Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-09-26
THE FIRE CONFUSION.
A Regular Meeting Yesterday-Ch1ef
Black indicated.

A Regular Meeting Yesterday-Chief
Black indicated.
An adjourned meeting of the board OF
fire commissioners was held yesterday af-
ternoon, Commissioner Delano in the
chair, and present, Commissioners Hugh
son, Parker, and Schliek.
A big batch of bills, including bill Of
$500 for team of horses, and several bills
for expenses incurred in the Willard cele-
bration, were submitted and allowed. A
bill of S177 for badges, was also passed.
The pay roll for September, amounting to
1854, was approved
A communication was read frem War
rem Carpenter calling attention to the
lockout on Summit avenue at the inter
section of Ramsey street, and recommend
ing that it be connected with the depart
ment as fire observatory. 1t was re-
ferred to the chief.
A communication was read from Pres
ton & Co., Chicago, asking leave to put in
100 feet of sample hose and placed on file.
A communication from Fl. z. Rugg & Co.,
in reference to Hercules hose, was also
placed on file.
Commissioner Hughson submitted sever
al communications in vindication of the Of
fetal character of Chief Black and in refu-
tation of the charges contained in the Pho
neer Press. In promising M. hugh
son explained that while he had taken
no stock in the article alluded to
the Communications had come unsolicited
and as they sustained the board in the sp-
pointmsnt Of Chief Black, they should be
submitted.
The communications, which speak for
Themselves, are rs follows:
N1IvAuKsn, Aug. 81, 1888, L. E. hugh
SON. ESQ.,. Fire CommissieRsr, ST. Paul,
MIMI, Dear Sir: Daring my stay ut ysur
city last Sunday neticsd in the PtoaeeT
Press an attack upon your chief OF tho hrs
Departments, which charges him with eew-
araios, preferred by parties in Milwaukee,
which think is very unjust. Mr.. Black,
who has always been considered most sx-
celIsnt fireman, Of cecil and dslibsrats
iudgment,has lived maay yesrs in Ailwau-
kee, and has done his full share towards
making our department whss II
| is to-day. The gist OF the
charges are, that Mr.. Blaos
when he heard the alarm of the box locR-
ed near the ''Newhell House." was st the
Chicago, Milwaukee & ST. Paul railroad de
pot, on leave of absence, waiting for .
train to take him to Chicago; and instead
of continuing his trip
he turned around and came back, changed
his clothes and went to work like brave
man, all of which speaks highly in his IA
vor; some hackman is reported as saying
that he did not come back quickly enough
or stopped to let friend out on his way
to the engine house, all of which seems
small. Now it, is not my intention tc
take any notice Of what Mr.
Lippert or Mr.. Fally or the hickman says
or what charges political cliques make
but will say to your board OF lire com
misioners that the insurance companies
have closely watched all your doings a.
ST. Paul and they are highly pleased with
the action you have taken and the oeTs
marked Improvement you have brought
abont in your fire dep artment, and tina
they consider that you have to-day al
coed chief as there is in the country ane
| if such conditions continue it is my
opinion that you will not fail to receive {
recognition by the fire insurance com
panies in favor of reduction of you
rates at a not distant day. To show yol
that my opinion Of your chief is not al
individual one, enclose paper endors-
ing him, which is signed by some of thu
leading citizens of Milwaukee and mel
whose business it is to come in contec
with the fire department.
Yours very truly, 4. u. HALLE,
| President
Wisconsin, Minnesota u Dakota Fir
Underwriters union.
The paper alluded to above is as fol
lows:
The undersigned have known MIR. JohI
T. Black, formerly assistant chief OF tn
Milwaukee fire department and now chic
of the department at st. Paul, MINI. W
chesrfully bear testimony to his higi
character as a man and to his efficienc
as fireman whose courage and capacit
is not questioned by those who know hin
Milwaukee, August 81, 1888.
Signed by Alfred James, vice presiden
Northwestern National Insurance com
pany; John P. McGregor, secretary OF tn
same, and about ten other prominent IN
surance men of Milwaukee.
Following is the other Vindicator:
| In November, 1882, our factory tool
| fire in the basement, in the evening, an
owing to the slowness of the Waterman i
sounding the alarm the flames had reache
| the fourth story before.the engines arrived
The department under the direction
Assistant Chief John Black was handle
80 skillfully that the fire was confined t
the end Of the building at which it started
and so quickly subdued that not an articl
was consumed, although the building wa
filled with combustible chair stock 9
every description. In our interviews wit
the various insurance agents intereste
they agreed with us that the fire was &C
mirably handled and it gives us gres
pleasure to express our appreciation OF til
efficiency of Mr.. Black.
JOHN G. SPENCER, President.
After the above had been read and accep
ed, Commissioner Parker read fiatterin