Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-10-18
JOEL BAssErT EXPArIATEs.

| CLOSED at the EdStnlGfLn rare?
The investigating committee resumed
work at 8 o'clock yesterday afternoon, and
large number Of citizens were in attend
ance.
Joel Bassett, who gave notice at the pre-
vious meeting that he wished to make a
statement to the committee respecting the
| testimony Of Col. Henion, was given the
desired opportunity, but inasmuch as that
gentleman was not present he declined to
explain.
Jacob Stone was then Intercepted. He
said:
On the night of the Syndicate fire went
on patrolman; he said the beats had been
changed in the vicinity of the syndicate
blook, and be being q stranger was not
posted respecting entering the building,
else large amount of goods might have
been saved; l think the patrolman should
be brought before this investigation; as a
rule the fires have been confined to the
| building in which they originated; the
Touring mill fires are xceptions;tie insui =
ance companies do not hesitate to say that
they have lost money in Minneapolis; as
business men We are obliged to accept the
statement as true.
OVER INSURANCE.
The question of over insurance was
brought up. Mr.. Eastman stated that he
was aware of one instance where a policy
for 100000 had been written for stock
of goods which would only invoice about
| $4,000. He believed that prolific cause
of disastrous coufagrations. Chief Stet-
son was of the same opinion.
| Mr. CIooo Tho ~,
eastern cities is much lighter than
in the west, but what the difference is, do
not know, our practices are very similar
to that Of the east. know no difference. The
custom of giving additional insurance
without searching inquiry consider very
bad.
Ex-Chief Bracket testified: I do not
know from my own knowledge, but it is
my opinion that the gate connecting the
Nicollet main with Thirdsstreet was closed.
1t was said Immediately after the fire that
it had been shut off to make q connection
at the time of the Eastman fire. I was
told that the hydrant at the corner of Mic
ollet and Fifth street was out of order.
Mayor Ames suggested that hearsay evil
dence was incompetent.
| DID WATER WORKS BILLY PREvARICATE?
The witness continued: I have heard
VIM. Weintheiser say that the gate WIS
open and have heard him say that it was
closed; 1 know nothing Except from hear
say; the present chief told me that the
hydrant was out of order; I understand
the Seventh street gate was closed at the
time of the alarm, but after the alarm had
been given the Seventh street gate had been
| rti 11u Jnh ic y
informant in this respect; common sense
tells me the gates were closed; if there was
any other reason that water could not be
obtained I don't know it; the steamer at
the Third street main got water; the Hen
nepin avenue main was used; that was not
shut off; at seventy-fve pounds pressure
on the Nicollet avenue main five or six
streams could be thrown; 1 was told by
Supt. johnson that man was sent from
the excavation in front eff the Syndicate
block to open the Seventh street gate and
he only partially opened it.
Mayor Ames stated that he was glad to
learn the cause Of the lack of water. 1t
was the duty of Superintendent johnson
to report to the board of water commits
sioners that those gates were closed, but
he failed to do SO. 1t is my object to
place the responsibility. Mr.. Bracket,
''Was there q man employed by the city to
take charge of the gates during fires, at
that timer"
A-No, sir. wish to explain that it is
probable that Superintendent johnson got
his information from an employe of the
water works.
BAssETT's DENUNCIATIoN.
| in nj raf
privilege. He spoke substantially as fol-
lows:
During my absence On Saturday, ques
tons at my request were asked Col. Hen1on
why the water works pumps were not con-
nected with the pipes. No satisfactory
answer was received, The people are pro,
foundry ignorant respecting the water
works officers. The history is, year ago
Col. Glenn contracted to lay an intake pipe
to the centre of the river. 1t was the
purpose to secure good water. This was
: laid but no connection was made with the
pipe. Immediately above the pumps and
along the bank of the river are large
number of out houses, and all the filth from
these fall into the river. Besides these are
a large number of stables and the offal
from which must be introduced into these
pumps. During the summer from so to
100 men have bathed in this water. Ihave
Witnessed myself on several occasions EN-.
ployes of the water works wash their dirty
shirts in this water. and then it has been
pumped to the people of the city for do
nestle purposes. The superintendent
has been notified by myself. Col. Il.
Never: 1 deny it. I don't charge Col
J Henion with the blame; want him tc
show who was to blame, and I think I'll
make it appear that he was somewhat tc
: blame. I'll bring witnesses to prove that
l l have said to him repeatedly, "when you
; send this water over the city and SOW the
seed of disease and death you do thai
: which you cannot restore, and which can
not be restored" When this contract was
= made for the intake pipe some one ough
! to have known enough to provide for TIE
connections which should have been done
before this. met Colonel Henion on The
: street one day and asked him why the con
. nection had not been made and the ex
!, cuse. was the castings which
were being made in st. Loui
= had not arrived. At that time Mr.. Lock
. wood, machinist, came along and said b.
would make these castings in three days i
the order was given him. And now b.
says it is because throw filth into tn,
river. believe there has been $500,
: damage done the pumps from the sand be