The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-30
FIRE DEPARTMENT FACTIONS.


Developments OF q startling nature are prom
iscd in the fire department muddle. Charges
are now made by interested parties that there is
acombinatior, made up partly of fiiemcn, to
further certain ends, aud that their endeayors in
this direction have strong tendency TO iniure
the efficiency OF the department II is further
eharsed that the clique is backed by the Broth
erhood OF Locomotive Engineers il not officially
nj least individual members OF IL, and that the
leading spirit is Assistant Chief William
Rodgers The facts OF the case, as alleged by
Nh. kcileher and his friends, are AS follows:
The trouble in the department is OF long
standing, and Is due to fight made by local
men (most OF them OF the old volunteer depart.
menf) against men cofning from service ia ST.
iaei. Chicago and other Eastern cities. The in.
sslgatoTs OF the movement are members OF the
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engineers and other
trades unions, who have strong backing on the
outside. The lTst serious trouble occurred In
April, isgo. Ia the organization OF the paid de-
raEtmcnt, after The grea. fire, there was iInme-
date need OF s;okers Cor the engines Upon the
recommendation OF Assistant Chief Rodgers
Chief kellogg appointed 10 these positions rail
read ircSnen tmembers OF the Brotherhood az
Locomotive firemen), not. he claims, because
they were brotherhood men. but because they
were tho best available material In April 1874
the engineer Of engine No resigned, and in.
stead of promoting one OF the stokers
10 the position vacated, Chief KcI-
iogg appointed Harry l. Amigh an
ex-mcmbsr OF the Chicago department. There
was great ontcry among the stokers on this
account and strike was threatened Chief
Keliogg. in response 10 their protests said that
he had appointed Aniirh because none of tbe
stokers were competent 20 I'll the position. II
they had been, one OF thetr number would have
been chosen. ABiEh Is claimed 20 b.s a thor
oughiy competent man, but there has been a
determined effort % oust him. Troubles of a
similar nature have since been Of frequent oe-
ff4fses 81 sail t.i
tain kelieheT. claiming that il Is Chief Kel-
logs intention 20 have the latter superSede
him as assistant chief.
NJ. +. Keleher. the man about whose past rs,.
ord there has been so much discussion now
comes TO the front IA his own defense He savs
he came 10 Washington from West Superior In
September lSS9, shortly after the great fires of
Seattle and spokane Falls Having hoard
that there was demand for cOnfsstcnk hrefneD
he came Out 20 LOOK over the gropnd. he ap.
piled 20 Chief kellogg Tor q POSITION but not
having been resident OF seattle Tor six months.
the time OF residence then required ho couid
not DC appointed, lie then associated himself
with Mr. Harry l. Briaghurst, OF SETTLE. and
started ont 10 travel in tie hremcns supplv
business. having Seattle fpr his Headquarters
and postoiiiee. In July, ls9o. he received his
appointment az fireman. lie said that he could
not believe that Chief Jackson OF the - Paul
department had made such CHARGES against him
As those tina, had been priated. as they worked
lie SAYS he LETT his position in West Superior in
September, iss9, owing 20 a change az admins
fFatluu. because llfCAiouS 70 election he had de-
ciined 10 use his political influence in behalf Of
the man who was chosen mayor. Captain kel.
lcher exhibited Testimonials 10 his character
and ability, which have every appearance of b..
Ing genuine. One Of these which, he SAYS. VAS
forwarded 70 him after he came 20 Seattle, reads
a. follows
'swEsr SUPERIOR. Wis., June .. $50.
"Ta Ttosi IL NOV TbscTTs M NJ r. kelieAcr
has been chief OF our are department CITY az
SUPERIOR for the past yesr, during my term Of
oalce rs mayer OF the city. ! take pleasure in
recommending him rs No. fireman. | think
there il no question but be is the best ia the
West. as shown by work he has done AZ fires in
ogr city. lie took an active paft in building
our department from nothing n what IL Is To-
day. II YOU want firsi-ciaSs fireman give him
= trial (thst Is all the recommendation he re
qurcsi. ana AM satisfied You viii ieel that /
have not endorsed him ia terms strong enough.
Yours trgiy, A ;. MCRAE,
''Ex Mayor II the cts oi ~upsrlor.f
Two other testimonials read as follows.
~. rAUI- Nina, Anil - lSSa
To Naoa alag CosesrRs Ihis is "a certify
tha; the bearer. N y keueher. has heeu en-
f,ioyea ia the capacity ot assistant chief en-
ginecr 81 this department fer the pSsg iiyc Years
which positson he has allied with great cresiis
Hsd ability, and consider him well qualified 20
handle HfcS, aud have No hesitation 80 recon-
mend him. Having been associated with hira
ioE line years, have always found him "a man