The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-10-16

water OF the basin was pumped into the
street-mains," &C., by whose authority the
engines were put TO work there, and as to
the cause OF Mr.. j. G. Smiths fire, corner
Ninth and Cary streets, met last evening iu
the Chancery.Court room, all the members
being present.
Mr.. B. T. August acted as secretary, and
| took down the statements OF the witnesses
In writing.
After the resolution under which the
committee met had been read, the Chief Of
lor, submitted the following statement in
writing:
HEADo'Rs RICHMOND FIRE DEPARTMENT, }
No. IL TENTH STREET,
RICHMOND, Va, October Is, 1880.
George W. Warren, Esq, and Gentlemen Of
the Committee
Having been notified to appear before
your committee TO make q statement in
regard to the use OF the engines at the
basin, and the destruction OF the property
OF Mr.. j. &. Smith, said to have been
caused by sparks from said engines while
they were at work pumping water into
the city mains, l desire TO say On Satur-
day the 2sth Of August l was sent for by
Mr.. j. l.. Davis, Superintendent OF the City
Water Works, who informed me that the
supply OF water in the elevated portions OF
the city bad entirely given out, and that
there was not more than twelve hours'
supply for the lower portions OF the city.
Mr.. Davis stated that II renamed for the
Fire Department to decide whether or not
the water-supply would be maintained and
requested the use OF the engines for that
purpose. inquired Of Mr.. Davis IL such an
emergency bad ever arisen before. and what
was then done TO afford relief. He stated
that on three different occasions he had
applied to the Chief Engineer OF the Fire
Department for the engines, and they had
always been promptly furnished. / imme-
diately sought our ex-Chief, Captain Aims
lie, who informed me that such were the
facts in the case, and that twice during his
administration had he granted Mr.. Davis
the use OF the engines. With that iniorma-
ton, and realizing the condition OF affairs,
ordered three out Of the five engines 10 the
basin, and placed them, under the direction
OF Mr.. Davis, in position for work where
they could accomplish the greatest amount
OF good. This was about 8 O'Clock =. NJ.
Having sought our chairman, Captain King,
before ordering the engines out, but in
vain, again sought him, and, finding him
at bis residence at p. NJ, reported the ap.
| peal Nr. Davis had made 10 me, and stated
| to him all the facts in the case, also reported
what Captain Ainslie had previously done
under similar circumstances, and having
been informed by him Captain King) that
nv action met his appreciation, and that
| had done as he would have acted, felt relieved
OF all responsibility. Having permission
to be absent from the city until the Tuesday
| following, left that night at 1890. leaving
the department in command OF First AS.
sistant Engineer j. +. Wingfeld. During
nv absence the fire occurred and the loss
sustained. ] must therefore refer you 10
| Captain Wingfed for the particulars OF the
| fire.
| have not desired TO violate any ordinance
| OF the city or to arrogate to myself any un-
due authority, but was only prompted by a
desire to do all that lay in my power to pre-
vent the serious consequences attendant
upon a water.famine. Regretting exceed
ingly the loss sustained by Mr.. Smith, and
trusting that this explanation will be satis-
factory, remain, very truly yours,
G. w. TAYLOR,
Chief Engineer Richmond Fire Depart
nent.
The Chief further stated, in reply to q
question by Mr. PiZ2ini, that he thought
| the chairman, during the vacation OF the
| Council, had the right to order the steamers
out. He further stated that every precau-
ton was taken to prevent fire, and the
officers had Mr.. Smiths building entirely
closed. When he conferred with Captain
King the engines had been at work an hour
and thirty minutes.
Captain King, chairman OF the commit
tee lie concurred in what Captain Taylor
had said, and stated that the Chief had re-
ported that Superintendent Davis regarded
the situation as urgent. He Qhe cbairman)
thought Captain Taylor acted for the best,
and he still thought so. Ii had been done
often before. In reference to the authority
of the chairman, Captain King stated that
when matters came before him which he
thought plain, aud he not being able to get
the committee together, he generally acted.
In certain cases the committee give him au-
thority to act. He thought 1t Legitimate for
the steamers to be put to work pumping
water into the mains. He thought the en-
gines were for the good Of the citizens. IL
| is no new thing for them to do such work.
1t had been custom for years. He bad
known them to be put TO work at tne re-
quest Of the City Engineer for work other
than fires. An engine was sent TO west
Point once by authority OF former CnieI'
MIR. Charles Il. Davis, chairman OF the
Committee on Water, and MIR. j. G. Smith
were invited to make statements before tue
committee, but as they were absent from the
city at the time OF the fire and knew no.
thing OF the circumstances they retired.
Dir. j. L. Davis, Superintendent OF the
Water Works, was next questioned. lie
explained the low condition OF the water
in the reservoir at the time OF the fire and
rected what passed between the Chie1 OIL
the Fire Department and himself, agreeing
with the statement made by Captain Taylor.
He was alarmed at the low condition OF the
water for fear OF fires. He looked for the
chairman OF the Water Committee, but
he was out Of the city. Complaints
were coming in OF the lack OF water. He
saw the Chief, and the result has been stated
In his communication. He then spoke OF the
location Of the engines, etc.. and said that
they were pumping each 800 gallons min
ute into the mains. He acted, no believed,
only for the interest OF the city. He wa:
subject to the authority OF the committee
but not finding the chairman, and consider
ing the great scarcity Of water and the ex
treme heat, he deemed 1t right Tor the re-
sponsibility to be taken and to act. lie Sc
lected the position for the steamers to work
In answer TO question be said thai
there are now no sewers, so Tar as ne
knew, enptying into the basin, ant
while he thought the river water better
still the basin water was 6t for use. de
found as many Objectionable things In the
river as In the basin. IL he had thought
the basin water would have produced al
epidemic he would not have requested the
uaa ~ tho on ngines He has been Superin