Evening journal., 1895-09-26
Liberty Fire Company's Disgrace.


The Liberty Fire Company stands
disgrsced before the community. Il has
placed upon its record s stain which It's
most ardent apologlsts cannot elfsce
The bloody and desperate prizs-fght
which was held In the engine house, and
directly or indirectly uuder the auspices
Of the members Of the company, on
Tuesday night was 3 disgrace to the
company, q disgrace to the service,
disgrace to the participants and O
disgrace to the community. This may
not be agreeable sentiment to the parties
concerned, but 1t will be supported by
all right-thinklug reople.
The taxpayers Of Wilmington do not
pay money to support place to be used
for the exhibition OF brutes and for the
entertainment Of lovers Of brutal sport
The appropriation made by City Council
Is from money belonging to the people
10 Is given to encourage the company IN
It's work Of saving lives and property and
not to furnish place where probably
fatal injuries may be inflicted upon men,
no matter how willing they may bo to
risk everything for the sake Of few
rounds Of applause and few round
dollars from men who are not much
higher than they In the scale Of human
character
II the company cannot exist without
prizs-fghts, It will be much better for
the service and for the city were u to
surrender It's besmirohed charter and 20
out OF the public service Under Us
present management Il is OF no credit to
itself, 30 It's fellow-compan.es OF to the
people who support IT, Worse than
that, It Is a diacrodit
II seems strange that It's membership
does not include sufficient men Of upright
character to effsctually protest against
this outrageous perveraion Of the
functions OF o volunteer Ere company
which gets Its support from the public
treasury. There must be some public
spirited and self-rsspecting men in
South Wilmington.
The participants and those who
conntenanced and lent their support to
the exhibition Of white and negro brutea
should be made TO fssl their disgrace
City Council and the Fire Department
must have power to hold In check and
make public example Of q company
which shows a oonetantly increasing
tendency to disgrace the public service
That power should be exercised, no
matter IN whom It is vested. The public
has financial interest in the company
and It's actions. Public confidence has
been abused and betrayed, and this
abuse and betrayal must not be allowed
TO pass unnoticsd and unreprimandsd
Il Is not just that q volunteer service
which has always been held In the
highest esteem by our people should
become the reprosch OF the city by the
actions Of tho Liberty Fire Company. .
The other companies have a vital IN
terest in aiding lovers Of law and good
order to put down an abuse which has
become almost criminal In It's results
The police department had ample notice
that the mill would bo held Il was
heraldod through the pnbiic press and
its character was fully set forth. There
Is no excuse for allowing the matter %
drift along until It's consequences became
almost fatal to one man concerned. Had
the same diligence been exercised which
ordinarily sttends priza fights in other
places, there would have besn a fqucd Of
officers there to prevent IT, We have
detectives and other peace conservators
following prlzs fighters and their friendn
all over the rural hundreds aud prevent
ing them from fahslng upon tho sacred
soil Of Delaware The pugillsts are
crowded over the line into Pennsylvania
o. Maryland. But here we have a nght
in building designed and devoted to
public purposes time. place and the
names Of the fighters openly published,
and the game is permitted 20 60 on
The Police Commissioners have a work
to perform They should tx the re
sponsbihty Of such dereliction Of duty
and Impose tue extreme penalty.
mule belonging to Dr. @. NJ. Ellis