was attended BY large number
what action would be taken In reference
TO the order Of the Chief Engineer Of the
Fire Department suspending the Water
Witch and Reliance Companies for at
tending . fire outside Of the city limits
tat Riddles Banks) in violation of the
rules of the Department, on the morning
of the 18th INST. The subject was in
troduced by Mr.. Adams, who presented
the following communications;
FROM THE CHIEF ENGiNKER.
WILMINGTON, DEL, Jan. 24th.
To the CITY Council:
GENrLsMEN: hereby notify you
that have declared suspended from
duty, for the space Of 30 days from jan
uary 18th, 1873, the Reliance Fire Com
pany, No. 2, and tho Water Witch Fire
COMPANY No. o, they having violated
section 8 Of the "Ordinance re-Organiz-
ing the Fire Department" passed Jnne
14th, 1877. Also violating rule 11th Of
tuo laws kotofnA4k LILO ufc uoPottmohe
adopted by me in accordance with ths
power conferred upon me.
The above companies having one into
service outside Of the city limits, on the
morning of January 18th 1873, at the fire
at Riddles Bank, they not being dssig-
mated by me for that purpose.
Yours Respectfully,
WILLIAM HANNA,
r Chief Engineer.
FROM rHR WATER WITCH 9. v. =. CO..
WILMINGTON, DRL., Jan. %, 1873.
To the Honorable, the City Council Of
Wilmington: .1
GENTLRMEN:-The Water witch s. +.
E. Co., having been suspended from
active duty for the space OF thirty days.
for violation Of section 9, Of City Ordin-
ance.and Rule IL Of the Chief Engi neers
Rules governing the Fire Department,
by placing our apparatus In service at
Riddles Banks, on the morning Of Jan.
18th, we feel 1t our duty TO ourselves a.
law abiding cinxens and hremen to make
the following statement to your honor
ably body: ,..-
While we fully endorse the above
mentioned secuon OF ordinance and the
rules of the Chief Engineer az being
necessary for the welfare of the city
proper, at the same time we ask your
honorable blody TO consider In extenua-
ton of our technical violation Of the
same, the fast that we were called out by
the city alarm bell and that the property
on fire (situated near Riddles mills,
which are closely identified with Will
mington interests) was only few hun
dred yards beyond the city line.
Being the first engine to arrive at the
scene of the fire, and at the earnest soil
citation OF Msssrs. Riddle & Co., we
placed our apparatus in position for i'm
mediate service. simultaneously the
First Assistant Engineer. Charles
Thomas, arrived, and in the absence of
the Chief Engineer ordered our apparatus
into service.
We wish to further state to your hon.
orable body that although we would feel
the financial loss which we would incur
by violating said ordinance and rules, we
feel more deeply the stigma placed upon
us by the order Of the Chief Engineer
suspending as from active service for
performing an act which we as firemen,
considered our duty under the them exis-
ting circumstances.
With due respect to the order Of the
Chief Engineer, (which we have obeyed
by placing our apparatus out Of service
we invite your earnest consideration Of
the above statement.
SAN'L g. TAzEwELL, President.
Attest:-JoHN B. GINDER, Secretary.
A letter addressed to the council from
James Riddle, Son u Co., was read. 1t
stated that the city hne rsn through
their property, and they paid city tax on
a portion of II, while many of their work
men lived within the city limits.
The communications having been re-
ferred TO the COMMITTEE on Fire Com
Danies, Mr.. johnson moved that the
committee be instructed to report at a
special meeting, to be held the next
evening.
Mr.. lay lor thought more time should be
given 10 the consideration OF the subject,
and suggested that the report be deferred
until the next regular meeting
Mr.. Baker said that while the suspension
was in force, one fourth OF the whole fire
department was rendered useless, and
solely on account OF technical violation
OF law. He thought such condition OF ar
fairs was rather dangerous To The eity's In
terest, and that the Investigation should be
made as soon as possible.
Mr.. Taylor moved 10 amend Mr.. John
sons motlon by requiring the special meet
ing to be held on Monday evening.
The amendment was accepted, afteI
which the motion was adopted and Council
adjourned until Monday evening next
when the whole affair will be settled.
Mr. Hskip at Asbury.-Rev. Mr.. InskiI