The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-07
! WAS AFRAID OF A JOB
Fire Commissioners Would Not
Commit the City
A VERY RECENT COLLISION
There Is Petty Bickering in the Fire
Department
And Special Committee VIII Investigate the
r1atter-The Old lain Street En-
CINE House Problem
A VERY RECENT COLLISION

SUPERINTENDENT John J. Akin of the
.os Angeles Railway company has sent
to Chief Walter S. Moore OF tho fire de-
partment letter Of which the following
Is copy:
i presume the matter of collision be-
tween one OF your hook and ladder wag-
ons and cable train at the corner OF
First and Main streets at 7:15 p. M, on
the Sd inst. has been brought 10 your at
tention. Will you please send me copies
of statement made BIZ your driver with
any information that will enable me to
fix the responsibility?
"Our trainmen report that they did not
hear the gone sounded by the leFson in
charge of your wagon. That 1t was rain
ing hard at the time; that the gong vas
being sounded OIL an approaching cable
car and Main street car, So that he could
not positively state that it was not rung.
They further state that at the time of the
collision the rear end of the coach atta CHI
cd to our grip car was west of the last
track Of the Main street line and that
there was ample room for the hook and
ladder wagon to pass between the east
curb line of Main street and the rear cnd
OF our train.
II learn no person was injured, but
on. conductor was on the rear platforn III
of his coach at the time of the collision
and was thrown violently in the street
aid lad very narrow escape"
The above came up before the board of
fire com missioners yesterday. Commits
sioner Kuhrts said he had witnessed the
collision, and in his opinion some blame
ch ot1l ha ftunh ed 10 fba fIraf, n
tuck at the time. 1t was a dark ard
rainy night. Driver f. Z. Willough by
and Tillerman T. Holmes each gave his
version of the accident, botn claiming
that it was entirely unavoidable under
the circum stances. Commissioner kubrts
said that had the dummy of the cable
train been full of people at the time here
would have been several lives lost. On
motion of kuhrts, the chief was instruct
ed to lecture the men, and to enforce the
department orders which compels slow
movement of fire apparatus while cross
ing streets 1t was thought pc ssh bic that
the railway company was trying to lay
the foundation for defense IN furthcom.
ing damage suits, and to Shift the blame
for the accident upon the city.
In the matter of the charges made BY
Captain W. s. Rowan against Driver J.
p. Jacobs Of chemical company No. /. in
whichthe latter is accused of insubordi-
nation, Commissioners Vstte., Order
and Butts were appointed a committee of
inevstigati ton. The thing appears to be
an old personal grudge between the men
interested, with more or less merit to the
controversy on both sides OF the ques-
ticn.
The application of the Socialistic Co.
operative league to be allowed to operate
a blacksmith shop on Buepa Vista street,
came 10 for the third time. The league
had an attorney present to find odt why
its pc tition had been apparently side
tracked. 1t developed that the ordinances
in the matter had not beon complied
with, and brand new start in the prem
Uses will be made. The necessary sigma.
lures of property owners interested has
up to date never been secured in favor of
the permit.
The chief reported in the matter
of Mrs. Morrison's board bill against
Callman S. B. Hill, that the debt ante
dates the fireman S admission into the de-
partment. The board took no further
action. The chiefs request that fire
alarm boxes and hydrants be placed in
the Highlands district was filed. A de-
nard Tor Sl25 Tor repairing the hook and
ladder truck and the application for
permit to operate blacksmith shop on
lot l42, in the Alexandra WE'LL tract,
were both referred to the chief for re-
port.
ECFcEhl lOT dJtTI1 Jokes
brought from Comm issoner Netter pro-
against the procurement of supplies
before the necessary acquisitions have
taken the usual official course.
The applications of l.. e. Stout and W.
s. Scherr, to be appointed callmen, were
filed.
Tbs nominations of the chief of subor.
dinates. submitted to the board at the
last meeting, were confirmed. The Alb
bott engine house on Upper Main street.
came up for the usual peri Jdical discus
sion and 1t was decided to once more
with the council upon the
mouldy SUBJECT.
The chief thought that no permits for
new buildings ought 10 be hereafter is
sued unless the proper fire escapes and
stand pines shall have been provided for.
Commissioner Vetter thought that the
boarn If education in refusing to place
escapes and pipes upon the hikh school.
had acted very peculiarly. He moved
that the board be officially requested TO
properly equip all school buildings with
life saving apparatus and the building
su perintendent WAS instructed to issue no
more building permits unless the ordin-
ances in this particular have been com.
piled with.
The board ordered the chief to expert
ment with some new patented window
attachment to the ordinary fire alarm
box at present in use, and then ad-
lourned.