The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-08-04

Frank II. White, general agent of
the Firemens Fund Insurance COM
pany, with headquarters at Denver,
is not profoundly impressed with the
ability or courtesy of James Devine,
the chief of the fire department.
Mr.. White says the morning after
the fire at Lipman & Wallerstein's he
called on the chief and told him there
was some talk as to the origin Of the
fire, and that he, White, desired to
get at the facts so far us was within
the power of the chief 10 relate.
White declares the chief told MIN he
knew something about the loss, but
that he did not know that he owed
the insurance companies anything and
that ''he could not see there was any
thing in it for him to give White any
information that might be in his pos
session.
White says he endeavored to draw
Devine out and finally came to the
conclusion he was trying to play
heavy weight-pretending to knew a
great deal more than ne did, or else
wanted an offer made of fee for I'M
burdening himself
White declares that he then in
formed Devine that in all other cities
the fire department and insurance
agents worked in harmony in order to
detect dishonest claimants, and that
if he knew anything he SHOULD tell it
and not cast any insinuati0ns. He
says this statement apparently
stirred the gentleman up for he in
formed White "he knew the laws
governing his department and did not
need to be told what his duties were
That the rules did not compel him to
tell ANYTHING to the insurance agents
and he was not indebteded to any of
the agents in Salt Lake and especi-
ally to the agent of the F'iremen's
Fund, so he declined to make any
statement.
Mr. White says he has had an ex-
perience which extends from New
York to San Francisco and this was
the first time he had ever been re-
department. He is frank to say that
Devine, in his opinion, is either
knave or a foolish man indeed.
White says he saw the fire. and be-
lieves it was improperly handled. He
so expressed himself the following
morning. He says if an affidavit or
a sworn statement under oath will
assist the commission any he will be
glad to make one.
1t was announced yesterday that
the CITY council will ask the fire and
police board the reason why so much
chemicals are used at fires. Ii costs
something to charge the engine, and
1T appears FROM the testimony that
the chemical is used where there is no
need of it at all. Some days ago
haystack was ablaze across the white
bridge, which is, contrary to state
ments made, inside the city limits
long ways. When the alarm first came
in. the chief was asked to send the
steamer and a hose wagon, as that
was the most availa BILE way of fight
ing the blaze but instead, he sent the
chemical. A small boy with tin
can could have done as much good
under the circumstances. After rid
ing out and noting that acid was hav-
ing no effect, he sent for the hose
wagon as requested, and after a time
the fire was quenched, although 1T is
but justice to say there was not much
left of the hay.
The night the fire occurred which
consumed the barn belonging to Fred
May. although the flames were shoot
ing heavenward so they could be seen
all over the city, at the time the de-
partment left the house, still the
chemical was sent and the apparatus
dumped and the hose turned on.
There was as much chance of that
fire being handled with the chemical
engine as there will be for a man
with bucket of glue to eXtinguish
the eternal blazes which sputter and
flash in the land where Dante got his
ideas.
The chemical was brought into play
on a burning tar pot some few days
ago. upset and the hose turned on.
Those who are in a position - know
say the chief may know the rules to
perfection; be very keen in scen'ting
liquor on the breath of an obnoxious
fireman, but that he doesn't realize
what chemical engine was built for
by large majority.
But reverting to the original propo-
sition. the matter of using the chemi-
cal in places where it ought not be
put in service will be looked into. The
chief has evidently reversed the
order. In small blazes where the
chemical could be used with good
effect like the Waltner fire. he strings
out hose but where the fire has a
good start, as in the May case, he
orders the chemical to get to work.
This paper has contended the chief
should be removed but it would ap-
pear as though the commission wants
evidence. There is plenty at hand, if
not ruled out at the hearing.