The morning call., 1892-08-22
PHANTOM OR FIRE ENGINE.
Peculiar Mystery Surrounding a
Machines Identity.
Its Violent Gong Causes a Runaway and a
Claim for Damsges-Cannct Be Located
by Department officials

A claim against the city for Sl09 IS will
to-day be referred by the Fire Commission
ers to the Board Of Supervisors. James
IOmklnsoD, Tehama-StTeet iivery-stable
Keeper, is the claimant. lie AYERS that over
seven months ago his team and carriage
was being driven down Third street, near
Folsom, when the violent ringing of the
gong on fire engine frightened the no, ses,
causing them to run away, smash the vehicle
aud injure the driver
There Is nothing particularly strange in
the TACT that Tomkinson's team ran away
ana smashed the carriage. but there is some
thing startling In the fact that not one of
the hre engines located within the city and
county OF San Francisco was in the vicinity
| OF Ihlrd and Folsom streets on the day Of
the runaway and smaShup--February Is
| 1892. At least the officers Of the Fire De-
partment have not been able during the past
SIX months TO learn what engine, if any,
was on Third street on the day in ques ton.
There were no alarms OF fire on the day, and
every driver aud engineer in the depart
ment is willing TO take an oath that no
engine was driven along or near Third
street.
Was II phantom or stray engine from
some adjoining town?
That was the question Chief Scannoll and
BIS assistants discussed and investigated.
Inquiries we're sent IN all directions and the
heads OF all the departments bordering on
the bay Indignantly denied that any of their
engines had strayed 10 this city.
WAS IT A PHANTOM?
Another consultation of the heads OF the
San francisco department resulted in their
coming 10 the conclusion that Tom kim sons
driver had either mlSrepresented the cause
OF the runaway or that the horses were
frightened by phantom.
When Tomkinson first presented his claim
for damages Chief Seannell disputed that
fire engine had caused the wreck of the
vehicle.
But TOmkinson would not accept the
phantom theory, and in presenting his claim
for golden ducats from the civ treasury
spoke OF the mysterious engine a real
machine, with steam, brass and gong at
tachments. This Is the syle in which he
wrote out his claim:
On February 13, 1892. my two.horse carriage
was passing along Ihltd street. between Fol om
ana Harrison, In charge OF ii competent diver
on the right Side of tie stTeeT, " hen sudd- uIv
ana WITHOUT warning ME engine-lhe property
OF the clty-came up beside the team, aud the
driver OF the engine commenced ringing his gong
violently frightening said team ana causing
them 10 run away. injuTing the driver ana dam.
aging the carriage. The expense OF repairing
the carriage was SIS 20, aud the loss of use
was SIX weeks, al 10 cents day, SCI 80; total
StO9 10. A. the carriage was far enough from
the car-track 10 give plenty Of room for inc en-.
CINE TO pass, and as Iherz was alarm OF hre
but the horses simply being exercised There WAS
no occasion for the sudden and violent IIneing
OF the bell, which act was Careless and mex
Cu5aDle.
ToMPKINsoN's WITNESSES.
More than this, Tomkinson sent his
driver out TO gather testimony In support
OF the allegation that the horses were
frightened oy an engine. Two material
witnesses were found. One was a red
haired servant girl. She remem bered that
she was leaning out of second-story win
dow on Folsom street, near Third. when a
nre engine was driven by. Her attention
was particularly attracted to the team draw
ing the engine because one Of the horses ap-
peared 10 be white.
The second witness was n street-car
driver, who was trying 10 attract the atten-
ZION OF The servant girl when the engine
passed.
When Chief Scannell became i'll Acting
Chiei Sullivan resumed the pulling inves-
tigation.
For the life Of me-" said Sullivan yester-
oay, Il could not discover that a ire en-
CINE passed along Third stree on the day
IN question. visited the houses OF engine
10. on Bryant street: engine 4. on Second;
engine y, on Main, and engine II on Mint
avenue. The drivers, engineers and in
TACT all the members of the companies,
were positive that their engine lad not
peen on or near Third street on February l3
inquiries nave also been made at the other
englne-houses. although none of the en-
eihes located In them could possibly have
gone on inlrd street unless TO q fire. Ii an
engine dld brighten Tomknson's team it is
certain that the driver and engineer have
entered Into compact to conceal the affair.
now are we going 10 find out which engine
IL was? That remains 10 be seen. Perhaps
~ was stray or hantom after ALL" and
the acting chief laughed uneasily and strobe
away. Wv
III Is puzzllng problem, and one that will
never De luliy solved until the City Fathers
refuse 10 approve the claim of Tomkinson
ana he commences n sut for dan,auas