The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-02-15
A WARM PLACE.
FIRE BOYS HOT UNDER
THE COLLAR.
Chief Engineer Asch and the
Members of No. L Engine
Co. at Swordspoint.

The members of No. l Engine
Company were very hot under the
collar yesterday morning when they
learned that Chief Engineer Asch
had appointed temporary fore
man to look after the company and
its members.
A petition was Immediately cir,
culated to obtain the necessary
signatures to call a special meet
ing. The meeting was called, and
last evening it took place in the
hall of the company.
For lively gathering it goes on
record as big success, as nearly
every member present was in an
excited frame of mind owing, as
they thought, to an arbitrary action
on the part of the Chief Engineer.
When the meeting got down to
business it was learned that James
Hunt, the present First Assistant
Engineer of the Department, had
been appointed temporary foreman
in place of J. D. McVeigh. The
latter was acting foreman, but his
duties as an employee of the Health
Board had taken him to the Quar-
antine Station to guard a number
of Chinese and japanese immi-
grants. Mr.. McVeigh has been
absent from the city for week or
more, but the company did not APP
point u man in his place. The
members considered that George
Barker, the captain of the hose,
was capable of filling the position,
and there the matter rested.
After the secretary had read the
call for the meeting one of the
members of the company stood up
with blood in his eye and copy of
the constitution and bylaws in his
hands. He read off one section in
which it was said that when a COM
plant was made against any officer
or member, it must be in writing
and be submitted to the Board of
Representatives, or words to that
effect. 1t then transpired that the
chief engineer had no confidence in
the ability of Mr.. Barker, and at
the instigation of P. Hughes and J.
Warner, the engineer and driver of
i. the engine respectively, Mr.. Hunt
was appointed.
Mr.. Hughes was called upon to
make an explanation, which he did
to the entire satisfaction of all pres
emit. He understood that Mr.. Asch
had no confidence in Barker, and
on that account he mentioned the
name of Mr.. Hunt as man who
would be satisfactory to all. He
did not request his appointment.
The driver denied all completely in
the affair.
The man with blood in his eye
took the floor again and moved
that the action of the Chief Engi-
neer be not recognized. He then
devoted his talk to that official
and with words more forcible than
elegant compared him to the Car
of Russia, and the Emperor of
China and other foreign digni-
taries who have japanese habit
of doing just what suits them.
The Chief tried to make an ex-
PLANTATION but his words did not
suit the temper of the meeting so
he retired, remarking "this place
is too warm for me"
Mr.. Hunt then explained his
part in the affair and everything
quieted down.
The meeting then elected the
following temporary officers, who
will act until the return of Mr.. Nc
Weigh: Foreman, Geo. Barker /;
First Assistant, J. Lucas; Captain
of the Hose, Geo. Cavenagh.
1t is not known just what the
outcome of last nights meeting
will be. Some think it will result
in the disarmament of the COM
pany, as it is understood that
Chief Engineer Asch appointed
the foreman under orders which
he received from the Fire Depart
ment Committee of the Advisory
Council.