The sun., 1894-12-10

Trouble Ahead for the Hasbrsuck Heights
Firemen's Association.

Firemen's Association.
Hasbrouck Heights, ". j.. after becoming
borough and having three barns burned in as
many weeks has decided that 1t must have
fire department. The local insurance agent
gave notice that he could write no more policies
until the place showed q disposition to help It.
self This settled the matter; the borough must
have fire organization in hurry, and the fact
that the State law allows an exemption of $500
from the assessment against active nremen was
an incentive that accelerated many decisions in
favor Of joining. Under this stimulus, backed
by the enthusiasm Of Henry Lemmermann,
Robert +. Wilhelm, L. w. Dunstan, j. l.. G.
Graves, Thomas Costigan, Major William Rich.
and other leading business men, 1t took only
few days to secure q roll OF forty members for
the Hasbrouck Heights Firemen's Association,
Of which Mr.. Wilhelm was made Chairman
Most Of the members are business men in this
city and not at home during the day; but this is
a small matter, as all the fires in the Heights
have occurred at night. The manner In which
the association should organize became the
question Of paramount Importance, however,
and when Justice Musselman asked for infor-
nation thereon he innocently touched the plug
In the hornets nest and started an omInous
buzz. The Chairman told him he was out Of
order. Mr.. Musselman and his friends were in
censed at this treatment, and one Of them opened
the hive last week by blow through the village
newspaper, which is called the Ncus- Letter.
The article was sarcastic In its preliminary SEN
tences, and then undertook to advise the asso-
citation AZ to the legal method OF incorporation.
the writer, who signed himself I. Raight,"
having apparently consulted counsel.
That portion OF the town directly interested in
the fire association instantly went wild over the
article, which was really an inoffensivo produc-
tion: but 1t was the chief topic at the meeting
Of the association on Friday evening, when IL
was intended to form a company OF active men,
bers as step preliminary TO procuring appa-
TnG Mr. who e .sd e hsys been III:
conspicuous at this meeting, delivering frequent
interjectory remarks upon those who throw
cold water on the association" and WRAP II In
blankets Of ice" The application thereof was
understood by every member present. but Il re-
" sef as an D old F VOLUNTEER New PORK reman n Of
the Tweed administration. 10 lead the charge
against the presumptuous writer. Mr.. costigAn
leEped into the conflict without prelude, ex-
claiming;
tcle p printed in the ssef local weekly sisnsd by By
Straight am informed that the writer Of il
Is n member OF This association, and he deserves
resign"
Applause greeted this. and Mr.. Hines. a re-
tired real estate dealer, declared that the author
WAS deserving OF social ostracism and should be
kicked out OF the association. Henry Lemmer-
recognon % Mr. % is .ns one s"s Of tHs
most prominent citizens OF the town. lie was
tho father of the late borough movement and
carried II through, but was defeated for the
honor Of being the first Mayor, a fact attributed
n,i T. great 1 measure to the zeal OF the present
operator and clever writer. Mr. Lemmermann
told the meeting that he endorsed the views OF
piece OF monumental egotism on the part OF the
writer to attempt to dictate to the association
how IL should organize.
but declined, whereupon several voices cried:
Never mind we know him."
William A. Fisher moved that they proceed
TO elect members Of an active fire company,
which was agreed TO. Mr.. Lemmermann pro
aHS tad ase Of M Il i h6t
here, 20 the list must be all right"
ThereupOn somebody called out ! nominate
T.. r. stevens" A. Closterman shouted, II
object" and the CRY was taken up in other parts
Quiet having been restored. Henry Lemmer-
mann said object, too; that's ST haight."
This renewed the excitement and stopped
in excited interchange of views, ignoring the
Ssdlt ShaiTman can and yis9ro9sly dsnouneing ths
views in print in an advisory capacity ON so
important point as the legal method Of organ
i5ing yoIunteyr m frs COMPANY; Gle Clerk stevens
from Eome on Friday evening and did not at
tend the meeting. As one OF his friends put 1t:
II stevens had been there he'd have given
them an argument they would have found 1t
dinicult 10 digcst. They knew better than 10
plaintd OF 10 hurt anybody. The facts were too
solid for the crowd 10 cut. and they didn't like
il because stevens told them what they'd have
20 do. Jealousy is at the bottom Of Il all. Mr..
Stevens Is eompArstlysly new conner
public and several private offices, and some
people are becoming enViOus lie was the chief
worker OF the Anti-bOrOugh party, and MIR.
Lemmermann, having been the father Of the
borough business, IL naturally opposed 10 one
who contributed so largely To his defeat"
Mr.. Stevens says lie will not resign from the
association as his only crime was In expressing
Clerk.