The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-13
,OAST Mr.. BEAR OF SYDNEY.
He Said That the Department Is
incompetent.
THEY SAY THAT HE WAS DRUNK.
His Statement Concerning the Palace
Hotel Denounced as a False
hOod-An Open Letter.

Ihe hremen OF San francisco have good
reason TO remember the recent visit OF Mr..
Bear. Superintendent of the Fire Brigade
Of Sydney, New South Wales. That dis
tinguished citizen of The Antipodes came
here to inspect the department with a view
to inaugurating reforms aud improve
ments upon returning To his home; but
when his weary feet touched the soil of
Sydney again he fastened TO the office of
the Star and delivered himself of a long
interview, in which he made merry at the
expense of San Francisco's fremen. Mr..
Bear, among other CALLING statements, de-
clared that the local fremen are incompe-
tent; that they smoke while fighting fire :;
that they wear rubber boots, which melt
in the fiery rays of the MONDAY sun !;
that they are lazy, and they dabble in
politics. He also gave the Stars readers
to understand that the Palace Hotel is
little better than firetrap.
A copy of the paper containing the inter-
view was mailed to the secretary of the
Fire Commissioners by the American Co D.
sui at Sydney. and at the meeting of the
District Engineers at the old City Hall
last night it was read and discussed.
After their ire had subsidized the engineers
oOSl1SN w uohO q AOP'J w DOoi CbolSOo
aud criticism, and gave their assistance to
Secretary Maxwell while he wrote an open
letter to the Star, which will be mailed
to-day.
The letter is very long, and will prove
very interesting reading to Mr.. Bear and
his admirers in Sydney. Every charge
made by him is disproved, and he is ac-
cused of having been drunk while in this
city and of having made false statements
at Sydney. Mr.. Maxwell wrote:
1t is needless to say that we were very much
surprised at the article, and especially so
when coming from Mr.. Bear. We met the
gentleman while he was here, and our chief
offered TO take him around and show him The
workings of the department, but he never
availed himself OF the opportunity. He evil
IDENTITY came here for another purpose. which
was to have good time and he had it.
After his arrival he was introduced by bis
brother TO The chief engineer. u, on whom he
afterward called three different times, and each
time In an intoxicated condition, and the chief
would not see him while he was in that state.
Under these circumstances we feel somewhat
aggrieved at such an ungenerous statement
concerning our department, ana especially
when coming from brother fireman.
While our department is not as good as those
of a few Eastern cities, we are told by those
who know that we are Well up on the list.
We were anxious TO extend TO Mr.. Bear the
most generous courtesies possible during his
stay with US, but, through his inebriated con-
dition and apparent lack OF interest in fire mat
ters we we're compelled to allow the gentleman
to leave US without being able to extend 10 him
what might be termed common courtesy. We
judged from his actions and demeanor that fire
matters were OF no interest whatever to him.
In speaking of the Palace Hotel in this CITY
Mr.. Bear states: 81 went over 1t and saw the
arrangements for dealing with fire. They are
very poor" In answer TO this we would ate
that upon investigation at the hotel it was as
certained that Mr.. Bear did not Inspect the
same and that he is not known there at all.
This is what constitutes the protection of the
Palace Hotel against fire: Three horizontal
fire-pumps of combined capacity of 5000 gal
Ions yer minute; in case the pumps should give
out or the pumproom become untenabIe from
any cause, there Is an auxiliary 10-inch main
from the Russian Hill reservoir with standing
pressure Of 40 pounds to the inch.
There are 5000 feet OF 21a and 5000 feet of
112 inch cotton hose and 5000 feet of 21a inch
rubber hose, and fifty automatic swinging hose.
reels.
There are thirty-six 4-inch pipes extending
from the basement TO the roof OF the hotel,
with 2S8 outlets for hose attachment in diff
ferenl places and on different floors. Twelve
Of the 4inch pipes run through the roof 118
feet from the street, with hose attached at all
times, and with a standing pressure OF 80
pounds, which can be Increased to 100 pounds
If necessary.
In different parts of the hotel there are auto
matte communications, and In case of fire when
the temperature rises TO 120 degrees they give
the alarm In the Office, engineers department
and porter's room, showing the exact location
of the fire.
There ara eleven hydrants on the block on
which the hotel Is 81 uated, and twenty more
within a radius OF 400 feet. The massive
structure of the building and the immense
inner court afford great facilities for lighting
fire from dozen different points at hne time,
and Notwithstanding all this protection MI
Bear calls It Every poor management"
II is a wel-knOwn fact in this city by all who
came in contact with Mr.. Bear while here that
his temperature was 1872 degrees during his
stay, and that probably accounts In measure
for his erroneous statements concerning the
deDartment.