Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-02-19
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BUTLER CONFIRMED.
TEE sIGHTH WARD ENGINE HOUSE INVESII
CATION,
Before the COMMITTEES on Fire Department, Las
Eight-A Very Bad State of Affairs Dis
closed by the Evidence OF the
Witnesses

The Council Committee on Fire De-
partment met last evening, pursuant to
the adjournment of a week ago, for the
purpose of again taking up the Eighth
ward engine house investigation, aris-
ing out OF the removal OF Fireman
Thomas Rose and the nomination of
George Butler to fill the vacancy. The
full membership OF the committee was
present.
The Chair stated the object OF the
meeting to be the investigation of the
conduct of the men at the Eighth ward
hose house, but Capt. Otto got the floor
and called the attention OF the Com
mttee to the serious condition of p0r-
tiOn of the floor of the Vigilant engine
house. TWAS agreed that the floor was
in bad condition, as in one place a
horse had broken through. The trOu-
bic with the floor appears to be II has
no pitch, and water lies on it without
running of. The ventilation of the
house is also bad.
The Chair was authorized TO appoint
subcommittee of three 10 contract
for a new floor, or have the present floor
repaired. The Chair appointed Messrs.
Otto, Waterhouse and wicker on the
Committee.
The case OF ex-Foreman Thomas Rose
was then taken up, aud MIR. Rose was
called in, although Mr.. WsterhOuse
said be was at loss 20 know what the
Committee was going 10 investigate.
The evidence taken was very volumi-
nous. its presentation taking up about
| three hours time, and disclosing very
bad situation at the house, extending
over long time. Allegations OF the
svish use OF liquor, OF insu6ordlnation,
bad language and general bad conduct
were very freely given, and IL is alto
gether likely that renovating process
will be INDUCED in by the Chief. As a
result CT the session, the nomination Of
Mr.. Butler TO be foreman, vice Thomas
Rose, removed, was unanimously con
frmed.
When Mr.. Rose appeared before the
Committee last night he was invited 10
make q statement Of the situation from
his side OF the case, and IN reply said
be was asked, about the third or fourth
day before the lSt OF the present
month, by the Chief, for his resigna-
ton. II asked him why IL was done,
and he said it was at the demand OF two
Republican members OF Council
asked him who they were, and he said
MeSSrs. Uttermohen and Robinson. The
Chief said they had complained about
the general conduct OF the men in the
house, about having 10 ring the engine
house bell more than once, when an
alarm came in, to get the men out OF
the saloons" etc. Mr.. Rose said he eX-
planned that to the Chief, and showed
him his memoranda book, which show
ed that the bell had not been rung
twice, except uOon one occasion, and
that was one day at supper time, when
an alarm caught the reel driver out OF
the house at his supper, and the other
driver had dav off. AS result, one
piece of apparatus could not 60. Mr.,
Rose said at the Chiefs request he
went TO Mr.. Robinson and made an ex-
PLANTATION. Mr.. Rose sIso said he had
been advised by his friends not to re
sign.
He detailed at great length his
troubles with the men, and particularly
cited the fire at Mrs. Hahne's, when be
had to make the connection with the
plug and light the engine fire himself,
the engineer being absent Later, the
engineer "came leisure!y along" and
cursed the foreman for doing as he had.
This trouble was renewed at the engine
house, after the fire was out, and at
trscted much attention.
Ia regard TO the Chiefs charges OF i'm
proper conduct by Mr.. Rose, az the re-
cent fire al Market and Twentieth
streets, witness said he fired the engine
that night for several reasons. One
was because the driver, who is also
stoker hadn't had great
deal Of experience, and another was be-
cause be had then been asked 10 resign,
and did not feel Ike getting wet and
taking cold. Still, he would have gone
to the fire had not the driver volunteered
to 70, and asked him TO remain at the
engine.
AS to the tea store fire, the witness
said he drove the reel, as the driver was
home with his sick child. Mr.. Rose said
he STAYED with the engine, keeping the
gauges from freezing, etc, until there
was a good pressure OF steam, and then
went TO the fire aud sent one OF the
other men back. Mr.. Rose said be gen.
orally reported to the Chief as soon as
be could. but the first thing was TO get
m work. and then see the Chief and see
what his orders were.
Cavt. Otto-What has been the gen.
eral discipline at the house?
At has been rather a mixed ar
rangement.
Q.-What 90 you mean by "a mixed
arrangement
A.-Well, there is a set Of men there
who can't get along with one another.
THEY'VE made it pretty warm for me,
All along. I've gotten the worst OF 1t
right along.
The Chief-Tom, what did l tell you
IN the conversation l had with you AT
Twelfth street?
About Frohme? There is man
who has made trouble for me right
along. Once | asked him to clean the
reel aud he said he didn't have
70. said I would see the Chief,
and went up TO Twelfth street,
and saw him. The Chief told me to go
hsck and tell Frohme 70 clean that reel.
! told him, and he said: You've had
vour say; now I'll have mine" lie went
10 the Chief, but what he said don't
know. He's cleaned the reel ever since,
but has threatened he would,get me of
the force.
The Chief-Didn't tell you TO tell
him to clean the reel or take his but
tons of and quit?
A.-No; you telephoned me that
NIGHT. and told him what you said.
D.oaodinC Rosa said he often had