St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-26
JACKSON is CHOSEN.
Fire Commissioners Finally
Decided Upon a Successor
to Chief Black.
His First Assistant Has a
Pole that Knocks the Per-
Simmon.
Arthur Martin and Hart N.
Cook are Chosen as AS
Sistant Chiefs.
Black and His Nemesis KEEL
cher Will Retire on the
First Ppox.

The trouble that has been brewing in
the st. Paul fire department for several
months past is at last happily settled.
After April the commanding officer of
the department will he addressed as
Chief Jackson, and John T. Black will
be out in the cold. The action of the
board of commissioners that brought
about this state of affairs last night was
short and decisive. After the trans
action of several matters of routine
business President Warner an
nounced that the election of a chief
engineer for term of two years was
next in order. For few seconds the
death-like silence that has been noted
at recent meetings of the board was
again apparent. Commissioner Prem
dergast soon came to the front. how
ever, and moved that the board proceed
by ballot to the election. The motion
was passed without dissenting voice,
and the first ballot as announced by
Secretary O'Gorman was John Jack
son, three; John L. Black, twor" Com
missioner Freeman was on his feet as
soon as the vote was announced, and,
addressing the president, said: 81 move
that John Jackson be declared
elected by the unanimous vote of the
commissioners" The suggestion was
adopted, and President Warner stated
that he believed the board should con-
suit with Chief Jackson before proceed
ing with the election of the assistants.
Il should like to ask Mr.. Jackson"
added Commissioner Martin, ''if he is
ready and wants to suggest the names
of his assistants" II would like to sug-
nctS ho yl,0Y, 4 frx apI-
answered the chief, las | believe [
should have competent and faithful men
with whom l can work in harmony, and
am ready to state my preferences"
With the chief-elect the board then en-
tered into executive session. just as Fire
Alarm Box No. IS rang in an alarm of
fire at Rice and Martin streets. Chief
Black, who had been an interested spec
tator during the session,
RESPONDED TO THE DUTY CALL
with alacrity, and disappeared through
the trap to his wagon, while his success
sor remained with the board until
''stilf' alarm from Fourth and Sibley
streets forced him to leave. When the
board again entered into open session,
it was announced that the election of
first assistant chief resulted in the
choice of Arthur Martin, Familiarity
known as Larry at present captain
of Truck No. 4. Hart n Cook, captain
of Engine Company No. l, was also an
nounced as the choice for second
assistant chief. The appointment of
third assistant chief was postponed
until the final passage of the bill now
before the Legislature to create the
Office. 1t was stated by two of the COM
missioners that the election of the
assistants was entirely upon the Sug
gestion of Chief Jackson, but that his
choice was in every way acceptable to
the board.
"How it was done" was discussed
after the meeting in some quarters. A
simple statement of the case is that
President Warner. who, at the meeting
Saturday night. was in much the same
position as the man who had the bear
by the tail, decided to come to the as
sistance of Commissioners Prendergast
and MitSch, and voted for Jackson.
Chief Jackson is an old and tried Off
Ger, in whom the business men of the
city have great confidence, and that he
is a favOrlte among the firemen was evil
dent last night by the hearty cheers
with which the news of his election
was received at the engine houses
throughout the city. Chief Jackson be-
came member of the department with
Engine Company No 2 in the old vol
unteer days in 1874, and in 1877 was
made foreman of the company, holding
the position until he was appointed cap
tain of Chemical No. =. He was subSe
quently advanced to second assistant
chief, and in 1884 was promoted to the
second position in command in the de-
partment.
Arthur Martin, his first assistant. was
also volunteer fireman, serving in
Hose Company No. 2 until in 1872 he
was made fireman OF No. engine COM
pany. When Chief Black came to the
city Martin was made an assistant chief,
but only served few days, receiving an
appointment at his own request as
stoker of No. 1 engine, that he might
| learn engineering. He was soon
ordered to more responsible work, how
| ever, and has since served as captain
of Chemical Company No. and Truck
| Company No. 4.
Hart n. Cook. second assistant chief
| elect, entered the department in 1888 as
hoseman in Engine Company No. 2
under Chief Jackson, and was subSe-
quently appointed lieutenant of Chemi-
| cal Company No. 2, from which position
| he was advanced to the captaincy of
| almost forgotten by the board was the
| election of superintendent of the fire
alarm service, and not until the MEM
bers were leaving the room did the
omission occur to the president. They
again returned to business, and Supt.
| jenkins was reelected by unanimous
vote. By the action of the board last
night both Chief Black and Second
| Assistant Chief Kelliher, who have of
late caused no little dissension in the
department, are disposed of, and they
will be succeeded by equally efficient
| Armen. The salary of the chief Of the
department is $500 per annum, his
| first and second assistants receiving
| respectively $1,000 and Sl,S00.