Daily Republican., 1885-10-20
Washy's Statement
WIkLREMAINSUSPENDED

The following il made public By tb
Washington Steam Fire Engine Con
pany:
AT especial meeting OF the Wash
Il ton Steam Fire Engine and Hook An
Ladder Company, No. 2. held on Thar
day evening, October 10, ,e85, the up
dersiened wero appointed . comm lite
TO prepare An address to the publi,
upon the sabiecs Of the suspension ,
the company for thirty days In ac
cordance wish the instructions given us
and or behalf Of the company, we
would respectfully represent she follow
ing facts for public consideration :,
"First. On tho afternoon OF Sunday
October II, . 10. of George White came
Ihurriedly to or engine house and re-
quested the company to take sheir ap-
pArstus 10 the residence Of his father
and assist in staying the progress of q
disastrous fire then raging. lie stated
that there were NO Other msans by
which the FIRE could be control led, and
that unless prompt assistance fsom the
hremtn could be obtained the property
of his father, as we'll as the property OF
Mrs. Colonel Andrews, would be en-
tirely destroyed.
His earnest appeal was listened to,
warns the heart and nerves the arm of
the true fireman TO do battle for the
protection of the lives aud property of
their fellow man, the Washington re-
sponded to the call for help. Tney pro
oeeded to the scene Of the fire, and, to.
gether with the Reliance Company,
succeeded in subduing the flames, and
lea wing the properties of both parties
free from any further danger from fire.
They arrived at home about midnight.
On the following GMonday) morning,
much to the surprise and astonishment
OF our company, our president was
notified by The Chief Engineer that the
w ash In gton had been suspended from
service for thirty days.
" Second. The reason given by the
chief for his action WAS q violation of
rule Of the fire department, which pro
hibits any company leaving the city
without his permission, but we do not
believe he gave the real and true rea
son for our suspension. We believe 1t
to be nothing more nor less than q petty
piece Of spite work against a company
which, under no circumstances,c could be
induced 10 give him their support for
chief.
"Now, word or two in regard to
rule = We admit that, under former
chiefs, this rule was in existence and
was generally obeyed, but under the
control of the present chief the rule had
been 30 frequently violated that it was
almost, II not entirely, considered q
dead letter. In proof of the looseness
OF the enforcement Of this rule 8, we
will give few of the many instances
of its violation On May 8, 1884, two
companies violated the rules, one of
which was the Weccacee, to which the
chief belongs. Again on August Is,
1884, two other companies violated this
rule. And on August 2S, 1854, the
company Of which the chief is a mem.
ber violated the rale for the second |
time. There are other instances of |
violation OF the rules of the department, |
but as we have not she dates before us, !
we pass them for the present.
"Were either Of the five guilty
supsendedY Not a bit of ii.
Were they even rebuked for the vio-
laLion of this rule? Not word. But the
w WashinRton, which in an extreme case
Of emergency, and with no other
motive than that Of aiding those in
distress, and in doing go violated for
The first time this or any other rule OF
the department, must be suspended to
crafty the personal hostility OF the
chief. 1t Will not do for the chief to
use the pretext of appointing two of
The guilty companies to attend thei
country fres. and by this later apology
for the companies cover up his own !
dereliction of duty.
We tell the chief the thing ,
won't work--it leaves its own .falsity
On its face. We know the reason that
mpelled him to slyly suspend the Re-
lance ono day and reinstate them the
next. A mere note of apology from the
Reliance WAS enough to appease the
wrath of the mighty chief but the
must give written
apology with the seal of the company
attached, before this chief could be lu-
1uced to look with favor upon any &C.
ton of our company. Again, tue pro
position for written apology from our ,
company was made too late, and the :
,hief knows IL Was too late when he
proposed 1t.
In conclusion, we will ouly say that
We shall remain suspended until onr
lime expires. and we have the proud
of having done no wrong.
Ind We are of the opinion that the
,hief, in sober moments, after due re
lection, will regret his action In this
natter Of suspension. We wish it 10
% distinctly understood that we scorn y.
% ask any special favoIs, but We d..
nand the same right and courtesy as Is
extended to the other companies OF the
department. 1WILLIAM HANNA, i
II III. SINGLES !,