St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-19
FIREMEN GOT MERRY.
THEY DRANK BARRELS or BEER july
f AND 5, 1892.
LIGHT FINGERED LADDEEs.

Given Last Night Which Is
Not to the Credit of the De-
partment.
The Runge impeachment last evening
was an almost ideal one in its resem-
blance to a regular court trial. The
witnesses were held down to facts. but
enough humor was injected to keep the
aldermen from losing interest. There
was very little in the way of legal quib-
bling. In the main nothing in particu
lar was drawn out except what has been
reiterated by the witnesses in the trial
of subordinate firemen, by the fire COM
mittee of the council. Testimony was
adduced TO show that Chief Runge had
been seen drunk, yet in the main the
evidence sounded like an old story to
the aldermen. They took a considerable
part in the examination of witnesses,
the first one in particular beng ques
toned in turn by almost every one of
the city fathers.
The crowd of spectators was compare
lively small and very quiet.
The aldermen were all present with
bilC SACCpllO IL VI Alu w UOQWdIu dllNl
Miner. Mayor EuStis had a seat of
honor beside President Kiichli, and was
greatly interested in the proceedings.
Attorney Fish was not present, nor was
any motion made to reconsider the
action of Monday evening by which he
was debarred from taking part in the
prosecution.
The first witness called was G. A. Nc
Donald, who was the main witness at
the trial of fremen named by the grand
jury as having hand III the thieying
that was going on. He first told about
the Castle Shirt company fire. After
the fire he saw pile of handkerchiefs,
suspenders and neckties on the floor at
headquarters. Capts. Craigie and
krake handled them. AT the
the rear of the Oneida block,
department. At the Manhattan fire
Nick Jurgens broke open a showcase
and took a silk umbrella. After the
fire Chiefs Runge and Canterbury. Ed
Thielen, Billy Schwartz. Paddy Miles
and others had sealskln caps. Saw
bundle of. caps on the hook and lad
der truck. There were also hats
taken. At the fire in c. B. Smiths
hardware store Charles Bradley walked
between himself and Chief Runge with
a number of dog chains hanging down
his back under his coat, but the chains
hung below and could be seen. There
were so many that they jingled. Chief
Runge was laughing. Chief Runge
asked witness if he had seen anybody
steal any revolvers out of the show case,
as the boxes were empty. Witness had
not seen any taken. At the Eberhardt
fire saw Bradley walk off with six or
seven pairs of pants. Saw a letter
written to the chief reporting the cir
cumStance. There was an investiga-
ton. but nothing was done. After fires
Chief Runge was accustomed to say to
hremen who were not at fires, You are
about SIS or $40 losers this morning"
On July and 5. 1892. seven
teen kegs of beer were drunk by the
tiremen at headquarters in a shed near
the engine house. The shed was used
by what was know as the "OWl Club"
They had glasses, faucets, ETC., here.
HE beer wagon. seemingly Of the Min
neapOlis Brewing Company, called
for the empty kegs. Chief Runge told
tine boys that he would have the door
nailed up. Later it was nailed up. The
chief was present when wagon drove
up and driver asked where the kegs
were, and ne replied: Il don't know,
ask the boys" Witness saw the
Hayes truck leave the house
on some occasions with only
one man aboard. The drinking was
going on every day. Beer was also
drank at Cataract engine house in a log
cabin across the street. Also at No.
on Twelfth avenue north. The chief
notified the boys at No. that they must
stop it. Capt. Harvey was drunk sew
eral times.
The witness also saw three ice chests
made for members of the department.
one for Canterbury. Men were absent
from duty without providing substi-
tutes, which is contrary to the rules of
the department. Capt. Hamilton was
off thirty days in this way and Capt.
Traeger ten days. They went out to
the lake. Chief Runge was at all the
fires of which he had testified.
The second morning after the North
Star Boot and Shoe company's fire four
or five gunny sacks filled with shoes of
all sizes and styles were brought to
headquarters by James Crotty, Charles
Bradley and Nick LOye, and the former
said, Help yourselves" The odd
shoes were given to One-legged men
who called at the engine house. Every
body had shoes. He did not convict the
CHlCl Will dllN VI Tic Sl6dllHS.
The croSS-eXamination by Z. T. Davis,
Chief Runge's attorney, was an inter-
esting one to all who were present Oh
account of the witty sallies between the
attorney and witness. The latter adj
mitted he had not seen Capts. Cragie or
Krake put in their pockets any of these
things lying on the floor OF headquarters
after the Castle Shirt company fire.
Did Chief Runge take any cigars at
the fire in the rear of the Oneida block?"
asked Attorney Davis.
''If he did he was too foxy to give it
away" was the reply.
The witness stated that after the fire
the tiremen who had poor brands of
cigars tried to exchange. "JOrgens had
Henry Clay cigars, but [ don't remem-
Der what Capt. Craigie mad"
They might have been Daniel Web
ster," asked Mir. Davis.
"They might have been Bill Nve
cigars" Laughter from all.
There was nothing given to boOt?"
was the question.
Not that l know Of"
did you get any cigars when they
were passed around?'
NO, sir: didn't care to smoke
Did you report that cigars were
stolen. to any body?"
NO. Slr.'
Witness confessed that he did not
know whether the sealskin caps that
were worn by the chief and other men at
the headquarters were stolen or not, as
he did not see them taken, but they
were all alike, and had the same design
stamped inside.
Coming down to the fire at the ware
house of the North Star Boot and Shoe
company, Mr.. Davis asked: "Were the
one-legged men there to get the odd
shOes?'
No, the boys went out to get somel
One-legged railroad men," was the reply.
Did you see the shoes?''
II examined numberless shoes to see
if / could get pair to fit me-"
''0h, so you wore stolen shoes?"
mo, sir"
He did not remember that anybody.
except the chief said that anybody was
loser by not being at fires.
Chief Runge was at headquarters on
the Fourth of July when the beer was
brought IN, but did not recolle ct that
the chief saw the kegs brought in.
- Il.