Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-27
FIREMEN QUITTING DUTY.
WAIVERS AND wAsHINGTONs
LEAVE THEIR ENGINES.

IN. vo1unteer system Breaking Up
actton Of the Two Companies Last
NIgbt-Tbe Police Fire Detail Under
Orders-What Chief Fernandez Says
About the Situation.
The action Of the City Council, in doing
away with the volunteer feature Of the
Fire Department, has resulted in prema-
tura breaking up Ofthe system which has
been in existence since the organization
Of the department in 1870. The
volunteer fremen, since the introduce
ton Of paid men into the department,
have been gradually dropping out, ana
with the adoption Of the new tire ordi-
nance by the Council on "Wednesday nlg ~
a portion Of the department has seen HI
% disband. ,oe,
The Waiver Fire Company met last
night and unanimously voted 10 WltnIra"
from anv further duty. Inc auaifs
Of the company were turheu ONSI " :.
Committee Tor settlement, and At the next
regular meeting on the nrst alo'Iuay ~
October the company viii formally dis
band.
When a MORNING NEWS reporter en-
farrd the Waiver quarters about IL O'Clock
the apparatus was in charge OF thIet
mpn-tbc engineer and drivers Of the en-
zine and rcel-whO are regular pllu men,
with two emergency men, WIZ
had volunteered 10 do service during Tue
night. President Haniey, 1t IS understood
will remain under tue new ~
foreman of the company. Everything
was i'm order. and the men on duty were
alert for anv emergency that might occur
The Waiver Company was organ
lied on Jan. ., 49,, ahu
sad on its membership roll about
fifty names. IL has done good ana ldllh-
ful service, and the volunteers VINO seINeu
under its organization have been brave
and fearless tiremen. u.
the Washington Fire Company also
mot last night. and decided to withdraw
from the department at noon to-day. Inc
Rartoys and the Werner Hook and Lad.
der COMPANY have taken no acton, anu
II is likely will remain in service untll
next Wednesday, and 90 out after the us
banding of the volunteer system, Whlch,
under the ordinance, takes place on that
day. --.,.--...-,-,,o,.ol
The step was not altogether unexpected,
and although II leaves the department
weakened, il is not 70 such an extent lhat
its efFcieucy is seriously impaired. The
men on duty at the Waivers quarters last
night would have been able to handle their
APPARATUS, and with men assigned from
the other companies could have done
efficient service had they been called upon.
Chief Fireman Fernandez said to the
NEWS reporter that he was aware that
the Washington and Waiver engine COM
panies had held meetings for the purpose
Of retiring from the service, ana thai
their action was no surprise TO him.
.sWiH their retirement embarrass the
operations of the Department.
mo. Arrangements have been made TO
ill their places"
..Would the department be in position
to render effective service at IRE II one
should occur tomorrow"
~ Is. sir. IL could render effective
service tonight Just as well as tomorrow
and let me say right here that Gen. An
derson, Chief Of Police, last night sent the
regular detail Of police TO the fire south
Of Anderson street, with orders TO report
10 me for duty as fremen should Their
/ services be required. This regular detail
| is still under orders to REPORT for fire duty
| during the present emergency; and While
| | appreciate the action of the Chlef, ]
hone that NAV not have to call upon any
| Of the detail to do that kind Of work.
| know have men in view that can be re
| lied upon as firemen, and hence will cal
upon the detail only in case | should bt
/ disappointed. which is not probable
'When will you have selected all thC
|
Il am not compelled to fill the yacan
| cies hastily, merely 10 fill them with in
different men. l shall have full com
| plement Of good men i'm a few days. Thert
| are good men in the companies which retir
/ ell tonight, and shall not object to theil
/ employment in the department. But
| will only have those who know how t.
/ obey orders"
ssHas the Barlow Engine Company OF
/ the Werner Hook and Ladder COmpan!
| formally retired from the service"
s'NO, sir. No meeting has been called
/ for the purpose of retiring by those Organi
cations and l am not aware that any vii
be called. In fact, all the volunteers art
virtually retired from service on Oct
| /, under the resolution of the City COun'
ell adopted ut the last meeting"
Then you do not anticipate any EN-
| barrassment or trouble in consequence d
| the formal retirement Of the two com
| panies at the meetings held tO-nightp
| "NOne whatever