The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-07
THE FIRE.

The fatal fire Of Sunday morning de-
serves more than q passing notice, and
for whatever statements THE TINES
may make it has no apologies save that
they are made with the best interests of
the fire department, the public and the
city.
Hindsight is always more prolific of
resources than foresight. and tho man
on tho sidewalk has a habit of knowing
more about handling a fire than the
man at tho nozzle. You see he is physic-
ally moro at leisure and his thinking
apparatus is given better chance to
hump itself.
The writer will make no statement
herein that did not come under his per-
sonal observation or was not ascertalned
from different and reliable sources.
There was something wrong when
Officer Johnson's key would not work in
the fire alarm box.
1t was mistake that the alarm WAS
not struck when the fire was reported
instead of attempting to handle it with
three or four men.
But there is no excuse for the numer-
GUS slanderous, cruel and utterly un-
truthful reports banded around town
involving the reputatio of several good
citizens. We take the liberty of men
tioniny one in kind. A report was
generally circulated that Mr.. Joseph
T. Engleby had ordered Kirby Will
son not to cut the trolley wire. THIS
is absolutely false. The editor Of THE
TINES was present and heard Mr.. En-
gleby order Wilson to cut the wire and
watched him do it, and it was done,
moreover, as soon as Mr. Engleby ar
rived at the place.
uttered, because in directing the saving
OF the mail Mr.. Engleby directed the
gathering up of the bank mail in the
lock drawers first. In this Mr.. Engleby
deserves the com mend alton of every one,
for on the bank mail depended the credit
Of scores Of business men.
Postmaster Asberry desires through
THE TIMES to extend warm thanks to
Chief Knepp, John Engleby, Joseph T.
Engleby and the fire departm gener-
ally for their invaluable services in
saving the mail and Government prop
erty from destruction. THE TINES Joins
him heartily and desires to add that
Postma ster Asberry and the postoffice
staff are deserving of immense credit
for the tremendous Efforts they put
forth to remove the Office and get
matters in shape for handling the mails,
which they did by 1880 Sunday morning
Mr.. Asberry telegraphed the department
at Washington of the loss, but without
waiting for authority put his hand in
his own pocket and paid the expense CT
moving the postofllce to its present
quarters.
The aerial truck was moved too
slowly. 1t was brought out clearly in
evidence that i5 was jammed at the
engine house by the we'll meant but in
judicious efforts of several citizens. 1t
was badly placed at the fire. and was
too late. The smaller extension ladder
which is carried with the truck was not
in working order. The whole sad
catastrophe seems at this distance like
a bad dream. But out of it all these
facts are salient:
closer set of rules are needed gov
erning the turning in of alarms, and
more constant inspection of alarm KEYS
and boxes.
The department should be provided
with strong hand nets to catch people
jumping from buildings.
4 salvage corps should be organized
as branch Of the fire department to act
under direction of the chief. but with
Its own foreman and executive officers.